Wire Taps: Washington Nationals lose fourth straight; Brad Hand falters again; + more Nats links...

Davey Martinez tweaked his lineup last night, looking to get runners on in front of Trea Turner and Juan Soto, but unfortunately, they were a combined 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position on the night with 12 left on base in what ended up a 5-2 loss in extras.

“We got the guys on base that we wanted to,” Martinez said after the game.

“We had Turner and Soto both up there with guys on base, it just didn’t happen tonight. Those guys hit for us. Trea has been hot. They couldn’t get the runs in today.

“That’s part of baseball. If I could tell you, hey, we can go 10 for 10 every night, you’re going to play in a different league.”

Talk to me about this different league? Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals lose to Phillies in 10th inning - (MLB.com)
"Every at-bat makes a difference in a one-run game, especially for a team that has been struggling to produce offense."

Nationals lose to Phillies after Brad Hand blows save - The Washington Post
Brad Hand blows another save in the ninth, then allows two of the Phillies’ three runs in the 10th in a 5-2 loss.

Hand blows another save, Nats lose in 10th - (MASN)
"It was the latest in a suddenly disturbing series of meltdowns by Hand, who had not allowed an earned run in any of his first 10 innings out of the bullpen this season..."

Suero activated, Espino optioned to Rochester - (MASN)
"The Nationals have activated Wander Suero from the 10-day injured list and will have their workhorse reliever available for tonight’s game against the Phillies."

Will Harris gets key out in Nationals loss to Phillies - (MLB.com)
"Reliever Will Harris entered the series opener against the Phillies having faced 1,687 batters over his 10-year career. No. 1,689 would become a memorable one."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

MLB trends: What Miguel Cabrera's struggles mean for his future; baseball's perfectly average team - (CBSSports.com)
"The good news: Hand's fastball velocity is up early in 2021. His heater is averaging 92.2 mph this year, up from 91.4 mph last year. The bad news: pretty much everything else despite a shiny 1.59 ERA."

The Hitter Who Bats Like Ty Cobb - (WSJ)
"The Washington Nationals’ Josh Harrison defies modern convention by how he holds a baseball bat: he keeps his hands several inches apart."

NL EAST UPDATES:

J.T. Realmuto day to day with left knee injury - (MLB.com)
"J.T. Realmuto is OK. His left knee is bruised and sore after a foul ball struck him in Tuesday night’s victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park."

Dominic Smith's rejuvenated bat powering Mets' surge - (NY Post)
"When the Mets struggled to hit with runners in scoring position last season, Dominic Smith was one of the few exceptions."

Cody Poteet makes MLB debut - (MLB.com)
"Poteet, a fourth-round Draft pick by Miami in the 2015 MLB Draft, has a 3.84 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 99 games (95 starts) across six Minor League seasons."

Mike Soroka to have surgery - (MLB.com)
"Instead of accelerating his efforts to rejoin the Braves rotation, Mike Soroka will undergo exploratory surgery on his right Achilles tendon next week."