Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Nats Offense Breaks Out To Gain Series Split
Aug 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Clint Robinson (25) rounds the bases after hitting a three run homer Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 8 – 3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
After spending several weeks in the offensive doldrums, the Washington Nationals lineup finally produced eight runs in Thursday afternoon’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, the game was closer than the final 8-3 score indicated. The Nats were only ahead 4-3 until Clint Robinson hit a three run homer in the bottom of the eighth to put Washington up by five and he provided three crucial insurance runs.
Joe Ross had a terrific pitching performance for Washington, only giving up one run on a home run by Jarrod Saltalamacchia over six innings. Ross never got himself into trouble in this game. There was a base runner here and there, but he managed to stay out of the high stress situations all afternoon.
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When Ross left the game after the sixth inning and turned the game over to the bullpen, the score was 4-1. Ross very nearly got stuck with a no-decision during the top of the seventh when the Nationals’ bullpen did its best to give the lead back to Arizona. Tonight’s bad pitching performance was by Casey Janssen, who allowed the score to get to 4-3 by giving up a two-run double to Ender Inciarte.
Ryan Zimmerman came through with a pinch hit insurance RBI in the bottom of the seventh, which gave the Nationals a two run lead for Drew Storen to work with in the top of the eighth. Zimmerman did not start at first base last night because of a sore foot, but he was available to pinch hit.
Yunel Escobar fouled a ball off his foot, then got hit in the arm by a pitch. He may need a day or two off to recover from the abuse he took at the plate in this game. Do not be surprised to see either Danny Espinosa or Anthony Rendon playing third base while the other plays second base when the Nats begin their series against the Rockies.
Before Jordan Zimmermann takes on Jorge De La Rosa tonight (7:05 PM, MASN), here are my takeaways from yesterday’s 8-3 Nats win:
Next: Papelbon Can't Fix Bullpen Woes
Aug 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Casey Janssen (44) is removed from the game by Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (9) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Papelbon Can’t Fix Everything Wrong With Nats Bullpen
Janssen started the seventh inning off by walking Saltalamacchia. He then gave up back to back singles to Yasmany Tomas and Welington Castillo. Janssen had no movement on his pitches. This is a problem when this happens to Janssen, because he doesn’t throw over 86 miles per hour and without movement on his pitches, he is extremely hittable.
With the bases loaded, Janssen got a pop out from Chris Owings, but then gave up a double to Ender Inciarte which scored two runs. The score was now 4-3 and Ross’ win was in danger, as was the game for the Nats. There were runners on second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly would have tied the game.
Matt Williams would go to left-handed reliever Matt Thornton, who turned in a terrible performance in Saturday’s game against the Mets, and took the loss in that game out of the bullpen. Yesterday, he relieved Janssen and got two crucial outs to end the top of the eighth inning without allowing any more runs to score.
Despite the addition of Jonathan Papelbon as the closer, the Nationals bullpen still remains inconsistent. From night-to- night, no one knows if there will be a hero or a goat coming out of the bullpen doors.
After Wednesday night’s meltdown, Aaron Barrett was optioned to triple-A Syracuse to work on his issues while Blake Treinen was called up from Syracuse to take his place.
Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the Diamondbacks and looked good. However, it was in a low stress situation. Treinen pitched very well while in Syracuse, but the time will tell whether Treinen has gained consistent improvement in his pitching.
Next: Nationals Line Up Produces, But Needs Tweaking
Aug 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond (20) is congratulated by Jayson Werth (right) after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nationals Line Up Produces, But Needs Tweaking
Ian Desmond had Wednesday night’s game off. Yesterday, he went 2-for-5 with a walk at the plate. His two hits were a solo home run and a double. The day off may have done Desmond some good. Either he got some much needed rest or he was determined to not let Danny Espinosa take his job without a fight. The hitting conditions could have helped Ian because it was overcast at game time. There was no sun and no shadows. Ian’s day/night splits aren’t that different, but he does hit slightly better at night.
Bryce Harper was on-base all five times he came to the plate: three walks and two singles. Anthony Rendon was 1-for-3 with two walks. Wilson Ramos had a good day at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s. Michael Taylor had an RBI and Clint Robinson hit a three run homer, redeeming his previous 0-for=4. Ryan Zimmerman had a pinch hit double and an RBI that made the game 5-3 after Janssen’s terrible outing, which gave the bullpen a little more breathing room.
Yunel Escobar went 0-for-4, but that was not surprising after he fouled a ball off his own foot during an at-bat in the third inning. He was then was hit in the arm by a pitch during the same at bat. He was limping on the field after that and was clearly not 100%. Ross, the pitcher, went 0-for-2, but that was not surprising.
The batter in the lineup that didn’t produce today was Jayson Werth. He went 0-for-5. He made the last out when the Nationals had the bases loaded in the bottom of the third on a ground out. He attempted a head first slide into first base to try to get on and was called safe by the umpire. He clearly was out and Arizona won the challenge of the call. Inning over.
Werth was batting fifth in the order. He is hitting .193 after today’s game. Any other player hitting like that would not be in the five hole. Desmond, who has struggled this year, has mostly been hitting in the six through eight spots in the order. Michael Taylor was in the eight hole, even though his batting average is .243, which is higher than Werth’s.
Taylor has the second highest batting average in Major League Baseball with runners in scoring position. He’s hitting .402 with RISP. Only Buster Posey, hitting .403 with RISP, is better than Taylor this season.
The point is Werth should not be hitting in the five spot in the lineup until he gets his timing back and starts hitting well. Until he does, he needs to be hitting in the eight hole, which would move Taylor up in the order. Werth is killing this team by hitting in the five spot. As much as Harper gets on base via hits or walks, the four and five hole hitters have to be able to drive in runs. Ryan Zimmerman is doing so from the four hole. Werth is not.
If Drew Storen has to adjust to no longer being the closer on this team despite his successes, then Werth needs to adjust to hitting eighth until he starts batting well enough to justify moving him up in the order.
Next: Fister To The Bullpen
Aug 3, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister (33) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Doug Fister To The Bullpen?
There has been lots of talk and speculation about who will be in the starting rotation once Stephen Strasburg is finished with his rehab assignment and is ready to rejoin the team. Strasburg will make his return on Saturday with Doug Fister going to the bullpen
Fister has been a starter all season. However, he has not had the type of year that the Nationals expected. He injured a flexor tendon in his throwing arm back in May, and he has not pitched particularly well since his return from the disabled list. It is possible that Fister was dealing with the flexor injury before he went on the DL, which could have affected some of those starts also.
Fister has had trouble keeping the ball down in the zone since his return from the DL. This is a problem because Fister relies on keeping the ball down and getting ground ball outs to be successful. If he leaves the ball up in the strike zone, that ball it hittable and Fister then gives up runs. Lots of runs.
The assumption was that Joe Ross, despite his excellent performances as a starter for the Nationals, would be sent back to triple-A when Strasburg returned. Ross is on an innings limit and keeping his innings numbers down is much easier to do in the minors.
An interesting thing happened during the game. Doug Fister sat in the bullpen during the entire game. He watched the game from the bullpen and hung out with the bullpen guys.
Was Fister sitting in the pen because he has been approached about becoming a member of the Nationals shaky bullpen after Strasburg returns? Did he sit out there to see what it was like and what he could learn from viewing the game from the outfield and watching the bullpen routines?
By making this move to the bullpen, Fister could further help his cause in possibly getting on the playoff roster as a reliever because as of right now, Ross deserves to stay in the starting rotation because of the consistent performances he has had since being called up for the second time.