Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Stephen Strasburg Shines, Tanner Roark Flounders
Jun 28, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Dan Uggla (26) celebrates the victor against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
After an intense rainstorm ended the Washington Nationals game against the Phillies on Saturday after just an inning and a half, the two teams took the field on Sunday for a doubleheader. They played to a split. The Nationals took the first game 3-2 behind a strong performance from Stephen Strasburg, making just his second start after returning from injury. In the second game, the Nationals found themselves in a hole they could not dig out of as spot starter Tanner Roark surrendered eight runs in just 3.1 innings.
The Nationals looked good in the opener. Aside from Strasburg, who was on his game, the Nationals also were able to get some contributions from some key role players as well. Danny Espinosa contributed a key sacrifice fly and continued to shine in his ever increasing role, while Dan Uggla contributed three hits to the win and scored what would be the winning run on a passed ball. Add to that the fact that Denard Span and Bryce Harper were both able to crack the lineup after not being able to go on Saturday and the Nationals came out of the first game more than pleased.
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The second game was a bit more disappointing. In addition to the fact that it ended the Nats’ eight-game winning streak, it also saw Tanner Roark get rocked for eight runs while failing to get out of the fourth inning. That proved too much to overcome for Washington, who still managed to score five runs in a game that also saw Yunel Escobar return to the lineup.
So what were the key takeaways from Sunday’s doubleheader? Here’s a look at the major storylines from each game.
Next: Game 1: Stephen Strasburg's Strong Start
Jun 28, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) reacts after allowing a home run during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Game 1: Stephen Strasburg Back to Old Self
There was a lot of concern surrounding Stephen Strasburg and his early season results. He had looked nothing like he had in years prior. His ERA was an unsightly 6.55, and his strikeouts-per-nine innings was on pace to be at or near his career low. Nothing had looked right since spring training, when a tweaked ankle had forced Strasburg to miss one start and set about a chain reaction in Strasburg’s mechanics that eventually landed him on the DL.
But since returning from his neck injury, Strasburg has looked like his old self. In his last start, he pitched through five innings without allowing a run. On Sunday, he was just as brilliant, hurling seven innings while only surrendering two runs and amassing nine strikeouts. In his his last two starts, Strasburg has been nothing short of spectacular. His ERA is 1.50, and his 15 strikeouts put him on pace for a K/9 ratio of 11.25.
Across those two starts, Strasburg has also allowed only two walks over twelve innings of work, another key to his continued success. It’s long been documented that Strasburg isn’t the most calm under pressure. His ability to avoid the free pass will only serve to increase his odds of long term success.
Apart from Strasburg, there were two other bright spots in the Nationals lineup in the persons of Bryce Harper and Denard Span. After trotting out a suspect lineup on Saturday before the postponement, the Nats looked more whole in Sunday’s first game. While neither Harper nor Span played in the second game, having two of its more prominent veterans in the lineup for at least one of the games was a huge boost to the Nationals offense. It remains to be seen if there’s any lingering soreness in Span’s back and Harper’s hamstring, but their appearance Sunday points to them being ready to get back to playing full-time.
Next: Tanner Roark's Terrible Return
Jun 11, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (C) takes the ball from pitcher Tanner Roark (57) in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. The Brewers won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Game 2: Tanner Roark Struggles
The Nationals waited until after the first game of the doubleheader in order to announce their starter, the logic being that if Strasburg struggled and the Nats needed Roark to pitch in relief, he wouldn’t be available for the second game and the Nats would likely have had to call on Taylor Jordan. Instead, Strasburg was brilliant and Roark was called upon to make the start.
Unfortunately, that didn’t work out very well for either Roark or the Nationals. Roark managed to make it through just 3.1 innings of work before he was yanked in favor of Felipe Rivero. By the time the book was closed on him, Roark had surrendered eight runs, all of them earned, on twelve hits and one walk. Roark hung pitch after pitch out over the plate, and the Phillies lineup, even as bad as it is, continued to make him pay time and time again.
It’s hard not to feel bad for Roark. This was just his first start since June 16 and throughout the course of the season, he’s been asked to switch roles multiple times due to anything ranging from injury to inclement weather, as was the case Sunday. He’s gone from being the long reliever to being a replacement starter to back to the bullpen again. All of those changes can’t possibly help him get settled in the way he needs to be in order to perform at his best.
Hopefully, Roark isn’t called on to make another emergency start and he can settle into his role as the long reliever. If he’s asked to continually make starts with little notice and without the chance to stretch himself out appropriately, the Nats are doing a disservice to Roark and themselves, and that can only end badly, as Sunday’s game just goes to show.