The Washington Nationals had the worst bullpen ERA in all Major League Baseball this season. So when starter Patrick Corbin left the mound in the sixth inning with the team trailing 2-0, Davey Martinez didn’t have many options in the bullpen to count on. Yet, turning to Fernando Rodney with two runners on in the seventh inning was arguably the worst move Martinez could have made.
After Tanner Rainey walked Joc Pederson and allowed a single to Justin Turner, putting runners on the corner, Martinez inexplicably turned to the right handed Rodney with left-handed Cody Bellinger with lefty Sean Doolittle still available in the bullpen.
Rodney would strikeout Bellinger, but Martinez stuck with the 42-year old journeyman with no action in the bullpen. Rodney would then walk Chris Taylor to load the bases with lefty Max Muncy, who was responsible for the Dodgers’ two runs at moment, at the plate.
As expected Muncy ripped a two-run RBI, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0. And then Twitter went insane due to Martinez’s decision to leave Rodney out to face ultimately three left-handed batters, despite his struggles on the season:
It was the outcome everyone watching but Martinez expected. And while the Nationals offense went cold in LA, any chance of a rally seemingly sunk with Rodney’s implosion in the seventh.
