Game Preview: Washington Nationals look to bounce back from a loss last night against the Cardinals

This afternoon September 8, 2022, the Washington Nationals look to bounce back from last night's loss against the St. Louis Cardinals.

by The Nats Report Newsroom

Updated September 08, 2022

St. Louis, MO - This afternoon, the Washington Nationals look to bounce back from last night's loss against the St. Louis Cardinals. After this afternoon's game in St. Louis, the Nationals will travel back to the East coast and face the Philadelphia Phillies for a weekend series.

RHP Josiah Gray starts his second career against St. Louis and his first at Busch Stadium. Gray took the loss when he allowed four runs on five hits at Nationals Park on July 31.

Down on the farm

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High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks: Wilmington Blue Rocks Drop Game Two Against Hudson Valley
Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals: Fredericksburg Nationals withstood a late Salem surge and hang on for a 10-8 win Wednesday at Carilion Clinic Field

Last night...

Entering the ninth inning, the Nationals were up 5-1 against the St. Louis Cardinals; however, Kyle Finnegan gave up a leadoff single, walk, RBI ground-rule double, one-out walk, a two-out RBI single, and walk-off, two-run double.

Tommy Edman ended it in Busch Stadium after a season-high 31 pitches from Finnegan, whose stuff was where it usually is, according to his manager, who left the closer in after five of seven batters reached base. The Cardinals pulled within one at 5-4 before the game-winning hit.

In his post-game press conference, Martinez said of Finnegan’s outing: “He was throwing the ball well .. it’s just you get a guy 0-2 to 4-2, and you start walking guys, I mean, it’s — but it’s been kind of, he walks guys, but he’s our closer, he was throwing the ball well. We were watching him. Nothing was off. In that situation, I’m going to let him go. Just didn’t happen tonight.”