PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Washington Nationals wasted no time taking control Friday night, pounding out 16 hits and four home runs in a dominant 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks before a crowd of 24,272 at Chase Field.

Washington improved to 32-32 on the season, while Arizona fell to 33-30 in the opener of a three-game series.

The Nationals jumped ahead immediately in the first inning. After James Wood drew a leadoff walk, Luis Garcia Jr. drove a two-run home run down the right-field line and into the visitors' bullpen to give Washington a 2-0 lead.

Arizona starter Merrill Kelly struggled to contain the Nationals throughout the evening. Washington added four more runs in the third inning, highlighted by Wood's 17th home run of the season, an RBI single by Daylen Lile, and a two-run double from Jorbit Vivas that pushed the lead to 6-0.

The Diamondbacks finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Aramis Garcia launched a 409-foot solo home run to left field for his first homer of the season. It would prove to be Arizona's only run of the game.

Washington continued to build its lead in the fifth inning when Lile connected on his eighth home run of the year, making it 7-1.

The decisive blow came in the sixth inning. Drew Millas and Nasim Nunez opened the frame with singles before Luis Garcia Jr. crushed the first grand slam of his Major League career. Moments later, CJ Abrams followed with a solo homer to right field as the Nationals extended their advantage to 12-1.

Garcia Jr. finished with two home runs and six RBIs, while Wood, Abrams, and Lile each added home runs of their own. Vivas drove in three runs and the Nationals scored in six different innings.

Washington starter Foster Griffin delivered a strong performance on the mound, earning the victory to improve to 7-2. Arizona managed just one run on seven hits and struck out repeatedly against Griffin and the Nationals bullpen.

One bright spot for the Diamondbacks came in the seventh inning when Kade Strowd made his Arizona debut after being acquired from Baltimore in the trade that sent Blaze Alexander to the Orioles.

The Nationals added one run in the eighth and another in the ninth to complete the 14-1 rout.

The Diamondbacks will attempt to rebound Saturday afternoon when they continue the series at Chase Field. Arizona is expected to send Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1) to the mound against Washington's Zack Littell (5-4). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.

Final Score: Washington 14, Arizona 1

​Washington finished with 14 runs on 16 hits and one error. Arizona collected one run on seven hits.

Past Diamondbacks Articles:
Ketel Marte Walks It Off as Diamondbacks Stun Dodgers 3-2 in Phoenix 
Dodgers Silence Diamondbacks in 7-0 Rout at Chase Field as Shohei Ohtani Dominates 

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