The Washington Nationals won’t be mistaken for a team stocked with experience, but they’ve fared well recently against some playoff contenders.
The Nationals would like to repeat what they just produced when they face the Baltimore Orioles again Wednesday night in Baltimore.
The Nationals won 9-3 in the series opener Tuesday night, collecting 14 hits. Baltimore notched 10 hits.
The lopsided result was due in large part to contributions from newcomers, with rookie James Wood providing four hits and Andres Chaparro collecting three doubles in his big-league debut.
“That’s one way to start out your career,” Wood said of Chaparro, who spent eight seasons in the minor leagues and played more than 625 professional games before reaching the majors. “It was just huge with him in the middle of the lineup. … He gave our offense a charge.”
The Nationals, who have won three of their past four games, have watched numerous newcomers succeed under manager Dave Martinez’s watch, and Chaparro could be the latest added to that list.
“He put some good at-bats together,” Martinez said.
Since the All-Star break, Washington has won a series against a divisional leader (Milwaukee) and prevailed in a series against National League wild-card contenders (St. Louis, Cincinnati). The Nationals would like to add the Orioles, who are one of the American League’s top teams, to that list.
Wood has two four-hit games in his first season. He said his comfort level has risen.
“I feel like I’m just going up there with a plan and a goal, and I feel like I’ve been able to execute more than earlier,” Wood said.
The Orioles will try to snap a two-game skid. Part of the key to doing that is limiting damage by opposing offenses.
“We’re really inconsistent,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’re giving up way too many runs.”
Right-hander Dean Kremer (4-9, 4.70 ERA) is pegged as the starter for the Orioles on Wednesday. He has a personal five-game losing streak in his past six outings. Baltimore has won only two of the past nine games in which he has pitched.
Kremer is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA covering 11 2/3 innings in two career starts against the Nationals.
Washington will send left-hander DJ Herz (2-4, 4.41) to the mound as the rookie seeks his first road victory. He is 1-0 in his past three outings, but he lasted just 2 2/3 innings Thursday against the San Francisco Giants while allowing two runs on four hits and a season-high four walks.
With 36 home runs, Anthony Santander has set a team record for most long balls by a switch hitter in a season. He homered Tuesday for the second game in a row and for the fifth time in August.
The Orioles, who appeared to have unlimited offensive options in the spring, have dealt with glitches at the plate recently.
“We’re not moving the line offensively enough,” Hyde said. “Overswinging at times, kind of, our swings can get really big at times and we need to improve on that.”
The Orioles are 4-4 at home since the All-Star break.
The Nationals have won two of three meetings with Baltimore this year.
–Field Level Media