The Washington Nationals squander 11 free baserunners away and drop three of four from Colorado. Those streaking New York Mets await in Queens.
If you wanted to share what the early part of the Washington Nationals season looks like, you would call up this game on your tablet.
Despite 10 walks and a plunked Matt Wieters, the Nats go zero-for-eight with runners in scoring position and lose three out of four from the Colorado Rockies. Unreal.
At one point, starter Stephen Strasburg retired his first 10 hitters until Charlie Blackmon took him deep. This weekend, Nats starters retired 34 straight Rockies hitters and lost two of three. It is enough to make you yank out your hair.
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From baserunning blunders, such as Wieters trying to steal second and Bryce Harper getting doubled off first in the rare 8-4-3 double play, to bad pitches, this loss stings. Old friend Ian Desmond uncorked a Sean Doolittle meatball for the game-winner in the ninth.
Lost in this mess was Michael Taylor turning a double into a run with his speed. He stole third then scored on a wild pitch bluffing a steal of home. Combined with his squeeze Saturday scoring Harper, Taylor is doing what he can.
How weird was this game? Ryan Zimmerman went oh-for-five, but two runs scored on a passed ball while he was batting. Again, speed scored Taylor and Trea Turner from second. Turner drew three walks.
Yep, this is how Washington is ninth in National League batting average but third in on-base percentage. With today’s 10, the Nats have 80 walks in 16 games. The trusty calculator says it’s five a game. But, they head to New York six games back because Wilmer Flores walked one off in Queens.
Baseball is a funny game.
The Internet is full of writers whose job it is to put games into context. What that is after this is a mystery.
Injuries limit what Washington can do on offense. They miss Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy and Adam Eaton something fierce. But, their absence does not excuse basic mistakes on the bases. Wieters’ unbelievable caught stealing cost them a run on the Taylor double. Harper’s lack of thinking might have another.
Both Rockies homers late came on tee ball fastballs. DJ LeMahieu in the eighth off Shawn Kelley and Desmond’s dead-center rocket off Doolittle. As strong as the bullpen is, two bad pitches were fatal.
Next: Uphill NL East favors Nats
The season is 16 games deep; 10 percent. But, the margin is six games. Although it is too early to panic, it is time to worry.