Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Stephen Strasburg Shines With Full Lineup Back In Action
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Last night, the Washington Nationals did something they had not done since early July. They have now won three games in a row for the first time since their sweep of the Giants on July 3-5. With 38 games to go and the Nats still trailing the Mets by 5.5 games in the NL East, every win becomes critical as the team tries to get on a long winning streak.
One factor that might be able to help that kind of streak happen is that the projected Opening Day lineup that fans thought would have taken place all season long finally happened last night. Denard Span was back in the leadoff spot and played center field for the first time since July 6. While Span went 0-for-4 with a walk, his presence in the lineup was a boost for the Nats as the team worked up James Shields’ pitch count and eventually broke the game open in their 8-3 win.
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By scoring eight runs, the Nationals gave Stephen Strasburg plenty of runs to work with. Strasburg’s fastball was on point and the only mistake he made was a two-run homer by Jedd Gyorko in the top of the second inning. Strasburg continues to show consistency since his return off the disabled list as he has given up only four hits in his last 13 innings of work.
Before Tyson Ross takes on Gio Gonzalez tonight at Nats Park (7:05 PM ET, MASN), here are my takeaways from last night’s 8-3 Nationals win:
Next: Strasburg Shuts Down Padres
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Strasburg Shuts Down Padres
There’s an old saying in baseball that momentum only goes as your next day’s starting pitcher. Coming off back-to-back wins against the Brewers, the Nats turned to Stephen Strasburg, who has arguably been the team’s best pitcher this month. With the win last night, Strasburg is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four starts this month.
Last night, against the Padres, Strasburg went six innings, gave up two runs on two hits, struck out seven, and walked one on 102 pitches (65 strikes). After giving up that two-run homer to Gyorko in the second, Strasburg retired the final 15 batters he faced before Casey Janssen came in to pitch the seventh inning.
The key pitch for Strasburg last night was his four-seam fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, 65 of his 102 pitches were four-seamers. 46 of those pitches were for strikes and he produced nine swings and misses. Plus, the Padres had difficulties hitting flyballs against Strasburg when you consider that their first fly ball out to the outfield did not happen until Cory Spangenberg flew out to center with one out in the sixth inning.
Finally, the one thing to keep an eye on with Strasburg is his command. Over his last four starts, he has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 32:3. It is one thing to have an average velocity of 97 miles per hour on a fastball, but it’s another thing to command it. So far, Strasburg has been able to do both and has been one of the most, if not the most consistent starter in this rotation.
Next: Nats Offense Stays Patient Against Shields
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nats Offense Stays Patient Against Shields
One of the keys for the Nats’ offense heading into this game that I talked about in the series preview was to work up the pitch count on Padres’ starter James Shields. Last night, the Nats were able to do just that as Shields threw 121 pitches over 5.2 innings. Those 121 pitches were the most that Shields has thrown in any start this season.
Last night, in addition to Span’s return to the lineup, Yunel Escobar was back after missing two games due to a neck injury. Every Nationals player, including Strasburg, saw at least 13 pitches during the game. By working up Shields’ pitch count, they were able to draw four walks.
Shields was given a 2-0 early, but Wilson Ramos hit a knuckle curve over the wall in left for a two-run homer to tie the game at two. After Escobar’s RBI double in the third gave the Nats the lead, they made Shields work for every out. The Padres’ starter would end up throwing a combined 55 pitches in the fourth and fifth innings.
With Span back in the lineup, he is going to be a player that will make the opposing pitcher work and wait for their pitch to hit. While the Nats were only 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, they were able to get the big hits when they counted. Those hits were Ian Desmond’s RBI double in the fifth and Ryan Zimmerman’s grand slam in the sixth.
If the Nats can keep that strategy up the next two games, they will continually get into a Padres’ bullpen that has been one of the worst in the National League this season. Keep that strategy going and the wins should follow.
Next: Zimmerman's Grand Slam Breaks Game Open
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Zimmerman’s Grand Slam Breaks Game Open
With the Nationals up 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, they picked up a string of two out hits against Shields and the Padres’ bullpen. It began when Anthony Rendon got a single on a ball that deflected off Shields. San Diego manager Pat Murphy would go to the left-hander, Marc Rzepczynski, to face Harper.
During that at-bat, Harper hit a 2-1 pitch to first base that should have been the final out of the inning, but the home plate umpire (David Rackley) ruled that the ball hit Harper before it reached first. Harper would draw a walk to extend the inning. Murphy would end up being ejected one inning later.
Later in the inning, Yunel Escobar would follow that at-bat up with a walk of his own to load the bases against Bud Norris. Ryan Zimmerman would then come to the plate and hit a 2-0 fastball over the scoreboard in right for a grand slam.
While it has taken some time for guys like Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth to get on track offensively, the Nats’ first baseman has been able to be the most productive player on the team in terms of driving in runs. In 23 games this month, Zimmerman has hit four home runs (tied for the team lead) and has a team high 18 RBI’s. His .368 on-base percentage this month is fourth on the team as well.
Last night, he was hitting sixth in the lineup with Escobar hitting behind Bryce Harper. With all of the regulars now back in the lineup, having a guy like Zimmerman in the number six spot makes this lineup dangerous. In fact, the 6-7-8 combo of Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, and Wilson Ramos went a combined 4-for-12 with two runs scored, two home runs, and seven RBI’s.
Next: Full Lineup Does Damage In 8-3 Win Over Padres