What to Watch For: 8/12
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Washington Nationals (71-43) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (57-57)
LHP Ross Detwiler (6-4, 2.99) vs. LHP Patrick Corbin (3-4, 3.53)
After falling behind early, the Nationals used a five-run fifth inning to grasp the lead, then held on down the stretch for their eighth consecutive victory, 6-5 over the Diamondbacks. Ross Detwiler takes the hill today in a battle of lefties as Washington looks to continue its flawless road trip.
NATIONALS LINEUP
1. Espinosa SS
2. Harper CF
3. Zimmerman 3B
4. Morse RF
5. LaRoche 1B
6. Moore LF
7. Suzuki C
8. Lombardozzi 2B
9. Detwiler LHP
GREAT EIGHT
Thanks in part to a season-high eight straight wins, the Nationals are a season-best 28 games above .500. The ‘33 AL Nationals (99-53) were the last big league club representing the Nation’s Capital to climb as many as 28 games above the break-even mark.
GOLD ON THE ROAD
Saturday’s win in the Valley of the Sun was also Washington’s eighth straight on the road. If the Nationals can cap a sweep today at Chase Field, they’d match a franchise mark for consecutive road wins at 9 (also Sept 12-26, 2011). The 1994 Expos also won nine straight outside of Quebec from July 29-August 10.
AUGUST AND EVERYTHING PRIOR
The Nationals are an MLB-leading 10-2 thus far in August and are the only big league team to have played winning baseball every month this season: July (17-9), June (15-10), May (15-13) and April (14-8). Including September of ’11, Washington has posted five straight winning months.
