Starter Craig Stammen labored through a rough first inning — the worst he’s experienced since making his big-league debut on May 21. The Nats were then baffled by the ageless Livan Hernandez, whose assortment of slow fastballs and slower breaking balls kept them off balance all day in a 7-0 loss.

New York (30-25) took two of three to win the series. Washington (15-40) has now lost four of six on this nine-game homestand and 22 of 27 overall. The Nats get a day off to lick their wounds before beginning a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

“It’s not very good — especially after we play such a good game [Saturday],” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “That’s the last thing you want to do. That’s what we haven’t been able to do — take that next step and win another ballgame and build on it and maybe get on a little streak.”

Stammen walked two batters and had two separate run-scoring wild pitches in the first inning. So despite allowing just six hits overall, the Nats never had a chance. They were down 5-0 after the first and reliever Jason Bergmann was already warming up in the bullpen. But Stammen did settle down, giving up just three hits over the next four innings.

“It’s never good to get behind 5-0 and walk the leadoff batter on four pitches,” Stammen said. “It happens, I guess. I just had to do what I could to keep it there.”

Washington’s offense, meanwhile, had a runner reach second base just four times — three times with two outs. The Nats finished with five hits — although they did draw six walks.

 

“[Hernandez] was on today again against us,” Acta said. “We have a lot of young hitters and when he’s on he can just prey on those young guys — just tease them with pitches just barely off the strike zone and keep expanding it.”

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