Nats fall to Cubs 7-1 (June 5) as Irvin struggles & Happ shines (4 RBI). Washington looks to rebound vs. ex-Nat Patrick Corbin & Rangers on June 6.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, Nats fans, Thursday night wasn't our night. A tough 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs wrapped up that series on a sour note, with the bats going quiet when we needed them most. Jake Irvin battled but ultimately took the L, and the offense just couldn't string enough together. But as the calendar flips to Friday, June 6th, there's a big storyline brewing at Nationals Park: the return of Patrick Corbin, this time in a Texas Rangers uniform. It's a chance to turn the page quickly and hopefully get the offense firing again.
The Nats' offense was limited to six hits, and they left the bases loaded in the seventh after CJ Abrams struck out looking.
The series finale against the Cubs was a frustrating one, ending in a 7-1 defeat. Jake Irvin (now 5-2) gave up three runs over his five innings of work, starting with a two-run shot by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first. Ian Happ was a thorn in our side all night, collecting three hits, including another two-run homer in the sixth, and driving in four runs to reach his 500th career RBI – congrats to him, even if it was against us. Our lone run came late, a Luis García Jr. single in the ninth, which was far too little, too late. The bats were mostly silent, managing only six hits, and a bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh fizzled out with a CJ Abrams strikeout. The Cubs' bullpen, meanwhile, continued its impressive run, shutting us down.
Tonight, the focus shifts as we welcome the Texas Rangers for a three-game set. And who's taking the mound for them? None other than Patrick Corbin (3-4, 3.71 ERA). It's going to be a bit surreal seeing Patty Cakes, the last remaining member of our glorious 2019 World Series team, pitching *against* us at Nats Park. You can bet he'll get a warm reception from the fans who remember his contributions. On our side, Michael Soroka (2-3, 5.81 ERA) gets the ball, and he'll be looking to get us started on the right foot. This is a perfect opportunity to bounce back and show some offensive firepower against a familiar face.
While the big league club looks to rebound, there's positive buzz around the farm system's pitching development. Farm director Eddie Longosz recently emphasized the organization's focus on preparation and individualized routines for our young arms. Guys like Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana are earning praise for their work ethic. Even Alex Clemmey, who came over in the Lane Thomas trade, is showing exciting strikeout stuff, though he's still refining his command. It's encouraging to hear about the dedicated approach to building a strong pitching pipeline for the future.
With a tough loss behind them and a poignant reunion ahead, the Nats have a chance to reset and make a statement this weekend against the Rangers. Let's hope the bats wake up and give Corbin a 'welcome back' he won't soon forget – for the right reasons! All eyes will be on Soroka tonight as he tries to set the tone for a much-needed series win.
