Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats.
The Pirates arrived in Washington, D.C. at 4 a.m. and got to sleep Friday morning in their hotel rooms as the sun was coming up. With the game later that day, they looked fresher than the Washington Nationals who had a day-off on Thursday. Several Nats players used their day-off to be fans at the Washington Capitals playoff game including Adam Eaton who was the “Fan of the Game” and you have to wonder if he slept at all given the way he played yesterday.
When you have a very good pitcher like Trevor Williams on the mound, and you have your chances you must pounce. Besides Anthony Rendon, there was little pouncing except from Patrick Corbin who had two hits and each pinch-hitter (Matt Adams and Howie Kendrick) both doubled. The issue is the situational hitting, besides Corbin who had the only RISP hit, was non-existent other than a perfectly placed bunt by Victor Robles. A key fielding blunder by Adam Eaton on an extreme overthrow allowed the Pirates to score an add-on run and the Nats only answer was Rendon’s second home run of the game. Yes, credit to Brian Dozier for almost knocking in Adams with two outs until he was robbed on the defensive play of the game in leftfield. That is baseball. There has to be more chances to cash in on, and when the Pirates could not figure out Patrick Corbin, they scored 5 runs off of the Nationals bullpen which is the recurring theme. Another great start wasted just when you thought the ship was righted in Philadelphia, manager Dave Martinez used Tony Sipp as his 8th inning set-up man with a 1-run lead, and nobody can figure out why with two right-handed batters set to come up. If you know, please alert the press.
Today as they say in baseball is a new day. You hope Anibal Sanchez can build upon what Patrick Corbin put together. He faces the on-again-off-again pitcher, Chris Archer, who the Pirates acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays. We will wait and see what Davey Martinez puts together for today.
The Nationals have placed Justin Miller on the 10-day IL and will make a corresponding move this afternoon.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN2; MLB App out-of-market MLB Network out-of-market
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
Adam Eaton RF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Anthony Rendon 3B
Juan Soto LF
Matt Adams 1B
Kurt Suzuki C
Wilmer Difo SS
Aníbal Sánchez RHP
Victor Robles CF
