Nats' troubling five-game losing streak is reason for concern

MIAMI - Just three weeks ago, the Nationals were the betting man's pick to win the World Series. That seems laughable after today's 6-2 loss completed a series sweep by the Marlins and extended the Nats' losing streak to five games, their worst since July 2013.

"I'm not worried," right fielder Bryce Harper said. "Do I look worried?"

What else is Harper supposed to say? He can't back down yet from his brash preseason "Where's my ring?" declaration. At least the 22-year-old got the Nats offense going with a solo home run in the second today.

That lead was short-lived as the latest bungled play caused the fourth inning to completely unravel. With two outs and Marlins star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton at second base, left fielder Ichiro Suzuki hit a slow grounder to Nats second baseman Danny Espinosa. Espinosa's throw to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was too late to get the speedy Suzuki, and Stanton rounded third and broke for home. Zimmerman fired to catcher Wilson Ramos, who chased Stanton back up the line but never threw the ball to third baseman Yunel Escobar. The 6-foot-6 Stanton leaped safely for the bag as Ramos was left confused with the ball still in his mitt.

After the game, Nats manager Matt Williams was perplexed and frustrated about Ramos' costly mistake.

"We run it every other day," Williams said. "I just don't know why he didn't give the ball up. Yunel was there. I'll have to ask him about that."

The Marlins jumped on the opportunity, as shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria cleared the bases with a three-run triple off starter Gio Gonzalez. The Nationals wouldn't recover from the 3-1 hole.

Gonzalez went on to give up two more triples as the Marlins piled up 10 hits en route to scoring six times in five innings on the left-hander. Gonzalez wasn't interested in passing blame around when asked if the missed opportunity in the fourth inning bothered him.

"No," Gonzalez said. "What affected me was falling behind on hitters, up in the plate. I wasn't attacking the strike zone as much. Realistically, it happens in baseball. As a starting pitcher, you have to go out there and minimize the damage and it's obvious I didn't do that."

"I have to make a better pitch to Hechavarria. Even knowing the situation, as a starting pitcher, you have to make the adjustments. Again, that's all me. That was all my mistake. I left a pitch up, out over the plate, and he executed a pitch the way you're supposed to do."

Beyond all of that, the real story seems to be the Nats' impotent offense. Washington managed just two runs and four hits against starter Dan Haren and a host of reliever. And in being swept, they plated only four with 17 base knocks.

"I don't think it's a matter of getting better," left fielder Jayson Werth said. "I think it's just playing better. Things aren't really bouncing our way. And it seems like every time we make a mistake, it turns into something that costs us. It doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to keep going like that.

"At some point, we'll be all right. But right now, it's just the way it's going. It's unfortunate, and I'm sure it doesn't look good, but I feel good about us. I think we're a good club. I know we're a good club. We're just not winning the games right now."

Williams lost most of his hair early in his playing days, but if he had any left, he would certainly be pulling it out with some of the boneheaded mistakes which have led to losses for his ultra-talented ball club.

"Ultimately, it comes down to execution, whether it's getting a guy in from third or driving in a run or the rundown today, or not giving the other team extra opportunities," Williams said. "That's essentially our season so far in a nutshell."

"Times like this test your mettle. But how do we come out of it is the question? We'll continue to work very, very hard on it."

Werth, the veteran clubhouse leader, isn't panicking yet despite currently sitting in the cellar of the National League East on his way to Atlanta as the road trip continues.

"We'll be fine," Werth said. "We'll hop on the bird here, tell a few stories, get back to neutral and be ready to go tomorrow."