News & notes about the Washington Nationals: series to forget as the Nats fall 8-5 in the series finale to the Padres…
Remarks and quotes from Petco Park during the Nationals and Padres series finale…
Through Patrick Reddington at federalbaseball.com 26.06.2024, 12:01 a.m. EDT
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SDP vs. HERZ:
When Davey Martinez chose to interrupt DJ Herz’s fourth start of the major league season in Coors Field, the 23-year-old lefty was up to 33 pitches in the fourth and 76 pitches altogether in 3 2⁄3 innings.
The Nats manager gave an explanation, saying, “DJ got a little tired there at the end.”
“He threw thirty-something pitches that inning, and we had to get him out because he started to lose his mechanics a little bit.”
In the shortened stint, Herz gave up seven hits—three of them home runs—and four runs—three of them earned. He also recorded five strikeouts, twelve swinging strikes—nine of which came on his four-seamer—and twelve called strikes—nine of which came on his fastball. One thing he was glad about the trip was that there were no walkers in his line.
San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals
Denis Poroy/Getty Images photo
For the most part, I felt it was decent. “I’m pleased that there are now more strikes than walks,” Herz stated, as reported by Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
“I told him to be proud of himself right after he left the game,” Martinez stated to reporters.
It’s not easy to make a pitch here. It appeals to all. It’s your first time visiting us. However, you performed admirably. As requested, he hammered the strike zone.
Jiffy Lube Special with DJ Herz. ️ pic.twitter.com/bOIDMKWyQh
— June 26, 2024, Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja)
Guys are going to hit in this ballpark. He performed incredibly well.
In the series finale at Petco Park on Wednesday, pitching at 72 feet above sea level (compared to 5,200 feet the previous time out), Herz struggled with his fastball command, working around a two-out single in the first, then giving up a one-out single and a two-out, two-run home run in the second. Jackson Merrill lined a 2-1 fastball up in the zone to center, and Kyle Higashioka followed with a 1-1 changeup up in the zone that was 386 feet to left field, giving the Mariners an early 2-0 lead.
— June 26, 2024, San Diego Padres (@Padres)
The Padres led 3-0 after a leadoff double, single, and wild pitch with a man on base. On Herz’s 66th and last pitch of the game, Jurickson Profar hit an RBI single with one out to make it 4-0.
Herz only recorded three swinging strikes during the day, but he did record 12 called strikes, distributed 5-4-3 on his cutter, changeup, and fastball, respectively.
In reference to his own performance, Herz stated, “I think I just got to be better at executing pitches when I’m getting ahead,” as reported by Bobby Blanco of MASN. “I believe that they are now taking advantage of the fact that I am leaving certain off-speed pitches in the middle of the field too frequently. The key, in my opinion, is simply doing it.
“DJ’s command of the fastball was a little off,” his manager stated following the Padres’ (9-5), final-round sweep of the series. Because he was unable to control his fastball, he threw a lot more changeups. However, he competed and offered us everything he had. He goes out there to learn just about every day.
“In five more days, we’ll get him back and get him ready to go.”
Dylan Cease, on the other hand, shut out the Nationals’ batters, pitching 102 pitches—65 of them for strikes—with 16 swinging and 18 total called strikes. He maintained a no-hitter through 4 2⁄3 innings and gave up only one hit in seven innings, walking two and striking out nine.
Dylan Quit, K’ing the Corner. tweet.com/axZsonXTVi
— June 26, 2024, Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja)
Martinez responded to a question about the offense’s struggles in the third of three games against the Padres by saying, “Cease was really, really good.” “Our guys found it difficult to properly grasp the slider. He had great effectiveness. He was using the sweeper and slider, and he was using them today. Thus, it was difficult. An offensively difficult day. After they removed him from the game, we were able to improve our bat-swinging slightly. We really must put this series behind us. Our day off was in Tampa. I hope the lads had fun. Let’s be prepared to play once again and enjoy the weekend.
MENESES WITH RISP: Joey Meneses has hit with runners in scoring position (22 for 67,.328/.393/.433), including three RBI hits in Monday’s loss to the Padres, despite posting an overall.243/.297/.323 line in 68 games and 279 plate appearances this season. The 32-year-old middle-of-the-order bat has a.327/.372/.456 line in 333 PAs with RISP so far this season in the major leagues.
Davey Martinez, the captain of the Nats, told reporters at his pregame news conference on Tuesday, “As of late he’s been tremendous.” The team provided numerical support for Martinez in their pregame notes.
Since April 25, Meneses has been hitting.375 (18-for-48) with 29 RBI with RISP.began the season 4-for-19 (.211) w/RISP.
“He’s a guy we’ve relied on to drive in a lot of runs for us over the last 18 months, and he’s performing really well once again,” Martinez continued. “I am aware that he occasionally becomes irritated because he wants to hit with greater strength. “Hey, when you get guys in scoring position, you’re the one guy that we really feel they can drive him in, and he’s done a great job with that,” is all we need to say to him. It’s fantastic that he leads our team in RBIs, in my opinion. As I mentioned before, we want him to drive in runs for us when those guys reach base ahead of him, so while I would like him to hit for power, I won’t go overboard with that.
San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals
Denis Poroy/Getty Images photo
The Nationals stated, “…[had] hit safely in 11 of his last 13 G: 15-for-46 (.326) with 4 2B, HR, 10 RBI[s], 3 BB, 6 R…,” heading into the second of three games against the Padres in Petco, Meneses. Last 28 games: 7 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 5 BB, HBP, 11 R;.286/.321/.418.
Although Meneses hasn’t hit as hard as he did in his breakthrough season in 2022 or even last season, his manager isn’t too concerned because he doesn’t want to see the slugger swinging for the fences too much.
Martinez said, “He gets out on his front side.” “I don’t want him to jam himself, and that’s where the ground balls come from a lot of the time. When he stays in the middle of the field, he plays incredibly well. He will occasionally hit one, but I warned him that he was the one trying to pull the ball. I said, “You remember when you first came in you hit a bunch of home runs to right-center field.” Pulling will occur, but at your best, you’ll be able to remain behind the ball as well as anyone and make good use of your hands. He’s returning to that now. He smoked the ball he drove yesterday.
