After the Dodgers completed their revenge mission by sweeping the Nats in DC, Washington fell to 10-14 on the season. Next up for the Nats was a four-game trip to Miami before heading back home. The Nats were hoping to feast on some bad fish as the Marlins entered the weekend series plus one with an abysmal 6-20 record on their season.
Nats Week in Review (April 26-May 1)
Game 25 Of The Regular Season, Game One For The Week
Game one at The Spaceship in the South turned out to be another pitching duel which has become commonplace early in this young season. Starting pitcher Trevor Williams was solid in his five innings giving up only one run.
Still, the Nats trailed 1-0 through the middle innings before finally scratching across a run to tie it. The hero for the Nats was Joey Meneses who drove in two runs in the top of the eighth for a 3-1 lead. The four-man bullpen rotation employed by manager Davey Martinez got the job done by pitching four scoreless innings and closer Kyle Finnegan shut the door and the Nats held on for the 3-1 win.
Game 26 Of The Regular Season, Game Two For The Week
Well well, we have a Washington Nationals bat sighting. After falling behind 1-0 after one, the Nats rebounded by evening the score in the third. Then, they exploded for five in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three more in the seventh. The Nats were powered by homers from Winker, Ruiz, and Senzel.
Starter Mitchell Parker scattered six hits and one earned run over just four innings. The back end of the bullpen finished the job once the Nats were way ahead. Tanner Rainey who doesn’t normally pitch in close games gave up three in the bottom of the ninth but it didn’t matter. Nats cruise to an 11-4 win. Halfway to a sweep!
Game 27 Of The Regular Season, Game Three For The Week
Well, it was fun while it lasted. The Marlins erupted for six runs in the first and another in the second. After two they lead 7-0. Starter Patrick Corbin struggled again lasting only four innings. He was however only responsible for four of the seven runs as three were unearned.
Alas, these young and feisty Nats weren’t done; far from it. The Nats had an eruption of their own tallying five in the fourth, one in the fifth, and four more in the sixth. All of a sudden, it was 10-7 Nats!
We all should have known this one wasn’t going to be easy as the Marlins rallied for two in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Nats’ lead to 10-9. Then, the Nats put up two more of their own in the top of the eighth. The bullpen closed it out from there with Kyle Finnegan notching another save and the Nats had a hard-fought Curly W.
Game 28 Of The Regular Season, Game Four For The Week
After taking the first three from the Marlins, the Nats came into the Monday series finale with a chance at the sweep and a .500 record for the first time since they were 1-1.
The finale would prove to be easier than the game the day before. The Nats jumped out to a 3-0 and after the Marlins scored two to make it close, the Nats responded with four runs in the top of the seventh.
C.J. Abrams continued his hot start to the season with another homer and scored twice. Starter Jake Irvin was solid in his six innings of work giving up two runs on four hits. Manager Davey Martinez didn’t need his top relievers and Matt Barnes pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the win. The Nats had climbed their way back to .500 with a three-game trip at Texas and the defending champs on deck.
Game 29 Of The Regular Season, Game Five For The Season
Prosperity wasn’t kind to the Nats in this one. They only managed three hits and one run in the contest. Starter MacKenzie Gore was solid in his five innings.
Unfortunately, the back end of the bullpen didn’t help. Relievers Barnes, Weems, and Rainey gave up five runs in their four innings of work. Rainey gave up three of the five runs. Since the Nats offense took the night off it wouldn’t have mattered as the Nats failed to go over the .500 mark in a 7-1 loss.
Game 30 Of The Regular Season, Game Six For The Week
Another offensive performance from the Nats bats. Offensive as in not good for the viewers rooting for the visitors. On the night the Nats managed only four hits. Right fielder Alex Call was able to push one run across in the second inning to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. This couldn’t possibly hold up?
Except it did. Journeyman starter Trevor Williams shut out the Rangers in his five innings pitched and the four-headed bullpen did their thing again and Finnegan finished the job with a scoreless ninth and another save. Nats 1, Rangers 0.
Observations
The strategy utilized by manager Davey Martinez of getting his starting pitchers out after five or six innings is working and the bullpen has been very effective on most nights. Could this payoff late in the season by giving the Nats fresh arms as they hope for a possible wild card spot?
Lane Thomas and pitcher Josiah Gray remain on the shelf. Could these Nats — with a preseason over/under projection of 66.5 wins — actually be buyers at the trade deadline? If Thomas can’t get or stay healthy then another bat will be needed. Another decent starting pitcher that won’t break the bank would also help if Patrick Corbin doesn’t pick it up.
One thing is for certain. Davey seems to be using his best skill as a relationship builder which was evident in the 2019 title run. This team genuinely likes each other. The Nats aren’t a powerhouse yet but they’re scrappy and fun to watch. Hopefully, all Nats fans will keep tuning in
Nats Week in Review: Week One
Nats Week in Review: Week Two
Nats Week in Review: Week Three
Nats Week in Review: Week Four
Main Image: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
