Paolo Espino first learned Saturday morning that there was a possibility he’d be pitching for the Washington Nationals the following afternoon. With Stephen Strasburg scratched from his scheduled start due to right shoulder inflammation, Espino was called up from the alternate training site for the series finale with the Diamondbacks.
Waiting to welcome the 34-year-old Espino back to the big leagues was the Diamondbacks’ Josh Rojas, who sent a leadoff home run flying out of Nationals Park.
But beyond that early blast and a long ball in the fourth inning, Espino held his own during his 4 1/3 innings as an emergency starter.