The result was not there for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, but the starting pitching was. Again. It's becoming a trend.
D-backs right-hander Ian Kennedy suffered a 2-1 loss at Washington on Thursday, his first loss since a rain-shortened game in Philadelphia on Aug. 18, 2011, a span of 12 starts. But it really was not his fault. Arizona got only one runner past second base in a game the locals will remember because Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper got his first game-winning hit, an RBI double in the sixth inning that broke a 1-1 tie.
Kennedy gave up four hits and a walk in seven innings while making his fifth quality start in six outings this year, tying teammate Joe Saunders for tops in the National League in quality starts. Kennedy has given up only six runs in his last 20 1/3 innings but is 1-1 with a no-decision in that span.
"It's always really tough when you lose these close games," Kennedy said.
The Diamondbacks' rotation has made quality starts in nine of the last 12 games, and rookie left-hander Patrick Corbin was one out from making that 10 of 12 when he was pulled after allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-5 victory Monday. That game was never in doubt after the D-backs took a 7-0 lead through four innings.
The D-backs' starting pitchers have a 3.67 ERA, in the middle of the pack in the NL, but that number that is skewed because of a few very bad outings. The rotation is tied for fourth in the league with 16 quality starts, more representative of the group's season.
Saunders (2-1, 1.24 ERA) has made quality starts in all five of his appearances this season, and left-hander Wade Miley is 2 for 2 since taking the rotation spot of injured right-hander Daniel Hudson. Miley has given up three hits and no earned runs 12 1/3 innings in the rotation entering his Friday start in the series opener against the New York Mets, the final stop on the D-backs' 10-game road trip.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- 2B Aaron Hill has reached base via hit, walk or hit batsman in 20 consecutive games and in 23 of the 25 he has played this season. His RBI double in the sixth inning Thursday briefly tied the score at 1-1 and gave him 12 RBIs. Only Atlanta's Dan Uggla (15) has more among NL second basemen. Hill also has three stolen bases, second among NL second basemen.
-- RF Justin Upton, who has had two 20-20 seasons in the last three years, had his stolen-base streak broken Thursday when he failed to reach base in four plate appearances. Upton had stolen second base in each of the previous four games, the longest streak in his career. He had four steals in a four-game span once before, but two were in one game. Upton has five stolen bases on the season. His career high is 21, set when he also had 31 homers in 2011.
-- RHP Ian Kennedy (3-1, 3.23 ERA) has five quality starts this season, although he has a no-decision and a loss in his last two outings. He was the loser Thursday after giving up two runs at Washington, and he got a no-decision at Miami on April 28, a game in which the bullpen could not hold a 2-1 lead.
-- RHP J.J. Putz, who gave up only four home runs while saving a career-high 45 games in 58 innings in 2011, has given up three homers in his first 8 1/3 innings this season. Two of those were two-run, ninth-inning walk-offs, the first by Colorado 1B Todd Helton on April 14 and the second by Washington SS Ian Desmond on Wednesday.
-- 1B Paul Goldschmidt appears to be coming out of an early-season funk during a four-game hitting streak. He had six hits in the three-game series against Washington to raise his average from .193 to .246. He had doubled the last two games and drove in a run Wednesday.
BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Quality starts by the Diamondbacks staff, tied for fourth in the National League.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's very impactful in their lineup and played great for them. He had a huge impact in their two wins." -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson on Nationals rookie Bryce Harper, who had three doubles in the final two games of the series.
ROSTER REPORT
-- RHP Daniel Hudson (right shoulder impingement) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He won't throw his first bullpen session until May 6.
-- CF Chris Young (small tear in right shoulder ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list April 18. He took 35 swings off a batting tee at the D-backs' minor league facility April 30. No return date has been set.
-- SS Stephen Drew (right ankle surgery in July 2011) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He began playing games in extended spring training April 12, but the timetable for his return is uncertain.
-- RHP Takashi Saito (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Visalia on April 19, but he suffered a setback while taking fielding practice. He is out indefinitely.
-- INF Geoff Blum (strained oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 17, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 30.
