Curtis Mead hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Dylan Crews also homered and the Washington Nationals held the Arizona Diamondbacks to two hits, beating them 6-1 on Saturday.
Nasim Nuñez drove in two runs and Crews scored twice for the Nationals (33-32), who improved to 21-12 on the road. Only the Atlanta Braves, leaders of the National League East, have more road wins, with 23.
Washington starter Zack Littell (6-4) pitched five effective innings. He didn’t allow a hit until the fifth, when Pavin Smith led off with a single.
Smith scored on LuJames Groover’s single, the first hit and first RBI in the Major Leagues for the Arizona first baseman, who was playing the second game of his career.
Littell walked one and struck out four. Brad Lord worked two innings to earn his first save in the Major Leagues. A trio of Nationals relievers combined to go four hitless innings.
Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez (5-2), seeking his 100th career victory, got off to a poor start when James Wood singled to lead off the game and Mead followed with his ninth home run, a blast to left-center field.
Rodriguez settled down after that and allowed just two hits over the next five innings, until Crews led off the seventh with his second home run of the season. After Jacob Young hit a triple with one out, Rodríguez was relieved by his compatriot Juan Morillo, and Nuñez’s bunt on a squeeze play brought Young to the plate to make the score 4-1.
