Michael A. Taylor's fill-in grand slam devastates Diamondbacks in Nats' 9-6 win

Right fielder Bryce Harper roped a double down the right field line to start the second. But, the Nationals wasted the prime early scoring opportunity when Diamondbacks starter Jeremy Hellickson retired the next three batters in order.

Arizona fared much better with their scoring chance in the bottom of the inning. Nats starter Gio Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to third baseman Aaron Hill. He was able to advance to second, and then scored on a two-out base hit to left from shortstop Nick Ahmed.

Hellickson ran into difficulty in the third. With two outs, he walked center fielder Denard Span and hit third baseman Yunel Escobar. These proved costly as left fielder Jayson Werth bombed a 2-1 fastball into the second tier well beyond the left-center field wall at Chase Field. The three-run homer is Werth's second of the season.

The Nats' lead was short lived though as Gonzalez had his own problems in the inning. Left fielder Ender Inciarte singled, right fielder Mark Trumbo walked and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a towering shot high off the center field wall for an RBI double. The Diamondbacks plated two more in the inning on a RBI groundout from center fielder A.J. Pollock and an error by Nats shortstop Ian Desmond.

Update: Goldschmidt tripled to start the fifth, and Pollock promptly singled him home to give the Diamondbacks a two-run lead. Goldschmidt is 3-for-3 on the afternoon with a triple, double, RBI and two runs scored.

The Nats are 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Update II: With two outs in the sixth, second baseman Danny Espinosa drew a huge walk. That led Nationals manager Matt Williams to end Gonzalez's night in favor of pinch-hitter Tyler Moore. On an 0-1 curveball, Moore mashed a two-run homer off the left field foul pole.

Update III: Harper and Williams were ejected in the seventh. Diamondbacks left-hander Oliver Perez threw Harper a 2-2 slider that Harper attempted to check his swing on. Home plate umpire Rob Drake immediately rung Harper up for the inning's last out. Harper was furious. He wanted Drake to check with third base umpire Gabe Morales before the strikeout. Drake quickly tossed Harper, who was yelling directly in Drake's face.

Williams jumped out of the dugout to have words with Drake and was shown the early exit as well.

Update IV: A two-out pinch-hit single from Diamondbacks outfielder Yasmany Tomas off Nats right-hander Aaron Barrett in the eighth plated Trumbo for what seemed like the eventual game-winning run.

Not so fast.

Span and Escobar delivered singles and Werth drew a walk to load the bases with one out in the ninth. That brought rookie Michael A. Taylor to the plate in Harper's spot.

Facing Diamondbacks closer Addison Reed, Taylor absolutely destroyed a 1-0 fastball over the center field wall for his first-career grand slam.

Nats closer Drew Storen shut down the Diamondbacks in order in the ninth for his 10th save.

The Nats beat the Diamondbacks 9-6 for their fifth straight series win.