Washington Nationals finish 2020 season 26-34 with 15-5 win over New York Mets

The defense of their 2019 World Series championship didn’t go as planned with the 2020 Washington Nationals missing out on the postseason, but they wrapped the season up in Nationals Park today with their third straight win over the New York Mets, 15-5, finishing at 26-34 overall in this 60-game COVID campaign. See you next year... [ed. note - “Actually, we’re going to need you to keep writing stories. Thanks.”] See you tomorrow then!

Voth vs NY: In 12 IP in his last two starts before today, Austin Voth, who’d struggled all year as the fifth starter in the Nationals’ rotation, gave up just two earned runs (1.50 ERA) while walking four, striking out 13, and holding opposing hitters to a .159/.245/.318 line.

Voth, 28, held the Tampa Bay Rays to a run on four hits and three walks, then limited the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies to a run on three hits and a walk, in a seven-inning, complete game in the first game of a doubleheader this week.

“He looked like that guy that we had last year where he could pump strikes, he could throw anything over for strikes, and he’s going to get outs and he did that today,” Davey Martinez told reporters after the start against the Phillies.

Going up against the New York Mets again this afternoon, Voth, who gave up three runs on six hits and two walks when he faced the Nationals’ NL East rivals back in mid-August, surrendered a shift-beating leadoff single by Brandon Nimmo, and, one out later, a two-run laser of a HR to left by Pete Alonso, 2-0 NY.

Guillermo Heredia hit a 2-1 fastball some 431 ft. to left field for a leadoff blast in the top of the second, 3-1, for the second home run of the game and 14th home run off Voth in 46 ²⁄₃ IP this season to that point.

Voth came back out for the third with a 6-3 lead, after the Nationals rallied in the bottom of the second, and he retired the side in order in a 12-pitch frame which left him at 60 total in three innings of work.

Luis Guillorme doubled to start the fourth and scored on an RBI single by Guillermo Heredia to make it a 12-4 game in the Nationals’ favor.

Voth worked around a one-out double in a 14-pitch fifth which left him at 88 pitches overall, and that was it for his 2020 season...

Austin Voth’s Line: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks, 2 HRs, 88 P, 60 S, 4/4 GO/FO.

Lugo vs D.C.: In six starts since moving from the bullpen to the Mets’ rotation, Seth Lugo had put up a 4.32 ERA, six walks, 35 Ks, and a .270/.315/.530 line against in 25 IP before today’s outing.

“Seth has been a starter for us in the past, and with the ability for him of navigating through a lineup, his repertoire and command, we’re going to go that way with him,” Mets manager Luis Rojas explained, as quoted by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand when he moved Lugo out of a relief role in August.

Given a 2-0 lead to work with before he took the mound, Lugo gave up a leadoff double to center field by Andrew Stevenson, who took third on a fly to right by Trea Turner, and then scored on a sac fly to left by Yadiel Hernandez, 2-1.

Brock Holt walked to start the second, moved up on a Josh Harrison single, and took third on a HBP on Victor Robles that loaded them up for Stevenson, who fell behind 0-2 but hit one by first base for a two-run double that tied it up at 3-3. Trea Turner stepped in next and drove in two more with a single to center, 5-3. Juan Soto singled as well, sending Turner to third, and ending Lugo’s outing...

Seth Lugo’s Line: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 38 P, 24 S, 1/2 GO/FO.

More Like Streakenson: With hits in each of the games in yesterday’s doubleheader, Andrew Stevenson stretched his hit streak to 11-straight games since he came up to Washington’s roster earlier this month.

Stevenson was 13 for 32 going into the 2020 season finale this afternoon, with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBIs, one HBP, two walks, a stolen base, and seven runs scored over the course of the streak, with one extra-base hit in seven straight games.

A leadoff double in the bottom of the first, on a line drive to left-center, gave Stevenson a 12-game hit streak, with an extra base hit in eight of the 12 games. He added a two-run hit when he doubled by first with the bases loaded in his second at bat.

BULLPEN ACTION: Chase Shreve came on for NY with runners on the corners and one out in the second, with the Nationals up, 5-3, and gave up a sac fly to center by Yan Gomes, 6-3, before he got the final out of the inning.

Brad Brach walked the first three batters he faced in the bottom of the third, so Steven Matz took over on the mound against Andrew Stevenson and walked him to force in a run, 7-3.

Trea Turner followed with a line drive grand slam to left field that made it an 11-3 game in the Nationals’ favor. Yan Gomes hit a two-out solo shot, 12-3.

Matz tossed scoreless fourth and fifth innings with the score 12-4 in the Nationals’ favor.

Kyle McGowin took over for the Nats in the sixth and worked around a one-out single in a scoreless, 18-pitch frame.

Yan Gomes walked, Brock Holt doubled, and after a walk to Josh Harrison, Luis García hit a first-pitch curve from Dellin Betances out to center to drive in two more, 14-4.

Jared Hughes took over with the bases loaded and one out and issued the fourth walk of the inning (and 11th of the game by Mets’ pitchers) to Trea Turner, whose free pass forced in the Nationals’ 15th run, 15-4.

Pete Alonso took McGowin deep in the top of the seventh for his second home run of the game, 15-5.

Paolo Espino got the top of the eighth for the Nationals, and worked around a 1-out walk and single.

Jeurys Familia worked around a single in the bottom of the eighth.

Espino came back out for the ninth and put a bow on the 2020 campaign.

Final Score: 15-5 Nationals

Thanks to those of you who stuck with us this year, and anyone who actually read down this far. Your continued support is always appreciated - FBB Staff.

Nationals now 26-34