Nationals Swept by Rays

by Dominic Toto · Published April 7, 2023 · Updated April 8, 2023

Game 4: Rays 6 Nats 2

In game one of the second series of the season, it was Trevor Williams‘ turn to get rocked in the first inning. Williams gave up a two-run shot to Luke Raley in the first frame. Williams was also a bit unlucky on a couple of weak conduct plays that included him slipping and making a throwing error. Relief pitcher Anthony Banda made the other error by the Nationals in this game.

On the brighter side of Nats pitching, Mason Thompson was sharp during his 3 innings of relief. Thompson gave up one run on one hit, a homer. Mason struck out a batter with no walks.

CJ Abrams continued to look a bit awkward at shortstop especially in terms of his footwork. Abrams’ glove hand down approach to some grounders leaves him with very little time to throw out baserunners.

Telling stats of the game:

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen: 6 innings on 66 pitches.
Nats starter Trevor Williams: 93 pitches over 5 innings.
Nats with Runners in Scoring Position (RISP) went 0-4.
Nationals batters struck out eight times. Four Nationals struck out twice each.

Jeimer Candelario hit his first HR, a towering blast to left-center field. Dominic Smith had two of the Nationals’ four hits.

Nats fall to 1-3. At least the games are shorter.

Time: 2:25. Attendance: 10,754. (Not a typo, I’m afraid).

Game 5: Rays 10 Nats 6

First pitch. Line drive. Base hit. Welcome to the District of Pitching, Chad Kuhl. After allowing four runs in the first two innings, Kuhl settled in and retired nine of the next ten batters he faced to finish his outing. A walk in the top of the fifth was his only blemish after the second inning.

This game was the first gut punch of the season. The Nats collected 16 hits. Lane Thomas and Alex Call had three hits each. Victor Robles added two more.

But the Nats were just three out of 16 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and left 10 men on base. This would come back to haunt the Nats who took a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning.

Kyle Finnegan entered the game, and it took all of one pitch for Tampa to tie the game. Three round-trippers and five runs later, he was mercifully pulled from the game. Thanks to a pickoff at second base, Finnegan got credit for one-third of an inning.

Nats now 1-4.

Time: 2:45. Attendance: 15,272.

Game 6: Rays 7 Nats 2

Just two HR given up by Patrick Corbin; down from three on Opening Day. Corbin gave up ten hits, while striking out three and walking none.

Lane Thomas got the first steal of the season for the Nats. But Alex Call was nabbed trying to swipe second base later in the game.

The Rays defense sparkled. Joey Meneses was robbed of a double by Randy Arozarena in LF. But Meneses doubled in his next at bat. RF Manuel Margot would later rob Alex Call of an extra base hit in the bottom of the seventh.

At 6’2”, 224 lbs., Stone Garrett looks like he is chiseled out of – stone. Garrett was one for two, plus two walks, and scored a run from 1B on a double by Victor Robles, who had two more hits. Garrett’s first base hit as a National was a laser up the middle on an 0-2 pitch. Good signs.

CJ Abrams made a great leaping catch of a line drive but also struck out with the bases loaded. Abrams also made a very heads-up play and tagged out a runner who was trying to advance to third base on a wild throw.

The Nats had the bases loaded with none out but failed to score in the bottom of the fourth.

After making an incredible catch to start the sixth inning, the Sun Monster attacked Robles which resulted in a double and a Tampa Bay run. The fly ball should have ended the inning.