The Houston Astros fell 8-2 to the Nationals on Wednesday night to drop the series 2-1. Spencer Arrighetti struggled badly, and the offense could not do much against a red-hot Foster Griffin. A tough way to end the series, and a continued cold streak for Arrighetti, who was one of the hottest pitchers earlier this summer.
Arrighetti's Rough Night
Arrighetti lasted just four-plus innings, allowing eight runs, seven hits, and a career-high six walks. The walks were the killer. He kept putting guys on base, and Washington made him pay every time. He falls to 7-5 on the season after one of his worst outings of the year. Arrighetti, who once held the staff together through countless injuries, needs to turn a corner soon.
Washington Did the Damage Early
The Nationals got on the board in the third when James Wood and Luis García Jr. both walked, CJ Abrams hit a sacrifice fly to score Wood, and Daylen Lile followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0.
García then crushed a three-run shot to right-center in the fourth, his 11th homer in just 18 games since June 19, to push it to 5-0.
Abrams led off the fifth with another homer to right-center, his 20th of the season, making it 6-1.
José Tena added an RBI grounder, and Keibert Ruiz capped it with a sac fly against Alimber Santa to make it 8-1. The Nationals outplayed the Astros in every aspect, and we haven't even talked about their pitching yet.
Foster Griffin Was the Story
The Nationals' lefty was simply dominant. Seven innings, one run, five hits, zero walks, nine strikeouts.
This was his seventh straight start, allowing just one run. He is 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA in that stretch.
His 10th win of the season sets the record for most wins by a Nationals rookie since the franchise moved from Montreal in 2005.
The Astros had no answer for him.
The Lone Bright Spot
Brice Matthews had an RBI single in the fifth, one of the few moments Houston put anything together at the plate.
Astros drop to 46-49 and sit 2 games back in the AL West with Seattle leading at 47-46, per ESPN. The All-Star break is approaching, and the Astros need their rotation to stabilize. Hunter Brown gets the ball Friday against Texas as the road trip continues.
