Moreno tallies 2 hits, drives in game-winning run vs. Nationals

WASHINGTON – Gabriel Moreno is having the kind of run that even when he makes an out, he helps the team.

Moreno had two hits, and his seventh-inning sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run in the Diamondbacks’ 3-2 win over the Nationals on Friday night.

After Arizona loaded the bases on singles by Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll and a walk by Geraldo Perdomo with one out, Moreno flied to deep left on an 0-1 pitch off Tom Cosgrove, scoring Marte to make it 3-2.

“I know he throws good sliders,” Moreno said. “He threw me a first-pitch slider, and then I was expecting something close to me. He threw it and I hit the fly ball bringing in the run.”

The D-backs have won four straight and six of seven after taking the opener of the series between two teams trying to determine their course ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. Arizona (55-49) holds the third National League Wild Card spot, and Washington (52-52) is three games back.

Moreno, meanwhile, reached base safely in his 40th straight start, passing Jay Bell (39 in 1998) for sole possession of the second-longest streak in club history behind Carroll (44 in 2024).

Of his past 15 games, the Arizona catcher has reached base two times or more in 12 of them, batting .421 (24-for-57) with four doubles, one homer, eight RBIs and nine walks in that span.

“It seems like he’s on base with every at-bat,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He spoils us with a really good approach. There’s just an ease to his game, and he’s kind of in the middle of everything.”

Moreno credits his mental approach for his success this season.

“Sometimes, especially in my position, you have a lot on your mind,” Moreno said. “I’ve been working on that. Staying level no matter what situation it is. … I know moments go up and down. I have to stay the same and do my job.”

Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings while striking out four and throwing 98 pitches (63 strikes). He allowed baserunners in five of six innings, but he was able to pitch out of it except in the fourth, when CJ Abrams singled and Dylan Crews smacked a two-run homer.

His previous time out, Rodriguez allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings against the Cardinals.

“My last start, I was missing a lot of spots,” Rodriguez said. “That happens, and today I just tried to execute. And I executed, and we ended up winning the game.”

Rodriguez struck out Abrams with one out and runners on second and third in the first inning and got Crews to fly out. In the fifth, the Nationals had runners on second and third with one out, but Rodriguez struck out Harry Ford, walked Luis García Jr. and got Nasim Nuñez to ground out.

Arizona is 16-5 in games Rodriguez starts.

The bullpen provided three scoreless innings. and Paul Sewald earned his 24th save.

Arizona’s first run came after Adrian Del Castillo sacrificed runners to second and third and Tim Tawa laid down a perfect safety squeeze, getting an infield hit and scoring a run in the second. The D-backs got a second run in the inning when Marte beat the relay throw on a potential double play.

“I thought we did a lot of little things right,” Lovullo said. “It all added up, and it was a great win. The bullpen went lights out, they executed. Paul got that big save.”