In three straight starts against the Cincinnati Reds this weekend, the Washington Nationals got seven innings of work from each of their starters with Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister all going deep in their respective outings as the Nats took two of three in Great American Ball Park.
"Our starters go deep in games," Nationals' manager Matt Williams told reporters after Sunday's 4-2 win. "There's been a hiccup or two along the way, but they've pitched really well and it just gives us a chance every day to do what we did today, put an inning together and score a couple runs and they gave us the opportunity to do that every time they go out. So, that's comforting, for everybody."
The Nationals won the series by producing runs with patient at bats and an approach at the plate that had the Reds' broadcast team describing them as the most patient team they'd seen this season by the end of the series.
As MASNSports.com's Pete Kerzel noted in his wrap-up of the three-game set, it was an historic weekend in GABP. "This weekend marked the first time in Great American Ball Park's 12-year, 942-game history that both teams went homerless in three consecutive games," Kerzel writes.
"We don't have to win by the home run because the guys that are out there, they put quality at-bats together," Williams said.
Can the Nationals bring that patient approach to Miami, where they start a three-game set with the Marlins tonight? So far this season, the Nationals are 5-3 against the Fish. With the wins in Cincinnati, Washington improved to 27-25 away from the nation's capital this season, 13-7 in July and 30-18 since June 1st. Can the Nationals win their fifth straight series? We'll find out over the next three days. Until then, links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!!
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "With his 25th save of the season, Soriano notched his 200th save and became the 46th reliever in history to reach that mark. Sixty-eight have come in a Nationals uniform." - "Rafael Soriano notches career save No. 200" - James Wagner, Washington Post
Congrats to Rafael Soriano on securing his 200th career save!
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 27, 2014
• NATS BEAT:
• "As recently as Friday, general manager Mike Rizzo sounded like a guy who might not make a major move before the Deadline." - "Nationals appear poised to stand pat at Thursday's non-waiver Trade Deadline" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Following Sunday's 4-2 win at Cincinnati, the Nationals have now won or tied the first two series of multi-city road trips three times since the beginning of June." - "Nats have played better on the road, but what about Zimmerman injury?" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "There seems to be a sense among many that the Nationals haven’t really taken off as a team this season..." - "Consistency propels Nationals to NL’s best record" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "The Nationals are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Braves in the National League East." - "Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds - July 27, 2014" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "It may be coincidence, but with Lobaton catching Fister is 7-0 with a 1.82 ERA over eight starts, including Sunday’s seven scoreless innings in the win over the Cincinnati Reds." - "Doug Fister and Jose Lobaton form a formidable battery" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "The Nationals can platoon Danny Espinosa and Walters until he gets a good feel for playing everyday in the big leagues." - "With right-handers on the schedule, it's time to play Walters" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
Thanks for the hospitality Cincinnati! #WerthGoesGnome has a full belly and is ready to hit the road again! pic.twitter.com/14Aaugw7gn
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 27, 2014
• "Lobaton agreed with Fister. They are always on the same page, but it helps, according to Lobaton, that Fister throws strikes." - "Batterymates Fister, Lobaton work well in tandem" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "This weekend marked the first time in Great American Ball Park's 12-year, 942-game history that both teams went homerless in three consecutive games." - "Nationals Pastime: Good outweighs bad as Nats claim series win over Reds (updated)" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "Eovaldi has had his ups and downs over the last two months. He hasn't won since June 23 at Philadelphia and he is 0-3 with a 6.38 ERA in four July starts." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - July 28, 2014" - Daniel Popper, MLB.com Preview
• "Of all the starters who took the mound here this weekend, in matchups fit for a fall series, Fister delivered perhaps the finest performance..." - "Doug Fister gets 10th win, Rafael Soriano picks up 200th career save in 4-2 win over Reds" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
#CurlyW! #SeriesW! pic.twitter.com/NfgbmOmd2P
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 27, 2014
• "Not only are the Nats taking care of business and winning series at home, but they're also doing so on the road." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats' key to success: Keep winning rubber games, keep winning series" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Not too long after the White Sox selected Thomas in the first round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft, Rizzo negotiated Thomas' first professional contract." - "Rizzo has pride in Thomas upon HOF induction" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama):
We all need basic human values rooted in trust and affection.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) March 4, 2014
• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "You don’t baby an arm if you’re trying to win a pennant. Or at least you don’t do it most of the time. (See Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals)." - "Process is all that matters to Renteria" - Jesse Rogers, Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN Chicago
RECAP: #Reds fall to Nationals in series finale, 4-2. http://t.co/SORNRkK68L pic.twitter.com/VTC0Rvqqna
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 27, 2014
• "After logging a 1.43 ERA in six June starts, Zimmermann in three July outings is 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA in 14 1/3 innings." - "Miami Marlins host Washington Nationals looking for third straight series win" - Sun Sentinel
• "After the Reds' series finale against the Nationals at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, the word 'faith' was spoken several times in the Cincinnati clubhouse." - "Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds - July 27, 2014" - Manny Randhawa, MLB.com CIN Recap
• "Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t played in many meaningful games with the Marlins, who have finished last in every one of his four seasons except for his first." - "HOUSTON: Continued surge could put Miami Marlins in buy mode for a starting pitcher" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com
• NATS MINORS:
• "It has been a long, slow climb through the Minor Leagues for Souza since the Nationals picked him in the third round in 2007." - "Lucas Giolito remains atop Washington Nationals' updated Top 20 updated list" - nationals.com: News
• "MLB Top 100 Prospects" - MLB.com: News
.@MLBPipeline released its revised Top 100 and Team Top 20 lists. Check out where the #Nats stand: http://t.co/b5UlcXA9wo
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 28, 2014
• Class-A Auburn: "The Hagerstown Suns (23-14, 67-40) fell to 1-5 against the Greenville Drive (10-27, 44-62) this season following an 8-4 loss on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium." - "Suns struggles against Greenville continue with 8-4 loss" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
VIDEO: Here are all three of the #Ddays runs in their 3-1 win over the Jammers today http://t.co/eucamwVwVA
— Jeremy Houghtaling (@CitizenHough) July 28, 2014
• Low-A Hagerstown: "The Hagerstown Suns (23-14, 67-40) fell to 1-5 against the Greenville Drive (10-27, 44-62) this season following an 8-4 loss on Sunday evening at Municipal Stadium." - "Suns struggles against Greenville continue with 8-4 loss" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
• High-A Potomac: "3B Oscar Tejeda gave the Potomac Nationals (58-46, 20-15) their second straight walk-off and fourth straight win with his 11th inning home run..." - "Tejeda Tater Gives P-Nats 13th Walk-Off Win" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "The Harrisburg Senators took a lead in the eighth and had the winning run at third in the ninth, but couldn't take down the New Hampshire Fisher Cats..." - "Senators Suspended in the 12th inning" - Perry Mattern, Harrisburg Senators News
The latest @HbgSenators recap features injury news on Michael Taylor, Jose Lozada and Ricky Hague, too ... http://t.co/2lDLKgoZlY
— Geoff Morrow (@RageAgainstGMo) July 28, 2014
• "The Metro Bank Park crowd of 3,147 witnessed some drastic momentum shifts in the later innings." - "Downpour suspends wild Harrisburg Senators game in the 12th inning" - Geoff Morrow, PennLive.com
• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, beat the Gwinnett Braves, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon from NBT Bank Stadium." - "Burriss, Chiefs beat Braves on Sunday" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• NATSTOWN:
• "General manager Mike Rizzo has said publicly that he likes the current roster, and that he has confidence that Danny Espinosa, Kevin Frandsen and recent call-up Zach Walters will collectively fill the void." - "History shows Rizzo deals for difference-makers" - Nationals Buzz: Marty Niland, MASNSports.com
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly w/ @NationalsDSP on the #Nationals' 4-2 win over the #Reds in #GABP, trade chatter and Fister: http://t.co/p0SyBlzXKo
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) July 27, 2014
• "One of the most head-scratching trades in recent memory continues to pay dividends for the Washington Nationals." - "Washington Nationals Game 102 Review: Fister excellent as Nats down Reds" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "Strasburg, in 10 starts on the road, has pitched 58.1 innings and given up 69 hits while opponents have hit .300 against him." - "Road Games Unkind for Nationals' Stephen Strasburg" - David Driver, Pressbox DC
• "Ryan Zimmerman‘s injury may have felt like a big blow to the Washington Nationals‘ hopes, but the early returns without him are promising." - "Nationals Grab Fourth Straight Series, Beat Reds" - Andrew Flag, The Nats Blog
• "'I’m down to 205 pounds, and I did it the right way,' Young told Charlie Slowes on 106.7 The Fan, before Friday’s game." - "Dmitri Young explains his amazing weight loss" - Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "One of the top rookie relievers in the majors this year is Shae Simmons of the Atlanta Braves." - "Prospect Note: Shae Simmons, RHP, Atlanta Braves" - John Sickels, Minor League Ball
• Mets: "As a symbol of where they are in their rebuilding effort and the growing strength of their farm system, Mets officials have told their Rockies counterparts if Troy Tulowitzki or Carlos Gonzalez are ever made available, they want in on the action." - "Mets to Rockies: Let’s talk Tulowitzki, Gonzalez trade" - Joel Sherman, New York Post
• Marlins: "Winners of two straight road series, the Marlins return home Monday to host the National League East-leading Washington Nationals with a little momentum." - "Miami Marlins set to host Washington Nationals in pivotal series" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel
"@MLB: Dugout shenanigans: http://t.co/d3KELWEawd" Shawn Kemp style
— Tom Koehler (@TKREFRESH22) July 28, 2014
• Phillies: "There is little doubt Cliff Lee will step onto the Nationals Park mound in Washington on Thursday, just three hours after the non-waiver trade deadline strikes." - "Phillies Notes: Lee not likely to be dealt before deadline" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer