The phrase “Hope Springs Eternal “ is specifically used when talking about the beginning of the baseball season. Every team proclaims to have hope. Yes, even the Washington Nationals who have had a dramatic fall from grace after winning the 2019 World Series. Here, we start the 2024 season with a review of week one, followed by a review of each succeeding week throughout the regular season.
Nats Week In Review (March 28-April 4)
Game One
The Nats opened their 2024 season on March 28th on the road at Cincinnati against the Reds. It didn’t go well. Starting pitcher Josiah Gray was rocked early and often, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits in only four innings. After the third inning, the score was 7-0 in favor of the Reds. The only bright spot was Eddie Rosario hitting a two-run homer in his Nats debut. By then, it was too little too late.
Game Two
The season’s second game was a back-and-forth affair that saw the Nats jump out to a 1-0 in the top of the third inning only to be followed by the Reds tying it up in the bottom of the third. The Nats jumped ahead again with a run in the top of the fourth but couldn’t hold the lead as Cincinnati scored three times in their next turn at bat to go up 4-2 after four innings. Starting pitching was again not up to snuff as starter Patrick Corbin only lasted 4 1/3 innings giving up four runs and seven hits.
The Reds took a 6-4 lead into the top of the ninth as the Nats were looking in the face of an 0-2 start. But the Nats rallied for three in the ninth and the bullpen shut down the Reds and the Nats held on for a 7-6 win to even their season record at 1-1.
Game Three
In the rubber match of the series, there was another back-and-forth affair with the Nats taking the early lead, the Reds leading through the middle innings, and the Nats seizing control late. The starting pitching was better than in the first two games with Jake Irvin giving up three earned runs in five innings.
Unfortunately for the Nats, it was their turn to give up three runs in the ninth to lose 6-5 on back-to-back homers by the Reds.
Game Four
It wasn’t a joke but the home opener for the Nats really was on April Fools Day as they welcomed the undefeated Pittsburgh Pirates to town. This time, the starting pitching was better as MacKenzie Gore was solid enough giving up three earned runs in five and a third innings. The game was tied 4-4 going into the eighth but the Pirates scored five runs in the last two innings compared to only one for the home team. This time it was the bullpen that faltered again.
Game Five
Nats starter Trevor Williams put up the best starting performance of the young season giving up just two earned runs in just over five innings pitched. The Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second but the Nats came back with four of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Each team scored once in the fifth and the Nats bullpen took care of the rest and the Nats got themselves a curly W by winning 5-3.
Game Six
In the rubber match of the three-game series, starter Josiah Gray got rocked for the second time, giving up four runs in the first. The Nats did get one for themselves in the bottom of the first but the damage was done. The Pirates cruised to an easy 7-4 win that wasn’t that close. At least the Nats bullpen did their best to try to keep them in the game but they never recovered after the first inning.
Observations
Starting pitching for the Nats has been very poor the first week of the season. The bullpen has been up and down. None of the starting pitchers has yet to pitch into the seventh inning. The offense has been respectable with CJ Abrams off to a good start. Lane Thomas has gotten off to a slow start but it’s way too early to be concerned about him.
Weekly Record 2-4, Season Record 2-4
Main Image: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
