Patrick Corbin, Nationals go for sweep of Orioles
Patrick Corbin Nationals Go for Sweep of Orioles. Josh Harrison has emerged as a jack-of-all-trades for the Washington Nationals, who look for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Harrison belted his first career grand slam and made his first major league start in center field in Saturday’s 12-9 victory.
“He’s a guy I know I can put him anywhere, and he works at it,” manager Dave Martinez said. “I’m very comfortable with him out there.”
The versatile 33-year-old started in place of Victor Robles, who has missed the past three games with a sprained right ankle.
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Robles will be re-evaluated prior to the series finale against Baltimore, which has lost five straight games and 12 of 14.
Despite erupting for nine runs and 12 hits Saturday, including a five-run first inning, the Orioles failed to keep pace with the Nationals.
Ryan Mountcastle went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, and right fielder Anthony Santander went 3-for-4 with a walk and home run in his second game back since returning from the injured list after a sprained left ankle.
The Orioles will look to Matt Harvey (3-4, 5.93 ERA) for a reversal of fortunes. Harvey turned in the second-shortest start of his career on Tuesday against Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Missed u, @roller_mvp pic.twitter.com/IKz6oBhQ1Q
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 22, 2021
“I didn’t really feel comfortable from the beginning,” Harvey said. “I got into some old habits mechanically and gave up some soft hits. I have some work to do mechanically and kind of go back to square one and really figure this out so this doesn’t happen again.”
The 32-year-old right-hander is 3-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against Washington, including 1-4 with a 4.91 mark in eight outings at Nationals Park.
Harrison is 6-for-14 against Harvey, who has limited Trea Turner to a pair of hits in 11 at-bats.
Baltimore has dropped a season-high 11 games under .500 at 17-28 and needs more production from its pitching staff. Manager Brandon Hyde could use a lengthy outing from Harvey, who has completed six innings only once in nine starts this season.
Aloha, Mr. Hand.
✋✋✋✋✋✋@bhand22 // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/TLDcCHFrxH
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 22, 2021
The Orioles have allowed five runs or more in eight of their last nine games, allowing 74 total runs over that stretch.
Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (2-3, 6.10) received a no-decision on Tuesday when he gave up three runs on eight hits over five innings against the Chicago Cubs.
The 31-year-old left-hander is 2-1 with a 3.34 ERA in last six starts after giving up a combined 16 runs (15 earned) in his first two outings covering 6 1/3 innings.
Maikel Franco is 2-for-11 with a home run against Corbin, who is 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four career games (three starts) versus Baltimore.
Franco snapped an 0-for-19 skid with two hits on Saturday. Center fielder Cedric Mullins added a pair of singles from the leadoff spot after going 12-for-57 over his previous 15 games.
Baltimore’s first baseman Trey Mancini went hitless in four at-bats, ending his hitting streak at eight games.
–Field Level Media
