WASHINGTON — Nationals Manager Matt Williams emerged from the home dugout in the eighth inning Wednesday and headed to the mound for a routine pitching change, hanging his head as if to shield himself from a chorus of boos.
Williams has become the scapegoat for how the Nationals have underachieved all season and fallen well behind the Mets in the National League East. The fans have especially blamed him for these situations, when he uses his bullpen.
Williams was coming out to retrieve Stephen Strasburg, his starter. Strasburg pitched a gem, piling up 13 strikeouts and holding the Mets to two runs in seven and a third innings, on only 103 pitches.