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With the usual smile gone and a thin tight-lipped line in place, manager Dave Martinez entered his press conference on Saturday and tried to explain how a win-win game quickly escalated into one of the most embarrassing defeats of the season.
"We have a problem in our pen and we have to solve it," he said. "It will take more than two or three guys in this office to win. It really is. "
The Nationals' 8-3 loss to the San Diego Padres went out of control in the 10th inning when the Washington marker, who had completed two innings, imploded again. Seven of the Padres' first eight attackers arrived at the base (including four against Wander Suero), Justin Miller returned from the casualty list and hit a batter to force a point, and center player Victor Robles attempted to throw a runner at the plate. but it became a mistake to let another score score.
Receiver Yan Gomes waved and slipped to prevent Robles' rollover into the Padres shelter, but his momentum took him too far. After a review of almost six minutes, the referees ruled that even if the ball remained in play, a second Padre should be allowed to score, as Gomes' body counted as a ball coming out of the game. Martinez later repeated twice that he "did not think [the ruling] it was true. "
The loss was the sixth national in their last eight games and guaranteed they would lose the fourth set of their last five games. We are at the end of April and there are at least 137 games left. But for Washington (11-14), this defeat was one of the most demoralizing of the year.
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"Everyone says it's early – you do not want to keep saying that," said first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. "You want to win games, of course. But if you want to play as bad as we played, it is better to do it now so that we can recover. "
Beyond the latest market woes, the past year has highlighted offensive struggles dating back to the beginning of the recent national road trip to Miami and Colorado. By entering the game, the Nationals were struggling to make contact – they had eliminated 28.6% of their attacks since April 19, the third highest rate of majors – and even though they Had done, they had not hit the ball is hard. Battles against the national, only 31.9% were hit hard, making it the fourth lowest MLB rate.
These troubles continued on Saturday, but in the beginning, things improved. In the sixth, Juan Soto had a shock when he crashed a quick 2-0 pass in the second bridge in the center right, tying the score at 2 and hitting Eric Lauer of the Padres striker.
In the seventh, Washington promoted his first two riders and was beaten by the starter of Stephen Strasburg. Martinez had declared before the match that third baseman Anthony Rendon was available while he was not leaving, but he turned to Michael A. Taylor, who was sacrificed. Washington then had runners in second and third places with an exit, but she had given an exit that proved valuable afterwards. Carter Kieboom and two other Robles batters later gave no points and kept the score tied.
The inability of nationals to capitalize illustrates a more serious problem. Martinez preached on the importance of driving in races when the situation arises, but his players have not been able to follow. Friday, in a defeat in the opening 4-3 of the series, the Nationals have spoiled several scoring opportunities, including two times that failed to lead in the fast Robles, third. Their struggles were particularly frustrating on Saturday because, with Strasburg's solid start, the attack seemed to need one more point.
Strasbourg had its best outing of the season Sunday in Miami; he allowed two hits, withdrew 11 points and left the Marlins aimless for eight innings to prevent the Nationals from being swept away. Saturday's performance – seven innings, four hits, two points, nine strikeouts – builds on that performance and resolves his early-season problems with consistency. Before Saturday, Strasbourg had made four quality starts but had not been able to deliver another in the next.
This time, Strasburg scored a goal: a two-run Hunter Renfroe circuit in the second second, but he started from there, leaving only two base riders in the next five innings. When asked if he was frustrated by the offense or the corrector continually losing his solid debut, Strasburg disapproved. "It's difficult for everyone," he said.
"There will be ups and downs, I think everyone knows, and it's obviously a low point for now," he added. "But the only thing we can do is empty it and show us ready to play tomorrow."
Martinez highlighted all the positive points that he had learned from the bullpen's recent efforts. Joe Ross, the relief player who became a relief player, escaped a two-clear situation to stay tied for eighth place. Left-handed Tony Sipp, who did not start Saturday, "starts throwing like Sipp". Matt Grace started throwing his fast two-sided ball more than his slider.
"We have to stay with these guys and convince them to show conviction," Martinez said. "It's my biggest thing. You will give up a shot when you have big hitters in the league. Come on; Get the next guy. "
On the 10th, after the Padres had finished hitting their paddock, the Nationals organized a small rally. Howie Kendrick blasted a solo circuit and scattered spectators are still there on a cloudy and acclaimed day. The Nationals badly needed several innings earlier or even the day before.
In the pavilion, Martinez said the veterans had sent the message that the team had to forget about this one and come back Sunday ready to play. Nobody made a big statement, Zimmerman said. Nobody needed to.
"We are adults," he said. "We are professionals, we know what we have to do, it's just a question of going out and doing it."
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