A third of the runs Nationals pitching has given up have been scored with two outs.
The old adage says, “two out RBIs get you to heaven”, and the Braves hitters are going to put that theory to test after the first series. Two out hits happen, and giving up runs with two outs is just a part of the game. For a pitching staff to be successful they need to escape these two out jams and strand runners on base.
In the first game of the double header Fedde loaded the bases in the first inning with one out before getting Chase d’Arnaud to fly out. One out from getting his team off the field unscathed, and a passed ball allows a run in. The Nationals got the run back, along with a few more and sent Fedde back out in the second.. Things unravelled from the get-go, though he was about to wiggle off the hook and send the game to the bottom half tied, when, he gave up a two-out, two-run double to d’Arnaud.
In the back end of the double dip Stephen Strasburg was masterful for six innings, before giving way to Tanner Rainey. In five pitches Rainey had two outs and was facing pinch hitter Pablo Sandavol. Big Panda quickly but a dagger in the hearts of Nationals fans with his game winning home run.
As the year progresses this number will be diluted down and not stand out so much. Giving up two-out runs is crushing to a team mentally as well as on the scoreboard.