Braves starting pitcher (Former Nationals prospectReinaldo Lopez allowed two home runs in his first 62 innings on the mound this season, then allowed two in consecutive at-bats on Thursday night in the nation’s capital, but unfortunately for Washington, those were the only runs the team scored in a 5-2 loss to Atlanta.
C.J. Abrams (10) hit a 93 mph 0-2 fastball 412 feet into right field at Nationals Park, limiting the Nationals to just two runs on six total hits after Lopez held them scoreless in the fifth inning. Lane Thomas (4) then smashed a 1-2 slider high into left-center field for a 410-foot home run to put the home team ahead, 2-0.
Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker held the Braves scoreless through six innings, but in the top of the seventh, he allowed a leadoff single by Marcell Ozuna and then a one-out, two-run homer by Adam Duvall, his sixth of the season, to tie the game at 2-2.
Parker got the next two outs to get through the seventh, but then Hunter Harvey came on and got two outs, but in the eighth, Ozzie Albies’ double, Austin Riley’s one-run RBI single and Ozuna’s two-run homer made it 5-2.
Parker has allowed three or fewer runs in his first 10 straight games of his career, becoming the first pitcher in Nationals history (2005-present) to accomplish the feat.
As the Nationals’ PR department noted in a post-game X/Twitter post last night, the previous record holders were Stephen Strasburg and Mike O’Connor, who both allowed three runs or less in nine starts.
Mitchell Parker has pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two runs, and has not allowed more than three runs in his first 10 MLB starts, which is the longest career start streak in Nationals history (since 2005).
Stephen Strasburg (2010) and Mike O’Connor (2006) both held the previous record with nine appearances.
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) June 7, 2024
This was his second start in three games against the Braves.Parker held Atlanta batters to five hits and three runs in six innings. 1⁄3 IP will be held at Truist Park on May 27th), the left-hander faced 25 batters and struck them out just four times, throwing 13 strikes, nine fastballs, seven grounders and six fly balls.
“Mitchell pitched really well, and it’s about providing answers to the problems we’re facing twice,” manager Davey Martinez told reporters after the Nationals’ fourth straight loss.
“He did a great job. He pitched really well. He threw seven innings, 71 pitches, but in that situation, he gave the ball to Harvey. [Kyle] Finnegan closes out the match, [Parker] He got the job done.”
Parker’s efficiency and consistency early in his major league career impressed Martinez.
“When he’s in good form, he’ll throw strikes,” the captain said.
“What happens is, before you know it, they start swinging, they start swinging at the first pitch, and he’ll be right around home plate.”
“We talk about that all the time. He did that tonight. He attacked the strike zone hard, they were aggressive and he got the out early. So it was awesome. He pitched really, really well.”
The team’s offense struggled, managing just six hits, four of which were singles, resulting in the loss.
Martinez said he was hopeful the home runs from Abrams and Thomas might spark the lineup, but that didn’t happen.
“After we scored that run, Lane hit a home run and it just kept banging and bang and I thought that would have a ripple effect,” Martinez said.
“That didn’t happen. That didn’t happen. It was good to see CJ hit the ball like that, good to see Lane hit the ball like that.”
Abrams’ home run was a welcome blow to the Nationals and their shortstop, who had 3 hits in 25 at-bats in 26 at-bats during that stretch, with 1 double, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts. Abrams struck out his first two times against Lopez and showed some frustration after the first strikeout, according to the manager.
“His first at-bat was, and after his second at-bat it wasn’t,” Martinez said. “Then his third at-bat he walked up and said, ‘I’m gonna catch it this time,’ and he did.”
“All I did was prepare early and he did that and I got him. Hopefully this will make him feel a little better.”
What about the overall attack?
“You’ve got to be on time,” the manager said. “If you’re ready to hit the fastball, the rest will fall into place. The key is to give yourself a chance to hit every pitch.”
“When they do that, they can hit, and they’re really good.”
