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In the last three games, the Nationals have fashioned a scoreless streak of 16 innings against such luminaries as Joe Beimel (who I happen to like as a pitcher, but bear with me), Jonathon Niese, Jason Isringhausen, Francisco Rodriguez (All-Star closer, but again, follow the line of thinking) and Dillion Gee. They currently don't have one hit against Gee in six innings, and are losing 1-0 to the Mets.
These aren't exactly the mid-1990s Atlanta Braves they're facing, folks.
It's one thing for the Nationals to be getting shut out by great pitchers, but that isn't happening right now. They're losing to ordinary pitchers, and getting shut out by those pitchers. This is the second time in a week they've been no-hit into at least the sixth inning of a game, and they're looking at their fourth shutout in 10 games.
Livan Hernandez has been solid through five innings, only allowing a run on five hits and striking out Josh Thole with a nasty sinker that broke back over the plate after starting inside, but he continues to get shortchanged in run support; the last time the Nationals scored a run with him on the mound was May 3, and it was their only run that night against Philadelphia's Vance Worley.
Obviously, something has to change, but I don't see much the Nationals can do other than break out of it. Any ideas?
I have a feeling I know what you're going to say.
Hernandez singled up the middle with two down in the sixth to break up Gee's no-hit bid.
