By answering the call, Grace making Baker take note

CINCINNATI - It took Matt Grace one pitch to escape a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night. But the 90 mph sinker he got Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart to ground to second base for the game's final out was more than just a shining example of pitch efficiency of a pitcher whose stock continues to rise.

When Stephen Drew dove to his left to smother the grounder, throwing to first base for the 27th out the Nationals needed to secure a 5-0 win, Grace got his first career save. He also became the eighth different pitcher to record a save for the Nationals this year, a statistic that says more about how the back end of the bullpen has struggled than it does Grace's breakthrough campaign.

Remember spring training, when Shawn Kelley, Koda Glover and Blake Treinen were competing to see who would close for the Nationals? Unable to sign a big-name free agent in the winter, unable to trade for an established ninth-inning arm, the Nationals turned the job over to Treinen, the first of a parade of de facto closers who have failed to hold on to the role due to inconsistency or injury.

That's not to say that Grace is now the guy. But every time he comes through - Friday was his 14th scoreless appearance in 19 outings this season spaced around five recalls from Triple-A Syracuse and four demotions to the Chiefs - he gives manager Dusty Baker another reason to call his name.

General manager Mike Rizzo will continue to make bullpen arms a priority as the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline approaches. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Nationals land a pair of relievers - one to pitch the ninth inning and another to set up the closer in the seventh or eighth.

But however Baker configures his bullpen, this much seems a sure bet: Grace, a 28-year-old lefty whose fastball/slider combination results in a groundball rate approaching 60 percent, seems to have cemented a place in the relief corps.

"He's gotten outs and he gets ground balls," Baker said after Friday's victory. "He's a guy that was that option guy that you send up and down, up and down, because he has options. But he pitches his way on this ballclub and this is what you want guys to do. You want guys to earn it. And he certainly has earned it."

Grace's numbers - a 3.86 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP across 18 2/3 innings - don't seem particularly haughty. He only strikes out 4.82 hitters per nine innings and has issued nine walks. But he's also proof numbers can be a little deceiving, because Grace has surrendered only one homer and one poor outing has skewed his stats. He was tagged for three runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs on June 26; take away that outing and his ERA plummets to 2.50, a much more palatable number.

For his part, Grace seems pleased that he's earned Baker's trust.

"For some guys, that's a necessity," he said. "In my situation, I needed to do that. You always have to prove yourself in this game. So ... I've done that to some degree."

Friday night was another example. When Matt Albers got only one out and loaded the bases on three singles after Gio Gonzalez departed with 8 1/3 innings of four-hit ball, Baker didn't go with a matchup to face the switch-hitting Barnhart. He went with the guy who's been doing the job, banking on the trend continuing.

Grace knew exacty what he had to do, following catcher Matt Wieters' lead.

"Keep it down, try to attack early and hopefully (make him) do exactly what he did in that situation," he said.

It didn't take long, and as Drew's throw nestled into first baseman Ryan Zimmerman's mitt, the Nationals had a victory to start the second half and a 10-game road trip.

"One pitch, get it done," Grace said when asked about his efficiency.

One pitch, but one more opportunity seized and one step closer to a more permanent role.