The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

Sometimes the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, and the Nationals once again had a three run lead in the 9th inning like they did eight days ago and five days ago and again tonight and each time Sean Doolittle was brought in to close out the game. In those three games, Doolittle blew two saves and was a run away from another and combined gave up 10 earned runs. Why has manager Dave Martinez followed the same game plan in each game? The last two fastballs that Doolittle threw tonight had diminished velocity at 91 and 90 mph which are well below his season’s average 93.6 mph. Continue reading →

This was one of those signature wins from the Nats who only had 3-hits and no home runs yet they scored the only two runs they needed to win this one behind some small ball along with some exceptional pitching by starter Patrick Corbin, Daniel Hudson, Hunter Strickland, and closer Sean Doolittle. The Nationals won this game by a final score of 2-1 which left no margin for error in a game that the Brewers seemed to have runners on-base most of the night — because they did in every inning except the second inning. The Brewers got a 7-inning gem from Adrian Houser, and the Nats won this one off of the Brewers bullpen after Trea Turner worked a lead-off walk then took second base on an Adam Eaton bunt and scored on an Anthony Rendon double much the same way the Nats scored their first run of the game thanks to Turner and Rendon.

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Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

This game had the look of a classic pitcher’s duel between Stephen Strasburg and Trevor Bauer as they went to the bottom of the fifth inning in a 1-1 game. Both runs were scored without a hit, and this game looked like the next mistake by either team could be the difference in the game. But the bottom of the fifth inning would change everything with one out and Stephen Strasburg up to bat with 2 strikes and runners on third and second base, the former Silver Slugger served a forehand over the second baseman to score one run to make it a 2-1 game as the wheels were about to come off. The Nats then hit a single, Adam Eaton 3-run home run, Anthony Rendon solo home run, single, walk, and finally a pitching change at a 7-1 game. The Nats continued to roll and finished the inning at 11-1 while putting 9 earned runs on Bauer’s ledger in 4 1/3 innings. That 10-run fifth inning set a record for these 2019 Nationals for runs scored in one inning.  Continue reading →

Joe Ross could be the spot starter on Saturday

For the third game in a row, Joe Ross dominated and while his shutout streak ended at 18 innings, he finished tonight with 6 2/3 innings of one run baseball with help from his defense as Victor Robles for the second night in a row had a key outfield assist which is tied for tops in the Majors at nine. Daniel Hudson came in for a 4-out save, and Hunter Strickland and Wander Suero threw a 2 1/3 inning shutout. The offense was courtesy of the speed of Robles to score the first run on a non-force play doubleplay along with solo home runs by Juan Soto and Brian Dozier for a Nats 3-1 win. Continue reading →