Gomes HR, gets Locastro, Nats top D'backs for 1st win streak

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yan Gomes homered, drove in two runs and became the first major league catcher to throw out Tim Locastro on a steal attempt after 29 consecutive swipes to start his career, helping the Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 for their first back-to-back wins this season.

Gomes entered Saturday without an extra-base hit and just one RBI in 2021, but he went 3 for 4 at the plate.

With help from a terrific tag by Starlin Castro, Gomes also ended the Locastro's perfect record on the basepaths, the most successful steal attempts in a row at the beginning of an MLB career in at least 70 years.

The Hall of Fame asked for Locastro's spikes last weekend after he set the record. He was thrown out making a dive into second base in the third inning and left the game with a dislocated left pinkie finger.

Erick Fedde (1-1) tied his career high with nine strikeouts in five innings for Washington, which is 5-7. He gave up five hits and one run, via Kole Calhoun's solo shot in the third right after Gomes got Locastro at second base.

Gomes, who missed the start of the season because of COVID-19 protocols, matched that deep shot in the bottom half, driving a 93 mph fastball from Luke Weaver (1-1) over the fence.

Washington went up 4-1 with a three-run fourth. Consecutive doubles by Castro and Andrew Stevenson broke the tie, Gomes followed with an RBI single, and Juan Soto tacked on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

Weaver allowed nine hits and four runs in four innings.

Washington's Ryan Zimmerman produced a pinch-hit homer in the eighth. Kyle Schwarber — whose upper-deck shot in the ninth ended the Nationals' 1-0 victory Friday — and Trea Turner had three hits apiece.

Eduardo Escobar hit his sixth homer of the year for Arizona, which has dropped four of its...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Gomes-HR-gets-Locastro-Nats-top-D-backs-for-1st-16108988.php