The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Pitching ace Clayton Kershaw went 7 innings and gave up 1 run while Yusmeiro Petit went 6 innings and gave up 3 runs in this game that was billed as the match-up of the season originally scheduled with Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg who was scratched shortly before 1st pitch.

This game never felt close for the first 6 innings as Kershaw loves working with a lead, even if it is just 1 run and Kershaw had a 3 run lead, but Kershaw got in trouble in the 7th inning and the Nationals could only score 1 run.

The Nationals actually had 6 hits off of Kershaw, and Chris Heisey was at-bat with the tying runs on 3rd and 2nd base with 2 outs and he could not deliver.

The Nationals did battle against the best pitcher in the universe which is all you can ask for. Michael Taylor extended his ‘starter’ hitting streak to 18 straight games. In fact all Nationals starters including Petit had hits in this game except for Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa. In fact, it was actually Yusmeiro Petit who broke up the no-hitter of Kershaw in the 3rd inning. Most would agree that Kershaw did not look his sharpest as he had several 3 ball counts including a 3-0 count where Wilson Ramos was in swing-mode and singled off of him. In typical Kershaw style, he bent but did not break. He issued no walks, 6 hits, and only the 1 earned run while pitching out of trouble.

As for Strasburg’s health, he said he felt a pinch in his upper back while lifting weights on Saturday in San Diego. Strasburg was receiving treatment and taking medications, and it did not feel 100% near game time when Strasburg decided it was best to not repeat the mistakes of last year and pitch when not near 100% healthy. “When the meds didn’t really seem to help much … I was like, it’s just not worth the risk,” Strasburg said. “[Petit] did a great job out there. I was trying to make the right decision — didn’t want to go out there and go a couple innings and feel like I couldn’t go any longer and have him come out of the bullpen. So at least we were able to make a decision before the start of the game so he could get ready properly.” Continue reading →

Gio Gonzalez could not get it done today even after his team got the game tied at 3-3 for him after Gio fell in a 3-1 deficit. Gio gave up 6 runs of which 5 were earned as Gio’s ERA has ballooned to 4.25.  Gio’s ERA on May 2nd was 1.15 then he gave this interview after the game:

“It’s crazy how it is when a manager lets you pitch more than three innings,” Gonzalez said. “When your manager believes in you so much. I’m just happy to see has all the confidence in the world to let me pitch. I’ve been doing this for quite a while. I’m just grateful that he believes in me every inning and he lets me go out there and become the pitcher I am. I’m glad he’s giving me a little more rope.”

Some call it baseball karma that he is reaping what he sowed as Gio clearly dissed his previous manager, and you don’t publicly do that. In Gio’s next start after those comments, he gave up 5 runs in Chicago for a tough loss. The team is now 5-9 in Gio’s starts and have now lost his last 6 starts.

This game today featured a breakout game by Michael Taylor going 4-4 with 2 home runs and a double. Danny Espinosa had the other run on a home run. Other than that it was a disappointing day although Matt Belisle and Felipe Rivero were good out of the bullpen.

This game had that September 8, 2015 feel to it where the Nats relievers (Treinen, Rivero, Storen) combined for giving up 6 runs in an inning and blowing a win. It was like deja vu all over again as Rivero and Treinen combined for giving up 6 runs to blow a win.

People are looking to place blame in a team game, but you can see where plays weren’t made on defense and the 2nd batter in the 8th inning popped up in shallow centerfield, and the ball wasn’t caught. That opened the floodgates as the 3rd batter walked and disaster followed. Defensive alignments changed to allow 2 more balls to fall in plus an error by Felipe Rivero on a comebacker that was a tailor-made doubleplay when the score was 3-3 at that point.

Clearly something has to be done with Felipe Rivero. From April 22 to April 26, Rivero appeared 3 times in 3 multi inning relief appearances, and it’s been downhill since that point until Rivero got 3 rest days after May 9th. Rivero improved his numbers through the end of May, but June has been horrendous where he has given up 13 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in June while facing 31 batters and a WHIP of 3.00. In June now he has given up 10 hits and 6 walks in those 5 1/3 innings, and that error from tonight.

By May 31st, there were only 2 other relievers with a higher combination of appearances/innings than Felipe Rivero who is only 24 years old. Rivero in April looked like a closer in waiting. Slowly he has turned to “mush” and has struggled to get lefties out.

Not to be lost in this mess, Max Scherzer pitched a very good game giving up 1 run over 6 innings, and Matt Belisle pitched the 7th inning and did a good job. All starters had hits tonight except for Harper and Espinosa.

The Nationals won 7-5 in a game that was a nailbiter. Every starter got on by hit or walk and the longballs were the difference. Joe Ross looked better than his 3 earned run statline and the good news is that Joe ‘Cool’ Ross didn’t give up the lead his team gave him.

Oliver Perez was shaky again in relief, but luckily Treinen didn’t give up any runs on his ledger and Solis got his Hold in the 8th. Yusmeiro Petit got his Save in the 9th which allowed Shawn Kelley and Felipe Rivero a true night off. Continue reading →