Today’s game was a tough-luck loss for the Nationals. Former number one overall pick and All-Star Corey Kluber outdueled the relatively unknown Stephen Strasburg, who has a 4.76 career ERA, as the preseason World Series favorite Cleveland Indians shut out the Washington Nationals, who lost 94 games in 2012, to win the series.

Jun 16, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (left) falls to the ground as first baseman Mark Reynolds (12) fields the ball on a bunt base hit by Washington Nationals pinch hitter Stephen Lombardozzi (1) in the seventh inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Wait, what?

Switch all of the adjectives in that sentence and you have what really happened. This game was a microcosm of the Nationals’ season: they were shut out despite the fanfare and expectations, this time surrounding Strasburg’s return from the DL. Despite allowing just one hit in five innings, Strasburg took the loss, and has now allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his six starts. He appears to be snakebitten in terms of run support, much like Jordan Zimmermann was last season. In fact, the Nats outhit the Indians 7-4, but failed to convert on multiple opportunities. Twice the Nats had runners on the corners with no outs, and once loaded the bases with no outs, but failed to score all three times. The Nats have been league-average in driving in runners on base this season, which means they were simply unlucky today. It should be taken as a sign of encouragement that they were in position to score. Today’s loss was discouraging, but not particularly indicative of major overall problems. But when is Bryce Harper coming back, again?

Most Important Nationals Hit: Jhonatan Solano grounds into double play (-29.0%)

With the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth inning, it looked like the Nats might finally break through and get a run across, trailing only by one. Solano made good contact, but his liner went right to Indians 3B Mark Reynolds, who quickly doubled Steve Lombardozzi off first base. If his drive is a few more feet to the right, it would have been a two run single, and is perhaps the best example of how unlucky the Nats were today.

Most Important Nationals Pitch: Mike Aviles grounds into double play (+7.3%)

Jun 16, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Lost in all of this is how excellent the pitching was. Strasburg had a little trouble in the first inning, but deftly avoided it. He walked Michael Bourn to lead the game off, but got Aviles to ground into a double play to erase that threat. He would walk another batter in the first, and a walk, an error, and the only hit he yielded in the fifth drove in a run. Overall, he walked a surprisingly high four batters and struck out only in five innings, but the Nats have no complaints about his one hit or one run allowed.

Champ of the Game: The Nationals’ best (healthy) hitter is a rookie who was in AA two weeks ago. Anthony Rendon (+15.4%) continued to rake, going 3-4 today. He has a hit in all nine games he has played since being called up, and is now 16-36 (.444) with a homer and six doubles in that span. For the Indians, Kluber (+57.2%) went eight shutout innings, allowing seven hits and striking out eight while walking none.

Chump of the Game: Solano (-33.7%) takes this dishonor thanks to his unfortunate double play, but Adam LaRoche (-33.0%) wasn’t far behind with a double play groundout of his own. They were a combined 0-7, and LaRoche is now in a mini-slump, going 0-15 after the end of his nine-game hitting streak. Aviles (-12.2%) was 0-3 with a sacrifice and his own GIDP.

Three solo homers helped the Nats build a 5-0 lead, and two more dug them out after blowing it. In order: Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Chad Tracy (?!?), and Anthony Rendon each went yard, and even though the Nationals blew their five-run lead, they did just enough to claw back and hold on for the win. Jordan Zimmermann was uniquely not ace-like, allowing five runs in six innings to blow it, but the offense bailed him out, managing a staggering-for-the-Nats seven runs. Coming back on solo homers is no way to go through life, but for tonight, the Nats will take it.

Most Important Nationals Hit: Anthony Rendon’s solo homer (+41.5%)

Jun 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon (6) celebrates his solo home run in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Rendon came to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth, visions of last night’s debacle dancing terrifyingly in Nats fans’ heads. Rendon, who was benched last night, ensured that the narrative was changed. Early in the at-bat, Indians 1B Nick Swisher and 2B Jason Kipnis failed to communicate over a popup in foul ground and it fell. Rendon took advantage of the gifted second chance, putting the Nats ahead for good with his first career homer.

Most Important Nationals Pitch: Michael Brantley‘s double (-30.0%)

After allowing three runs in the fourth, the wheels came off for Zimmermann in the fifth. With a runner on first and two outs, Zimmermann allowed three straight hits. The second scored a run to cut the Nats’ lead to 5-4, and put runners on first and second for Brantley. The third was Brantley’s double, and broke the Nationals’ back, putting Cleveland back on top 6-5. Zimmermann was pulled after ending the fifth, his ERA having jumped nearly half a run to 2.44.

Champ of the Game: Rendon (+47.2%) had an absolutely monstrous game, which was still pretty good even if you ignore the homer. He was 3-5 with a double and two runs scored, and is now hitting .333. Cleveland’s Brantley (+22.0%) cruised on his one pivotal hit, as he was 0-3 otherwise.

Chump of the Game: Zimmermann (-41.5%) had one of his worst outings of the season. His line: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Fortunately for him, opposing starter Scott Kazmir (-31.2%) was even worse, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in 2.2 innings.

Most Important Nationals Hit: Kurt Suzuki scores on a wild pitch (+9.0%)

Jun 14, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) delivers in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Ok, so it’s not a hit. So sue me. The Nats only had two, one of which was earlier in this inning. After two walks and a single, Ryan Zimmerman came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the third after singling in the first, but his offensive services were not particularly necessary. Justin Masterson uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Suzuki to score from third. After that moment, however, the Nats would not get another hit.

Most Important Nationals Pitch: Michael Bourn‘s single (-19.0%)

Curiously, the walk-off for the Indians was not as important as the hit that set it up. With Drew Stubbs on first, Bourn singled to move him to third with one out. The game ended when Jason Kipnis hit a fielder’s choice to Adam LaRoche, who threw home but was not in time to get Stubbs as he slid across the plate.

Champ of the Game: Gio Gonzalez (+30.3%) had a stellar outing despite a few dicey moments. He struck out eight in seven one-run innings in which he allowed just three hits but walked four. Masterson (+30.3%) was similarly great, with a nearly identical line to Gio’s except that he struck out two more batters and allowed one fewer hit.

Chump of the Game: Fernando Abad (-36.6%) picked a bad time to allow his first run of the season, taking the loss in the bottom of the ninth. Cleveland’s Mark Reynolds (-28.9%) struggled, especially with men on base, going 0-4 with 3 Ks.