You won’t win many games when you score only two runs. That’s a fact, and you can go through the Win Expectency Index to see your odds. Clearly, you would have to hold your opponent to zero or one run. Many are upset that Jacob Turner came into the game and promptly gave up a 3-run home run to Nelson Cruz. It happens and Nelson Cruz did what he does and that is hit home runs. Unfortunately Gio Gonzalez gave up 4 walks in his 5 1/3 innings and 3 hits during his outing to put 2 men on base in that 6th inning when Jacob Turner was called in with one out.
The Nationals held a 2-0 lead in the game scored from an Anthony Rendon home run and a Jayson Werth RBI single. The Nationals had their chances today to score more runs, but they were only 1-6 in RISP spots today. Bryce Harper left 3 men on base and Ryan Zimmerman left 2 men on base. The offense was sluggish today. If you knew that one player struck out twice today, you would think it was Michael Taylor — and you would be wrong. Michael Taylor has now raised his non-K streak to 3 straight starts which is a career best. It was Daniel Murphy who struck out twice today in a very un-Murphy-like game.
The Nationals move to 5-5 in Gio Gonzalez starts with another loss in the bullpen.
