Arizona Diamondbacks-Washington Nationals game updates: Burnes struggling, Herrera’s rare home run

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals are tied at 2 in the bottom of the second inning at Nationals Park, as starting pitcher Corbin Burnes labored through the bottom of the first, throwing 28 pitches, including 14 balls.

Burnes allowed two runs on three hits, and it could have been worse. If not for catcher José Herrera’s tag of Nathaniel Lowe at the plate for the final out of the inning, Burnes would have still needed to get a third out, and there would have been two on base.

Corbin Carroll, who couldn’t come up with a line drive to right field that went for a double for Lowe, provided the outfield assist. Herrera tied the game in the top of the second with his first home run of the season, equaling the number of home runs he hit last season.

Burnes walked two batters and struck out two in the first.

After the first inning, fans cheered as a replay of Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin’s record-setting 895th career NHL goal that he scored Sunday was replayed on the video board.

Clutch Grichuk in D.C.

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Randal Grichuk entered Sunday, April 6, batting .313 in seven games played, and four of his five hits were doubles. He also delivered in the clutch on the two previous days. Grichuk’s two-out, two-run, tie-breaking double in the seventh inning gave the Diamondbacks the win on April 4.

On April 5, Grichuk singled with two outs to drive in Tim Tawa in the sixth inning for the Diamondbacks’ first run of the day.

“He’s got a real good idea of what he’s trying to do per at-bat,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Grichuk. “He doesn’t just hit lefties. We’re equipped to handle it differently. I know that he wants to play every day, but with Pavin (Smith) and he splitting the (DH) job, I think they both complement each other. Not surprised by that at all, he’s just a good hitter, smart hitter and an experienced hitter.”

Smith got the start on April 6, but the two have been used interchangeably as pinch hitters for each other later in games as matchups against pitchers dictate.

Arizona Diamondbacks-Washington Nationals Sunday pitching matchup

Diamondbacks at Nationals, 10:35 a.m., Cox, Ch. 34

Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 4.15) vs. Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (0-0, 5.40)

At Nationals Park: Burnes looks for a better outing than his season and Diamondbacks debut, in which he allowed four earned runs in 4 ⅓ innings despite eight strikeouts on April 1. This is to be his third career start against the Nationals, and first since May of 2024. “He’s a perfectionist. He’s striving for the smallest spot on the plate to throw a pitch as perfectly as he can,” Lovullo said. “He knows how to get balls to certain places at certain times and it’s a lot of fun to watch.” Williams is 12-11 over the past two seasons with the Nationals. He played his college ball at Arizona State, pitched five innings in his first start of the 2025 season and allowed four runs on 10 hits. He is 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA against the Diamondbacks in his career, having made nine appearances (eight starts) against them.

Coming up

Monday, April 7: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.38) vs. Orioles RHP Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.75).

Tuesday, April 8: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (1-1, 10.00) vs. Orioles RHP Charlie Morton (0-2, 9.72).

Wednesday, April 9: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 5.25) vs. Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (1-1, 6.52).