Game 97: Yankees at Nats

The first half of the season concludes today, with the Nationals hoping to enter the All-Star break with a winning record

We have reached the final game of the season’s first half, and what an unexpected first half it’s been. If someone told you on Opening Day the Nationals would have a chance to go into the All-Star break with a winning record, how thrilled would you have been by the possibility? And yet, if someone told you a couple weeks ago the Nats would have a chance to go into the All-Star break with a losing record, how disappointed would you have been by that possibility?

So there’s perhaps some psychological distinction between winning or losing today’s finale against the Yankees, and not simply because the Nationals are trying to avoid a sweep. A winning record at the break sure sounds a lot better than a losing record.

Whether or not this game comes down to the same bullpen that has blown each of the weekend’s first two games remains to be seen. Before if ever comes to that, Cade Cavalli makes the start, officially back from his five-game suspension in time to make one more start before the All-Star break. (Miles Mikolas, by the way, begins his five-game suspension today, so that means he will be eligible to return for the team’s fifth game coming out of the break.)

The Nationals made a roster move before today’s game, designating left-hander Matt Krook (Friday night’s closer) for assignment after only three appearances for the club. The corresponding move, though, does not involve another pitcher. Instead they’ve promoted first baseman Abimelec Ortiz from Triple-A Rochester, giving them an extra left-handed bat for at least one day. Ortiz is batting third and serving as the DH this afternoon. (Scroll below the lineups for more from him on his MLB debut.)

NEW YORK YANKEES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 83 degrees, 8 mph in from right

YANKEES
CF Trent Grisham
1B Ben Rice
DH Jasson Dominguez
CF Cody Bellinger
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
SS Jose Caballero
3B Ryan McMahon
C Austin Wells
RF Max Schuemann

RHP Will Warren

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
DH Abimelec Ortiz
SS CJ Abrams
CF Dylan Crews
LF Daylen Lile
2B José Tena
3B Jorbit Vivas
C Keibert Ruiz

RHP Cade Cavalli

Photo by Saúl Martinez / NATS JOURNAL

ORTIZ CALLED UP, KROOK DFA’D

Whether he’s only here for a day or gets the chance to stick around for a while after the All-Star break, Abimelec Ortiz won’t soon forget the circumstances that led to his MLB debut this afternoon.

The 24-year-old first baseman found out Saturday evening he was being called up by the Nationals, departed Rochester at 10 p.m. and proceeded to make the 7-hour overnight drive to D.C. with his wife. The lack of sleep wasn’t evident at all in his smiling face inside the clubhouse this morning.

“Probably the seven quickest hours of my life,” he said, via interpreter Mauricio Ortiz. “I had my wife by my side, so that really helped. I’m just really excited for all this.”

Ortiz was also thrilled his parents, Victor and Rose, were able to make it from their home in Puerto Rico, despite a flight delay that prevented them from landing until 3 a.m.

“Just a lot of sacrifice, by my dad especially,” he said. “He would get off of work at 3, then pick me up and drive an hour, an hour-and-a-half stuck in traffic to get me to my baseball practice. Also my mom; they would have to divide up the work, because of my other two siblings. All the hard work they’ve put in, even though they have other responsibilities, for them to still take me and help me accomplish what I’ve accomplished.”

One of the five prospects acquired from the Rangers in last winter’s MacKenzie Gore trade, Ortiz is the first to reach the big leagues. In 71 games at Rochester, he hit .235/.332/.481 with 17 doubles, 16 homers and 59 RBI. He’s not known for his defense at first base, but his left-handed bat will be appreciated today against Yankees right-hander Will Warren.

“Just thought he was swinging the bat well, particularly against right-handed pitchers,” manager Blake Butera said. “Just thought this would be a good opportunity for him.”

Krook wound up making only three appearances for the Nationals before being cut loose. The 31-year-old lefty, claimed off waivers from the Athletics on July 4, actually was unscored upon in two of those games, but he’ll surely be remembered for being given a chance to pitch the ninth inning Friday night and proceeding to give up the game-winning homer to Jazz Chosholm Jr.

The Nats technically are going with only 11 pitchers today, with Miles Mikolas now serving his five-game suspension. They’ll need to add another reliever coming out of the All-Star break, which would necessitate the demotion of a position player.