Nationals Walk Thirteen in Bullpen Game | Washington Nationals News

Corey (0:00)

It's September 17th, I'm Corey with the story, and this is Washington Nationals News Today, your AI power team report. The Nationals tied a team record for walks issued in a single game, handing out 13 free passes to the Phillies. This happened during a bullpen game, where the pitchers just couldn't seem to find the strike zone consistently. It's a tough stat to swallow, especially when you're trying to keep a close game competitive. The team's bullpen is young, with a lot of rookies getting significant innings.

This lack of experience might be playing a role in the wildness we saw on the mound. It's a stark contrast to the previous night, where the same group of pitchers managed to avoid issuing any walks at all.

Manager Blake Butera acknowledged the struggle, noting that the team was fortunate, the final score wasn't worse given the number of baserunners they allowed. He pointed out that while some pitchers managed to keep the team in the game, walking so many batters against a strong lineup is a risky strategy.

Looking at the breakdown, the openers struggled early and then several relievers followed suit with multiple walks. One pitcher in particular issued five walks in just two innings. Despite the struggles, the team is trying to see this as a learning experience for their developing pitchers.

Ultimately, Butera emphasized the need for more strikes and better command, especially when facing talented hitters. He believes that getting these young pitchers experience in tough situations, even with the bumps along the way, is crucial for their long-term. Development and the team's future success.