PHOENIX -- The Nationals scored nine runs against the D-backs on Saturday.
Before the first out of the game.
Washington’s nine runs were the second-most scored before a first out of the game in the expansion era (since 1961). The Red Sox hold the record with 10 runs on June 27, 2003, per Elias Sports Bureau.
The Nationals tied the National League record with nine runs before the first out, not done since the Phillies on Aug. 13, 1948.
The early offense propelled Washington to an 11-7 win over Arizona. The Nationals have won four in a row (with a total of 38 runs) and eight of their last 10.
“I’ve been a part of some crooked numbers, but that was a good one,” said Nathaniel Lowe. “It was nice to obviously jump on a pretty solid Major League starter and put up a first inning like that. You don’t see it often, but we capitalized on it.”
The Nats brought 16 batters to the plate and scored 10 total runs in the first inning. It was the highest-scoring opening frame in team history (2005-present).
The inning began with a miscue by D-backs starter Brandon Pfaadt when he hit CJ Abrams with an 0-2 pitch in the leadoff at-bat. James Wood advanced Abrams to second base on a line drive to right field.
Lowe collected the first extra-base hit and RBI of the game with a double that drove in Abrams. The next at-bat, Luis García Jr. cleared the bases with a double.
“We’ve got some young kids that are really still learning how to hit up here,” manager Dave Martinez said. “But when they have that kind of approach … that’s awesome. Don’t try to do too much. Just go up there and see the ball, get it up and put a good swing on it.”
Pfaadt faltered again and hit Josh Bell with a pitch. Robert Hassell III then loaded the bases with a line-drive single into center field.
Keibert Ruiz took advantage of the runners in scoring position and drove in García and Bell with a double. The Nationals led 5-0, and they were only halfway there.
José Tena plated Hassell and Ruiz with a double, ending Pfaadt’s evening after just 31 pitches. His ERA ballooned from 3.90 to 5.05.
Daylen Lile had been looking forward to facing Pfaadt, who is from his hometown of Louisville, Ky., but the rookie quickly pivoted to a new pitching matchup. Lile hit a 423-foot RBI double that was just short of his first Major League home run off reliever Scott McGough.
“[My teammates] told me to hit the gym more,” Lile said with a laugh. “I could definitely use a couple more pushups. But no, they were just happy for me to get that hit and pass it down the line.”
New pitcher, same result for Abrams. The shortstop was hit by a pitch again to take a free base. (Abrams was hit by a pitch for the third time in the sixth inning.) Wood then singled into center field to drive in Lile.
The Nationals’ zero-outs streak came to an end in the 11th at-bat of the inning. Lowe struck out swinging on a six-pitch at-bat that transformed the boos to cheers at Chase Field. The Nats tied the 2003 Red Sox for the longest streak of batters reaching safely to start a game (via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch) in the expansion era.
“The exact thought going through my head is, don’t be the first out,” Lowe said. “So that was really fun to make the first out today and get the crowd into it a little bit.”
Washington added another run on a García forceout that drove in Abrams. The inning ended after 16 at-bats, 60 pitches and 30 minutes -- enough time for the Nationals to build a double-digit lead the D-backs could not overcome.
“We’re swinging at better pitches, getting the ball up and we are really focused on using the whole field, staying in the middle of the field,” Martinez said. “So when we do that, you can see, we hit the ball pretty good.”