Velocity drop for Ross not big concern following rough start

Bookend pitching difficulties doomed the Nats on Saturday night.

Starter Joe Ross struggled early and the bullpen could not slow the Reds in extra innings. Cincinnati dropped the Nationals 9-4 in 10 innings to end their winning streak at six games.

The concern after the game was the velocity drop for Ross on his fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, his sinker averages around 93.4 mph. In this game, it was averaging only 91.8 mph.

Manager Dusty Baker did not think this meant that Ross was hurt.

"No, not right now," Baker said. "We're looking into some things. We were limiting his innings if you haven't noticed. We usually take him out in the sixth and seventh inning even though he would cry for some more. We were trying to limit his workload."

Ross didn't use fatigue as a possible excuse either.

"I was feeling good," Ross said. "(Throwing) 90-94, 95 mph the first two innings, it kinda dropped I was missing a lot of spots and I just thought locate, that's kind of what i was focused on, get more ground balls. And then 91-92 mph fifth or sixth inning, whatever that was, I mean I felt good it's just my stuff just wasn't there, command wasn't really there, little frustrating but I feel all right."

The Reds put together eight hits and scored four runs off of Ross in the first three innings. Last week, he allowed 10 hits in six innings against the Mets. New York scored four runs in the first three frames. Saturday, the Reds tallied four quick runs in their first two opportunities to jump out on top.

"It's been leadoff hits to start the game the past couple games," Ross said. "Then it's like next thing you know, in the stretch, runner on first, runner on second, already trying to work your way out of a jam. It's kind of a tough spot, tough way to start a game really. I feel like if I can at least get that first guy out and then kind of keep it going that first inning probably be better."

But what about the velocity drop? From 93.4 mph to a 91.8 mph can really help the hitters, Ross said.

"It can be tough just because that few miles an hour can kind of get them to commit early on the fastball, makes your off-speed, slider, changeup that much better," Ross said. "When you don't have that much velocity separation between pitches, then it makes it easy for them to sit back and not have to guess on one spot for the location of the pitch so it kind of just makes it easier overall for the hitter."

But Ross's stuff was way too easy to connect with as the Reds piled up six hits in the first two innings. Ross said allowing the Reds to tee off on belt-high pitches was not in the game plan. He usually gets better sink on his sinker, and instead the ball was up.

"Usually, command is like one of my things," Ross said. "I feel like I can locate the fastball slider whatever and it just hasn't been that way the past couple games. So that being like my kind of cornerstone, not having that there is tough but just been working on it, hoping I can get it back soon and kind of get my self rolling again."

It was also a rare off night for Sammy Solis. The left-hander allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits, as Cincinnati rallied for five runs to put the game away in the 10th inning.

"I was just leaving the ball up in the zone," Solis said. "I didn't mix it up enough, I think. They just came out on top. A couple of those could have come out my way. But when you fall behind hitters, especially in the big league, they tend to get hits. That's kind of what the deal was tonight."

Was pitching two nights in a row one reason for his inability to locate?

"I would say it was not a contributing factor tonight," Solis said. "I was ready to go. Maybe a little too amped up. A little quick with my delivery and leaving balls up in the zone. That's just kind of how it goes."