Five pitchers combined to give up eight runs in a series-opening loss to Chicago.
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On Sunday, the Washington Nationals put together one of their best pitching performances of the season as the relievers allowed just one run in a complete bullpen game to complete the sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.
Two days later, after an off day on Monday, that same pitching staff muddled through the series opener against the Chicago Cubs and fell, 8-6.
It started with Jake Irvin, who could only manage 3⅓ innings. It didn’t get much better with the bullpen, as Max Kranick and Orlando Ribalta each allowed a run and walked hitters. And it ended with Miles Mikolas, who has been in the rotation all season, allowing one run in three innings out of the bullpen.
“Frustrating for sure,” Irvin said. “Anytime you come out with a loss it stinks.”
Irvin got through the first inning without any trouble, then entered the second inning with a 2-0 lead after Brady House singled and CJ Abrams homered in the bottom of the first.
Irvin found himself deep into counts. After walking Alex Bregman following a 10-pitch battle, Ian Happ hit a single as Bregman advanced to third. Bregman then scored on a sacrifice fly from Nico Hoerner.
In the bottom of the second, Jacob Young hit his 10th home run of the season to put the Nationals ahead 3-1. But Irvin, again, struggled in the third. Pete Crow-Armstrong fought Irvin through a nine-pitch at-bat, the battle ending with Crow-Armstrong hitting a solo home run to right field.
Irvin entered the fourth inning already at 75 pitches, just eight shy of the total he threw in his last start, just his second back from a two-month stint on the injured list. At best, he had one inning left in him. He faced five more batters, but only got one more out before his day was over.
He passed the game to Tom Cosgrove with runners on first and second, and Cosgrove let in one run on a double from Seiya Suzuki to bring Irvin’s total to five earned runs for the day. His ERA is 5.79.
Irvin said he was struggling to locate his breaking ball and his overall usage of his breaking pitches was down.
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“They definitely are a good offense, put together good at-bats,” Irvin said. “When the breaking ball shapes and consistency of the breaking ball isn’t there, it makes the at-bats a little easier for them.”
In the fifth inning, with Cosgrove’s job complete, Kranick loaded the bases with one out after allowing two singles and a walk. He got Carson Kelly to pop up for the second out, but then walked Dansby Swanson as the Cubs piled on to make it 6-3.
Dylan Crews hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to get the Nationals within two. But in the sixth inning, Ribalta gave up a solo home run to Bregman. It’s just the fourth time this season Ribalta has allowed a ball to leave the park.
The Nationals turned to Mikolas for the last three innings. While he has been used after an opener, Washington has treated him as a starter. He allowed one run, a solo home run from Suzuki in the eighth inning.
The offense made it interesting, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to get within two of the Cubs. Washington had a chance to add more, with runners on first and second in the eighth, but José Tena grounded out softly to end the inning.
After another heavy bullpen day, the Nationals will have to evaluate their pitching options to cover the five games until their next off day. While the team did add arms at the deadline, they are still down two starters after trading Foster Griffin to the Cleveland Guardians and designating Zack Littell for assignment. Connelly Early, acquired from the Boston Red Sox, had to be pulled back from his rehab after experiencing forearm tightness and is not expected to be ready soon.
That means they’ll have to turn to other options to fill the gaps, including Wednesday’s game. Left-handed pitcher Jackson Kent, the Nationals No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will make his MLB debut in that spot. Kent, 23, has a 3.72 ERA in 20 starts across Class AA Harrisburg and Class AAA Rochester this season.
“I’m really excited,” Butera said. “I’ve gotten to see him, albeit over video, in the minor leagues and obviously what he’s done has jumped off the page to a lot of people. Excited to see him get an opportunity up here.”
While there is no official corresponding move expected on Tuesday night, Mikolas said goodbye to teammates and coaches in the clubhouse after the game.
Washington has also considered stretching out Brad Lord, who was a starter in the past but has been used in a bullpen role this season.
