Instant Analysis: Nats 5, Diamondbacks 3

Behind another quality start from Foster Griffin and clutch hits from CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile, the Nationals bounced back against Arizona

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

Desperately in need of a bounce-back showing after they dropped Friday night’s series opener, the Nationals saw two of their All-Stars deliver a win this afternoon over the Diamondbacks and thrust themselves right back into the postseason mix.

Foster Griffin churned out 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball to earn his 12th win. And CJ Abrams homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead his team to a much-needed victory against the team that currently holds the third and final spot in a wide-open wild-card race.

Making what could in theory be his final start for the Nats heading into the trade deadline, Griffin gave up a two-run single to Gabriel Moreno in the third and an RBI single to James McCann in the seventh, the first time he’s allowed more than one run in his last nine starts. But the left-hander gave his team 6 2/3 quality innings and departed in line for his 12th win.

The Nationals lineup made sure to put Griffin in that position, busting out for four runs in the bottom of the third with a sustained rally off Arizona left-hander Mitch Bratt that included a two-run double by Abrams and a two-run triple by Daylen Lile. Abrams’ leadoff homer in the fifth extended the lead and provided a little bit of cushion for the team’s bullpen.

And when it came time to summon that relief corps, who did Blake Butera turn to? Rookie Eddy Yean, who recorded four big outs on 16 pitches to bridge the gap from Griffin to closer Clayton Beeter. Beeter then finished it off in the ninth for his ninth save, this one lifting the Nats back over the .500 mark and back to within two games of the Diamondbacks heading into Sunday’s series finale.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: When they needed a clutch hit, who did the Nationals turn to? Their most clutch hitter. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third and hitless with runners in scoring position for the series to that point, Abrams stepped to the plate with two on and one out. He proceeded to send a 1-2 breaking ball on a line to right-center, hustling his way to a two-run double that tied the game. That hit raised Abrams’ average with runners in scoring position to .340, his slugging percentage to .619. And it gave him an MLB-leading 78 RBI. Except he wasn’t done. Abrams’ leadoff homer in the fifth extended the lead, gave him an even 25 on the season (tied with Ian Desmond for most in club history by a shortstop) and raised that MLB-leading RBI total to 79.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: This wasn’t Griffin’s best start. He gave up more than one run for the first time since May. He ran out of gas before departing. But this was one of his most-important starts, because the Nationals needed the lefty to do what he did today. In what amounted to a must-win game against the team they’re trying to chase down in the wild-card race, Griffin gave up a couple quick runs in the third, but then buckled down once his teammates gave him the lead. He retired nine in a row from the fourth through the sixth innings, and did it on only 33 pitches, putting himself in a position to retake the mound for the seventh. He couldn’t finish that last frame, his command wavering as his pitch count reached 108. But he walked off the mound to a big ovation from the crowd and plenty of high-fives from his teammates, who appreciated the big-game effort.

NOTABLE: Among the more encouraging signs of Dylan Crews’ progress: After drawing only four walks through his first 150 plate appearances this season, he has drawn 13 in 71 plate appearances so far this month (including three today).

UP NEXT: The series concludes Sunday at 1:35 p.m., with the Diamondbacks sending a third straight left-hander to the mound in rookie Kohl Drake. Will the Nats have Miles Mikolas pitch the top of the first, or an opener? Stay tuned. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM