Nationals Lose for Fourth time in Five Video Games, 5-3, to San Diego

As he slowed down past first base after grounding out to 2nd for the third time Friday night, Ben Revere ripped off his helmet and threw it on the floor. He whipped his head around in disgust as it bounced away, an additional promising opportunity — and a different of his at-bats — tumbling away with it. Such become the state of the Nationals on Friday evening as they fell to the San Diego Padres by a score of 5-three. they have got misplaced 4 of 5 video games now, their offense once again unable to take in a few lapses by means of their starters, unable to take options earned and given.

"At this stage of the video game, essentially two-thirds of the season long past, we gotta make some alterations," Nationals manager Dusty Baker talked about. "We've been waiting and waiting and ready, and it's getting irritating on the blokes and irritating on lovers and frustrating to us, too." By the point Revere got here to bat in that seventh inning, the Nationals trailed via three. Tanner Roark allowed two home runs to Padres left fielder Matt Kemp — one in the first, one in the fifth, the second straight day a always stingy Nationals starter found himself victimized by using one sizzling hitter.

Bad pitches and unhealthy starts take place, and when they come from a rotation that records fee as some of the optimal, they don't always require situation or consternation. Roark's came about to come back when the Nationals vital a fine one, a day after Stephen Strasburg's first loss of the season, at a time of yr when all and sundry looks to be evaluating everything a little more absolutely than typical. "I simply urge everyone, don't panic," Baker said. "just let us play, and we'll come out of this."

While teams can nevertheless exchange for help, even first-vicinity teams like the Nationals should wonder the place exactly they need it. have they got adequate? Will they've satisfactory two months from now?
Their rotation certainly seems to, offered Roark's shortest time out in view that June 5 — 5 innings, five runs, 93 pitches — isn't a sign of lingering challenge. One day out after his longest delivery of the season, he had much less command than standard, ignored spots and didn't earn the early, effortless contact he always does.
His 4-seam fastball touched 94 mph, while his two-seamer turned into as low as 87. the two-seamer is a suppose pitch, one no longer thrown as difficult as a 4-seamer and sometimes tinkered with for impact — put a bit on, take a bit off and retain them guessing — so a dip that low does not always mean anything.

Roark has already thrown greater innings this season than he did ultimate 12 months. "It's a protracted season. I delight myself on going deep into ballgames and giving every little thing I received for so long as i will," stated Roark, who confirmed indications of cupping therapy on his correct elbow after the video game — not distinct for pitchers however no longer anything he has had throughout postgame interviews earlier than.

"Everyone has nicks here and there, but you gotta work via it, get superior and retain working challenging."
The Nationals' offense, which ranks in the appropriate third of baseball in runs scored and atop the national League in domestic runs, did not have adequate to store Roark on Friday. Luis Perdomo, a 23-12 months-ancient whose period sat above 7.00 when the day began, held the Nationals to two runs in seven innings.

The Nationals complete Thursday's online game 1 for 13 with runners in scoring place. They entire Friday nighttime's video game 1 for five, a success or two far from a very different result — plenty like they've been in most losses this yr. After Friday, 28 of their forty losses have come with the aid of three runs or fewer.
"That's been averting us all yr lengthy. That's been our nemesis," Baker stated. "individuals ask me, you comprehend, what do we need? We need some well timed, two-out base hits. no longer home runs."

Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy homered Friday. The Nationals' other run got here after Bryce Harper walked within the first. He stole 2nd base on the next pitch, which put him in scoring place with two outs for Wilson Ramos. Ramos singled him home. Harper nonetheless leads baseball in walks and ranks within the good 10 in on-base percent, but his standard continues to be 30 facets under his profession mark, and his different rate data all continue to be reduce than his norms.

"I don't think we should alternate much at all. I suppose we're a great team," Harper noted. "I feel we're swinging the bats well." Ramos accomplished with three hits and has hit safely in 10 straight games. His 2nd hit sparked a would-be rally for the Nationals within the fourth. Anthony Rendon singled behind him to place runners on first and 2d. Trea Turner struck out. Danny Espinosa hit a flyball to core. The rally fizzled. yet another ended with Revere's groundout in the seventh. Revere complete the night hitting .214. His career common earlier than this season become just about .300.

"It's difficult definitely. You see the pitcher, and you see him respectable, and also you get a very good pitch to hit, but you simply beat it into the ground," Revere observed. "And that's simply baseball, a irritating recreation and all." But Revere isn't the best culprit, nor may still it's forgotten that even with down years from him and Harper and injured Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals are still in first location. do they have satisfactory? They did not Friday nighttime.