August 11, 2024 – Angels 6, Nats 4

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS202408110.shtml

 

Start time: 11:35 am

Time: 3:09

Attendance: 25,456

Start Time Weather: 77° F, Wind 5mph in from Leftfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.

 

Things that we did not expect to see at today’s early-starting (“courtesy” of Roku) affair:

·        13 walks issued by Washington pitchers, tying the franchise record for any game and blowing past the previous mark of 11 for a 9-inning contest.

·        200 pitches thrown by Washington pitchers. (No idea if that’s a record.)

·        All 6 Angels runs scored in innings during which Washington pitchers walked four batters.

·        The bloody finger of José Tena, who got the digit in the way while trying to field a 4th-inning grounder. His error resulted in all 5 runs the Angels scored that inning being unearned, and he was forced to leave the game. Ironically, he was playing only his second game with the team, having driven in both the tying and winning runs in Washington’s extra-inning victory in his debut the previous night.

·        The home team offense being blanked through the 7th by Jack Kochanowicz, who entered the game with a total of seven major league innings pitched (and a 14.14 ERA).

·        On the bright side, two hits (both of the infield variety) by seldom-used but speedy shortstop Nasim Nuñez.

 

Unfortunately for the team and its frustrated fans, it was “bad” MacKenzie Gore who showed up to pitch for the Nats, reprising the act that we’ve seen much too often over the past several weeks: getting behind hitters (many of whom wind up with free passes), running up his pitch count with numerous foul balls when he does get to two strikes, and eventually giving up a big hit or two with runners on base. He did manage to survive the first three innings, despite allowing five baserunners. In the top of the 4th, however, the visitors initially plated a pair of runs on a walk, a single, Tena’s error, another walk, and a run-scoring double play. At that point, with two outs, just one runner on base, and the deficit at a reasonable level, Bad MacKenzie promptly walked the next two batters on a total of 9 mostly non-competitive pitches, then served up a bases-clearing double to Kevin Pillar. He did not reappear for the 5th, placing another heavy burden on the already-overworked Washington relief corps.

 

Following two scoreless innings, Washington’s pitching woes resurfaced. Jordan Weems, fresh off the IL, faced 6 batters in the top of the 7th, retiring just 2 and walking 4 until he was mercifully lifted.

 

The Nats did rally late, getting to Kochanowicz for two runs in the bottom of the 8th (triggered by only the second major league homer from Jacob Young) and another pair in the bottom of the 9th. They loaded the bases with two outs in the 8th and with just one out in the 9th (with the winning run on the base) but were unable to get over the hump.