Mar 15, 2019; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) throws the ball against the New York Mets during a spring training game at First Data Field. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals will face a pitcher they have owned (figuratively) when they look for a second consecutive victory to conclude a three-game road set against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Washington will trot out a starter whose contract literally was owned by the Phillies for 1 1/2 seasons.
Phillies starter Nick Pivetta is 1-4 with a 9.93 ERA in seven career games (six starts) vs. Washington. Last year, he was 1-3 with an 11.77 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against the Nationals.
Despite a strong array of pitches, Pivetta (1-0, 6.52 ERA) has surrendered 17 hits and eight runs in 9 2/3 innings this season. He took a no-decision against the Atlanta Braves on March 30, then beat the Minnesota Twins 10-4 on April 5, when he gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings.
The Nationals will turn to Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 9.00 ERA). It will be the first start of the season for the 32-year-old right-hander, who allowed two runs in two innings in one game out of the bullpen this season, April 2 against the Phillies.
Hellickson was Philadelphia’s Opening Day starter in 2016 and ’17. In three career appearances (two starts) against Philadelphia, he is 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA.
The Nationals will hope to ride some momentum from their big Tuesday comeback. Washington trailed by five runs before scoring nine unanswered runs for a stunning 10-6 win in 10 innings.
Victor Robles homered off Edubray Ramos in the ninth, and Juan Soto slammed a towering three-run shot in the 10th off Jose Alvarez.
Ramos hadn’t pitched in six days and looked sharp until leaving a 2-2 pitch out over the middle of the plate to Robles, the No. 9 hitter.
“Right now, I like what he’s doing,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Robles, who went 3-for-5. “He’s done really well. I want him to just play the game. He’s playing really, really good. We’re OK.”
Soto’s shot went to a video review, but it looked fair from all angles.
“They try to throw me everything away, away, away,” Soto told reporters. “And wait for my pitch, wait for the miss, they’re going to miss one time. If they miss it, they pay.”
Yan Gomes and Howie Kendrick also homered for the Nationals while Anthony Rendon had two hits and two RBIs. Gomes added two hits, and Washington earned some surprising momentum after the bullpen pitched six scoreless innings.
Entering Tuesday’s game, the Nationals’ bullpen had a 10.17 ERA, the worst mark in the major leagues.
The Phillies’ bullpen, meanwhile, melted down, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Ramos was one strike away from earning his second career save before Robles went deep.
“He looked pretty effective up to that very last pitch,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Ramos.
Despite the frustrating loss, Kapler was adamant that the team is headed in the right direction even with the bullpen struggles.
“I think we executed our game plan,” Kapler said. “Would we have liked to have a full bullpen? Absolutely.”
Washington and Philadelphia have split their first four meetings this season, so the Wednesday winner will take the early-season, head-to-head edge.
