Luis Garcia photo by Steve Mears for TalkNats
The new-look Washington Nationals got their first win since the trade deadline. With a depleted roster due to injuries and trades, the Nats beat a Cubs team in the same situation. Maybe the best part was journeyman 34 ½ year old rookie, Paolo Espino, beat former Cy Young pitcher, Jake Arrieta, of the Cubs. Just another notch in Espino’s belt.
We got to see the MLB debut of reliever Gabe Klobosits who looked like a seasoned veteran pitching with a lead. He had to face the heart of the Cubs order and was BABIP’d on a groundball that should have been gloved or at the worst knocked down by Carter Kieboom, and in commentary on the TV broadcasts was backed-up by the Cubs TV crew as well as from MASN analyst, F.P. Santangelo. That resulted in two-runs scoring and cut the Nats lead of 4-3.
New closer, Kyle Finnegan, came in for the 9th inning and got his second save this week. We will see how manager Dave Martinez sets up his bullpen in the future. He had to take Ryne Harper out of the game, and what looked like a possible injury, might not have been. he pitched the seventh inning and into the eighth.
“It’s awesome,” manager Davey Martinez said. “These fans, our fans, they’re tremendous. They showed tonight that they’re going to stick with us, and we’re going to do the best we can to go out there and put on a good show, and come out with a victory.”
The offense was powered by Luis Garcia and Josh Bell, and Kieboom had two hits and a walk in the game. Tres Barrera had another two-hit night and raised his batting average to .314. In all, the Nats had nine hits in the game.
The crowd of 33,000+ had a lot to cheer about in this one. In attendance was a teenager who Nats fans will get to know over the next decade: Brady House.
