Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Double Plays Doom Nats Offense In Loss To Marlins

Jul 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar (5) is forced out at second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) turns the double play during the fifth inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Double Plays Wreck Nats Big Innings

The Nationals managed only one run last night, but they had chances to put up some big innings, but the double play ball did them in. The Nats left ten men on base, did not record a hit with men in scoring position (0-for-4), and grounded into three double plays.

The first double play occurred in the top of the fifth inning. The Nats were up 1-0 and had the bases loaded with one out for Jayson Werth. Werth hit a 1-1 changeup right to Martin Prado at third, who began a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Three innings later, Werth led off with a walk, but the double play this time came from Bryce Harper. Against Carter Capps, Harper grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to halt that scoring chance. The big chance, though, occurred in the ninth when the Nats loaded the bases against Ramos, but Escobar’s 4-6-3 double play ended the game. The Nats’ third baseman leads the team in double plays with 14, four ahead of Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos.

When you look at who has grounded into the most double plays this season, the Nats have hit into 76 of them, which is right at the league average. In this case, it’s not the amount of double plays that a team grounds into, but rather the timing in which those plays occur. While the Nats’ lineup had a good gameplan going in against Fernandez, they were not able to execute it in some big situations, which ultimately led to the loss.

Next: Miami's Top Of The Order Makes A Difference