Defense Matters. We cannot say it enough. This Washington Nationals team has to rely on getting the best pitching they can which is enhanced and maximized by the best defense the team can put in place. Today’s defensive assignments did not meet that standard with the team’s worst defensive game of the season to lead to four unearned runs, and a soaring pitch count on starter Jake Irvin. He deserved better just like previous starts.
Remember, not all errors are recorded as such in the box score because the rules allow, not only the judgment of an official scorer, — but also rules like you cannot assume a double play. The Nats lost by a final score of 6-3. That does not tell the whole story. Do the math and the Nats win 3-2 if the errors never happened. But you also have to figure that Irvin would have been able to pitcher deeper into the game past the 5th inning, and manager Dave Martinez probably would have pitched his “A” bullpen.
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