Ross and Lopez demonstrate ability to sustain innings in win

Right-handers Joe Ross and Reynaldo Lopez provided answers to their ability to handle heavy workloads, which could be extrememly beneficial in next week's opening round of the postseason, helping the Nationals past the Diamondbacks 5-3.

Ross and Lopez combined to throw 7 2/3 innings, holding the D-backs to three runs. Pedro Severino and Wilmer Difo homered and Michael A. Taylor had three hits and two RBIs as the Nationals earned their 93rd win of the season.

The Nationals' magic number to clinch home field advantage in the National League Division Series has fallen to 2.

Ross made a statement that he can handle the workload of that upcoming playoff series, throwing 90 pitches over four innings, allowing only one run on four hits.

"I was fine. If it was up to me, I would have kept pitching," Ross said. "Same with last game, I would have kept going. But obviously we have to make a steady progression to build me up for the playoffs, hopefully.

"So, I guess that's where we're at. I just prolonged each at-bat more than I would have liked, which led to the early exit."

Ross may not have agreed with using that many pitches to put down the D-backs, but his manager Dusty Baker certainly felt the right-hander battled.

"Ross was good, very good," Baker said. "What kind of messed him up was (Jean) Segura's first at-bat. That almost took a whole inning off of him. That was an (12)-pitch at-bat. That was some at-bat by a great player. He settled down after that."

"Ninety pitches is too many for four innings, in my opinion," Ross said. "I didn't do a very good job of putting them away once I got ahead. I was just kind of nibbling around the zone. Other than that, I thought I was throwing well. I just didn't give myself a chance to go later in the game."

The D-backs taxed Ross for 32 pitches in a 16-minute first inning. But after that, Arizona managed just three hits and one run against him.

"In my opinion he was good," catcher Severino said through interpreter Octavio Martinez. "He threw a lot of good pitches down in the zone. Everything, slider, fastball. He threw a lot of sliders today because sometimes we'd be behind in the count and he'd have to use the slider."

Over several seasons, one way the Nationals have looked to fortify their minor league system has been to dive into the talent-rich Dominican baseball pool. Their Dominican Academy has delivered several outstanding prospects to the Nats system. A few have made their way to the big leagues and demonstrated they could play at the highest level.

Johnny DiPuglia, vice president of international operations for the Nationals, has worked with his department to build the Dominican talent base in the Nats system.

On Thursday, three of those players all contributed big plays in the Nats win over the D-backs. Severino and Difo each homered, and Lopez (5-3) tossed 3 2/3 innings for the win.

"It was very fun and exciting," Lopez said via Martinez. "As I came into the dugout, Dusty said 'I guess today is really Latin Day'. It was just very humorous, but it was fun, and he kept repeating that because we were all performing so well for him, so it was great."

The trio performed so well in Thursday's win, ironically one day after the Nationals had celebrated "Hispanic Heritage Day" at Nats Park.

"It was Dominican Republic Day on both sides," Baker smiled. "Our Dominicans hit two home runs and pitched well. And their Dominican, (Socrates) Brito, hit a home run. Maybe they had it mixed up, they thought today was Latin Day instead of yesterday."

Severino and Difo were signed as amateur free agents in 2010 and Lopez joined the club in 2012.

"It's a snapshot into how far our Latin American program has come and a credit to all of the minor league coaches who impacted each of those players along the way," said Nationals assistant general manager and vice president, player personnel Doug Harris.

What might be bigger news for the Nationals quest for the NL pennant is how important Severino and Lopez are now as the club makes their final preparations for their 25-man NLDS roster.

Severino is crucial with the loss of starting catcher Wilson Ramos and Lopez could work out as a starter or top long man for the Nationals in their upcoming series against the Dodgers that begins October 7.