The feel-good vibes produced during the first four games of this home stand vanished for a night. The timely hitting disappeared, along with any other kind of hitting. The bullpen didn’t produce as it has in recent weeks. The starting pitching, solid for a while, gassed out in the end.
Add it up and it spelled this: a blasé night for the Nationals, who can’t afford many such nights — even in June.
Colorado beat Washington, 4-3, in front of 20,633 fans. But the Nationals (30-35) are now all about winning series, which means they must win the next three games against the Rockies.
Jose Guillen homered for Washington in the ninth — the Nats first hit since the fourth inning. But they didn’t threaten thereafter, save for Marlon Byrd’s foul-by-inches shot off the left-field fence.
Still, the loss didn’t spoil what has been a strong run. Earlier in the season, a loss would have left them with sagging confidence.
“They’re enjoying what’s happening now,” Manager Frank Robinson said, “and they know there’s a ways to get back to getting on the plus side. We can’t get complacent and relax.
“They’re playing good team baseball and everyone’s getting involved. We just started slowly.”
Starting pitcher Ramon Ortiz (5-5) had his five-game winning streak snapped. Ortiz allowed four runs — none in the first four innings.
Meanwhile, incoming Nationals president, Stan Kasten, still does not know when the Lerner ownership group will officially take over, but is hopeful it might happen by the end of the month. And, he said, he’s not ready to announce his plans for the front office — or if they’re even finalized.
Nor would he say if the Nationals recent hot streak has altered their rebuilding plans, which likely involve trading several veterans.
“I’m not going to comment on the play of the team,” Kasten said, “other than to say we’re delighted on how well they’re playing. [But] we’re not ready to talk about plans for the future.”
Some potential parts of the future signed contracts with the Nationals on Monday. Ten players, drafted in the 12th round or lower, signed deals, including George Mason University’s Robby Jacobsen (22nd round) and George Washington University’s Dan Pfau (27th round).
“The things [General Manager Jim Bowden] did,” Kasten said, “were very consistent with the things I believe in building a baseball team.”
