For the first time since June 15, a Washington Nationals starting pitcher recorded a loss. No it wasn’t Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, or Patrick Corbin. Not even Anibal Sanchez or Erick Fedde. Yet, Joe Ross, who was making his first start of the season.
Being that Ross would be the first loss in 28 games by a starter is not surprising at all. He entered Sunday sporting a whopping 11.05 ERA in 17 appearances this season that led to him being sent down to Triple-A Fresno last month. Recalled Sunday for a spot start against the Atlanta Braves with Scherzer still dealing with inflammation in his back and on the injured list.
Initially, Austin Voth was set to make the start in place of Scherzer, but he was placed on the 10-day IL with right biceps tendinitis. And with Fedde needed to start Monday, Washington had to turn to the embattled Ross.
Yet, Ross pitched through a rough first inning in which he gave up two runs, to make out a solid start, going 5 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs, eight hits, and two walks with six strikeouts on 98 pitches.
Considering his struggles that’s more than what the Nationals could ask from Ross. Unfortunately, the Nats otherwise reliable offense went silence against Kevin Gausman, who has had his fair share of woes this season.
And by the time Ross yielded a solo home run blast by Josh Donaldson in the sixth, the outcome seem inevitable with the Nationals trailing 3-0.
Nationals manager Davey Martinez was forced to turn to the bottom tier of his lukewarm bullpen. After a clean stretch from Tony Sipp, an already insurmountable hole became deeper. Javy Guerra gave up an error and two runs in the seventh and Kyle McGowin yielded a two-run blast from Ronald Acuna in the eighth.
It was the first game since June 15 that the Nationals were unable to lead or tie the game by the ninth inning. Trea Turner, Adam Eaton, Anthony Rendon, and Juan Soto each went without a hit in a combined 16 at-bats.
As a result, the Nationals split the four-game series with the first-place Braves, leaving Washington 6.5 games behind in the NL East. They’ll be force to look at the what ifs at this series.
The bullpen broke on Friday night, erasing a ninth inning rally to tie the game. And Sunday’s letdown in front of a national audience watching on ESPN that seemed ominous before the first pitch.
A day after tying the MLB all-time record (1916 New York Giants) with 27 straight games without a loss recorded by a starter, the streak ends in the worst way.
