Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Nats Continue To Find New Ways To Lose

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Nats Offense Has Big Inning Against Gonzales

Before last night’s game, the Nationals caught a break based on who they would be facing when the Cardinals announced that Marco Gonzales would start the game on Tuesday instead of Carlos Martinez, who was scratched because of a back injury.

Gonzales, who was making his first start of the season, shut down the Nationals through the first two innings. But, the Nats found a way to put up a crooked inning in the third. It all started when Joe Ross and Jayson Werth had back-to-back singles. Then, Anthony Rendon got behind 0-2, but worked together a seven pitch at-bat that ended with a two-run double to right field.

After a Harper sacrifice fly made the score 3-0, Ryan Zimmerman continued his recent hot stretch with a solo home run to center for his 14^th home run of the season. Zimmerman, who is currently on a six game hit streak is 9-for-25 at the plate in his last six with five runs scored, three home runs, and nine RBI’s.

In fact, since the All-Star Break, Zimmerman’s 29 RBI’s are tied with Andrew McCutchen for ninth in the National League and he’s done it in eight fewer games than McCutchen.

While the Nats eventually chased Gonzalez from the game in the third inning, they were not able to tack on many more runs against the Cardinals’ bullpen. Carlos Villanueva came into the game for Gonzales and gave up over one hit over the next three innings while striking out six batters. The only run the Nats would score against the Cards’ bullpen came in the seventh inning on a RBI groundout by Yunel Escobar against Seth Maness. Normally, four runs would be good enough, but tonight Joe Ross ran into problems with his control, which allowed St. Louis to get right back in the game.

Next: Ross Starting To Feel Fatigued?

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Ross Starting To Feel Fatigued?

With the Nationals taking a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the third, the team was looking for starter Joe Ross to put together a shutdown inning. He came into this outing against St. Louis off two solid starts at home, in which he gave up one run over a 13-inning stretch.

For the first two innings, the 22-year-old right-hander did walk two batters, but gave up only one hit while striking out. Then, the third inning happened. Matt Carpenter worked a one-out walk and would come around to score two batters later on a RBI single by Jhonny Peralta.

Then, Ross was all over the place with his command as he could not locate his fastball. He walked Jason Heyward, Yadier Molina, and Kolten Wong on 14 pitches, causing Matt Williams to go to Doug Fister in the third inning. Fister would allow one of the inherited runners to score when he hit Mark Reynolds hit with a pitch, but he was able to get out of the inning with the Nats still ahead.

As for Ross, he went 2.2 innings, gave up three runs on one hit, struck out three, and walked six on 68 pitches. He only threw three first pitch strikes to the 15 batters he faced. According to Brooks Baseball, Ross’ sinking fastball, which averaged at 96 miles per hour, only went for strikes 19 times out of the 50 times he threw it (38%).

After the game, Ross told the media about how he wasn’t using the rosin bag on the mound, which didn’t help his command:

With Ross now at 145.1 innings on the season, if you count the minor leagues, you have to wonder if the fatigue is starting to set in. Plus, if the Nats are not in contention a couple weeks from now, you could shut Ross down and give other pitchers the opportunity to audition for next year. Ross has made good contributions to the Nats this year, but it might be time to end his 2015 season.

Next: Late Inning Bullpen Decisions Haunt Nats

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Late Inning Bullpen Decisions Haunt Nats

Before we get into what was bad about the bullpen last night, let’s give credit to Doug Fister, Matt Thornton, Blake Treinen, and Felipe Rivero (who was pitching his third game in a row). The four of them combined to give up no runs on four hits over 4.1 innings, striking out two batters, and walking none.
With a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning, the Nats went to Drew Storen, but Storen’s second half struggles happened again. Storen gave up a leadoff single to Tommy Pham and then hit Brandon Moss with a 1-2 slider.

With two on, Greg Garcia laid down a bunt and with Storen being told to throw to third, he threw it to Escobar, who could not catch the ball, which allowed the runner to score. Even if Escobar catches it, that is not the sure out as opposed to Storen going to first with it. Eventually, the Cardinals would tie the game on a double play by Stephen Piscotty. In Storen’s last 18 games, he has an ERA of 6.62 as opposed to a 1.89 ERA in the first half.

Since the game was tied, Matt Williams chose to go to Casey Janssen after he threw 26 pitches Monday night. Janssen got the first two outs, but pinch-hitter Cody Stanley doubled to left and Pham walked to extend the inning. Then, Moss hit a 1-0 fastball over the wall in dead center for the walk-off home run. By throwing 21 pitches last night, Janssen has thrown 47 pitches in his last two games.

Meanwhile, the Nats’ prized trade deadline acquisition, Jonathan Papelbon, continues to sit in the bullpen. Yes, you don’t normally use the closer in a tie game on the road, but when you get to September and you are 6.5 games back, you have to get a win in anyway you can get it.

However, Papelbon has not thrown more than one inning in any outing this season and the pitcher’s spot was due up in the tenth inning. While I don’t necessarily put all the blame on Williams, there is something I do blame the Nats for involving the amount of pitchers that were available.

With Joe Ross on the mound, the Nats had to know they could need any ptichers they could get. Yesterday, on the first day of the 40-man rosters, the team only called up three players: catcher Pedro Severino, second baseman Dan Uggla, and reliever Sammy Solis (who last threw on August 28). Yes, the Nats will probably call up more pitchers tomorrow, but Williams’ lack of bullpen management and the organization not calling up more pitchers were definitely late to the party on this one.

Next: Recap: Nats Fall To Cards In Walk-Off Fashion

More from District on Deck

• Latest DraftKings Sportsbook Promo Code in Maryland: Bet $5, Win $200 Guaranteed
• Nationals Claim Jeter Downs Off Waivers
• Washington Nationals Minor League Spotlight: Robert Hassell III
• Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
• 3 Free Agents the Nationals Should Gamble On