National Update - Nats Sweep Two Game Series Against Stros

Daps! Daps for everyone!

In this 2-game series with the Astros, the Nats went 2-0, taking both games with a score 6-5.

Game 1 - Nats Narrowly Escape Clippard Clipping Himself

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel came into this game hot, winning 6 out of his last 7 starts and boasting a sub-3 ERA. The Nats jumped on him early with two doubles in the first, scoring two and jumping to a 2-0 lead. Zim then ripped his second double of the game in the third, followed by a Desmond single to stretch it to 4-0. Zim has struggled in the last two weeks, only hitting .189 in that span. This game hopefully sparks a turn around, as the Nats can use all the run-support they can get.

Tanner Roark had complete control of this game from the get go. He continues to surprise me, and his curves today looked like Mia Malkova's ass. Beautiful and on-point throughout. He loaded the bases in the 4th, and then doused the rally leaving with only one run earned. He left the game after the 5th, allowing 1 ER and striking out 4. The game remained quiet for the most part until Clippard came in for the 8th and almost blew it. Three straight hits, followed by two Ks, then two more hits accounting for 4 ER in 2/3 of an inning. Clippard had started the season shaky, but has evolved into one of the leagues best set-up men. Hopefully, this was just a glitch in his system. Soriano came did his thing, and got to #Untuck, securing the 6-5 Curly W.

Game 2 - Gio's Return

This was Gio's first start coming back from a month on the DL due to inflammation in his pitching arm. Here's his stat line:

The line on Gio Gonzalez in his return from the disabled list: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 19, 2014

Through three innings, Gio was on fire. 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. He just unraveled in the fourth. Loaded the bases, including a HBP, and then gave up back to back hits, one in which we got to see Zimmerman with a noodle arm in LF (Yikes). You just cant do that, even to the Astros. You take out that inning and he looked exemplary. Just looking for him to regain that confidence and work himself back into last years form. He currently has the highest ERA of the starting rotation.
Down 5-3, the Nats rallied in the bottom of the 7th, with a Rendon blast, Zim RBI and Mclouth sac fly giving the Nattys a 6-5 lead. Clippard bounced back from his implosion last night with a 1-2-3 inning, and Soriano got to #Untuck on back to back nights, again securing the 6-5 Curly W. The Nats stole 5 bases in this game, which I personally love about Matt Williams coaching philosophy, adds so much pressure to the opposing defense. Even if you have to steal bases with ninja like dodging abilities:



One thing that really got under my skin in this game was in the bottom of the 6th. 5-3 game, Espinosa on second with 2 outs, Span hitting. Span laces a ball to right, but assumes its going to be caught, so jogs out of the box. Ball goes over the right fielders head, Span shifts into gear half way up the line. Espinosa easily scores, but Span is thrown out at third on the relay.

If you're Matt Williams you IMMEDIATELY bench Span. Everyone knows the Harper incident earlier this year, where he didn't hustle out a routine ground ball and got benched. How Matt Williams said "this team made an agreement, that when we play the game, that we hustle at all times." This is the exact same thing, he half-assed it out of the box, but instead of a routine ground ball, this was a legitimate sabotage of a base hit and a rally, and you NEVER make the last out at third. I understand the power move it was to bench Harper and have him acknowledge Williams runs the show, but have the stones to follow through with your other players as well. It's hypocritical.

This was a great bounce back for the Nationals after getting swept by the Cards over the weekend. They're slated to have a huge 4-game set against the Braves for the NL East lead. The Braves currently sit 1.5 games back of the Nats, so this series is critical. Jordan Zimmerman takes on Gavin Floyd in the first of the four games. Looking for the Nats to take at least 3/4 and extend their division lead.