Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats’ offense not producing; Dominic Smith at the plate + more…

No offense, but…:

Keibert-Lewis went 0 for 4 in the first game of the Nationals’ two-game set against the Orioles, but his last at-bat was the closer of the Os, pointed out by Lewis manager Davey Martinez. It was a seven-pitch battle with Felix Bautista. After the catcher’s 3-for-4 game in the second matchup against a regional rival, as a breakthrough of sorts.

“Kiebert had a good day today, but he covered every pitch,” Martinez told reporters.[Ruiz] I had a good swing. I think it all had to do with his at bat last night, the last at bat he had. He had a really good plate at bat. I hope you keep him there. “

Lewis collected 3 of 6 hits for the Knots, but the club was 9-0 with the runners in scoring position overall and 9 came to base in two straight shutout losses.

“The other guys had to get ready,” said the Knots skipper, turning from Lewis to the rest of the hitters.

“They had to hit the fastball and get ready to explode with the fastball. Nevermind, let it go and see what happens. Just be ready to hit the fastball.”

In back-to-back losses, the Nationals had a 13-0 combination with runners in scoring position and 15 LOBs in the series.

As a struggling group at bat, Martinez said of hitters, “sometimes it happens.”

“We’ve talked about this before,” he added. The blows come and go. It really is. No rhyme or reason. Other than that, I like the way we pitch, the way we defend, even though we know we have to hit to score. we must stay there.

“The hits will come. The hits will come. Just stay positive, keep your heart pumping, and like I said, be ready to hit the fastball.”

Dom’s Slump:

In the first nine games of the season, Dom Smith went 11-for-35 (.314/.400/.314) with 5 walks and 5Ks for 40 PAs.

But in their last seven games, including Wednesday’s 0-2 two-walk game, the 27-year-old slugger went 3-for-27 (.111/.226./111) combined for 6Ks on three walks and 31 PAs. Recorded.

Ahead of this week’s second-round game against the Orioles, the skipper for the Nats talked about what he saw from the first baseman at bat.

“I think Dom has always had some good numbers against right-handed pitching,” said the manager.

Smith’s early splits this season (.167/.271/.167 on 48 PA vs. RHP and .350/.435/.350 on 23 PA vs. LHP) were reverse splits (.237/.296/.419 vs. RHP; .273/.352/.401 vs. LHP).

“He’s in a bit of a funk, but I think he can get out of it,” Martinez continued.

“Our lineup is very balanced, he’s hitting two, we’re all switch-hitters, and we’re keeping the younger players down. I think it’s Lewis. [García] is doing a great job and is currently 5. CJ [Abrams] We’ve kept him at the bottom of the line and let him relax a bit, but he’s still learning a lot.

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“Dom understands – he’s a little frustrated right now, but I told him. Okay, I know everyone wants to win 4-4, but It’s hard, but I know you’re going to hit it, so if you keep your head up, you’ll have a chance to drive the ball and you’ll have a chance to drive the ball with the runners on base. So keep your head up and keep fighting.”

In a follow-up, a reporter asked why he’s been keeping his young hitters at the bottom of the table earlier this season when some of the veterans are struggling in production.

“Because they’ve learned a lot about the pitches they can hit,” Martinez explained. CJ has done really well — after we left Colorado, he started chasing us a bit. [chasing]Yesterday I thought he did it better. So we want to keep him there and just let him play the game without putting a lot of pressure on him. “