OOTP 21: April 23, 2020 – Nationals 5, Dodgers 4 – Pen implodes, blowing chance at sweep

The Nationals are having a horrendous season but they still managed to leave the Dodgers with a sour taste in their mouths while they departed Nationals Park. While the Dodgers had the sweep of the defending World Series champs within reach, four runs over the final two innings from the Nats secured a win by a 5-4 score.

Stephen Strasburg was kinda meh for his standards, allowing two runs over six innings and trailing to a Jimmy Nelson start when he left. A struggling Max Muncy helped make that possible, showing signs of life by clobbering a two-run shot in the 4th, Justin Turner added a run in the 7th with a single.

Unfortunately, Yan Gomes game up with a game-tying homer in the 8th against the much-maligned Caleb Ferguson. Then, after Gavin Lux gave the Dodgers the lead back in the top of the 9th with a single, Victor Robles responded against Kenley Jansen by knocking a game-tying double in the 9th, before Trea Turner walked it off with a sacrifice fly.

Strasburg said this kind of win gives the team “a buzz.”

Not even a full quote? Really? Booo.

This is absolutely the kind of game that fans will remember for months and lead to people calling the team “shit” and “trash” and “an absolute dumpster fire of failure” despite them being almost on pace for 100 wins.

Ferguson can always be demoted, but the real problem continues to be Kenley, who can’t seem to turn things around and be consistent at the back-end. That could actually cost them when it matters most down the road, just as it already has in previous years.

Fortunately, they have a good matchup against the Pirates coming on the road trip, the series starting with Walker Buehler against Chris Archer.

About Chad Moriyama

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"A highly rational Internet troll." - Los Angeles Times