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Washington Nationals: Good, bad, and ugly from Dodgers series

By James Simmons

Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals hits a two run homerun in front of Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, his second homerun of the game, to trail 9-5, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals hits a two run homerun in front of Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, his second homerun of the game, to trail 9-5, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Nationals hitters drew just two walks in the three game series against the Dodgers.
Victor Robles #16 of the Washington Nationals is caught stealing by Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning during the 2021 MLB season home opening game at Dodger Stadium on April 09, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Ugly

The Nationals were coming off of back-to-back shutouts, 16 innings without scoring a run, when they scratched one out in the first inning of the second game of the series. That lead lasted just one inning. Patrick Corbin allowed five runs to the Dodgers in the second inning, and the Nationals offense was stuck playing catchup again. I’ve never played professional baseball before. I have played enough baseball (losing baseball at that) to know how demoralizing it is to work so hard to get a lead, and see it vanish so quickly. Erick Fedde was incapable of holding a lead in the Braves series as well. The Nationals need more shut down innings, after they themselves score runs.

Lack of walks. Yes, the Dodgers sent three pretty decent pitchers to the mound this weekend, but Nationals hitters were only able to coax two walks in 27 innings. One of those was an intentional pass as well. Hopefully, against the Cardinals the lineup can see more pitches and work more free passes.

Next. 3 shocking statistics. dark

Speaking of seeing pitches. Victor Robles had 13 at-bats over the weekend and averaged 3.5 pitches per trip to the plate. We applauded his four walks in the opening series against the Braves, leaving us no choice but to get after his lack of patience this time around. He may have collected a hit each game, but he didn’t make the pitcher’s work enough to help his teammates, or draw any walks.

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