Davey Martinez’s club managed just four hits and two runs off Cincinnati Reds’ starter Tyler Mahle and the three relievers who followed out of the home team’s bullpen on Sunday, in a 9-2 loss in Great American Ball Park.
Martinez said after the Nationals’ third straight loss that Washington’s hitters just struggled to get anything going against Mahle.
“Their guy made some good pitches, he pitched well, in and out, up in the zone. He had a good breaking ball. So he mixed his pitches up well and he kept us off-balance all day.”
The fourth-year skipper was asked if perhaps his relatively young club was fatigued down the stretch of what’s been a tough season for everyone involved.