Washington Nationals’ lineup for 4th of July series finale with Boston Red Sox

WASHINGTON, D.C.: “It seems like we’re playing muphill the past couple nights,” Nationals’ veteran Mark Reynolds told reporters after Washington’s second straight loss to Boston’s Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Reynolds, starting at first against a left-hander, went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in what ended up an 11-4 loss.

While Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez lamented after the game that the Nationals’, “... starting pitching right now is not giving the offense a chance,” Reynolds talked about the struggles at the plate affecting the pitchers as well.

“I think we put too much pressure on our pitching sometimes,” the 34-year-old said. “It’s easier for these guys to go out there and pitch with a lead, and haven’t been giving it to them, and it’s a little frustrating.”

“But we’ve got the talent,” Reynolds added, “... it’s just a matter of everyone kind of putting some ABs together, we’ve got to string together a few hits here and there and can’t rely on the home run all the time and that’s kind of what we’re doing lately and it’s obviously not working out.”

Reynolds has seen it all over his twelve major league seasons, and the rough stretch for the Nationals is nothing new, but no less frustrating because it’s all happened before.

With losses in 8 of 10 and 19 of 28 since June 1st, the Nationals are in a deep funk and the struggle to get out of it has them trying to do too much at times.

“When you get in these funks, people start pressing and trying to hit a six-run homer with nobody on base,” Reynolds said. “I’ve seen it for a long time. Teams do this. This is one of the more talented teams I’ve ever been on. Everyone goes through it.”

“I know everyone says it, but we do, we’ve got a lot of games, and anything can happen and I’m confident with the people in this room that it will be just fine.”

The positive news from Reynolds about the clubhouse? They’re still upbeat and determined to turn things around.

“Yeah, and it all starts up top with Davey,” Reynolds said. “He gives us all the confidence in the world, we’ve just got to go out and play baseball. We’re pressing and trying to do too much, and sometimes the little things get you going and we haven’t been doing that, but we’ll be alright like I said, we’ve just got to get over this hump.”

Don’t say “hump”, Mark. No one wants to see camels in Nationals Park’s parking lots.

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR THE FINALE WITH THE RED SOX: