Escobar has 2 HRs, 7 RBIs as D-backs rout Nationals 11-4

PHOENIX -- — Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer, a two-run homer and tied a career high with seven RBI to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Washington Nationals 11-4 on Saturday night.

Escobar broke the game open in the fourth when he launched a full-count, two-out pitch from Joe Ross deep into the right field seats that made it 6-2. He added a two-run shot off Austin Voth in the eighth and started the D-backs' scoring with a two-run single in the first.

“That’s a great week for some people,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Eduardo’s been working his butt off to make days like this happen.”

It was a much-needed win for the D-backs, who had lost nine of 11 coming into Saturday and got crushed 17-2 by the Nationals on Friday night. Arizona got a little payback and now is 18-22 this season while the Nationals dropped to 15-20.

The Diamondbacks have been dealing with an avalanche of injuries over the past few weeks, putting three more players on the injured list Saturday. Escobar's one of the few established big leaguers in the team's lineup and he certainly looked the part against the Nationals.

“I know it’s really hard right now. A lot of injuries, losing a lot of the best players on the team,” Escobar said. “But we’re still playing hard and there’s a lot of talented young people here.”

The homers were Escobar's eighth and ninth of the season. Escobar had seven RBI one other time in his career, also against the Nationals in 2019.

Arizona's Seth Frankoff threw 4 2/3 innings in his first MLB start. The 32-year-old righty gave up two runs on three hits, walked four and struck out four. Washington loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but Alex Young (1-3) relieved Frankoff and struck out Kyle Schwarber on three straight pitches.

Ross (2-3) struggled from the outset, giving up four straight hits to start the game and three runs in the first. He gave up eight earned runs over four innings and his ERA ballooned to 5.80 for the season.

“Location, location, location,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Joe was a little off. He tried to battle.”

Trea Turner, Josh Harrison and Juan Soto all had two hits for the Nationals. Soto had two RBI.

DEPLETED D-BACKS

The D-backs put catcher Carson Kelly (left big toe fracture) and right-handed relievers J.B. Bukauskas (right elbow strain) on the 10-day injured list. They also put right-handed reliever Chris Devenski (sprained right UCL) on the 60-day injured list.

It continues a frustrating run of injuries for Arizona. Five of the team's projected eight starting position players in spring training — Kelly, infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera, first baseman Christian Walker, right fielder Kole Calhoun and center fielder Ketel Marte — are now on the injured list.

They're also down two starting pitchers and three relievers.

“It’s unfortunate,” Kelly said. “You never want to see guys get hurt. It stinks that it’s all happening at the same time.”

The 26-year-old Kelly has been arguably the D-backs' best player this season, batting .338 with six homers through 28 games. Kelly said he's hoping to get the swelling out of his foot and then be able to return after missing just a minimum of 10 days.

The D-backs called up infielder Domingo Leyba and relievers Joe Mantiply and Yoan López from Triple-A to take the place of Kelly, Bukauskas and Devenski.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: Victor Robles started and played center field without any issues one day after leaving the game early. He was hit in the right hamstring with a pitch.

Diamondbacks: Manager Torey Lovullo said Marte (strained right hamstring) and RHP Taylor Widener (strained right groin) are progressing and will likely go to Triple-A Reno for a rehab stint before returning to the club.

UP NEXT

The teams wrap up the three-game series Sunday when the Diamondbacks send RHP Luke Weaver (2-3, 5.00) to the mound to face Washington RHP Erick Fedde (2-4, 5.29).

------