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If you don't hit, you rarely score, and you mostly lose.
Since the current six-game reversal began, the Nationals have gone 35-for-188, a .186 batting average.
Not real productive, but you knew that already.
It's easy to sit back and look for someone to blame, but hitting doesn't work that way. The Nationals have run into some outstanding efforts by opposing starting pitchers - Derek Lowe was as good as I've ever seen him last night - and even some decent outings by Washington starters have gone for naught. When your offense only scores you 10 runs in six games, it's hard to not take the mound feeling like you'll get an L if you give up anything.
What impact does a starting pitcher have on the number of runs his team scores for him? In the NL, it's a rather minuscule effect; in the AL, it's zero, since the pitcher doesn't bat. It's why pitcher's with lousy W-L records but good peripherals need a lot more recognition.
By the way, last night's Yankees-Rays matchup must've been fun to watch - CC Sabathia and David Price both go 8 scoreless, allowing only 5 hits between them. Good pitching can shut down good hitting, no question about it.
Livan Hernandez has four more starts this year, counting tonight in Atlanta. I think we all thought he'd already have that 10th win by now, but it's been elusive. The Nats went 9-9 in their final 18 games a year ago. Playing up to that standard now would be welcome as we head toward season's end.
