Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats
The Nationals have now won 6-games in a row and get back above that even mark on the season for the first time since April 10th. They also pick up a game on the entire NL East due to losses by every other team in the division. Gio Gonzalez started off with a bases loaded situation and wiggled out of it and then rolled from there until a 40+ minute rain delay which shortened his night to 5 innings. Gio gave up no runs but was also saved by several great defensive plays by Trea Turner and a real gem highlighted by a piece of robbery when Matt Adams went above the left field bullpen wall to bring back a potential 2-run home run. Gio left with a shutout and had 7-runs of support as the Nationals knocked Nick Pivetta out in the 2nd inning.
The offense went on a quick assault with a lead-off Bryce Harper home run followed by a Trea Turner walk and a Matt Adams walk followed by a Ryan Zimmerman single for the second run of the game. Matt Wieters then singled home the 3rd run of the inning. In the second inning, Bryce Harper and Matt Adams both smashed 2-run home runs to make the score 7-to-0.
“We’re doing a great job,” Bryce Harper said. “Keep having good at-bats, and keep pitching the ball well. Bullpen threw the ball well. As a team just trying to get some at-bats going — staying strong out there, and doing things we can to get on base and score some runs and win some ballgames.”
Harper is certainly doing his job since moving to the lead-off spot. The new line-up configuration of Difo batting 9th, Harper lead-off, Trea Turner 2nd, and Matt Adams batting 3rd has produced 23 hits in 56 at-bats (.411) and a .522 OBP with 14 extra base hits of which 10 are home runs. Add to that 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Ponder that for a moment, a .522 on-base-percentage from those 4-batters.
Trevor Gott in the 6th inning gave up 3-runs and was pulled due to medical reasons described as a sprained ankle. The rest of the bullpen closed out the game and a 7-to-3 win.
Other good news came from Woodbridge, Virginia where Anthony Rendon went 3-for-4 for High-A Potomac.
Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats
