WASHINGTON, D.C. - JUNE 7 - The Washington Nationals were shut out in the second game of this weekend’s three-game set against the Texas Rangers. Another rough first inning from Mitchell Parker combined with a dominant start from veteran righty Jacob deGrom spelled disaster for the Nats.

Parker took the bump with all eyes on his first inning performance, which has been a consistent struggle for him this season. It did not start pretty, as Sam Haggerty and Josh Jung singled before a Marcus Semien line drive prompted an error, putting the Nats in an early 2-0 hole (though only one run was earned). While Parker was able to settle down and get out of the inning, the morale felt dead in the ballpark, as everyone knew that the lineup had to deal with a two-time Cy Young winner in deGrom to get back in the game. Parker kept the run count at two for the rest of his start, but the damage was already done. He departed after 6.0 innings, allowing the one earned run on four hits, with no walks, and five strikeouts. While it was a relatively calm first inning and a quality start for Parker, it reignited the debate about whether or not he needs an opener. Parker boasts a 3.05 ERA in the second inning and beyond, but he still has a 10.38 ERA in the first frame to date.

Cole Henry relieved Parker and worked into trouble, walking three, but was bailed out by Andrew Chafin with no damage. Henry has thrown 15.1 straight scoreless innings, and holds a 2.01 ERA this season. Eduardo Salazar then came in and surrendered three off of some loud contact from the Rangers stars, such as Haggerty, Wyatt Langford, and Adolis Garcia. Zach Brzykcy pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing just one walk, but the damage was done.

Offensively, the lineup had nothing going their way today. deGrom went 7.0 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out eight. Nathaniel Lowe got the first hit in the bottom of the second, singling to Haggerty. Luis Garcia Jr. did the same in the fourth, but that was all the boys got off of the veteran, who now has 10 career wins against the Nats. Robert Hassell III hit one up the middle off of reliever Luke Jackson, but was stranded. Those three hits were all the team mustered en route to the shutout loss.

Up next…

The Nats will host the Rangers in a rubber match tomorrow as Jacob Latz faces Trevor Williams. The lineup will look to bounce back before the team heads up to Queens to face the Mets for three games. After that, they will have a seven-game homestand, hosting the Marlins next weekend, and the Rockies after that for four games.