Instant Analysis: Nats 3, Giants 0
Behind the unlikely pitching trio of PJ Poulin, Miles Mikolas and Andrew Alvarez and one big blast from Curtis Mead, the Nationals avoided the sweep
The Nationals drew up another unconventional pitching plan for today’s series finale against the Giants, taking into account Miles Mikolas’ struggles and a tired bullpen. They couldn’t have asked for a much better outcome than they got during a 3-0 shutout victory in which they needed only three pitchers.
For the third time this season, the Nats used PJ Poulin as an opener. The lefty retired only two of the four batters he faced, but Mikolas managed to quickly get the final out of the first inning, then churned out 3 2/3 more scoreless innings in easily his best performance of the season. Next up was Andrew Alvarez, the Triple-A starter summoned from Rochester to pitch long relief today, and he responded with 4 1/3 scoreless innings of his own, finishing the game without needing any help from the rest of the bullpen.
The Nationals needed some time to get going offensively, struggling early on against San Francisco’s Robbie Ray. But they put together a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth, getting a bunt single and stolen base from Nasim Nuñez, an RBI double from Keibert Ruiz (with Nuñez scoring after catcher Patrick Bailey dropped the ball while trying to apply the tag) and a two-run homer from Curtis Mead.
That’s all they needed on this day, thanks to one of the best pitching performances of the season from a staff that needed it.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: After his embarrassing baserunning gaffe Saturday, Mead needed a positive development today. And he got it in the form of one big blast off one of the sport’s toughest pitchers. Moments after the Nationals broke the scoreless deadlock on Ruiz’s fifth-inning double, Mead pounced on a first-pitch changeup from Ray and sent it flying down the left-field line for a two-run homer and a 3-0 lead. Mead is now 6-for-21 with a double, two homers and five RBI against lefties this season, making him a strong platoon partner for Luis Garcia Jr. at first base.
PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: It was four scoreless innings, so let’s not make it out to be some kind of dominant performance. But for Mikolas, this was a huge step in the right direction after a disastrous start to his season. The Nationals seemingly went out of their way again to minimize how much time the 37-year-old would be on the mound today, using Poulin as the opener and Alvarez as a long reliever behind him. But Mikolas more than fulfilled his end of the bargain. He allowed four hits, all singles, three of them never leaving the infield. He walked one batter. He didn’t give up anything resembling loud contact. At 61 pitches, he certainly looked like he could continue. But with Alvarez available out of the pen, and perhaps not wanting to press his luck, Blake Butera took the ball from Mikolas’ hand with two outs in the fifth and congratulated him on a job well done.
NOTABLE: Since beginning his season 10-for-17 with two homers, four RBI, five walks and four strikeouts, Joey Wiemer is 5-for-27 with one RBI, one walk and 14 strikeouts.
UP NEXT: The first-place Braves come to town for a four-game series. Monday’s opener will see Jake Irvin start against former Nats prospect Reynaldo Lopez. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM