The off day proved to be empty for the Washington Nationals after being blanked in game one by the New York Mets on Tuesday night in an 8-0 loss.
The Nationals mustered just three hits in the loss while Zack Littell struggled in a short outing. Washington's first hit would not materialize until Drew Millas singled into right field in the second at bat of the third inning. After giving up a solo shot in the first inning, Littell went on to allow four earned runs and five hits while tossing just one strikeout and three walks across 3.2 innings. With the loss, he falls to 0-4 with a 7.85 ERA while allowing an MLB leading 13 home runs across 28 2/3 innings pitched.
Littell's home run allowed, meanwhile, came against the first batter faced after Bo Bichette sent a 386 home run over the right fight wall.
Drew Millas with the catch of the year‼️#Natitude pic.twitter.com/ldnhCgWMyJ
The Nationals, meanwhile, posed nearly no threat all night after getting just one batter to reach second base through four innings. Jorbit Vivas was the lone National to not strikeout in the loss while James Wood, Daylen Lile and Jacob Young all recorded two strikeouts each.
That mattered because the dagger materialized for the Nationals in the fourth inning to officially put the game to bed.
After Littell allowed the second batter to reach base on a single to center, consecutive walks would load the bases before a fielding error by Jorbit Vivas on a grounder led to a pair of runs, making it a 3-0 deficit. The next at bat, a two RBI single into center extended the deficit. A second consecutive single put runners on the corners before a sac fly extended the deficit to 6-0. Former National Juan Soto would deliver the final blow after belting a two run, 381 foot home run over the left field wall for the game's final runs.
Zack Littell in his last 3 starts:3.2 IP 8 R5 H1 K2 HR3 BB6 IP8 R7 H1 K4 HR2 BB4 IP8 R11 H4 K2 HR1 BBPaul Toboni got his whale.#Natitude
Soto's home run would also mark the end of Littell's night after manager Blake Butera turned to Brad Lord to close out the inning.
Washington would register just one walk and one hit the rest of the way, including three consecutive strikeouts to end the humbling road loss.
Now falling to 13-17 on the season and 10-7 on the road, the Nationals will look to even the series on Wednesday with first pitch set for 7:10 PM again and Cade Cavalli set to take the mound.