Washington Nationals: Takeaways From 12-1 Win Vs. Reds
Check out our three takeaways from the Washington Nationals’ 12-1 win over the Reds yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon, the Washington Nationals used the long ball to rout the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 in the finale of their four games series.
Stephen Strasburg made his first start since coming off the Disabled list and was dominant. Strasburg had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, when he was removed by manager Dusty Baker after throwing 109 pitches.
The Nationals bullpen had a chance to keep the combined no-hitter going, but Matt Belisle gave up a single in the eighth inning, that ended the bid.
The offense backed Strasburg with tons of runs, coming mostly from Danny Espinosa. The Nationals shortstop went 4-for-5 with two homeruns, including a grand slam, and 6 RBIs. Bryce Harper also added to the offensive rout with a homer of his own.
All of the Nationals starters except for Michael Taylor and Jayson Werth got on base at least once in the game, and the team scored in 6 out of the 8 innings they were up to bat.
With this win the Nationals kept their 5 game lead over the New York Mets, who wrapped up a very impressive four game sweep over the Chicago Cubs in New York this weekend.
Before Max Schezer and the Nationals take on Junior Guerra and the Brwers on the Fourth Of July at 11:05, check out my three takeaways from the win.
Next: Strasburg Flirts With History
Strasburg Flirts With History
Coming into Sunday afternoon it was unclear if Stephen Strasburg was even going to start the game against the Reds. Strasburg was going to try to test himself during his pregame warmups, and see if he was good to make the start. The Nationals right-hander determined he was good to go, and it payed off big for the Nats.
Strasburg took a no-hitter and shutout into the seventh inning, and was removed by Dusty Baker after 6.2 innings pitched. Although Stras was not as dominant as we have seen him be, he carried a no-hitter past the fifth inning for the first time in his career. It would have been great to see Stras get a chance to finish what he started, but Baker felt that it was the right call to go to his bullpen.
The game did not start off great for Straburg as he had long first and second innings that cost him in the long run. He threw nearly 40 pitches in the first two innings, preventing him from being able to go deep. Stras also got some help from his defense, with outstanding plays from Anthony Rendon and Espinosa.
Over his years in the big leagues Strasburg has had some odd starts, but this may have been the weirdest of them all. He did not have his great fastball command that we are used to seeing, but he was keeping hitters off balance and getting bad contact. His three walks are not something we are accustom too seeing, but he still did not allow a single run.
Strasburg did not get a chance to finish the no-hitter, but with the way he is pitching the season, there may be more chances to do this down the road.
Next: Danny Espinosa Does It Again
Danny Espinosa Does It Again
Coming into spring training it was unclear who the Washington Nationals’ starting shortstop would be. After the spring many called for the Nationals to start young shortstop Trea Turner over veteran Danny Espinosa. I was one of the people who called for this to be done, and Sunday, as he has done all season long, Espinosa continued to prove the doubters wrong.
Espinosa came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded again. Just as he did Thursday night, Espinosa crushed a grand slam to left, making it a 5-0 game. This homer gave Danny 17 on the season, giving him the team lead. A Harper homer in the fifth tied him at 17 on the year, but Espinosa took that lead back quickly.
In the bottom of the eighth Danny launched another homer, making it 18 on the season and giving him 15 RBI in the series alone. In one series Danny increased his RBI total from 34 to 49 on the season, and has his batting average up to .241 on the year.
Espinosa also impressed with the glove. In the sixth inning with Stephen Strasburg’s no-hitter still intact, Danny made an amazing jump throw to first, keeping the no-hitter going.
With this big series, Espinosa is in the top 10 in the N.L. in home runs, and is second on the team in RBIs, to Daniel Murphy. In my opinion, Espinosa has made a serious case that he should be the starting shortstop on this team for a long time, and the Nationals should try to lock him up. With how well Espinosa is playing, it may give the Nationals the option to shop Trea Turner at the deadline for a back of the bullpen arm.
All in all, as Nationals brodcaster F.P. Santangelo says, Danny Espinosa, is turning into the most dangerous eight hitter in baseball, and may becoming one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League
Next: Long Ball Fuels Victory And Baker Makes Tough Call
Long Ball Fuels Victory And Baker Makes Tough Call
As they have all season long, the Nationals used the long ball to lead them to victory. They hit six homers on Sunday Afternoon, the second time they have done this in team history.
Stephen Drew, Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, and Anthony Rendon all joined the homer party. After Sunday’s offensive explosion, the Nationals now are third in baseball with 114 home runs, and passed the Mets for the National League lead.
Although the offense did explode, Dusty Baker had to make a tough call about going to his bullpen. Baker removed Strasburg in the seventh with a no-hitter, but I believe he made the right call. Being in attendance in the game, it would have been great to see Strasburg try to finish the no-no, but in the end Baker did the right thing.
Next: Washington Nationals News: Joe Ross placed on DL with shoulder inflamation
After missing his last three starts, it was Strasburg’s first start off the disabled list, and it would have been tough to stretch him more than he did. Stras left the game with 109 pitches and he would have had to go 2.1 more innings to complete the game. If he would have left him in, Strasburg probably would have been around 120 pitches in the eighth inning and it would have been very risky to send him back out with that high of a pitch count.
While it was disappointing Sunday afternoon, Dusty Baker made the right call for the long term benefit of Stras, and the Nationals. If the Nats are going to make the playoffs they are going to need Stras be healthy and lead their rotation into the playoff push, so Baker airing on the side of caution is the right call.