Photo by Lynn G for TalkNats
This four-game home series against the San Francisco Giants wraps up for the Washington Nationals. The Giants came into Washington with the best record in baseball, and while they are not a roster filled with stars, you can see why they win because they play good, smart, fundamental baseball. They throw to the correct base, and don’t make baserunning blunders like the Nationals.
The Nats have Joe Ross going, and the Giants are going with righty Johnny Cueto. The Nats are going with Ryan Zimmerman in the starting lineup against a righty, and Josh Bell is sitting. Also on the bench is Yan Gomes who is nursing a sore knee.
One player in the starting lineup is Victor Robles. He made another crucial late inning mistake in a 1-run game on the base paths. He was forgiven for doing it on April 9th when he was caught stealing with a runner on 3rd base in a 1-0 game.
“Honestly, I thought it was a poor [decision] right there, that’s not a very smart decision,” Martinez said. “We had the top of the order coming up, a man on first and third. Just let the game play out. You see the ball coming — you tag up — you see that the throw is going to be really close so you just come back to [first base] and let those guys get a chance to hit.”
The Nats lost last night by one run, and the team never was able to get their best hitter, Juan Soto, up to the plate. The Nats lost 2-1.
“Randy [Knorr] was saying to him: ‘Stay right here, stay right here.'” Martinez said this morning.
By the way, if you did not do the math, there are 100 games remaining in the season after this one is completed.
San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 1:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, NBCSports Bay Area, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Kyle Schwarber LF
2. Trea Turner SS
3. Juan Soto RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman 1B
5. Josh Harrison 2B
6. Starlin Castro 3B
7. Alex Avila C
8. Victor Robles CF
9. Joe Ross RHP
