Nats beat D-Backs for eighth straight win
What was once a glaring weakness has somehow turned into a strength. For the Nationals, middle relief earlier this season meant an unending string of walks and hits and runs and heartache.
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Now? It seems like every time a rookie starter departs a game a little bit too early there is someone there to pick him up. It happened again on Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
Starter J.D. Martin fought his way threw a few tight spots and left with a lead. But it was still only the top of the sixth inning — plenty of time for the Arizona Diamondbacks to rally.
Instead, the Washington bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings and the offense broke the game open late for a 9-2 victory.
So make it eight wins in a row for baseball’s hottest team, which just a few weeks ago was a laughing stock. Now, the Nats are two victories away from matching the franchise’s longest win streak since it arrived in the District in 2005.
“Everything seems to be rolling right,” said Nats outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who was 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. “We’re getting great pitching. We can definitely hit. This [homestand] is something for us to build on.”
Washington has not lost since an Aug. 1 game at Pittsburgh and was a perfect 6-0 at home this week. Middle relief has been a big reason why. Relievers Tyler Clippard and Jason Bergmann have both been excellent almost every time — and in any situation — manager Jim Riggleman has called upon them.
Clippard (2.42 ERA) struggled on Sunday, walking the two batters he faced to start the sixth. But Bergmann (4.66 ERA) bailed him out by retiring the next three. Jorge Sosa, meanwhile, struck out Ryan Roberts with Diamondbacks runners at first and second and two out in the seventh. He then pitched the final two innings to earn his second save since an Aug. 1 recall from Triple-A Syracuse.
Martin lasted only five innings in the stifling heat. But the 26-year-old also earned his first big-league win after giving up one earned run on five hits. He made Arizona put the ball in play with one walk and one strikeout. And Martin accomplished another first on Sunday when he singled in the second inning for his first career hit.
