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Nationals overcome another early deficit to help Max Scherzer beat the Braves Nationals overcome another early deficit to help Max Scherzer beat the Braves
(about 1 hour later)
This Washington Nationals lineup, deeper now than at any point last season, is showing early signs of altered character. Call them lively, call them gritty — call it too early to call them anything — but after their 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, the Nationals have trailed in each of their first five games. They have come back to win four of them.This Washington Nationals lineup, deeper now than at any point last season, is showing early signs of altered character. Call them lively, call them gritty — call it too early to call them anything — but after their 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, the Nationals have trailed in each of their first five games. They have come back to win four of them.
Perhaps the Nationals should avoid falling behind in the first place, but Max Scherzer struggled early Monday, and again, they could not avoid it. But Scherzer settled in, everyone in the Nationals’ lineup reached base or drove home a run, and details made a difference as the Nationals improved to 4-1. Perhaps the Nationals should avoid falling behind in the first place, but Max Scherzer struggled early Monday. Bryce Harper did not get a hit. But by the time the night was over, every Nationals starter had reached base or driven in a run. Scherzer had his first win of the season. Manager Dusty Baker saw him in the clubhouse afterward.
Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski gave Atlanta a two-run lead in the first with a two-out double. The Nationals responded with a rally that displayed the depth and deliberate at-bats of which their veteran lineup is capable. “He’s one of the happiest guys I’ve seen in a long time today,” Baker said.
Scherzer allowed two runs in the first. The Nationals scored three in the bottom of the inning. The Braves took the lead back in the second. The Nationals responded again in the third. Each time, the Nationals answered with a rally that displayed the depth and deliberate at-bats of which their veteran lineup is capable.
“We have tremendous balance. It can’t be Bryce and Scherzer every night, that’s why you have a team,” Baker said. “. . . But we had other guys step up tonight. Hopefully before too long, we’ll have everybody sharp.”
[Dusty dances, Harper hits, Zimmerman returns — and more]
Wilson Ramos’s bat has been rather dull lately. After back-to-back 0-for-4 showings, Ramos worked with hitting coach Rick Schu, checking out film, adjusting his stance. He went 4 for 4 Monday with a crucial RBI single in the seventh that pushed the Nationals’ cushion to two.
But before they could lead, the Nationals had to come back, and in the first inning, they did so because their lineup functioned as Baker intends it to:
Atlanta shifted to play new-ish leadoff man Michael A. Taylor to pull, and the right-handed hitter singled through the right side to start the first inning, his first leadoff hit since replacing injured Ben Revere in that spot midway through the season opener. Then Taylor stole second base.Atlanta shifted to play new-ish leadoff man Michael A. Taylor to pull, and the right-handed hitter singled through the right side to start the first inning, his first leadoff hit since replacing injured Ben Revere in that spot midway through the season opener. Then Taylor stole second base.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon compiled a nine-pitch at-bat — he struck out, but gave Taylor time to run. Bryce Harper walked for the sixth time in 19 plate appearances. Then, Taylor and Harper took off simultaneously, a double steal unlike any the Nationals might have tried last season. Taylor has stolen two bases this season, and Harper three. Harper stole six bases all of last season. Third baseman Anthony Rendon compiled a nine-pitch at-bat — he struck out, but gave Taylor time to run. Harper walked for the sixth time in 19 plate appearances. Then, Taylor and Harper took off simultaneously, a double steal unlike any the Nationals might have tried last season.
Their hustle enabled Ryan Zimmerman’s flyball to score a run. Then Daniel Murphy hit his second homer of the season. Jayson Werth, struggling to find timing but still working deep counts, walked. Wilson Ramos singled. The Nationals, picky at the plate and aggressive on the bases, chewed up Scherzer’s two-run deficit and handed him a 3-2 lead. Taylor has stolen two bases this season, and Harper three. Harper stole six bases all of last season. Baker would not confirm that first base coach Davey Lopes saw something to take advantage of in Braves starter Bud Norris’s delivery, but it sure seemed like he did.
Scherzer was not at his best early Monday night. He missed with his fastball more often than normal and left off-speed stuff over the plate. He allowed two more runs in the second, so the Nationals trailed again. “I can’t tell you that,” Baker said with a smile. “. . . There’s something you can take advantage off anybody, and Davey Lopes is the best at picking that up.”
Again, they came back. Zimmerman, Murphy and Ramos singled in the third inning. Danny Espinosa hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score. Ramos finished 4 for 4. His average entering Monday was .235. He will begin Tuesday hitting .381. The double steal enabled Ryan Zimmerman’s flyball to score a run. Then Daniel Murphy hit his second homer of the season. Jayson Werth, struggling to find timing but still working deep counts, walked. Ramos singled. The Nationals, picky at the plate and aggressive on the bases, chewed up Scherzer’s two-run deficit and handed him a 3-2 lead.
Scherzer, meanwhile, did not concede the outing. He allowed Braves to reach base in all but one inning. He slowed his pace with runners on in the fourth, spending much of his attention on speedy rookie Mallex Smith, who had reached first in his major league debut. After a lengthy standoff, Smith went. Ramos threw him out to end the inning. “One of the biggest things you have to look at is the amount of traffic that’s on the base paths,” said Murphy, now hitting .471 with a 1.591 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. “Anytime you can put the pitcher in high-leverage situations, they’re more prone to make mistakes.”
Pitching coach Mike Maddux and the rest of the Nationals coaching staff are emphasizing holding runners as an important, often overlooked detail their pitchers must consider. Details like that, or like getting jumps and taking extra bases, seem to be earning more attention in the Nationals clubhouse this season. Against a lineup with six left-handed hitters, Scherzer needed to be sharp with his off-speed pitches. Sometimes he was, he said afterward, but other times he wasn’t. He lasted six innings and struck out Braves second baseman Jace Peterson with his 100th and final pitch of the night, allowing six hits, four runs and three walks and striking out six.
An example: In the fifth inning, with the game tied at 4, Zimmerman stood on second after a leadoff double. Two batters later, Werth popped out, about a dozen yards behind first base, where Freddie Freeman caught the ball with his back to the field. Zimmerman took third base. A few pitches later, Ramos singled hard up the middle. The ball hit second base umpire Bob Davidson and bounced a few feet behind the infield, instead of into the gap. Zimmerman scored anyway to give the Nationals a lead. They did not give it back. When the Nationals tied it, Scherzer bore down, refusing to concede the outing. He retired 12 of the last 14 hitters he faced. He slowed his pace with runners on in the fourth, spending much of his attention on speedy rookie Mallex Smith, who had reached first in his major league debut. After a lengthy standoff, Smith went. Ramos threw him out to end the inning.
Scherzer lasted six innings and struck out Braves second baseman Jace Peterson with his 100th and final pitch of the night. He allowed six hits, four runs, three walks and struck out six — but retired 12 of the last 14 hitters he faced and earned his first win. Pitching coach Mike Maddux and the rest of the Nationals’ coaching staff are emphasizing holding runners as an important, often overlooked, detail their pitchers must consider. Details like that, or like getting jumps and taking extra bases, seem to be earning more attention in the Nationals clubhouse this season.
Like the lineup, this edition of the Nationals bullpen is still establishing its character. Who will pitch when? Can it be counted on? Answers will come in time. An example: In the fifth inning, with the score tied at 4, Zimmerman took third when Werth popped out in foul territory. A few pitches later, Ramos singled hard up the middle. The ball hit second base umpire Bob Davidson and bounced a few feet behind the infield, instead of into the gap. Zimmerman might not have scored from second. Because he was on third, the Nationals got a lead. They did not give it back.
Manager Dusty Baker called on right-hander Matt Belisle, the non-roster invitee who earned his spot in spring training, to start the seventh inning. Belisle got one out, then allowed center fielder Drew Stubbs to single. Matt Belisle, Felipe Rivero, Blake Treinen and Jonathan Papelbon combined for three scoreless innings of relief. Papelbon earned his fourth save in five games and fourth in four chances.
Baker called on young lefty Felipe Rivero, who the Nationals believe has the stuff and makeup to throw late innings sooner than later. Rivero threw one pitch and got two outs with it, a 6-4-3 double-play ball to end the inning. He got one out in the eighth before Baker, who has shown himself more than willing to split up innings if the matchups favor it, turned to right-hander Blake Treinen. Treinen allowed a groundball single, but he steadied himself as he wasn’t always able to last season. He got two quick outs, a lefty then a righty, and handed the ball off to Jonathan Papelbon. The closer earned his fourth save in five games. [Papelbon is pleased with his Nationals Park reception]
Call them deep, call them experienced, call them off to a good start. The Nationals trailed early, but they won again.