Diamondbacks rough up Strasburg as Nats fall 14-6

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg quickly retired Arizona's first two batters before serving up a walk to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. It proved costly as left fielder David Peralta followed with a single, and then, third baseman Aaron Hill roped a two-out two-run double to the gap in right-center field.

The Nationals' two hits against Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa came on a leadoff single from center fielder Denard Span in the first and a double from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the second.

Update: Second baseman Danny Espinosa started the third with a walk. Strasburg dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Espinosa to second, and Span delivered an RBI double to cut the Diamondbacks lead in half. Span's 2-for-2 night improves his batting average to .311.

Arizona answered in their half of the inning with a leadoff homer from center fielder Ender Inciarte.

But, the Nats fought right back when Bryce Harper began the fourth with his seventh double of the season. A single from Zimmerman gave the Nats runners on the corners with no outs. Catcher Wilson Ramos grounded into a double play, but Harper crossed the plate.

The Diamondbacks responded again. Second baseman Chris Owings jumped on Strasburg with a triple to start the bottom of the fourth, and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch promptly drove him in with a single. Another single and a Strasburg error set up the knockout shot. Right fielder Mark Trumbo smashed a first-pitch slider from Strasburg off the facade well beyond the left field fence for a three-run homer.

That ended Strasburg's night at eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings. Strasburg's season ERA now stands at 6.06.

Left-hander Sammy Solis entered the game in relief of Strasburg. He picked up his first major league hit on a single up the middle in the fifth.

Update II: Two singles and a double off Solis led to two more Diamondbacks runs in the fifth.

Harper launched his 12th homer of the season in the sixth. The two-run shot was pure power as he golfed the ball over the right field wall.

Trumbo answered with his second homer of the night in the bottom of the inning.

Nationals manager Matt Williams then turned to left-hander Matt Grace. Grace didn't fare much better as three hits and a wild pitch led to three more runs.

Update III: Down by 10 runs and not wanting to waste his bullpen any further, Williams called on Nats utility man Clint Robinson to pitch the eighth inning. Robinson gave up a leadoff single to Peralta before retiring the next three in order for a scoreless inning in his first major league appearance on the mound.

It was also the first time the Nationals used a position player to pitch in the franchise's history since moving to Washington in 2005.

Second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielder Tyler Moore each picked up RBIs in the ninth.

The Diamondbacks beat the Nats 14-6.

The Nats' five-game winning streak ends.