Nats Travel to Baltimore, Leave Birds Flustered, 9-3
Andres Chaparro makes history with 3-for-4 night in majors debut
BALTIMORE, MD-The Baltimore Orioles (70-50) and Washington Nationals (55-65) are two teams whose fortunes couldn’t be more different The O’s sit atop the AL East. They are a team that dominates opponents thanks to young talent. It took them a few seasons of draft picks and trades to achieve their success. But since last year, they have shined. They won 101 games and will surpass that number in 2024 because of a roster full of power hitters and a stellar rotation. The Nats (54-65), who won it all five years ago, have finished every season since then with losing records. Stars and fan favorites have departed due to free agency and trades. In the process of a rebuild, they have talent and potential, and have shown a desire to play for each other. That is where things stand with these neighboring ballclubs. But regardless of the records or current states of these teams, the Battle of the Beltways series – this time at Oriole Park at Camden Yards – is always about fighting for area pride.
Going into game one of two, CJ Abrams is the only Nats player who has faced O’s starter Trevor Rodgers. He had one home run and two RBI in previous matchups. On the other side, this is the first time O’s hitters will face Jake Irvin.
The Nats gave their starter some run support early, which has been unusual this year. In the top of the first, James Wood singled to left. Abrams, on second, scored. Juan Yepez, who was walked by Rodgers, moved up a base, and then went to third on the Wood single. With Wood trying to steal second, Yepez scored, making it 2-0 for the visitors.
The O’s came storming back though. In the bottom of the second, Ryan O’Hearn singled off an Irvin fastball. Next, Adley Rutschmann singled, and O’Hearn picked up enough speed to move to third. Ryan Mountcastle took advantage of the scoring opportunity. When he singled to right, O’Hearn scored. And the metaphorical bleeding stopped temporarily.
But Irvin ran into more trouble in the third. Anthony Santander hit a 400-foot solo home run to dead center, tying the game, 2-2. Pitchers will say that if they have to give up home runs, they prefer the type with no runners on base. But this one, on a sinker that didn’t exactly sink, wiped away the Nats small lead rather quickly.
New Nat Adres Chaparro, who spent eight years in the minors before being called up to play first base, earned his first major league hit, a double on a four-seamer up in the zone. The game paused briefly to take the ball out of play. Wood, on base after singling to left, moved to third. He scored when Ildimaro Vargas hit a sac fly to right. And Chaparro followed when, with one out, Luis Garcia also hit a sac fly to right, putting the Nats up by two again, 4-2.
Irvin had a high pitch count in the fourth at 77. But with two on and two out, his teammates were able to keep the O’s from scoring after two more hits. Rodgers at that point, had only thrown 54. But both pitchers were even when it came to hits against at six.
Abrams moved into scoring position in the fifth on a steal of second after being hit by a pitch. It was his 21st of the year. Though the Nats failed to score, the steal was enough for O’s manager Brandon Hyde to get his bullpen working. The shortstop made a great defensive play on a strikeout in the dirt by Gunnar Henderson. Henderson, known for his speed, was out at first by just a few steps as Abrams’ throw beat him there. Both plays illustrate why Abrams made the all-star team a month ago.
Wood came up to bat in the sixth, hitting a single, and finally knocking Rodgers out of the game. O’s reliever Bryan Baker entered to face Chaparro. The first baseman hit a ground-rule double over the wall, keeping Wood from scoring. The run would come as Vargas, next up, smashed a single to center, giving him two more RBI. With two out, the Nats didn’t stop there. As Jacob Young singled to right, Vargas scored, making the score 7-2.
With such a big lead, Irvin took the mound in the sixth. His pitches were still effective. He buckled down after allowing the two runs. And his curveball, nasty all game, was a pitch that O’s hitters could not solve. Despite seven hits, he only permitted one walk, a sign that he did not panic with runners on base. Robert Garcia got up in the pen, knowing he would follow this quality start.
Acquired from the Phillies at the deadline, O’s reliever Gregory Soto faced Abrams in the seventh. Yet, Soto won the face-off. With two out, Keibert Ruiz hit a come-backer, ending a chance for the Nats to put the game farther out of reach. Garcia made quick work of the three batters he faced, striking out two of them. He had thrown only eight pitches.
Wood, an amazing 4-for-5 on the night, hit a double to left in the eighth. Chaparro followed, making his debut extra special. He hit a double down the left field line, scoring Wood. Chaparro joins only three other players who have hit three doubles in their debuts in major league history.
Ruiz joined the hit parade in the top of the ninth, scoring Abrams from second. Orlando Ribalta, also making his debut in the majors, pitched the bottom of the inning for the visitors. He earned his first strikeout against Ramon Urias. The O’s scored on a throwing error by Abrams, who couldn’t turn a double play to get out of the inning. At 9-3, with two on and two out, Derek Law entered his 60th game of the season to face Henderson and get the final out.
“It was a very good day offensively. We did the little things. I loved the way we approached today,” Dave Martinez said about the Nats overall performance. Speaking of Wood, he said, “He has a plan. He learns from each at-bat, each swing, what he needs to do. Tonight’s an indication of what he can really be.”
Nats note: Harold Ramirez and Jordan Weems were both designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Chaparro and Ribalta.
To view highlights and read the box score, click HERE.
