Bumgarner back on track as Arizona beats Washington 5-2

Madison Bumgarner had his best outing of the season, allowing a run over five innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Washington 5-2 Sunday after Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was a late scratch.

Bumgarner (1-2) gave up just two hits and dropped his ERA from 11.20 to 8.68 through four starts. He struck out five and walked one, helping Arizona split the four-game series.

Strasburg was placed on the 10-day injured list before first pitch with right shoulder inflammation. Strasburg felt discomfort after a bullpen session during the week, and later an MRI later revealed inflammation. Manager Dave Martinez said there was no timetable for his return.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Asdrúbal Cabrera is out on the tag by Washington Nationals second baseman Starlin Castro trying to reach second on a single, during the third inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Josh Rojas hit his first career leadoff homer, connecting against Nationals last-minute starter Paulo Espino. The 34-year-old Espino made his fourth career start in the majors and second with Washington.

Espino (0-1) pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs and five hits while striking out three and giving up a walk. Two of those five hits were solo home runs — Carson Kelly led off the fourth with a shot to left field.

Trea Turner hit two solo homers, one to left field in the third off Bumgarner and his second of the game to center in the eighth off Taylor Clarke. It was Turner’s sixth multi-home run game and first since Sept. 20, 2019 at Miami. Turner has four homers this season. Washington dropped to 5-8.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly celebrates his solo home run with his teammates during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Pavin Smith had an RBI double in the seventh as Arizona won for the second time in six games to improve to 6-10.

Stefan Crichton earned his first save of the season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Placed OF Tim Locastro on the 10-day injured with a dislocated left pinkie finger. Locastro was hurt Saturday while trying to extend his major league record of 29 consecutive stolen bases to begin a career. Nick Heath, acquired from Kansas City in a trade on Saturday, replaced Locastro in the outfield and had three hits.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Paolo Espino throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Nationals: Relief pitcher Wander Suero (left oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list and Washington recalled righty Ryne Harper from the alternate training site. Suero has a 1.42 ERA this season in eight appearances. ... LHP Jon Lester is schedule to throw a sim game Tuesday with manager Dave Martinez hoping he will get to five innings or 80-85 pitches. Lester was put on the injured list April 6 under COVID-19 protocols.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will take the mound in the series opener at Cincinnati on Tuesday. Gallen lost his only previous start against the Reds in 2019.

Washington Nationals Trea Turner, right, celebrates his solo home run with Ryan Zimmerman during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second straight start against the Cardinals as Washington’s homestand continues on Monday. Ross pitched six scoreless innings in Washington’s 6-0 win in St. Louis on April 14 in his last start.

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas celebrates his solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Arizona closer Mark Melancon retired Juan Soto with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, helping Cooper Hummel's tiebreaking two-run home run hold up in the Diamondbacks' 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Soto popped up to third base with two outs, ending Melancon's second save of the season.

Hummel had two hits, Matt Davidson and Jake McCarthy also homered, and Arizona split the four-game series with consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Washington Nationals shortstop Alcides Escobar gets the out on Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith at second base, but can't get the double play on Carson Kelly during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Davidson, called up from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, homered in his first at-bat in the majors since Sept. 6, 2020 with the Reds.

Arizona starter Zach Davies (1-1) gave up two runs on two hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Four Arizona relievers combined to allow a run on three hits, including two off Melancon in the ninth.

Nelson Cruz homered for Washington and Keibert Ruiz had two hits.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Cooper Hummel is congratulated for his two-run home run during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Josh Rogers (1-2) allowed four runs and six hits — three of them home runs — in 4 1/3 innings.

Hummel’s homer off Rogers gave Arizona a 4-2 lead in the fifth.

Washington got within 4-3 in the eighth when Josh Bell reached on a catcher's interference call against Jose Herrera with two outs and the bases loaded.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zach Davies throws during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

After solo home runs by Davidson and McCarthy made it 2-0, Cruz tied it with a two-run homer after Soto walked leading off the fourth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: 1B Bell was in the lineup one day after leaving in the third inning with left knee tightness. An MRI on the knee Thursday was clean. ... RHP Hunter Harvey went on the 10-day injured list with a right pronator strain. RHP Erasmo Ramírez was promoted from Triple-A Rochester.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josh Rogers, second from left, is removed by manager Dave Martinez, right, during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts the first of a three-game series against the visiting Mets. He pitched four scoreless innings against the Mets while allowing two hits on April 16 in New York.

Nationals: LHP Patrick Corbin (0-2, 7.50) pitches the opener of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Corbin is 9-8 with a 2.95 ERA in 26 games — 24 starts — against the Giants.

Washington Nationals' Nelson Cruz celebrates his two-run home run with Juan Soto, right, during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)

Washington Nationals' Nelson Cruz watches his two-run home run during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Washington. (AP PhotoAlex Brandon)