Nationals Struggle with Pitching in Heavy Loss to Mariners

The Washington Nationals experienced a challenging evening on Friday, falling 10-2 to the Seattle Mariners at home. The game, which was delayed for over two hours due to weather, marked a disappointing performance for the Nationals, particularly on the pitching front.

Right-hander Zack Littell was unable to navigate through the second inning, exiting after just 1 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed five runs on four hits while throwing 56 pitches. Despite getting to two-strike counts against six hitters in the second inning, Littell struggled to finish them off, with the Mariners showing resilience by extending at-bats and not chasing pitches outside the strike zone.

“I think they had a really good plan tonight. They executed really well,” said Littell after the game, reflecting on his performance.

Manager Blake Butera noted the difficulties Littell faced in converting two-strike counts into outs, emphasizing the importance of command for pitchers who lack overpowering velocity. Littell had been performing well prior to this outing, holding a 2.27 ERA since early May, but will need to regroup following this setback.

Riley Cornelio came in to finish the second inning and pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits. Paxton Schultz, who had a rough outing earlier in the week, allowed another solo home run in his two innings of work.

On the offensive side, the Nationals managed to score two runs, including solo home runs from James Wood and Dylan Crews. However, they struggled to generate consistent threats against Mariners starter Bryce Miller, who delivered an impressive performance, allowing only two runs over eight innings.

This loss brought the Nationals’ home record to 12-21, marking a stark contrast to their recent success on a West Coast road trip where they finished 4-2. Despite the recent defeats, Wood expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, stating that games like these reveal the character of the squad and the importance of refining their approach in tight situations.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).