Washington Nationals news & notes: Joan Adon leaves starts with cramps in legs; Nats beat A’s 8-2 in D.C.

Early exit of Adon:

Joan Adon was perfect until five games ²⁄₃ His first major start in 2023 was against Cincinnati on July 5, but he finally allowed two outs and three runs before scoring the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Reds.

“I think he was out of gas,” manager Davey Martinez said of the 24-year-old right-hander’s exit in Washington’s 7-3 win.

“We’re talking curve balls,” the Nationals captain continued.

“He started to leave his curveball a little bit higher and his fastball started to slowly come up.

“We tried to get him pitched to the sixth and he finished, but like I said, he did a great job.

“We had him throw about 80 to 85 pitches, and I think he ended up with maybe 86. So 86 pitches in six innings was great.”

After getting off to a great start, Adon said he doesn’t know what would have happened had he continued to try for a perfect match.

“I don’t know what happened because I started cramping in those six innings,” Adon explained.

“That’s when I started to feel it. But no one wants to get out of the perfect game.”

On Adon’s turn last night in the capital’s rotation, the cramp recurred during four warmups and he walked off the mound after allowing two earned runs, two hits and two walks in three innings.

Adon was clearly uncomfortable, stretching his legs awkwardly in an attempt to loosen up, and after a brief visit from Martinez and team trainer Paul Lesalle, Adon left the mound.

“I had cramps,” Martinez said after an 8-2 win over the Athletics in Oakland. “His leg was cramped. The second time. He also had cramps in Cincinnati. So we had to find a way to catch him. Whether it was by drinking more water. I don’t know yet. I saw him drinking a lot, but his legs were cramping.”

Bullpen action:

Cory Abbott rushed in to give the Nationals a run ¹⁄₃ Scoreless, followed by Robert Garcia (1) ²⁄₃), José A. Ferrer (1IP) and Jordan Weems (2IP) blocked the Athletics’ counterattack as the offense added points midway through.

“It’s hard when a pitcher comes out like that, but those guys,” Martinez said, praising the bullpen’s performance in recent weeks.

“They’ve stepped up, and that’s a challenge for guys in the bullpen.

“I know Corey is always ready, but they don’t expect it to come that way. Feller came in and Weems finished it, we’ll have to see how Weems does tomorrow, but they threw the ball well.”

Rutherford chasing the first hit:

Blake Rutherford, 26, spent six years in the minors. new york yankees (Who was the 18th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2016 draft?) and the chicago white sox(Acquired him in a trade in 2017), He signed with Washington in January of this year, before beating the Double-A and Triple-A of the Nationals system to earn a major call-up on the first day of August.

Rutherford appeared in 261 at-bats in 62 AA and AAA games, batting .345/.395/.583 combined, before making his MLB debut in Cincinnati on August 4.

After going 0-for-4 that day and 0-for-3 the next day, he went 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“He definitely wants to do something with that one,” manager Davey Martinez said before the game ended. Phillies.

“I need him to relax. I hope he hits well in his first at-bat today, but if he does, he’ll relax a little bit and drop his shoulders.

Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

“But we’re really trying to relax him. And look, he’s been hitting very well in Triple-A, and we feel he can hit here, But like I said, we’re about to get the first one’ out of the way. It’s tough. But it will happen. I said to him, ‘It’s going to happen, so give him a chance and try to get up there and hit the ball hard somewhere.’ will be ”

Martinez was asked if the former first-round pick is putting a little pressure on him as he tries to prove himself on his first shot at the majors.

“He’s a pretty quiet kid, but he has a good routine when he comes in. I’ve seen his routine in cages and stuff, and like I said, he’s been hit,” Martinez said. Ta. “He’s been hit and he’s been hitting really good balls in Triple-A. For me, it’s about being ready, being on time and staying in the middle of the field. I try to do a lot. I just give myself a chance to catch the ball instead of catching it.”

Rutherford started his third straight game with the CBP, but pitched 6 innings, going 0-for-2 and 0-for-16 to start his major league career.

Martinez gave his outfielders a day off in the series opener against Oakland at Nationals Park.

“It’s been a bit of a mental day for Blake,” explained the manager.

“He’s going to work on some things from now on.” [Hitting Coach] Darnell [Coles] I just wanted to give him a little rest today, I wanted him to relax a little bit. ”

Will Rutherford return to the field for his first major hit in tonight’s second of three games against the A’s in DC?