Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
How about that game!! The Washington Nationals have held this potent Philadelphia lineup to just eight runs over the first three games of this weekend series, and have now taken two of those three games. This Nats win was in front of a crowd of 36,042 in Nationals Park.
The Nats did it today behind a very minimal effort from the offense, getting a two-run double from James Wood for the only scoring. That would be all they’d need as Cade Cavalli threw 7.0 brilliant scoreless innings, and Jose A. Ferrer got the final six outs to put this game to bed with a clutch save.
It was a game of missed opportunities, the Phillies mounted a two-on, one-out rally in the top of the third but Cavalli was able to get out of it with no damage. They had that same opportunity in the fourth but Max Kepler grounded into a double play to put that rally to bed. Early in the game, Trea Turner was on second base with no outs and Cavalli picked him off. Defense matters and Cavalli made four excellent defensive plays to help his cause.
The Nats then had their own two-on opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, but Luis Garcia Jr. grounded out to end the inning harmlessly.
The big swing in this game came in the bottom of the fifth inning, James Wood stepped up with men on first and second and two outs, and socked a line drive into the gap in right-center. Two runs came into score and the 2-0 score would hold until the end.
- Taijuan Walker: 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 94 pitches
- Cade Cavalli: 7 innings, 7 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, 90 pitches
Jose A. Ferrer has blossomed into the closer we hoped he could be at the beginning of this season. Tonight was just an addition to his ledger, as interim-manager Miguel Cairo gave him the chance to record a six-out save, and he got it done.
Positives this afternoon were scarce, it was a great game to win, but it did not come with many great individual performances. Cavalli and Ferrer were tremendous, and offensively it was Josh Bell who recorded the only multi-hit game out of the Nats’ lineup.
The series will conclude tomorrow morning with an early one, an 11:35 start. Mitchell Parker (7-13, 5.55 ERA) will be on the bump for the Nationals. Unfortunately, it feels to me like he’s been an automatic loss lately, I just don’t get excited at all about seeing him in the starter’s role. I’m really afraid this could end up being another bump in the road, as this just isn’t the team I see him breaking out of his rut against. The Nats will face Aaron Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA), who’s making his first big league start since May 14th. He’s been on the injured list all summer, and wasn’t particularly effective before then. The Nats will have to get to him to give Parker a shot to win and take three out of four.
