Wire Taps: Nationals nearly no-hit; Trevor Rosenthal rehabbing; Victor Robles gets day off

Yesterday, the talk in the morning was about how the Nats could build off a great comeback win. Today, it’s just thankful that the team didn’t get no-hit. Are we having fun yet? Is this sport supposed to be fun?

Here’s the existential dread from South Capitol Street:

Cody Bellinger throws out Stephen Strasburg from outfield (Yahoo!)
When a batter hits a ball like Stephen Strasburg did against the Dodgers yesterday, they have an expected batting average of .860. Most of the time, the lost .140 comes on diving catches or miraculous running grabs. Every now and then, it's because it's a pitcher trying to run on Cody Bellinger.

Davey Martinez updates Kendrick, Robles, Turner and Rosenthal news (MASN)
Trevor Rosenthal—yeah, *that* Trevor Rosenthal—threw a scoreless inning in Harrisburg, striking out one, walking none, and not allowing a single hit. He may just be ready to come back one of these days. Also: Howie Kendrick's neck is stiff (see you in July!), Victor Robles got a day off (see you in September!), and Trea Turner's broken finger is continuing to heal (see you next season!).

Ryu outduels Strasburg, Nats head home after 3-7 road trip (MASN)
Hyun-Jin Ryu, relying on his cutter and changeup, held the Nats to one hit over eight innings. It was not pretty, but at least it was because a dominating pitcher did his thing and not because the team was incompetent at the plate of their own accord.

Nationals avoid being no-hit by Dodgers (MLB.com)
Laugh all you want, but the Nationals haven't been no-hit since moving to DC in 2005 — hell, the Expos were last no-hit in 1999, continuing the team's no-no-hitter streak that is only topped by that of Oakland's. Also, the Nats lost a super depressing game at the quarter-season mark.

Max Scherzer thrilled for former teammate Gerardo Parra's big hit (MASN)
Scherzer and Parra, both new to the game when they were teammates in Arizona ten years ago, are now seasoned veterans — and Scherzer was excited to watch his old pal get the job done on Saturday night.

Martinez discusses mental error with Robles (MLB.com)
“I’m going to say this about Robles: I love the kid,” Martinez said. “As we all know, he plays the game the right way, he plays hard. But sometimes the 21-year-old comes out in him. ... It’s gonna happen with a 21-year old. I talked to him, but I said, 'Hey, we need you so keep your head up and keep playing hard.'”

Nationals go scoreless, and nearly hitless, in finale of 10-game trip (WaPo)
"Scherzer, as it turned out, was right about how Sunday would go. The teams went as their starting pitchers did until Seager’s grand slam turned it into a lopsided contest. Strasburg once [again] gave the Nationals a chance to win. But Ryu outdid him, flirted with history and, more than anything, made the Dodgers just too tough to beat."