Reaction: Lack of Clutch Hitting Ruins Washington Nationals Home Opener

Bottom Of Order Gets It Done For Marlins

When you look at both of these offenses, most people talk about the top three or four hitters. For the Marlins, it’s Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton and for the Nationals, it’s Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper, and Ryan Zimmerman.

However, the story of yesterday’s game was hitters five through eight. The Marlins’ last four hitters in the lineup were 8-for-18 with five RBI’s and Martin Prado, Justin Bour, J.T. Realmuto, and Adeiny Hechavarria each had multi-hit games. As for the Nats, their last four hitters were 2-for-13 with two RBI’s (Murphy).

Even the number nine hitter got involved for the Marlins as David Phelps had a RBI single in the top of the fifth against Yusmeiro Petit. Also, give Phelps a lot of credit for coming in after the rain delay and shutting down the Nats’ offense. The Marlins’ right-hander went four innings, gave up two hits, struck out three, and walked two in the win.

The one hitter I want to spotlight from the Nats’ struggles is Jayson Werth. Werth was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts and he is 1-for-11 through three games. While he drew a two-out walk in the seventh, he grounded out to second with two men on in the fifth and struck out looking with Zimmerman on second in the third.

With Ben Revere out of the lineup for the time being, the Nats will need more out of Werth. It will be interesting to see if they move him around in the lineup to get him going. Yesterday, Dusty Baker hit him fifth and in front of Daniel Murphy instead of hitting behind him like the first two games.

Werth should bounce back and continue to stay patient at the plate, but last night, he was one of many rally killers that could not get the big hit when it mattered the most.

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