The lineups didn't wait long to answer. Arizona jumped out with early runs off Mikolas, getting solo homers from Marte and Perdomo to stake Drake to a cushion, before Washington's bats took over.
Arizona had won 3 straight before dropping this series, and for a few innings Sunday it looked like the D-backs might steal the finale too. But the Diamondbacks are still piecing a rotation together on the fly, with Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Michael Soroka and Ryne Nelson all sidelined, which is exactly why a rookie like Drake was getting a start of this magnitude in the first place.
CJ Abrams turned the game in Washington's favor with 2 home runs, and the Nationals piled on from there, riding a big middle-innings surge to pull away for good. It's the kind of complete performance the Nationals need more of if they're going to climb back to .500 with a rotation that's already down Jake Irvin, Trevor Williams and Josiah Gray for the long haul.
Both clubs are hovering around .500 with deadline decisions still to make, and this finale was a reminder of how thin the margins are for either side — one bad afternoon from a starter, and a bullpen that's already stretched has to bail everyone out.