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Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

The Nationals pitchers threw a combined one-hit shutout led by starter Joe Ross and the offense was led by Matt Adams. The bullpen threw 3 2/3 perfect innings, but Roenis Elias in his Nats debut exited with an apparent hamstring injury that in the postgame was described as a cramp, and it happened when he was asked to bat. In other news, Howie Kendrick was scratched in the pre-game due to a leg cramp. More will be known tomorrow on the condition of both players. The Nats won 3-0, with the offense provided by Matt Adams who hit a 2-run double with 2 outs, and Juan Soto hit an add-on home run. Adams 2-runs broke up the 0-0 tie in the 6th inning and is all the Nats needed to notch the W. The Nats defense was excellent in this pitcher’s duel in a game that the Nats hung the first loss of the season on rookie Alex Young of the Diamondbacks who was also pitching well until Adams got him in a lefty-lefty matchup. The D’Backs intentionally walked Brian Dozier in front of Adams just to try to victimize Adams who was a late entry into the lineup to replace Kendrick! Continue reading →

Bob Henley and Adam Eaton; Photo by Jim Osborn for TalkNats

The Nationals have been the team that never gives up, and they came back from a 4-1 deficit to tie it up in the 9th inning and hang a blown save on the Braves bullpen. But Sean Doolittle gave up a home run to Josh Donaldson in the 10th inning, and the Nats had two runners on in the bottom of the 10th inning and could not push across any runs. Rewind back to the 6th inning when pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick walked and Trea Turner laced a double into the gap with no outs — but for some reason, third base coach Bob Henley windmilled Kendrick home and he was easily thrown out for the first out of the inning and the Nationals did not score in that inning. What was Henley thinking sending Kendrick who was recovering this year from an achilles injury and a hamstring injury. Howie is not the speedster he once was, and with Adam Eaton, Anthony Rendon, and Juan Soto behind them in the order — you move the line!  Continue reading →

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Every Nats starter had a hit in this game, but clawing back from a 9-run hole courtesy of Nats starter Erick Fedde proved to be too deep of a hole as the Nationals lost 11-8. It was good to see Howie Kendrick once again pummeling the ball as he went 3-5 in the game, and Trea Turner, Yan Gomes, and Juan Soto each added home runs. There is no way to put a positive spin on Fedde’s night as he was pulled at 3 2/3 innings and gave up 9-runs on 9-hits with four walks. If there is any good news, manager Dave Martinez only used his “B” bullpen and saved all of his back-end arms thanks to Javy Guerra who mopped up 3 1/3 innings while Michael Blazek and Tony Sipp closed out the game. Continue reading →

When Patrick Corbin needed some more run support, Anthony Rendon took the 2-2 tie and in an instant made it 6-2 with a 412 foot grand slam that left his bat as a no-doubter at 105 mph into the leftfield stands in Section 105 of Nationals Park among the Nats faithful. Corbin who exited after he completed the top of the 6th inning in a tied game needed some runs in the bottom of the 6th to have a chance at a win otherwise it would have been a no-decision, and Rendon obliged. Corbin’s teammates came through as the Nats defeated the Braves to cut their lead in the NL East to 4.5 games. Continue reading →