The Washington Nationals got a much-needed win, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2 Saturday. And they did so without much help from their woeful bullpen. Starter Stephen Strasburg lasted eight inning, striking out seven while allowing two runs (one unearned) off four hits.
Strasburg (4-3) commanded the strike zone with 69 of his 93 pitches going for strikes. He breezed through the first four innings, but allowed two singles in the fifth. Then, a passed ball after catcher Yan Gomes got crossed up, allowed the Cubs first run to score.
Strasburg also yielded a lead-off home run to David Bote in the sixth. However, he didn’t falter much more after that as he retired the next nine batters he face before turning over the keys to closer Sean Doolittle.
Doolittle has been the lone bright spot of the worst bullpen in MLB. He recorded his eight save of the season, getting through a clean ninth to end the game. He lowered his ERA to an impressive 1.71 in the process.
Washington has been plagued all season by a bullpen that has imploded on a routine basis. Their 6.82 ERA is worst among bullpens in MLB.
Strasburg’s performance was desperately needed a day after the Nationals’ relievers allowed eight runs over the course of three innings, ruining another solid performance by Max Scherzer.
Strasburg made sure not to allow a repeat, stifling the Cubs’ bats. He allowed just two singles in 15 at-bats to the powerful quintet of Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Willson Contreras. That potent group had 12 hits, including five home runs Friday.
As Strasburg silenced the Cubs’ bats, the Nationals offense was being carried by it’s young phenom Juan Soto.
The 20-year old went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk. He drove in three runs in the process. His two-run double highlighted a three-run third inning for Washington that extended their lead to 4-0.
In contrast to Chicago, the Nationals’ hitters 1 through 5 collected seven hits and three walks, driving in four runs and scoring four. Each got a hit.
Even six-hole hitter Brian Dozier got into the mix, hitting a solo homer in the second that got the run scoring started.
The lone blemish on the night came in the eighth, as Washington was trying to bust open the game with a 5-2 lead. They had bases loaded after a Michael A. Taylor single and back-to-back walks to Trea Turner and Adam Eaton. However, Anthony Rendon struck out swinging to end the frame.
While Washington in 19-26 on the season, the win was their fifth in their last nine games. With Soto, Rendon, and Turner rejoining the lineup, the Nationals seemingly are regaining their offense. Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Adams remain on the IL and Victor Robles is day-to-day with a wrist contusion after being hit by a pitcher. However, the power is building back in Washington.
And while they sort out their bullpen woes, Strasburg and company will be needed to hold the fort and pitch some gems as he did Saturday.
