Washington Nationals Reactions: Ryan Zimmerman Continues To Be Mr. Clutch In DC

May 19, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (13) reacts after striking out in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Nats Bullpen Had The Edge

Once Gonzalez and Eovaldi were both out of the game, it became a battle of the bullpens. Coming into this series, you had to give the Yankees the edge because of the way Betances and Miller have been pitching. However, tonight, it was the Nats bullpen that was able to get the job done in the final five innings of the game.

The combination of Blake Treinen, Matt Thornton, Aaron Barrett, Drew Storen, and Matt Grace gave up two hits, struck out five, and walked one without giving up a single run.

First, it was Treinen who started it off. While he has not looked good in the eighth inning this year, he has done much better as of late. He ha only given up one earned run in his last five appearances and struck out 11 hitters. Six of those strikeouts came against San Diego when he relieved Fister last Friday. Tonight, he dominated the zone, throwing 17 of his 18 pitches for strikes.

After Matt Thornton and Aaron Barrett held the fort in the eighth, Drew Storen came on in the ninth inning to keep the game tied. Storen is off to a good start in 2015. He has 11 saves in 12 chances and a 1.10 ERA. The best at-bat of the night for Storen came against Alex Rodriguez. He struck out A-Rod on five pitches by throwing him four straight sliders before getting him looking at a 94 mile per hour fastball.

As for Matt Grace, he had two strikeouts in the tenth as he worked around a one out walk of Chris Young. He did get some help from Span, who made a ridiculous diving catch in center field to takeaway a leadoff triple from Brett Gardner.

As for New York’s bullpen, Miller gave up his first earned runs in the tenth, but it was Carpenter who gave up the tying home run to Ramos. The Yankees have the better “closers”, but the Nats definitely have the edge when it comes to the rest of the bullpen cast.

Next: Zimmerman Does It Again