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Washington Nationals: Three Takeaways From Game 2 Against Toronto

By Max Rayman

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Tanner Rainey #21 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Tanner Rainey #21 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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The Nationals fell to the Blue Jays 5-1. What stood out the most?

A night after losing a close one to the Blue Jays, the Nats fell flat. Toronto went on to win 5-1, thanks in part to a calamity of errors and baserunning mistakes. Here are three takeaways from tonight’s defeat.

Baserunning Gaffes and Defensive Errors Galore

Five games into the season and the Nationals have already committed seven errors, with five of the coming in the Nats lone win against the Yankees. The other two came tonight. That is not good. Newcomer Starlin Castro committed both of the errors for the Nats tonight, leading to three unearned runs for Toronto. This should have been a 2-1 game, but instead, the team cannot get out of their own way. To make matter worse, in the second inning, Vladamir Guerrero Jr. crushed a ball to deep center for his first homer of the season. Unfortunately, it shouldn’t have been. Victor Robles tracked the ball down and went up to rob the youngster of a homer, but at the same time, veteran Emilio Bonafacio was attempting to do the same thing. Bonafacio tackled Robles in the air and in the collision, Robles’s glove fell over the fence with the ball. Home run for Vlad Jr.

While the defense has been atrocious, the baserunning isn’t much better. A night after the team made to many mistakes, things continued. Trea Turner was picked off on what appeared to be a balk and the offense continued to ruin their own rallies. Washington will need to get back to the basics and play clean baseball if they want to make it back to October.

Tanner Rainey Looks Like The Future Closer

Tanner Rainey entered the game in the sixth with the Nats down 3-1 and kept the Blue Jays in check. The 27-year-old threw 1.1/3 shutout innings while striking out two. He was in total control of all of his pitches which is a huge improvement over last season.

Last season was Rainey’s first full season in the majors. He went 48.1/3 innings, posting a 3.91 ERA, with 74 strikeouts and 38 walks. Rainey is known for his heat, but last season he lacked control at times. Fast forward to now and Rainey looks like the real deal (granted it is a small sample size). In 2.2/3 innings this year, Rainey has yet to allow a run or a hit. He has walked two and struck out three. This is a very promising start.

Austin Voth Impressed

Austin Voth made his season debut for the team tonight and his start was very promising. He went five innings and allowed three runs, though one was unearned. Voth gave up a pair of solo shots, but that was his only blemish. He struck out two and walked none. Voth is currently the team’s fifth starter and will be on a short leash with Erick Fedde lurking in the shadows. While Voth was the losing pitcher, his team barely did anything to help him out and he was basically left to fend for himself.

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