Erick Fedde allowed one run in five innings in his first start of the season. The young Washington Nationals pitcher held the New York Mets at bay with a bevy of ground outs. After leaving the game with a 1-1 tie, Fedde’s strong performance would be for naught, as the Nationals’ bullpen once again imploded.
After Brian Dozier’s two-run homer in the top of the seventh gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead, reliever Wander Suero gave it back, as JD Davis hammered a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to gave the Mets the lead at 4-3.
Suero had made it through a clean sixth inning, but a lead-off single by Wilson Ramos got the Mets’ train rolling. A walk later, and Davis got on top of a hanging curveball.
The Nationals offense picked right up. Trea Turner hit an RBI-double that tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth. Then Juan Soto, who hit a deck-clearing home run the second, put Washington back in front at 5-4 with an RBI-double that scored Turner.
However, the lead was short-lived, as Pete Alonso crushed a Tanner Rainey, 98-mph fastball that wondered over the middle of the plate in the eighth. The ball went over the left foul pole, but after an official review, the home run stood with inconclusive evidence to overturn it.
With the game tied 5-5, Dave Martinez opted to keep Rainey in. He walked produced back-to-back one-out walks before Martinez turned to Kyle Barraclough.
After a fielder’s choice put put runners on second and third, Amed Rosario hit a two-hopper to short. Turner fielded it as a routine play, but Rosario beat his throw to first, just as Adeiny Hechavarria crossed home to give the Mets a walk-off 6-5 win.
One earned run in five innings for the starter; two home runs, and five runs turned out to be all for naught. MLB’s worst-bullpen gave up five earned runs in the final three innings, and great hustle play down the first-base line later, the Nationals add another loss to their record.
At 19-29, the Nationals are now on a three-game losing streak. Just a week after they had shown some life winning five of nine.
They are 10 games under .500 for the first since Sept. 2011. They are nine games back in an NL East that has struggled. While there have been a list of injuries and poorest defense, the highlight of their woes has been their bullpen.
It’s just May, but the headlines read like a broken-record.
“The Bullpen Implodes, Once Again”
The Nationals’ bullpen ranks last in the majors in ERA (6.61), WHIP (1.61), and opponents batting average (.281). It’s .838 OPS is only better than Baltimore and Detroit.
Of the 14 pitchers to appear in a relief role for the Nationals this season, 10 have an ERA of 6.00 or higher.
The Nationals’ disappointing season is riding solely on their arms of their bullpen. Regardless of the team’s overall health improves, and they get bats back from Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Adams, whether or not Washington turns around the season is all on the bullpen.
