Let’s keep the ball rolling and play some more baseball!
The Nationals and Diamondbacks will shortly take the field again on South Capitol Street for tonight’s nightcap after Washington won the first game of today’s split doubleheader 6-1.
Joan Adon, on normal rest, is hoping his third time's the charm as he takes the mound tonight. The right-handed rookie is 0-2 with a 10.00 ERA over his first two starts of the season. In nine innings, he’s given up 13 hits, 10 runs, three home runs and seven walks (to just eight strikeouts) while hitting one batter and throwing three wild pitches.
Manager Davey Martinez elected to stick with Adon in this spot in an attempt to not put too much pressure on the already taxed bullpen in today’s twinbill. Martinez only used four relievers in the opener, so he should have plenty of options for the nightcap. The Nats will need another starter this weekend, but they will address that later in the week.
Left-hander Francisco Pérez has been designated as the 29th man to give the ‘pen some help for tonight’s game. He is only available for the nightcap because a 29th player is only eligible for both games of a doubleheader if both teams agree to it. The Diamondbacks are using 29th man on tonight's starter, Tyler Gilbert, so they didn’t need it for the first game.
Pérez has pitched five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and just one walk over five appearances with Triple-A Rochester this season.
Gilbert, also a rookie, is making his first major league appearance this season after going 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA in nine games (six starts) last year. The left-hander has given up eight runs on 11 hits in 10 innings over his two starts at Triple-A Reno this year. You might remember him throwing a no-hitter against the Padres in his first big league start last August.
Riley Adams is behind the plate for the Nationals tonight while Lucius Fox takes over at shortstop.
If you’re attending tonight’s game, you will need a ticket for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. matchup, separate from the earlier game.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS (Game 2)
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 50 degrees, wind 16 mph in from left field
NATIONALS
2B César Hernández
RF Juan Soto
DH Nelson Cruz
1B Josh Bell
LF Lane Thomas
3B Maikel Franco
C Riley Adams
CF Victor Robles
SS Lucius Fox
RHP Joan Adon
DIAMONDBACKS
CF Daulton Varsho
2B Ketel Marte
LF David Peralta
1B Christian Walker
RF Pavin Smith
DH Seth Beer
C Carson Kelly
3B Yonny Hernandez
SS Geraldo Perdomo
LHP Tyler Gilbert
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