PHOENIX (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit three homers and matched his career high with five RBIs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks tied a team record with 22 hits in a 17-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
The Diamondbacks, who scored five runs in the ninth inning for a 9-8 victory a night earlier, outscored the Nationals 24-0 since the seventh inning of Monday’s game, which was the first time since 2011 that Arizona won when trailing by four runs in the ninth inning or later. The Diamondbacks won for the sixth time in seven games.
Suárez hit a two-run shot off Patrick Corbin in the first, a solo homer in the sixth off Eduardo Salazar and another solo homer against Joan Adon in the seventh — all to left field. He went 4 for 6 with an RBI single.
“I feel awesome to have a day like this one,” Suárez said. “I never give up, keep working hard every day. The hard work pays off.”
It was the 33-year-old Suárez’s second career three-homer game. He also accomplished the feat on Sept. 5, 2020, for Cincinnati against Pittsburgh. This season, Suárez has 16 homers and 59 RBIs.
“I’m not trying to hit homers, but the result is there,” Suárez said. “When you have good at-bats the result is going to be there at some point.”
Suárez became the second Arizona player with 10 homers in July, after Jason Kubel’s 11 in 2012.
“He’s had a terrific month. It’s not just today,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
With an opportunity to hit a fourth homer in the eighth inning, Suárez fouled out to the catcher.
The Diamondbacks roughed up Corbin, with every starter getting at least one hit. Corbin allowed 11 runs, 10 earned, and 13 hits in three innings. Corbin (2-11) saw his ERA rise from 5.26 to 5.88.
“I missed some spots, they had a lot of early contact,” Corbin said. “Anything I threw they got a hit. Just have to forget about this one and try to focus on things I’ve done well.”
Arizona paraded 11 batters to the plate in a seven-run second inning. The Diamondbacks reeled off seven straight hits and scored all the runs with two outs. Corbin threw 41 pitches in the inning and came back out for the third, allowing two more runs.
Ryne Nelson (8-6) held Washington without a run for seven innings, allowing two hits and striking out nine and walking two while throwing a career-high 106 pitches. Perhaps his biggest challenge was staying ready during long innings by his offense.
“Tried to stick to my routine. Take it easy, go over some notes,” Nelson said. “I prefer the longer inning for our offense.”
Bryce Jarvis and Justin Martinez finished the four-hit shutout.
OUCH
Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno took a foul ball off his left wrist in the sixth inning. He finished the inning and, with the Diamondbacks ahead 13-0, was replaced behind the plate the following inning by José Herrera. Lovullo said after the game that X-rays were negative, and Moreno could play on Wednesday.
MOVES
Reliever Dylan Floro switched clubhouses on Tuesday, going from Washington to Arizona for Triple-A third baseman Andrés Chaparro. Floro, 33, was 3-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 52 1/3 innings for the Nationals this season. The Diamondbacks are Floro’s eighth MLB team in his nine-year career. To make room on the 40-man roster, Arizona designated RHP Miguel Castro for assignment.
To replace Floro, as well as recently traded outfielders Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker, the Nationals recalled OF Travis Blankenhorn and RHP Joan Adon from Triple-A Rochester.
BEEN THERE
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said he told Floro about the trade, and that the same thing happened to him. Martinez was traded to the Blue Jays while the Texas Rangers were in Toronto in 2000.
“After the game, I walked across the hall and played for the Blue Jays. Those things happen, just go over there and have fun,” Martinez said.
NEXT
Nationals LHP MacKenzie Gore (6-8, 4.51) pitches against Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (8-5, 3.70) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.
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