Palmquist allows four runs in one-plus inning while offense remains quiet in second game of series.
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The Washington Nationals have utilized an opener in front of a starter multiple times this season, usually yielding a positive result. But against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, with Carson Palmquist opening for Zack Littell, they weren’t able to replicate that success.
Palmquist allowed four runs in one-plus inning of work, and the offense went quiet just over 12 hours after putting up nine runs as the Nationals dropped the second game of the series, 7-1.
The opener strategy has helped the back end of Washington’s rotation by limiting its exposure to the top of the order. But the Nationals have only so many quality relievers who can fill that role. PJ Poulin has often found himself in that spot, along the injured Richard Lovelady. Brad Lord and Paxton Schultz each have opened once this season.
Palmquist, whom the Nationals acquired in May after the Colorado Rockies designated him for assignment, has a starter background, making him an ideal candidate. The left-hander went deeper than the typical opener in his first appearance with Washington, allowing one run in 3⅓ innings June 24.
On Saturday, Palmquist gave up a leadoff single to Konnor Griffin, who stole second and advanced to third on an infield hit from Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates then pulled off a double steal. As Reynolds took off for second, catcher Drew Millas threw to CJ Abrams, who wasn’t covering the bag and couldn’t make the throw home, allowing Griffin to score and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
The Nationals needed only one pitch to even the score. James Wood swatted a 428-foot moon shot to the third deck that he admired for a few moments before beginning his trip around the bases.
He watched this one a little more than normal, he admitted. He’ll get a red seat in the upper deck to commemorate the accomplishment, a tradition that honors historic and long home runs.
“It felt pretty good,” Wood said. “I knew I was going to have a chance to ambush a fastball there, so glad to be able to connect with it.”
In the second inning, Palmquist loaded the bases, giving up hits to Nick Gonzales and Tyler Callihan and hitting Jake Mangum. Littell came on to replace Palmquist with no outs, letting in one run on a single from Henry Davis and two on a single from Brandon Lowe. Esmerlyn Valdez added another RBI single to make it 5-1.
After that outburst, Littell did not allow a run over the next five innings.
“It’s a tough spot to come in,” Manager Blake Butera said. “The ability that he had to get us deep in the game there and throw the ball well and keep them at bay and give us a chance to get back in the game, even though we didn’t offensively today, was really big for us.”
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Littell’s effort was for naught. Washington’s offense failed to produce against Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft, who allowed just the one run in 5⅔ innings, striking out seven.
“He’s pitched really well this year,” Butera said. “Just did a really good job of attacking the zone with good stuff.”
The Nationals had chances against the Pirates’ bullpen, but they still couldn’t get any more runs across. In the seventh, the Nationals had Wood on first and José Tena on third with two outs. The Pirates brought in left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery, so Butera sent up right-handed Andrés Chaparro to pinch-hit for red-hot Luis García Jr.
García, despite being a left-handed bat, came in hitting better against lefties (.242) than Chaparro (.163). Chaparro struck out on three pitches, stranding Wood and Tena. But Montgomery’s splits had to be taken into account, too: The southpaw was holding left-handed hitters to a .143 average, while righties were at .273.
“That’s a pretty clear, really tough matchup left on left,” Butera said. “Mason Montgomery is one of the best lefties in the game. That’s not an easy at-bat for any left-handed hitter. Chappy is here to hit lefties, so he’s going to get that opportunity to do so.”
Riley Cornelio allowed two runs in the eighth, and the Nationals got no one on base in the final two innings.
Note: Cade Cavalli will start for the Nationals on Sunday in place of Miles Mikolas.
Cavalli and Mikolas were issued seven- and five-game suspensions, respectively, for their actions in a benches-clearing brawl in Boston on Tuesday. They are both appealing and eligible to pitch until the appeal process is finalized.
By switching them, the Nationals ensure that Cavalli gets at least one more turn before the all-star break.
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