Instant Analysis: Reds 15, Nats 1
Foster Griffin suffered through his first blowup start of the season, and the Nationals were routed in their latest attempt to reach .500
CINCINNATI – Technically, the Nationals had a chance to get to .500 with a win today. They never really gave themselves the chance to do it, though, falling into an early hole they could not dig themselves out of this time.
In a matchup of two of the NL’s most-effective starters to date this season, Foster Griffin laid a rare egg while Chase Burns cruised. Griffin was roughed up for a season-high nine runs in only 4 1/3 innings, serving up home runs to Matt McLain and JJ Bleday while also issuing three walks and hitting a batter. Burns, on the other hand, dominated to the tune of six scoreless innings on 95 pitches, lowering his ERA to a sparkling 1.87.
Down 9-0 after five innings, Blake Butera pulled both James Wood and CJ Abrams, giving both stars a breather on day three of a stretch of 16 consecutive scheduled game days. He also left Zak Kent on the mound for 42 pitches over 2 2/3 innings of mop-up work, the rookie reliever surrendering another two-run homer to Bleday in the seventh to make it an 11-0 game. Joey Wiemer wound up on the mound in the eighth, and the outfielder proceeded to give up four more runs in his second pitching appearance of the season.
HITTING LOWLIGHT: The Nationals knew they faced a stiff challenge in Burns, but they barely made the Reds right-hander sweat in this one. Their first seven batters went down in order, three of them striking out. They recorded only two hits in six innings against Burns and couldn’t advance either beyond second base. For one of the majors’ most-productive lineups so far this season, this was an uncharacteristic dud.
PITCHING LOWLIGHT: It was bound to happen eventually, but that didn’t make it any easier to watch unfold. Griffin had been a model of consistency through the season’s first month and a half, never failing to complete five innings, never allowing more than four runs. And then it all fell apart for the left-hander today. He actually struck out the side in the first, teasing everyone as it turned out. He gave up a two-run homer in the second, then the wheels came off in the fourth via back-to-back, two-out walks followed by back-to-back, two-run hits. Butera let him take the mound for the fifth, but that didn’t go any better. By the time Bleday hammered his first-pitch cutter to right for a three-run homer, Griffin had seen his ERA skyrocket from 2.12 to 3.53 after what was by far the worst of his nine MLB starts.
NOTABLE: The Nationals have now lost 15 consecutive games with a chance to reach the .500 mark, a streak that dates back to May 14, 2024, when they beat the White Sox in the opener of a doubleheader to get to 20-20 before losing the nightcap.
UP NEXT: It’s time for round one of this year’s Battle of the Beltways, with the Orioles coming to D.C. for a weekend series. Miles Mikolas is listed as the Nats’ starter for Friday’s 6:45 p.m. game, though there’s always the possibility of an opener. Right-hander Shane Baz starts for Baltimore. TV: Nationals TV/FOX 5 RADIO: 106.7 FM
This game proves that playing error free baseball does not guarantee a win.
Interesting fact on the 15 consecutive games going back to exactly two years ago. Other than that, Ugh, flush, and start afresh tomorrow and get the Os. GO NATS!!