HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Juan Soto # 22 of Washington citizens celebrates as he rounds the foundations on a Howie Kendrick home race (not pictured) against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in the Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey / Getty Images)
Washington’s bats fell silent when Max Scherzer left early due to an injury. What distinguished you most?
Juan Soto’s seasonal debut ended in a loss due to the arrest of the crime and the fall of Max Scherzer after a job inning. Here are three takeaway things for last night’s loss.
Something is wrong with Max Scherzer and Sean Doolittle
National fans got scared after ace Max Scherzer left the game after an inning due to the modification of his hamstring. He passed the first inning, allowing one run and throwing 27 throws. He also gave up on one hit, walked one and hit one. Scherzer forced JD Davis to hit a grounder. When the ace tried to get off the mound to cover first base, he landed in a fun way, presumably causing his injury. I hope the team ace can begin its next scheduled start.
While Scherzer’s injury appears to be minor, something is wrong with Sean Doolittle. Last season, Dave Martinez abused Doolittle, which led to the subsequent landing on the IL. He returned for the playoffs and helped the team win their first ever World Series title. However, it seems that last year put a strain on the veteran lifter. During the exhibition games, the team’s closing speed was much slower than last year. This continued into the regular season and adversely affected his performance. In three major appearances this year, Doolittle is 0-1, with an ERA of 10.80 and a strikeout. Tonight, Doolittle launched the seventh and recorded only one, giving up a run.
Doolittle has been the best breeder on the team in recent years and they can’t afford to fall apart now.
Juan Soto has finally made his debut
Juan Soto was expected to make his seasonal debut on the opening day, but instead he was out due to a positive COVID test. The 21-year-old was finally eliminated and made his debut tonight, going 2-4, with an RBI and two strikeouts. In his first at-bat, he whipped a double in the left corner, to tie the game to one.
So, at the top of the second, it showed why he was nominated for a Gold Glove in 2019.
Citizens have certainly lost his presence and, once he has speeded up, it should have a strong impact on the offense that is advancing.
The bats fell silent but the bullpen picked up the game.
Juan Soto was only responsible for the RBI teams, as the team went 1-4 with the runners in scoring position and stuck three. The team was unable to find an answer for Rick Porcello and Seth Lugo.
The offense wasted their biggest opportunity in the fourth. Soto was the first with one out, when Asdrubal Cabrera chose right. Soto attempted to advance to third place in the game, but replaced the bag and was tagged. Eric Thames then hit the ball, but just to JD Davis. Davis knocked him down and threw the big man out of his knees. Washington will end up making some of these works make their way, but the question is when?
Due to the duration of Scherzer’s only one inning, the bullpen had a busy night. Erick Fedde, Sam Freeman, Wander Suero, Sean Doolittle, Kyle Finnegan and Javy Guerra have joined together to make eight innings, allowing only two runs, out of six hits. They also walked six and pulled out four. Freeman, Suero, Finnegan and Guerra have all shown improvements and look like legitimate bullpen pieces, which is a huge update from last season. Doolittle’s struggles are worrying and therefore the rest of the bullpen will have to intensify. They did it enormously last night.
