Washington Nationals’ lineup for 2nd of 3 with the Philadelphia Phillies

For all the talk about Davey Martinez’s decision-making last night in lifting right-handed starter Jeremy Hellickson when he did, and the way things quickly went all pear-shaped during the Philadelphia Phillies’ sixth, the Washington Nationals’ manager said after the game that the problem wasn’t just the three-run blast that Dan Jennings gave up which turned a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 deficit.

“Just we didn’t hit,” he said. “I mean, we’ve got to score more than two runs. Helly kept us in the ballgame. Had a couple opportunities, but couldn’t get that big hit.”

Martinez’s squad went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position on the night and seven left on base in the loss.

After the Nationals’ one win in the last five, in the finale with the St. Louis Cardinals during the last homestand, Martinez talked about what they did well in the game, though they did score just two in that one as well.

“I’ve always said, sometimes just moving the baseball works,” the second-year skipper told reporters.

“We hit into a double play, we score a run, and we end up winning 2-1. Moving the baseball is huge in this game, and it’s a funny game. The big thing was we didn’t have to hit a home run to score today, it was kind of nice.”

The Nationals are going to have to find ways to score again tonight, and do so without the help of Juan Soto, who was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with back spasms before the start of the second of three with the Phillies.

They called outfielder Andrew Stevenson up from Triple-A Fresno to take Soto’s spot on the roster, and the 24-year-old, who has a .300/.345/.350 line with two doubles and one triple in 20 games and 88 plate appearances with the Nationals’ top minor league affiliate is in the lineup tonight, starting in left as the visiting team looks to even things up in Citizens Bank Park.

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR THE GAME WITH THE PHILLIES: