Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Bullpen Implodes In 11-4 Loss To Diamondbacks
Aug 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar (5) reacts after being walked in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
For the Washington Nationals, it was one step forward, two steps back last night as they fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks by a final score of 11-4. Gio Gonzalez was able to get out of a couple key spots in the first five innings, but a high pitch count caused Matt Williams to go to the bullpen earlier than he would have liked.
Once Aaron Barrett came into the game, he did not have his best stuff. With two on and no out, Barrett fielded a bunt by Nick Ahmed, but threw it into right field, which allowed both runs to scored. While the runs weren’t charged to Barrett, the Nats’ bullpen gave up, basically, the final ten runs of the game. There was even a bases loaded balk and a position player (Tyler Moore) had to pitch.
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However, another major storyline surrounding this team is a lack of offense after the first inning. Once again, the Nationals put up a couple of runs in the first inning, but were not able to get any more offense going against Rubby De La Rosa. Michael Taylor did add a two-run home run against Daniel Hudson in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too late.
With last night’s loss, the Nats have now lost five of their last six games and have fallen two games behind the Mets in the NL East. New York is off on Thursday, but the Nats find themselves searching for answers as they try to avoid losing a series to Arizona. In fact, Williams plans to address the team tomorrow after their recent bad stretch of games:
Before Jeremy Hellickson takes on Joe Ross this afternoon at 4:05 PM ET (MASN), here are my three takeaways from yesterday’s blowout loss to Arizona:
Next: Gonzalez Pitches Well, But Only Goes Five Innings
Aug 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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Gonzalez Was Good, But Needs To Take Next Step
With the injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister having a mediocre 2015 season, a lot has been asked of Gio Gonzalez to be the number three starter in this rotation. Gonzalez was able to have success with the fastball on the inside corner and with his breaking ball, but Arizona did a good job of working out the left-hander’s pitch count.
On the night, Gonzalez went five innings, gave up two runs on eight hits, struck out seven, and walked one on 95 pitches (67 strikes). The one thing you can give Gonzalez credit for in this one was the ability to get out of key situations via the strikeout. An example of that came in the top of the second inning.
After an Aaron Hill walk and a single by Yasmany Tomas, Gonzalez struck out Chris Owings, Nick Ahmed, and Rubby de La Rosa to end the inning. Then, in the fifth, Gonzalez got out of a big spot with runners on second and third with one out by striking out Welington Castillo and Hill looking to end the scoring threat. While Gonzalez has given up no more than two earned runs in each of his last seven starts, he has to find a way to go deeper into games.
In his last three outings, he has failed to more than five innings and that is largely due to high pitch counts. He’s had strong outings, but he has to be able to get at least into the sixth inning on a consistent basis.
One decision that was puzzling when it came to Gonzalez was when Williams decided to let him hit in the fifth inning, even though he took him out after one batter in the top of the sixth. Williams said after the game that he wanted his pitcher to get through the sixth, but didn’t give him the chance to work his way out of another jam.
Next: Nats Offense Stalls After 1st Inning
Aug 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar (5) scores during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nats Offense Stalls After 1st Inning
For the second straight game and for the third time in the last four games, the Nationals got on the board right out of the gate, but failed to get much offense going past the first inning. After scoring two runs on one hit in the first inning, the Nats managed only six hits the rest of the way.
While Michael Taylor did provide some spark in the ninth with a two-run home run against reliever Daniel Hudson, it was too late since the Nats were still down 11-4. In that first inning, Yunel Escobar led off with a double to center against Rubby De La Rosa. Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and it appeared the Nats were heading for a big inning.
While they didn’t get the big hits in that first inning, they did get the little things done, which is always key to getting an offense back on track. Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to put the team in front, 2-0. However, despite that false start, the Nats only had two chances with runners in scoring position on the whole night and left six men on base.
Their best chance to score after the first came in the seventh inning when Anthony Rendon was up in a 5-2 game with runners on the corners and two outs, but Rendon struck out to end the inning. So, while the Nationals have continued to show how strong an offense they can be in the first inning, it is time for them to take that success into the other eight innings in the ballgame.
Next: Nats Middle Relief Implodes
Aug 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Moore (12) pitches during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Washington Nationals 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Middle Relief Implodes In Final Four Innings
The Nationals’ bullpen does have a solid late inning trio of Casey Janssen, Drew Storen, and Jonathan Papelbon, but Storen and Papelbon were likely not available last night after pitching back-to-back games. That would mean it would be up to the middle relief to get the big outs, but none of them were able to get the job done.
It started with Aaron Barrett. With two on and no out in the sixth, Barrett fielded a bunt by Nick Ahmed that he should have held, but instead he threw it into right field, which allowed both runners to score. After a Jarrod Saltalamacchia RBI single made it 4-2, Barrett’s night would be done three batters later for Tanner Roark after only getting one out.
Roark would not have much success either. After getting Paul Goldschmidt to line out to right with runners on first and second, Roark walked Castillo and Hill to give Arizona a 5-2 lead. While it looked like Hill went around on his swing, it was a bad pitch to throw 3-2 with bases loaded way out of the zone.
Two innings later, it was Matt Thornton’s turn, but he gave up a leadoff triple to Ender Inciarte and walked Goldschmidt with one out. Then, Castillo crushed a fastball over the wall in center field for a three-run homer to make it 8-2.
After Felipe Rivero struggled in the ninth, including a bases loaded balk, Williams decided to take him out after 30 pitches. He was out of options, so he had to go to a position player and Tyler Moore was the guy. Moore retired both batters he faced, but no manager ever wants to use a position player to pitch. To sum it up, it was a bad night for the Nats bullpen. They did make some history, but not the history that you want to be making:
Tonight was the 1st game in #Nats history that 3 different relievers all gave up 3+ runs. Only 1 other team has done that the last 4 years.
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) August 6, 2015