A pitching staff on fire just three weeks ago was on the verge of falling apart and the Washington Nationals were in desperate need of someone to stop the bleeding.
For one night at least, Pedro Astacio filled that role perfectly.
Making his first start of the season after spending the first three months on the disabled list with a strained forearm, Astacio tossed five solid innings of 3-hit ball against Florida on Monday. It was more than enough for a Nationals’ lineup that totaled 13 hits during a 9-1 victory at RFK Stadium.
“I never have any expectations for someone coming off the disabled list,” said Washington manager Frank Robinson. “I’d have taken whatever Pedro could have given me. But that was a very pleasant surprise. It was exactly what we needed.”
Almost everything that could have gone right for Washington (36-48) did go right. All-Star left fielder Alfonso Soriano homered twice and threw out a runner at second base for good measure. Right fielder Jose Guillen hit a 3-run homer in the fifth inning and first baseman Nick Johnson was the lone starter held hitless.
But Astacio was the big story for a team that recently put starter Sean Hill on the 15-day disabled list and is still awaiting the return of injured starter Tony Armas. Not to mention starter John Patterson, who is battling a tired arm after making just his second start last week after returning from the disabled list.
Astacio, a 14-year veteran who was signed by the Nationals as a free agent on Feb. 28, allowed just four Marlins to reach base. He was on a strict pitch count in the 70s, according to Robinson, before giving way to relievers Saul Rivera and Jason Bergmann, who combined to allow two hits and no runs in four innings.
