The Washington Nationals had a major problem getting outs in the eighth inning from the bullpen in the first few weeks of the season — they were on pace to set a major league record for ERA in that inning.
But the bullpen has settled down since Paul Menhart was named pitching coach in early May, and veteran Fernando Rodney came up big Wednesday night as the Nationals held on to beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 at Nationals Park before an energetic crowd of 25,483 fans.
Rodney took over with one out in the eighth for Stephen Strasburg after the starter struck out a season-high 14 batters while allowing just two hits.
Signed by the Nationals on June 4, the colorful Rodney, 42, got a double-play grounder to end the eighth inning.
“I like Rodney. His two-seam fastball has been very good since he has been here,” said Dave Martinez, the Nationals manager.
The Nationals (44-41) had won back-to-back games by one run for the first time since September 2017 with wins on Sunday and Tuesday. Sean Doolittle almost made it a one-run game in the ninth, but he got the save after allowing a run to score on a hit batter with the bases loaded.
Doolittle has pitched in 38 of 85 games and has 19 saves. Martinez said he communicated regularly with Doolittle about his workload.
“Sean is really smart, he is very honest,” said Martinez, noting Doolittle’s fastball touched 94 mph.
Strasburg (10-4) struck out all three batters on just nine pitches in the fourth inning. The first time he had recorded an “immaculate” inning in the majors.
“It kind of dawned on me later on,” said Strasburg, who thought his first pitch had been called a ball in the fourth
The Nationals have won seven of the last eight games and are 25-10 since May 24 — best in the majors over that time.
Washington remains six games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East as Brian Dozier and Matt Adams hit home runs in the win.
The Nationals have now gone deep in 17 straight games to set a Montreal/Washington franchise record.
Dozier gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead when he homered over the Marlins bullpen in left field in the sixth off Miami starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. The longball came on an 0-2 hanging breaking pitch with two outs and also scored Juan Soto, who had singled with one out.
“We are rolling now,” Dozier said. “Everything is headed in the right direction.”
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