The praise for 27-year-old reliever Tanner Rainey was effusive after the right-hander worked 1 2⁄3 scoreless innings in the Washington Nationals’ 2-1 win on Tuesday night in Citi Field.
It came from his manager, three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, who knows a thing or two about pitching, and from shortstop Trea Turner, who said Rainey has been proving that he’s ready for more late-inning assignments.
Rainey entered the game against the New York Mets in the bottom of the seventh with two on and one out and the Nationals ahead, 2-1, and dialed up an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play, then returned to the mound in the eighth and retired the side in order, with two Ks in what was a 10-pitch frame.