Solís delivers big outs in first relief opportunity

CINCINNATI - Davey Martinez knows he can't rely exclusively on his three best relievers this season, especially early on when workloads have to more diligently be monitored. Someone else from the eight-man 'pen is going to have to step up and deliver in key situations.

So consider Saturday's performance by Sammy Solís a significant one, not only for the role it played in the Nationals' 13-7 over the Reds but perhaps for the trust it may earn the left-hander in his new manager's eyes moving forward.

"That was phenomenal," Martinez said after Solís escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by striking out Joey Votto and getting Scooter Gennett to ground out. "He got put in a big moment. I thought he could do it. I told him I was proud of him. Told him that's who he is. That was good to see."

The Nationals have long liked Solís as a late-inning weapon, a left-hander who doesn't fit the traditional specialist mold and is capable of getting batters from both sides of the plate out. But injuries have prevented the 29-year-old from establishing any long-term consistency in the big leagues. Healthy so far this spring, he's been able to approach his craft with a new purpose.

"Attacking hitters," he said. "Last year, obviously with what was going on, I was pitching around guys a little bit. And it usually doesn't work out for you when you do that. So just coming at guys with everything I have, every pitch in any count, and keep them guessing."

Solís certainly had Votto guessing Saturday afternoon. Facing one of the best hitters in the sport with the bases loaded in what at that moment was still a four-run game, he got Votto to swing and miss at a fastball right on the outside corner, then froze him with a changeup down the middle. After wasting a fastball up and out of the zone, Solís came back with another high fastball, this time catching the very top of the zone and leaving Votto muttering as he walked back to the dugout.

"That's been a weapon for me, maybe more than any other pitch, a high fastball," the lefty said. "You see it with (Sean) Doolittle all the time. Obviously guys know it's coming and they still can't get on top of it. I would say we utilize it well, but it's not really our go-to."

The Nationals dugout was fired up when Solís finished the inning and left the bases loaded. That can only help the reliever now, realizing he's earning the trust of his manager to be used in those situations.

"I mean, just think about it," Martinez said. "You get one of the best hitters out in the game and do what he did, that should boost his confidence pretty good."