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Wire Taps: Nationals drop second straight to Red Sox, make more errors in loss

Can the Washington Nationals avoid being swept out of Fenway Park in the series finale with the Red Sox? 1:35 PM EDT start from Boston this afternoon with Gio Gonzalez vs Wade Miley on the mound. Before that, catch up on the last 24 hours...

By Patrick Reddington
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

"We got some extra outs," Boston Red Sox' skipper John Farrell told reporters after the Sox took their second-straight win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. "We talked about this yesterday. When you give a major league team an extra out or two it may end up leading to multiple runs inside of an inning."

"We didn't give in," Farrell said of the back-and-forth affair which saw the Red Sox blow a 5-2 lead then rally for an 8-7 win. "Took advantage of some miscues in that seventh inning."

"If you put all the ingredients together the same way every time, then you're going to get the same meal. And that's what we've been getting." -Matt Williams after Tuesday's loss in Boston

"Well it's the same recipe," Nats' manager Matt Williams told reporters after another error-plagued loss for the Nationals.

"If you put all the ingredients together the same way every time, then you're going to get the same meal. And that's what we've been getting. So, there is nothing to be said that hasn't already been said. We got the pitches we wanted to get, didn't make the plays. So that's the same recipe. That's all I got for you."

After Washington rallied from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run fifth inning that put them ahead 7-5, an error by Ian Desmond and hit-by-pitches from both lefty Matt Thornton and right-hander Blake Treinen loaded the bases with one out in the Sox' seventh. Treinen got a weak grounder to the mound out of catcher Ryan Hanigan but bobbled the ball and then threw it by home, collecting two errors and allowing two runs to score, 7-7. An RBI groundout put Boston ahead and Washington dropped the sixth game in the first eight.

"He didn't catch it cleanly," Williams said when asked about Treinen's errors. "The first order of business is to catch it. And it's the same recipe, you guys, we can go over it a million times, but at this point all I've got for you is if you put the same ingredients together, like we have in the last two games, we're going to get the same meal. It doesn't taste very good."

"What can you do?" a reporter asked.

"Catch the baseball," Williams said.

[ed. note - "This post was put together before the news on Craig Stammen came out. Check out the update on Stammen going to the DL HERE."]

Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!:

NATS BEAT: Sox want(ed) Zimmermann; Span Updates+ Martin called up

More Es, Another L:

• "As the Nationals weighed their roster options this winter, they had conversations with the Red Sox, who had interest in starter Jordan Zimmermann..." - "Nationals, Red Sox talked about Jordan Zimmermann this past winter" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "This one had it all, some disconcerting moments early, a stunning Nationals rally in the middle and then an epic collapse late entirely of their own making." - "Red Sox 8, Nats 7: Big comeback, then big meltdown" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "'I felt like I got to it fine,' said Treinen. 'I just told myself to be smooth, get it to the plate. I had plenty of time to get it.'" - "Recipe for disaster" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "Washington committed three errors, hit two batters and allowed Boston to score three runs without recording a hit in the seventh inning of an 8-7 loss at Fenway Park." - "After stirring comeback, seventh-inning errors costly" - Alec Shirkey, nationals.com

• "'It sucks,' Desmond said. 'I don’t know what to do. I’m doing everything I can. Sitting here answering questions after every game is brutal.'" - "On baseball: Nationals’ Ian Desmond knows his slow start is just a slow start" - Barry Svrluga, The Washington Post

• "'Well, we got some extra outs,' said Red Sox manager John Farrell." - "Bullpen, defense squander comeback attempt" - Ian Browne and Alec Shirkey, nationals.com

• "Just when it looked like the Washington Nationals had snapped out of their week-long funk and solved their offensive malaise, their defense imploded yet again." - "Defense, bullpen betray Nationals again in 8-7 loss to Red Sox" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

• "Gonzalez makes his first start at Fenway since June 9, 2012, as a member of the A's. In six starts against the Red Sox, the left-hander is 3-1 with a 5.24 ERA." - "Washington Nationals at Boston Red Sox - April 15, 2015" - Quinn Roberts, MLB.com Preview

• "And then it happened. Again. And it was even harder to watch than the previous times it happened." - "Bad recipe leaves Nats sick to their stomachs" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "On a day dominated by defeat for the Nationals, Michael Taylor and his offensive colleagues provided a glimmer of hope for future improvement." - "Taylor turns in better at-bats, notches career-high three RBIs" - Alec Shirkey, nationals.com

Rafael Martin in the majors:

• "Martin graduated from Jurupa Valley High School and worked in the construction industry for four years before he signed with the Saltillo Saraperos of the Mexican Summer League as a free agent in 2007." - "Former construction worker Martin arrives in big leagues" - Alex Shirkey, nationals.com

• "Manager Matt Williams said the change had less to do with Cedeno’s performance, though, than with the club’s need for a fresh reliever..." - "Nationals recall Rafael Martin, designate Xavier Cedeno for assignment" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Matt Williams both said the Nationals needed 'length' in the bullpen Tuesday." - "Rafael Martin called up, Xavier Cedeno designated for assignment" - James Wagner, The Washington Post

Denard Span starts rehab stint:

• "Denard Span moved close to a return Tuesday from core muscle surgery as the Nationals center fielder joined Class AA Harrisburg to begin his rehab assignment." - "Denard Span joins Class AA Harrisburg to begin rehab (UPDATED)" - Chelsea Janes, The Washington Post

• "Span, who had surgery March 9 to repair the tear, is scheduled to lead off and play center field in Harrisburg’s home game against Bowie." - "Denard Span beginning rehab assignment with Class AA Harrisburg" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "With the Nationals sitting dead last in the majors in team batting average at .185, manager Matt Williams has decided to make some changes..." - "Williams explains lineup changes, talks plan for Span" - Chris Johnson, MASNSports.com

• "Following one of their worst defensive showings of the young season, the Nationals received some pleasing news on Tuesday: Denard Span began his Minor League rehab assignment." - "Span begins rehab assignment at Double-A" - Alec Shirkey, nationals.com

NATIONAL(S) BEAT: Sox stories, Zimmermann-envy; Nats' start

• "Anyway, why would you rank anything after one week when three starters haven't played? I wouldn't read too much into the Nationals' slow start." - "Chat with David Schoenfield" - SportsNation - ESPN

• "Our feel was, it had to fit what we were trying to do. Boston’s feel was, it had to fit what they were trying to do, and sometimes they match up and sometimes they don’t.'" - Mike Rizzo - "Red Sox Notebook: Boston covets Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann" - Jason Mastrodonato, Boston Herald

• "Zimmerman understands third-base defense as well as any player in the game, then -- and he’s seen enough of Boston’s Pablo Sandoval to know to look beyond the hefty appearance." -  "Former star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman appreciates Pablo Sandoval" - Brian MacPherson, providencejournal.com

• "In Fairfax City, 85 teams gathered on Chilcott Field to mingle with local dignitaries, among them Washington Nationals racer extraordinaire Teddy Roosevelt." - "Little Leagues bask in Opening Day" - Nick Ellerson, FairfaxTimes.com

• "After fanning Harper, he hung a split-finger fastball to Zimmerman, who pulled the pitch down the line, just to the left of the foul pole. The Nationals challenged the foul call, but the call correctly stood." - "Uehara gets save in return to mound for Red Sox Koji Uehara gets save in return to mound for Boston Red Sox" - Sean McAdam, CSNNE.com

• "Justin Masterson's first start at Fenway was nowhere near as good as his first start of the season." - "Masterson: 'My command was just not there'" - Sean McAdam, CSNNE.com

• "The Red Sox had one casualty (Pablo Sandoval exited with a left foot bruise after he was hit in the third inning) but benefited from two additional hit batsmen in a three-run seventh inning as the Sox rallied for an 8-7 win." - "Red Sox battle past Nationals" - Jason Mastrondonato, Clubhouse Insider - Boston Herald

• "ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell joins Tristan H. Cockcroft to discuss the latest on Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon's injury." - "Fantasy Now: Anthony Rendon" - ESPN Video

NATS MINORS:

• Double-A Harrisburg: "A fifth-inning grand slam by Matt Skole snapped a 4-4 tie and led to an 8-4 Senators win over the Bowie Baysox Tuesday night at Metro Bank Park." - "Skole's grand slam powers Senators win" - Perry Mattern, Harrisburg Senators News

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell to the Lehigh alley IronPigs, 6-5, Tuesday night." - "Syracuse Chiefs blow 4-0 lead, lose 6-5 to Lehigh Valley IronPigs" - syracuse.com

NL EAST UPDATES: The Harvey Plan; Shelby Miller's start; Phillies vs Mets

• Mets: "The Mets will watch Harvey carefully. He may reach 115 pitches in a start this year but his next one will see a big dip." - "Mets adjust schedule on how much Matt Harvey can pitch in 2015" - NJ.com

• "Looking back, that might have been the weirdest game I've been a part of,' Harvey said. 'Maybe ever.'" - "In quirky win, Harvey owns the night" - Anthony DiComo, mets.com

• Marlins: "Stanton had faced a lefty only two other times previously to Tuesday, but opted not to go without the protective mask." - "Stanton explains why he didn't use face mask in final at-bat Tuesday; Yelich talks back tightness" - Manny Navarro, Fish Bytes

• Braves: "Sugar Ray Marimon provided the Braves exactly what they needed Tuesday night, as he completed four solid innings while making his Major League debut..." - "Sugar Ray debuts with bullpen-saving effort" - Mark Bowman, braves.com

• Phillies: "'It was a safety squeeze attempt with the first baseman just moving back, a good pitch to do it on,' Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said." - "Sandberg explains moves in bizarre game against Mets" - Todd Zolecki, phillies.com

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