Andrew Alvarez pitches well enough to keep Washington in the game, but the bats are silent.
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Washington Nationals starter Andrew Alvarez didn’t have his best stuff on Thursday night. That may have been the best learning tool he could have asked for.
Even though he had to labor at times through his five-inning start in Arlington, Texas, he did so while allowing just one run. He kept the team in the game as they faced Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, but a depleted Washington lineup had no answer against the potential future Hall of Famer or the bullpen as the Nationals fell, 2-0.
Alvarez has put together a consistent August, allowing six runs over 22⅓ innings. His walk numbers are still high, with three on Thursday alone, but he was at least able to limit the damage. All of this will contribute to his bid to be a part of the rotation moving forward.
On Thursday, he made it through a clean 1-2-3 first inning on just eight pitches. The second inning wasn’t as easy. After striking out Brandon Nimmo, Alvarez walked Ezequiel Duran on four pitches. Justin Foscue hit a double, and Alvarez issued another walk, this one to Cody Freeman, as the Rangers loaded the bases with two outs.
This was where the game could have spiraled quickly for Alvarez. Instead, he issued a corner four-seam fastball to Evan Carter, who popped it up. Brady House was able to make the catch to end the inning.
In the third inning, Corey Seager hit a solo home run, the only run Alvarez would allow. He rebounded despite giving up a walk and a single in the fourth inning. Once again, he didn’t allow the game to get away from him, striking out Freeman and Carter to end the threat.
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In the fifth inning, Seager again beat Alvarez, hitting a double, but Alvarez was able to get the last two outs to end his night.
That should have been enough for the Nationals to have a chance. But an offense without James Wood, who is still on the injured list with an oblique strain, and CJ Abrams, who rolled his ankle in Wednesday’s win, had no response for deGrom. He recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in the first, ending up with 10 strikeouts in six innings.
House was the only Nationals player to reach base against deGrom, hitting a single in the second inning and walking in the fifth.
With deGrom out of the game in the seventh inning, the Nationals finally got a little bit of momentum. José Tena walked then stole second to get into scoring position. House followed with another walk, but Keibert Ruiz grounded into a double play.
The Rangers added a run in the eighth inning off Tom Cosgrove. With the loss, the Nationals are 1-5 on the road trip as they head to the final leg in Miami for a three-game series beginning Friday.
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