Washington Nationals’ lineup for first of two with New York Mets in D.C.

Previously, on the Washington Nationals’ 2018 season, the desperate-for-wins-Nationals lost back-to-back games to the Miami Marlins in frustrating fashion (after they’d won the first two in the four-game set with the Fish). Davey Martinez talked after the second of those two losses, in a 5-0 game on Sunday afternoon, about the trouble the Nationals’ hitters had against right-handers Trevor Richards and Jose Urena in the last two games.

“I think yesterday’s game was frustrating and today’s game was just flat,” Martinez said.

“We came out, you know, we had a few runners on base the first couple innings,” the first-year skipper continued.

“Couldn’t do anything, our offense couldn’t do anything today, so, just our offense was just not there today.”

Martinez wasn’t pleased with the fact that the team came out flat at a time they should be playing with some urgency.

“I’m not happy about it, of course. We’re playing, we’re playing for something, and they get it. It’s just one of those days,” he said.

Asked what, if any, changes they could make to get more consistent offense from a team that has struggled to produce consistently, Martinez said they just had to start capitalizing on those opportunities they do generate.

“We have really good hitters,” Martinez said, “... and there’s days where we we see that ... then there [are] days when we just miss opportunities. Granted we hit some balls hard today. Adam Eaton hit some balls hard, but yet we miss opportunities.

“When we get a chance to drive in runs we’ve got to drive in runs. Point blank. That’s how you win ballgames, right?

“Drive in more runs than the other team, we’ve got to start driving in runs.”

With a show of faith in the current roster today, and a stated goal of fighting to the end to try to win the division, how will the Nationals respond tonight?

“I expect them to come out Tuesday with a little more oomph, and let’s go get it,” Martinez said on Sunday.

“It’s there. We’ve just got to play better, we’ve got to play consistent, and we’ve got to play to win every game. I mean every game.”

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR THE FIRST OF TWO WITH THE METS: