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Washington Nationals: Lopez Roughed Up In Loss To Orioles

By Ricky Keeler

Aug 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (49) pitches during thefirst inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (49) pitches during thefirst inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tonight, Reynaldo Lopez had the worst start of his young career as the Washington Nationals lost to the Orioles, 8-1

It was a rough night for Reynaldo Lopez tonight at Camden Yards as the Washington Nationals right-hander gave up six runs in 2.2 innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Despite Trea Turner going 4-for-4, the Nats offense couldn’t get much going against Kevin Gausman as the O’s won the second game of the series, 8-1.

Lopez got into early trouble in the first when the first two batters (Adam Jones and Steve Pearce) reached base via a single and walk respectively. Three batters later, Mark Trumbo got the Orioles on the board with a base hit to left that scored Jones for the first run of the game.

One inning later, after a one out walk to Pedro Alvarez, Matt Wieters hit a double into the right field corner to extend the lead to 2-0. Jones would increase the lead to 3-0 on an infield single later in the inning.

The scoring did not stop there for the Orioles as they added three more runs in the third. Jonathan Schoop hit a one out double to left that drove in Chris Davis. With the score 4-0 and the bases loaded. J.J. Hardy hit a groundball to Daniel Murphy that appeared to end the inning, but Murphy made an error that allowed two runs to score.

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Hardy was the last hitter that Lopez faced in the game. The Washington Nationals right-hander went 2.2 innings, gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits, struck out two, and walked three on 82 pitches (48 strikes) in the loss.

As for Gausman, he got out of a jam in the first inning when he got Anthony Rendon to fly out to right with runners at the corners. After that jam, he settled in and kept the Washington Nationals offense in check. He went six innings, gave up six hits, struck out two, and walked two on 110 pitches (68 strikes) in the win.

The only player who had a great night on the Nats offense was Turner. Despite being caught stealing twice, he was 4-for-4 with three singles and he had a double in the fifth, which was the only extra-base hit against Gausman.

After Gausman left the game, the Nats got their lone run of the night in the seventh inning against Vance Worley. Ryan Zimmerman and Clint Robinson began the inning with back-to-back singles. Then, Danny Espinosa’s single to right cut the deficit to 6-1. Worley ended up getting the save.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Orioles got that run back. After Matt Belisle threw three scoreless innings in relief of Lopez, Oliver Perez gave up a RBI single to Wieters that drove in Alvarez. The final run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth when Davis hit a solo shot to right center (his 30th of the year) against Yusmeiro Petit.

Next: Nats Player Of The Week: Anthony Rendon

It was a rough night for the Washington Nationals all around as they were even on the bad end of the replay system. Orioles manager Buck Showalter won all three of his challenges with two of them resulting in Turner being called out at second on stolen base attempts.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals (73-52) will be back home tomorrow night as they try to avoid their fourth straight loss when they take on the Baltimore Orioles (69-56). You can watch the game on MASN at 7:05 p.m ET. Tanner Roark (13-6, 2.87 ERA) will start for the Nats against Wade Miley (7-10, 5.58) for the Orioles.

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