Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks mlb live streaming radio commentary June 5, 2011. The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the biggest surprises this season, and pitching is a major reason.
Ian Kennedy is emerging as a vital contributor.
Kennedy looks to keep the Diamondbacks rolling while setting a franchise record by shutting down the Washington Nationals for a third consecutive meeting Sunday.
The Diamondbacks have vaulted to the top of the West due to an 18-4 run that includes a 3.08 ERA.
That stellar pitching has been on display in this four-game series, as Arizona has won the last two games via shutouts after falling 6-1 in the opener Thursday. Joe Saunders, David Hernandez and J.J. Putz held the Nationals (25-33) to four hits in Saturday's 2-0 victory.
"It's huge when they're picking us up when we're not getting a lot of offense," said shortstop Stephen Drew, who has two hits and four RBIs in the last two games. "At the same time, we're getting timely hitting with the RBIs."
Kennedy (6-2, 3.16 ERA) will try to continue the Diamondbacks' impressive run as the team seeks a franchise-record third consecutive shutout. It would be the first time Washington has been blanked in three straight contests since April 13-15, 2004, when they were the Montreal Expos.
Kennedy is a strong candidate to shut down the Nationals again since he's 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA over his last nine starts. However, that defeat came in his latest trip to the mound Tuesday, when he allowed three runs in five innings of a 5-2 loss to Florida.
The right-hander is also 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts versus the Nationals.
Washington has dropped 10 of 12 on the road while batting .190 in those defeats and going 8 for 66 with runners in scoring position. The team's .231 season average is among the lowest in baseball and has undermined the staff's 3.73 ERA, an improvement from last seasons' 4.13.
"To me, it's about the good pitching in general -- we are not winning ballgames when we pitched so well," manager Jim Riggleman said. "Everybody feels that on the club. Myself right on down to the coaches and player all feel terrible about the way we have squandered some chances to win ballgames when we pitch this well."
Riggleman turns to Jason Marquis (6-2, 4.13), who's received more run support on average than any pitcher in the NL at 6.98.
The right-hander got plenty of backing in Tuesday's 10-2 win over Philadelphia, as he allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
"Any time runs are on the board, you can relax a little bit," Marquis said. "It allows those mistakes not to be as noticed."
Marquis is 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA in seven starts at Arizona, and 0-4 with a 7.86 ERA in the last five overall against the Diamondbacks.
Ian Kennedy is emerging as a vital contributor.
Kennedy looks to keep the Diamondbacks rolling while setting a franchise record by shutting down the Washington Nationals for a third consecutive meeting Sunday.
4:10 PM ET, June 5, 2011
Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Sunday, June 5, 2011Arizona (33-26) finished at the bottom of the NL West in each of the last two seasons, but the club is the surprise division leader with a one-half game advantage on San Francisco, the reigning World Series champion.
TEAMS TIME (ET) NAT TV PITCHERS
Texas at Cleveland 1:05 PM Wilson vs Talbot
LA Dodgers at Cincinnati 1:10 PM Billingsley vs Wood
Milwaukee at Florida 1:10 PM Narveson vs Sanchez
Toronto at Baltimore 1:35 PM Reyes vs Guthrie
Oakland at Boston 1:35 PM Anderson vs Lackey
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM Halladay vs McDonald
Detroit at Chicago White Sox 2:10 PM Penny vs Peavy
Minnesota at Kansas City 2:10 PM Duensing vs Francis
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis 2:15 PM Zambrano vs Carpenter
NY Yankees at LA Angels 3:35 PM Colon vs Pineiro
Colorado at San Francisco 4:05 PM Hammel vs Vogelsong
Tampa Bay at Seattle 4:10 PM Davis vs Bedard
Washington at Arizona 4:10 PM Marquis vs Kennedy
Houston at San Diego 6:35 PM Lyles vs Latos
Atlanta at NY Mets 8:05 PM Hudson vs Dickey
The Diamondbacks have vaulted to the top of the West due to an 18-4 run that includes a 3.08 ERA.
That stellar pitching has been on display in this four-game series, as Arizona has won the last two games via shutouts after falling 6-1 in the opener Thursday. Joe Saunders, David Hernandez and J.J. Putz held the Nationals (25-33) to four hits in Saturday's 2-0 victory.
"It's huge when they're picking us up when we're not getting a lot of offense," said shortstop Stephen Drew, who has two hits and four RBIs in the last two games. "At the same time, we're getting timely hitting with the RBIs."
Kennedy (6-2, 3.16 ERA) will try to continue the Diamondbacks' impressive run as the team seeks a franchise-record third consecutive shutout. It would be the first time Washington has been blanked in three straight contests since April 13-15, 2004, when they were the Montreal Expos.
Kennedy is a strong candidate to shut down the Nationals again since he's 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA over his last nine starts. However, that defeat came in his latest trip to the mound Tuesday, when he allowed three runs in five innings of a 5-2 loss to Florida.
The right-hander is also 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts versus the Nationals.
Washington has dropped 10 of 12 on the road while batting .190 in those defeats and going 8 for 66 with runners in scoring position. The team's .231 season average is among the lowest in baseball and has undermined the staff's 3.73 ERA, an improvement from last seasons' 4.13.
"To me, it's about the good pitching in general -- we are not winning ballgames when we pitched so well," manager Jim Riggleman said. "Everybody feels that on the club. Myself right on down to the coaches and player all feel terrible about the way we have squandered some chances to win ballgames when we pitch this well."
Riggleman turns to Jason Marquis (6-2, 4.13), who's received more run support on average than any pitcher in the NL at 6.98.
The right-hander got plenty of backing in Tuesday's 10-2 win over Philadelphia, as he allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
"Any time runs are on the board, you can relax a little bit," Marquis said. "It allows those mistakes not to be as noticed."
Marquis is 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA in seven starts at Arizona, and 0-4 with a 7.86 ERA in the last five overall against the Diamondbacks.
