add O [AND SB?] For the Nationals:
Davey Martinez praised his hitters after an 8-1 win in Game 1 of a three-game series against the Giants this week in San Francisco.
The Nationals combined for 10 hits and seven walks in the series opener, and Martinez told reporters the club is sticking to its plan with the still-developing Blake Snell, with the left-handed pitcher throwing up to 72 pitches. He said he knocked him out in just three innings. (39 strikes).
“I sat with them for a little while yesterday,” the coach explained. You did a great job today. We came in, we had a plan, we wanted to put the ball in the strike zone. I think in the end I had seven or eight walks, but I was able to do it. It was a good day. Today’s attack was really good. ”
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Three of the hits, two walks and three of the runs came from Snell, a result of Martinez executing his plan against the two-time Cy Young Award winner (including in 2023). he said.
“He didn’t win the Cy Young Award for nothing,” Martinez said. “He has really good pitching.
“You just have to get the ball in the zone. His breaking ball, his changeup, even his fastball, they’re all great pitches.”
“Our focus was just to get him to throw strikes, get deep counts, accept walks, don’t chase them. And I thought we did a good job.”
Tuesday’s game was even tougher for the Nationals, who won 5-3. “They played well, though,” Martinez said.
“They fought. Today was a tough day for them. We played good defense. CJ [Abrams], big home runs, big hits, he played really well in everything. But they played well. Riley Adams, hit a big hit at the end and made a really good catch. ”
The Nationals’ batters walked six in the second win and stole three bases in four attempts after allowing four hits and a walk in the series opener.
As of Thursday morning, the Nationals’ 25 stolen bases as a club this season lead the majors, a focus for Martinez and others this winter and spring as he strengthens the roster and evaluates the team’s strengths. .
“We’re just trying to play the game the right way,” Martinez said.
“We’re probably going to do something a little different, but that’s our identity. We’re going to run. We’re going to bunt. We’re going to cause havoc. And just like we did tonight and yesterday. , we’re going to hit a home run.”
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GM and Director of Baseball Ops Mike Rizzo appeared with Audacy’s The Sports Junkies on 106.7 the FAN on Wednesday and talked more about the running game.
“We planned it that way,” Rizzo said of the focus on the running game and the players they assembled.
“Now we have some speed on the club. When you have, [Jacob] Young, CJ Abrams, and Lane Thomas, who were the standout base stealers in the minor leagues, can steal around 25 bases. [Trey] Lipscomb is a very good baserunner and is really learning to be a good base stealer.Unforgettable [Nasim] Nuñez was on the bench and then [Victor] Robles getting healthy or something like that.
“They can all run, and I think you’re going to see them try a lot this year. A lot of that has to do with the rule change. You have to build your team around stealing bases. That’s part of the strategy. ‘ around the game. ”
“That’s why we don’t like walking.” [from Nationals’ pitchers] Now a walk becomes a double, so it’s hard to overcome that,” Rizzo added.
“We want to be aggressive on the basepaths, but not run into outs and choose our situations wisely. And I think Davey has done a great job with that. [Gerardo] Parra, Parra is our outfield and base running coach and he has a really good grasp of this group of base stealers and he really spends a lot of time on it. ”