Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Happy birthday to Anthony Rendon who went 4-for-5 in support of Tanner Roark who had an easy game in an 11-to-2 Washington Nationals win and sweep of this two-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Nationals jumped out to a quick lead in the 1st inning and batted around while scoring 5-runs with two of those runs coming from a bases loaded single by Tanner Roark. In fact, this is the most runs the Nationals have scored in 37 days at the 1st of May. In fact every Nats starter reached base safely with all players except the hard-luck Pedro Severino accumulating at least one hit. Trea Turner started the Nats offense with a single as the barrage started, and along with Rendon, Juan Soto, and Michael Taylor they all had at least 2-hits. The Nats as a team had 15-hits.
“[Michael Taylor] has been working with Kevin [Long],” manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s been trying to get his swing shorter and swinging at strikes.”
There was one chippy point in this blow-out game with 2-outs and a 7-run lead that Michael Taylor stole 3rd base and scored on a throwing error by Wilson Ramos. The pitcher on the mound was ex-Giant Sergio Romo who was not too pleased. Besides some chirping at 3rd base coach Bob Henley, there was no retribution.
With this win, the Nationals moved to 10-games above .500 and the team has an off-day tomorrow before facing the San Francisco Giants this weekend at Nationals Park.
