Going Deep with The Nats

The Washington Nationals pulled off a miraculous comeback from a 5-run deficit to score six unanswered runs with a Luis Garcia Jr. pinch-hit home run, and the clutch ninth inning 2-run blast by All-Star, CJ Abrams, that put up the blown save on the Brewers’ closer as well as the finally tally to take the score from a 5-4 deficit to a 6-5 winner. Of course the bottom of the 9th inning was a heart thumper when right fielder Lane Thomas had to sprint back to the wall with a jump to catch what easily could have turned into a disaster. Kyle Finnegan earned the save, and the bullpen threw up another shutout. But that seemed bittersweet, because shortly after the game ended, the Nats were hugging top set-up man, Hunter Harvey, who had been traded to the Royals.

The Washington Nationals are about 48-hours before the 2024 MLB Draft, and on the mound in a call-up today is Jackson Rutledge, the team’s first rounder from the 2019 draft. Just two days ago, Don H. was wondering if Rutledge should be shifted to the bullpen. Well, Rutledge will get another opportunity after his dismal 2024 season and a 6.66 ERA in Triple-A Rochester to show he still can be an MLB starter.

The Washington Nationals had a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning with a fully rested back of the bullpen — but allowed starter Patrick Corbin to meltdown on the mound with Derek Law as the bullpen arm to replace Corbin. We all know Law’s record as the anti-fireman who has allowed at least one inherited runner to score in 82.4 percent of those appearances — and that is a lot of scorched earth. He did not disappoint last night as Corbin’s two inherited runners quickly scored. The Nats lost 6-2. The Nats have now sunk to a season’s worst 9-games under .500, and now are on a 73 win pace.

The Washington Nationals made a late surge last night but it was too little too late and they lost 7-5. Some bad umping, bad defense, some bad pitching, and some bad luck seems to be the formula for most Nats losses — but this one did not have the bad baserunning. Well, you have to get on-base to have bad baserunning….. While Jake Irvin didn’t pitch great, he pitched better than the box score shows.