Game 4 WAS@MIA

March 30, 2020

Game 4 (Click "Read More" for lengthy game recap)

WAS (3-1)    201 010 000 -- 4  8  0
MIA  (3-1)    100 000 031 -- 5 11 0

WP: Steckenrider 
LP: Doolittle (0-1)

HR: Thames (2)
SB: Robles (2) 


Storms in South Florida can come out of nowhere. They can strike suddenly and within minutes ruin one's perfect, sunny, happy day. And so it was for the World Champion Washington Nationals as their certain 4-0 start was wrecked in a sudden downpour of late-game Miami hits. By the time the deluge stopped Jonathan Villar was at the center of celebrating Marlins following his game-winning single, the Nats found their shocked selves 3-1 and in second place behind the underdog Marlins with serious questions about the back end of their bullpen. 

The shocking loss cannot be blamed on first baseman Eric Thames, whose urine is sure to be checked soon by league officials. Thames remains on fire (thankfully only figuratively) with another two doubles and his third home run of the young season. While it is only four games, he is now hitting .583 with a 2.233 OPS, and is on pace for 122 home runs and (after knocking in all four of the Nats' runs last night,) 324 RBI. It can't last, but for now, he can simply do no wrong.

The same unfortunately cannot be said for a couple members of the bullpen. The Nats held a comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth thanks to Thames and a good pitching performance by Joe Ross who was lights-out after a shaky bend-but-don't-break first couple of innings. Heralded free-agent acquisition Will Harris (last seen surrendering a World Series-winning home run to Howie Kendrik) came on for his first appearance since starting the season on the IL. The storm immediately broke with a hard-hit single by Brinson, another one by Villar, and then shortstop Miguel Rojas' lightning bolt--a two-run triple into the right-field gap. As the Nats stalled to get Daniel Hudson ready, Harris' miserable debut ended with Corey Dickerson's sharp game-tying single through the drawn-in infield. By the time Hudson was ready to finish the inning, Harris had faced four batters without recording an out.

After the top of the Nats' lineup went quietly in the ninth, Sean Doolittle came on to try to right his own ship. That was not to happen, as he got pinch-hitter Anderson to ground out before giving up a single, a walk, and then Villar's walk-off single. Simply put, Doolittle is fooling nobody at the moment. He now sports a 7.71 ERA and 3.00 WHIP over his first three outings. No one expected the Nats to remain undefeated, but this sudden jerk back to reality stings. 

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