Tuesday night ended with Bryce Harper’s first Phillies grand slam. Wednesday began with the Nationals boss blaming everyone — manager included — for the team’s turtle-like start. And their Wednesday afternoon finished in utter humiliation.
It was a rough 24 hours for the fourth-place Nationals.
Dave Martinez’s crew dropped to 14-22 in a 7-3 matinee loss in Milwaukee, a game that was out of hand from the start. The first inning included:
— A Christian Yelich home run.
— Mike Moustakas safe on an Anthony Rendon error.
— Adam Eaton misplaying a flyball, which he apparently lost in the clouds, into a ground-rule double.
— After an Orlando Arcia single, Victor Robles airmailing a throw home, far over the head of catcher Yan Gomes.
— Starter Jeremy Hellickson walking two and allowing four runs.
It was not the way to play after GM and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said everyone is at fault for a team already seven games back of Harper’s Phillies.
Asked if Martinez were partly to blame, Rizzo told 106.7 The Fan: “Certainly. There is blame on everybody.”
It was the fourth loss in a row for the Nationals, who are 1-5 on the current three-city trip, which could get uglier. Washington plays four games in Los Angeles and is off Monday before beginning a series at home Tuesday with the rival Mets.
We’ll see if everyone’s still standing by that showdown.
–With Field Level Media