Instant Analysis: Cardinals 6, Nats 1
Miles Mikolas was better, but was pulled after three innings. The Nationals lineup,, meanwhile, was shut down in today's series finale.
For the first time in a while, the Nationals thought they got enough pitching to win a game (at least, until their beleaguered bullpen wore down late in this one). They just didn’t get nearly enough offense in today’s matinee and dropped their series finale to the Cardinals in disappointing fashion.
Seeking a much better result than he got in the first game of this homestand, Miles Mikolas did give up far fewer runs (two, as opposed to 11) but still labored just to complete three innings. Rather than take any chances, Blake Butera went to his bullpen while the game was still close, summoning Brad Lord for the top of the fourth. Lord responded with three innings of one-run ball, his only blemish a solo homer by Jordan Walker (his third home run of the series).
But the same Nationals lineup that looked like a consistent force for much of the last two weeks was completely shut down today by Michael McGreevy and the Cardinals bullpen. McGreevy allowed just one run over six innings, that one coming on a fielder’s choice groundball by Luis Garcia Jr. in the bottom of the third. That actually was the first of 11 consecutive outs made by Nats hitters to close out McGreevy’s day.
Cionel Pérez became the latest reliever to walk the first batter he faced (plus the next one, for good measure) and ultimately gave up an insurance run in the top of the eighth. Cole Henry and PJ Poulin combined to give up two more in the ninth, creating a deficit far too large for the Nationals, who went down quietly to complete a disappointing 1-5 homestand.
HITTING LOWLIGHT: Nasim Nuñez has now started 10 of the Nationals’ first 12 games. There’s no doubt he has been handed the starting second baseman’s job, by virtue of his elite defensive skills. But for this to continue long-term, the team eventually is going to need to see more offense from him. With an 0-for-4 showing today, Nuñez (who was actually batting sixth in the lineup), fell to 7-for-39 with zero extra-base hits on the season. He has drawn three walks, and he leads the majors with seven stolen bases. But he’s simply not getting on base enough to use his speed to maximum effect.
PITCHING LOWLIGHT: Butera was questioned for leaving Mikolas on the mound into the fifth inning during Friday’s home opener despite giving up 11 runs to the Dodgers. Today, the rookie manager took the complete opposite approach, pulling his veteran starter after only three innings despite the fact he surrendered only two runs. Not that Mikolas was sharp. He loaded the bases in both the first and second innings, escaping the first jam but surrendering a two-run single to Alec Burleson in the second one. He then walked the leadoff man in the third (his third walk of the game) before retiring the next three batters. All told, Mikolas threw 55 pitches over his three frames. The bottom line wasn’t bad, but the path he took to get there was far from clean. And with the top of the Cardinals order due to bat for the third time, Butera decided not to push this any further and went to his bullpen early.
NOTABLE: The Nats threw 543 pitches over 28 innings in this series, an average of more than 19 pitches per inning.
UP NEXT: The Nationals will have a day off in Milwaukee before opening a weekend series against the Brewers Friday at 7:40 p.m. Eastern. Jake Irvin is scheduled to start against fellow right-hander Chad Patrick. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM
I’m not mad at this. Nationals were getting solid contact, Cardinals middle infield was just that much better. On to the next one.
The day off tomorrow is probably a good thing. I got the sense that they might have been pressing today, position players and pitchers. A chance to regroup and a change of venue may be just what they need to get back to winning.