Nationals’ Struggles Continue Against DeGrom and the Rangers
Alex Call finally achieved a notable milestone during Saturday’s game at Nationals Park. In the eighth inning, he drew a walk-the only free pass awarded to the Washington Nationals in that contest. Celebrating the moment, Call flipped his bat and sprinted toward first base, with Robert Hassell III advancing into scoring position. However, the jubilation was short-lived. Keibert Ruiz swung at a first-pitch slider and grounded into a double play, halting any potential rally. Shortly thereafter, José Tena grounded out, sealing a 5-0 defeat for Washington at the hands of Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers.
Manager’s Perspective on the Team’s Performance
Head coach Dave Martinez reflected on the team’s approach, noting, “We’re just chasing a little too much,” he said. “Our hitters are being attacked early in the count. We’ve discussed being aggressive, but it’s crucial to be selective and focus on pitches within the strike zone. We need to return to the disciplined approach we had on the road.”
Offensive Drought and Power Shortage
Despite a strong finish to May, where the Nationals scored 38 runs over four games-including three games with nine or more runs-they have struggled significantly since. Over the past six contests, they’ve managed only nine runs total. Key contributors like CJ Abrams and James Wood are experiencing their worst offensive stretches of the season. The team’s overall power hitting has waned, and Saturday’s game underscored a troubling trend: Washington has drawn a mere seven walks in six games this month, with no more than one walk in any single game during that span.
Understanding the Importance of Plate Discipline
While walk totals provide some insight, they don’t tell the full story. Pitchers who challenge hitters in the strike zone can force early swings, reducing the likelihood of walks. However, the Nationals’ inability to work the count has been evident during this homestand. For instance, on Friday, former Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin threw eight innings without issuing a single walk, yet Washington still lost. Martinez has expressed concern that his players aren’t capitalizing on pitches in the strike zone, which limits their offensive opportunities.
Player Insights on Pitching Strategies
Hassell commented, “Opposing pitchers are giving us the right pitches to hit, and we just need to execute better. When the ball is in the heart of the zone, we’re swinging. It’s about being disciplined and taking advantage of those pitches.”
Facing a Dominant DeGrom
Martinez emphasized the challenge posed by Jacob deGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, who most of the Nationals lineup faced for the first time. DeGrom pitched a masterful seven-inning performance, needing only 81 pitches, striking out eight batters, allowing just two hits, and issuing no walks. His ERA now stands at an impressive 2.12. “Today, deGrom was exceptional,” Martinez acknowledged. “He located his fastballs precisely and mixed in a sharp slider. When a pitcher is executing like that, you have to tip your cap.”
Limited Opportunities and Plate Approach
The Nationals rarely found themselves in hitter’s counts. Aside from Call’s walk-earned against reliever Luke Jackson-only three at-bats resulted in three-ball counts. Luis García Jr. worked a full count in the first inning but chased a slider outside the zone, hitting a weak grounder back to deGrom. In the fourth, Nathaniel Lowe also reached a full count but swung and missed at an outside slider on the sixth pitch. In the ninth, Abrams worked a full count against reliever Chris Martin but struck out swinging at a cutter outside the zone.
Disappointing Plate Discipline Stats
This month, only Wood and Tena have drawn two walks each. Josh Bell, Nasim Nunez, and Call each have one. Since 2000, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020 season, no team has finished a calendar month with fewer than 39 walks. With just a week into June, the Nationals are on pace to fall well short of that benchmark, highlighting ongoing struggles with plate discipline.
Rangers’ Early Offensive Surge and Defensive Highlights
On Saturday, the Rangers, who entered the game with a 30-35 record, opened strongly with three hits in the first inning against Mitchell Parker. Sam Haggerty, Josh Jung, and Marcus Semien all singled. An error by Hassell on Semien’s hit allowed the ball to roll under his glove and into the outfield, enabling Haggerty and Jung to score, while Semien advanced to third. Parker responded by retiring the next 14 batters consecutively. Notably, he completed six innings without issuing a single walk, marking a significant improvement for him this season.
Key Defensive Play and Pitching Success
Hassell attempted to throw out Haggerty at second base after a single in the sixth but was unsuccessful, allowing Haggerty to reach. Parker’s ability to avoid walks was a crucial factor, as he had previously struggled with control issues. “Not giving up free passes is a huge deal,” Parker said. “In recent outings, walks have led to runs, so this is a positive step forward.”
Late-Inning Insurance and DeGrom’s Dominance
In the eighth inning, Semien added a two-run double off Eduardo Salazar, extending the Rangers’ lead. He later scored on a single by Adolis García, providing additional cushion for deGrom, who continued to dominate the Nationals’ lineup with a mix of 38 fastballs, 36 sliders, and seven changeups. Washington’s hitters struggled to lay off deGrom’s slider, swinging at 21 and whiffing 10 times, illustrating his command and deception.
Final Thoughts: The Challenge of Facing Elite Pitching
Hassell summed up the difficulty, stating, “When deGrom is healthy and on his game, he’s a tough pitcher to beat. We prepared, but today, he simply outperformed us.”
