Battered and bruised heading into a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals had an uphill task to even record a split with the defending World Series champions.
It ended with a deflating sweep to Dave Roberts’ men where Alex Avila made an emergency start at second base; Humberto Arteaga was called up from Triple-A, started at shortstop, and designated for assignment in the space of two days; and a player that was acquired for cash considerations midway through the series in Alcides Escobar hit sixth in the finale.
If the Nationals are to take any consolation from this series, it’s that they were able to hang with the Dodgers early on in games.