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Nationals' lineup vs the Padres + Dusty Baker on the Nats' offensive struggles...

Washington Nationals' skipper Dusty Baker didn't like the phrasing of one question about his team's struggles on offense last night, but he acknowledged that some of his players have to take a different approach going forward.

By Patrick Reddington
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Dusty Baker objected to a reporter's phrasing when he was asked after last night's 5-3 loss if it was a matter of San Diego Padres' starter Luis Perdomo being that good or the Washington Nationals' hitters being that bad.

Perdomo, 23, held the Nationals to two runs on four hits in seven innings, earning his fourth win of the season in the series opener in D.C.

So was he that good, or were the Nationals' hitters that bad?

"I can't answer either one of those questions," Baker said. "I don't know if he was that good, I haven't seen him and we weren't that bad.

"We hit some balls hard that they made some great plays on... that's not a very good question to ask me, 'Is my team that bad?' No, I don't think that's a good question ever really. Cause that's kind of a loaded question and kind of a negative question. I'm not going to down-talk my guys because they're struggling. You know, you don't kick dirt on people when they're down."

Baker did, however, discuss some of the problems the hitters had. Ben Revere, batting atop the order, went 0 for 5 with a couple of fly ball outs and three groundouts. Trea Turner went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.

"That's not his game," Baker said when asked about Revere's struggles.

"They want him up in the air. They don't want him on the ground, they don't want it to the opposite field, they want it in the air, the same with Trea Turner. They want him up in the air or they want him to not make contact at all.

"And so that's what the opposition is doing to them and it's up to them to combat it."

Revere's 0 for 5 night left him with a .214/.259/.298 line on the year in the 28-year-old outfielder's first season in D.C. following the trade that brought him from Toronto this winter.

Turner, 23, has hits in 5 of 7 games since he was called back up to the majors on July 10th, with a .194/.219/.323 line and two triples so far in July.

Revere's back in the lineup, leading off tonight. Turner's sitting this one out.

Here's tonight's lineup for the 2nd game of 3 with the Padres in D.C.:

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