WASHINGTON – For the first time since March 31, Michael Soroka was back on the mound of a Major League game Wednesday afternoon. The right-hander returned from a right biceps strain he sustained during his season debut and started the Nationals’ series finale against the Guardians.
Soroka cruised for five scoreless frames before Cleveland staged an eight-run rally in the sixth inning. Soroka allowed four runs off five hits, two walks and eight strikeouts across 78 pitches in five-plus innings in Washington's 8-6 loss at Nationals Park.
“I had a good amount of adrenaline [that] kept me going,” Soroka, 27, said. “I thought we executed our game plan really well. A lineup that’s probably the most lefties I’ve ever seen in a lineup. We knew the changeup needed to play right away, and we got offspeed in the zone and kind of let them feel the fastball. As a whole, I thought I threw the ball fairly well.”
Soroka’s return had a domino effect on the Nationals' pitching staff.
Veteran returns to the rotation
Soroka struck out eight batters for the first time since July 14, 2019, as a member of the Braves against the Padres. He opened the game by retiring five straight and allowed only four of the first 18 hitters to get on base.
"His breaking ball was sharp,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “They really didn't throw us many fastballs. His fastball had really good life, two different breaking balls with different shapes, and the changeup he was hitting right at the knees. He pitched really well two times through, and then we were able to get to him there the third time around."
Soroka faced the top of the Guardians' order in the sixth inning with a low pitch count. He allowed back-to-back singles to Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann, then hit José Ramírez with a pitch. Following a mound visit, Carlos Santana -- who did damage throughout the series -- cleared the bases with a line-drive double into right field off a slider in the zone.
“I think in the sixth inning, the only pitch I really, really want back is that one to Santana,” Soroka said. “We knew that pitch out there was a good way to get on the ground, and I just probably threw it about six inches too high. He’s a good hitter; he made me pay. You’re going to be in jams, there’s going to be balls that find holes, and I've got to find a way out of them. I just couldn’t quite execute right there.”
Lord moves to bullpen
A starting pitcher in his Minor League career, rookie Brad Lord (Washington's No. 22 prospect) earned a spot on the Opening Day roster as a reliever. When Soroka was sidelined, the Nats tabbed Lord to take his place in the rotation. Outing by outing, Lord got stretched out to six innings by Tuesday, his sixth start of the season.
“Just keep an open mind,” Lord, 25, said of moving back to the bullpen. “It doesn’t matter the role I’m in, I treat it all the same. I treat it just like any other outing.”
Lord is 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 26 1/3 innings as a starter. He earned his first career win on May 1 against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Lord issued just two walks in his last three starts.
“He’s very poised,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He understands who he is, he knows what he needs to do. His fastball plays up, and he’s always around the zone, so he’s very efficient.”
Salazar optioned to Triple-A
In a corresponding roster move to Soroka’s reinstatement from the IL, the Nationals optioned right-hander Eduardo Salazar to Triple-A Rochester.
Salazar, 27, had a strong Spring Training (2.38 ERA, 11 1/3 innings), and he was called upon for high-leverage situations early in the season. But Salazar posted a 12.27 ERA and issued four walks to five strikeouts in his last seven games.
The Nats hope Salazar can reset with Rochester, where he pitched to a 0.75 ERA with one win and four holds in 10 relief appearances last season.
“I want him to go down and just build his confidence again,” Martinez said. “… I want him to close games down there and see if we can get him going again. We’re going to need him. He’s got good stuff, and we’ve seen it. We’ve seen him have some success up here. He got a little bit down on himself, but I want him to go down there and understand what it’s like to pitch in high-leverage situations and get him ready to come back up here.”