One fruitless inning encapsulates Nats' 2025 struggles

SAN FRANCISCO -- With two outs in the ninth inning of the Nationals’ 5-0 loss to the Giants on Friday night at Oracle Park, MASN play-by-play broadcaster Dan Kolko addressed any fans who may still have been tuned in.

“Gotta say … it’s after 12:30 [a.m.] back east, and if you're staying up with us here for some late-night Nats action and you’re staying with this team … we appreciate you.”

Kolko’s statements came in the waning moments of Washington’s second consecutive shutout loss and their 11th this season, which is tied for fourth most in the Majors.

It was another night of offensive frustration for the Nationals, whose issues scoring runs over their past two games -- and for much of the 2025 campaign -- can be distilled into one pivotal sequence on Friday.

Struggling to put much together through the first four innings against opener Matt Gage and reliever Kai-Wei Teng, Josh Bell walked on five pitches to open the fifth with Washington trailing 2-0.

Consecutive singles from Robert Hassell III and Drew Millas loaded the bases with nobody out and forced a mound visit as the Giants strategized how to help Teng navigate the Nats’ uprising.

But the Nats navigated their own exit on just three pitches: On Teng’s first pitch post-mound meeting, José Tena grounded to first baseman Rafael Devers, who cut down Bell at the plate for the first out.

Jacob Young then chopped an inning-ending double play to shortstop to quiet Washington’s only substantive rally on the night.

“We’ve got to do the little things to win ballgames,” said interim manager Miguel Cairo of the fifth-inning fizzle-out. “Simple as that. We had bases loaded, no outs. Ground ball, ground ball. That’s at least two or three runs right there. So we’ve got to do the little things … You’ve got to make sure the ball’s up and you’ve got to find something.”

Tena attacked a first-pitch sinker low in the zone on his forceout, while Young drove an 0-1 curve straight to Willy Adames for the rally-killing double play.

Friday’s struggles reflected a season-long trend for the Nationals in terms of at-bats ending a bit prematurely.

Entering the day, the Nationals were 28th in the Majors in plate appearances reaching three balls (804), trailing only the Rockies (708) and Royals (721).

True to form, 14 of their at-bats ended on three pitches or fewer.

“I think you always press, you know, when things aren't going the team's way or your way,” said Young. “So you want to be the guy that breaks the team out of it, that gets the hit that sparks the run we know we can go on. Sometimes, it doesn’t go your way, but you’ve got to keep with your process, whatever that process is for you, and trust that it's gonna work out more than it doesn't.”

Washington’s tweaked lineup -- which included struggling slugger James Wood hitting leadoff for just the eighth time in his career -- found itself quickly trailing after right-hander Jake Irvin allowed two runs on four hits in the first inning.

Irvin, who earned his first Major League win at this same ballpark in 2023, entered the day with a first-inning ERA of 9.39. Those early issues were indeed a factor this time around, as well, after a Devers homer and three singles put the Giants in front quickly.

“The first-inning troubles feel pretty hilarious at this point,” a candid Irvin said postgame. “An infield hit and a bleeder to center field, it just feels … right, you know? But you just keep making pitches, dial in, and do what you can to keep your team in the game.”

To his credit, Irvin did recover after that 29-pitch first inning, at one point stranding five Giants baserunners through the first four frames.

“It’s tough,” said Irvin when asked if there’s a feeling of obligation to be the player to help the Nats break through. “You want to be perfect, you want to try and do everything you can to help the team win and just to pick up the boys, man. We’re all in this together. There’s a lot of love in this locker room, so it does feel like the burden falls on you every so often. At the end of the day, you just keep going, try to be a good teammate and pick the boys up and just be fearless every time you take the field.”