Zac Gallen picked up his third win in a row, Ryan Thompson escaped a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep by defeating the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Wednesday.
Arizona has won five series in a row, but this was their first sweep during that time. Washington had an 8-2 lead in the series opener on Monday before Arizona came back to win 9-8, and then they outscored the Nationals 29-4 in the rest of the series.
“It’s important not to get complacent after winning a series, especially when you win the first two,” outfielder Jake McCarthy said. “It’s good to keep pushing.”
The Nationals have lost four games in a row and seven out of their last nine.
Washington was down 5-2 going into the ninth inning. CJ Abrams hit a one-out double off closer Paul Sewald, making it 5-3, and then the Nationals loaded the bases. Manager Torey Lovullo replaced Sewald — who has struggled with four blown saves in July — with Thompson.
Thompson struck out Harold Ramírez, and a passed ball by José Herrera let Washington get closer by scoring another run. Thompson then got Riley Adams to ground out to end the game.
“Even though we have a good idea of what to expect, the unexpected doesn’t throw us off,” Thompson said. “A number of us were ready when the phone rang in the ninth.”
Sewald faced five batters, walking three for only the second time in his career and the first since his rookie year in 2017. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he has “a lot to think about over the next several hours.”
“Right now, my top priority with Paul is that there’s a delivery issue,” Lovullo said. “It’s not letting him throw the ball where he wants, finish it properly, and make the pitches he usually makes.”
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