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Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Nationals struggle with the basics and drop series finale to the Cubs
The Washington Nationals hit the ball with authority, got a handful of timely outs from right-hander Jake Irvin and still couldn't get out of their own way in Thursday night's 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Across all phases — pitching, fielding, hitting and baserunning — the Nationals came up short. They looked like they knew it. It started in the first when starter Jake Irvin left a curveball up to Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs' second-year star. He blasted it out to center for a two-run home run. In the bottom of the inning, CJ Abrams led off by lashing a hard single to right, dug hard and beat Kyle Tucker's throw to second — but couldn't hold the bag after his headfirst slide and was tagged out. Robert Hassell III slapped his left hand against the same base in the third when he, too, was thrown out trying to take an extra base. That pill was no easier to swallow when the top of Washington's order immediately followed with a double and a single. 'The running into a few outs didn't bother me a bit — two good plays, two good throws,' Manager Dave Martinez said. 'But the defense. Couple plays there we should have made that we didn't make. ... We got to get ready to catch the ball.' In the field, Luis García Jr. was a step slow to get to what was ruled an infield single for Matt Shaw in the second. Chicago (39-23) parlayed that into a run after Nathaniel Lowe threw a ball off Shaw's helmet while trying to turn a double play and Ian Happ doubled him home for a 3-0 advantage. Or look, finally, to the turf between home plate and the home dugout at Nationals Park. It was there, in the seventh, that García slammed his bat after popping out to Chicago catcher Reese McGuire with two on and one out. 'Everybody knows I never miss a fastball,' García said. 'So I missed the fastball two times. That's the reason for slamming the bat.' It was also there, later that inning, that Abrams made the slow trudge back to the dugout after he couldn't hold back a checked swing in a 3-2 count, the bases loaded and two out. 'I missed two pitches I should have hit, and he kind of buckled me with a curveball,' Abrams said. Baserunning, defense and the struggle of their starters aren't necessarily one-off problems for the Nationals (29-33). In May, it certainly looked as though the team's defense regressed; they rated as the worst defense in baseball by one of MLB's most popular catchall defensive metrics, outs above average. Per Statcast, they grade out as one of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to taking extra bases. Manager Dave Martinez has often attributed these ailments to the youth of their roster and a necessary evil that comes from aggression on the base paths. And still, for the most part, Washington has overcome its issues the past three weeks, a stretch that has seen them go 12-7 since a team meeting after a May 13 loss — their seventh straight at the time. They have had been an above-average offense and an above-average bullpen. They have been one of the best teams in baseball with runners in scoring position. Those strengths compensated for the slight dip in production from their starters. On Thursday, Irvin struggled early. He began the game with a strikeout on a 95.6 mph heater — a good sign, as up to that point, he had only hit 95 on the radar gun six times all year. But his fastball often missed to the glove side. He couldn't get his velocity back to that point later in the game, and when asked why, said, 'couldn't answer that.' His curveball up to Crow-Armstrong went 412 feet to straightaway center. And though he usually offers Washington length, he was out by the end of the fifth. 'He's throwing a lot of balls over the heart of the plate,' Martinez said. 'He fell behind quite a bit today, and when you do that, and you have to throw a strike, they're ready to hit.' Irvin has arguably the Nationals' best start during their recent hot stretch, delivering eight scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on May 24. But he has allowed nine runs on 18 hits across the two starts that followed. 'Lot of balls through the infield,' Irvin said. 'Just kind of hitting balls where guys aren't positioned.' He left trailing 3-0 in the sixth, a deficit that grew to 5-0 after the first two batters Jackson Rutledge faced. Reese McGuire, who entered hitting .143, greeted him with a single. Then Rutledge then left a cutter over the middle to Happ, who responded with a two-run blast to the upper deck in right field. Eduardo Salazar allowed two more runs in the ninth and García had an RBI single to account for the final score. There were a handful of productive developments that Washington could take from the game. James Wood hit two line drives over 100 mph, but both landed in the glove of a corner outfielder. Abrams, who has been looking to get right at the plate, followed up his out on the bases with a double in the third. 'We kind of laugh about it, but at the same time it's frustrating watching the exit velocity 100, 105 and getting out,' García said through an interpreter. 'So yeah, it's frustrating.' So a game and a series, more winnable than the final score indicated, still went to the visitors.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Diamondbacks beat Nationals 3-1 but lose starting pitcher Corbin Burnes to injury
PHOENIX (AP) — Eugenio Suárez homered to cap Arizona's three-run first inning in a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Sunday, but the Diamondbacks lost starting pitcher Corbin Burnes to an injury. Burnes, who had three of his six strikeouts in the first inning, left with two outs and CJ Abrams on base in the fifth after throwing his 70th pitch. He motioned to the dugout and appeared to mouth, 'My elbow,' to a teammate before walking off the field with a 3-0 lead. The Diamondbacks, who snapped a four-game skid despite not getting a hit after the first inning, staked Burnes to the lead when Ketel Marte hit a leadoff single against Mitchell Parker (4-5) and took second on a flyout. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled to score Marte and Suárez followed with his 15th homer — a 466-foot shot to center. The blast tied Suárez with the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber for the fifth longest this season. The Angels' Mike Trout leads with a 484-footer against the Giants on April 19. It turned out it was Arizona's final hit. Jalen Beeks replaced Burnes in the fifth and gave up an RBI single to Nathaniel Lowe before striking out Luis García Jr. to end it. Cristian Mena (1-0) was recalled from Triple-A Reno before the game and pitched two scoreless innings for his first win in his third career appearance. Justin Martinez pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save. The Nationals had their four-game win streak stopped — one short of their season high. Key moment Arizona will monitor the status of Burnes, who was signed to a six-year deal worth $210 million before the season to anchor the staff. Key stat Burnes didn't get his first win until his sixth start when he beat the Mets on April 30. But he went 2-1 in four May starts with a 1.67 ERA. Up next RHP Trevor Williams (3-5, 5.69) starts Tuesday as the Nationals begin a six-game homestand with three against the Cubs, who will send out RHP Cade Horton (2-0, 3.98) for his fourth career start. The Diamondbacks will start RHP Zac Gallen (3-7, 5.54) on Tuesday against Braves, who will start RHP Spencer Strider (0-3, 4.50). ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Despite a clunker of a finale, the Nats will come home on a roll
PHOENIX — At the end of the best two-week stretch these Washington Nationals had seen in a long while, a dud arrived in the form of Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. But they were certainly aiming for the jugular. Just look at the lineup Manager Dave Martinez put out against Arizona ace Corbin Burnes. Catcher Keibert Ruiz, who usually is given the day off when a day game follows a night game, was crouching behind home plate 15 hours after he last did. CJ Abrams, who played every game in May and was hit by three pitches a night earlier, was at shortstop. Amed Rosario, Alex Call, Nasim Nuñez and Riley Adams remained on the bench.
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes leaves game against the Nationals with an apparent injury
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes was lifted after just 70 pitches Sunday against Washington with an apparent injury. Arizona led 3-0 in the top of the fifth when Burnes allowed a single by C.J. Abrams with two outs. The right-hander then gestured toward the dugout with his glove and yelled in frustration.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes leaves game against the Nationals with an apparent injury
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes, left, leaves a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes throws against the Washington Nationals in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes throws against the Washington Nationals in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes, left, leaves a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes throws against the Washington Nationals in the first inning during a baseball game, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes was lifted after just 70 pitches Sunday against Washington with an apparent injury. Arizona led 3-0 in the top of the fifth when Burnes allowed a single by C.J. Abrams with two outs. The right-hander then gestured toward the dugout with his glove and yelled in frustration. Advertisement Jalen Beeks replaced Burnes and gave up an RBI single before getting the third out. Burnes allowed a run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, with a walk and six strikeouts. He's 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts on the season. Arizona signed Burnes to a $210 million, six-year contract before the season. He's been effective, but the Diamondbacks have dealt with a slew of pitching injuries. Jordan Montgomery (Tommy John surgery) is out for the season, Eduardo Rodríguez (shoulder) is on the injured list, and reliever A.J. Puk (elbow) is on the IL as well. Arizona allowed 10 runs in the first inning Saturday, its ninth loss in 10 games. ___ AP NHL:
