Martinez preaching "less-is-more" approach (Nats lose 4-3)

When things aren't going well, Davey Martinez is a big believer in the "less-is-more" approach. He's a big believer in it, in part, because he saw it work firsthand last year in Chicago.

The Cubs, you may have forgotten, entered the 2017 All-Star break two games under .500 and 5 1/2 games back in the National League Central.

At some point that summer, manager Joe Maddon (with input from Martinez, his bench coach) decided to cancel batting practice and have his struggling players just show up and prepare to play that night's game. What ended up happening? The Cubs went 49-35 after the All-Star break, won their division by 5 1/2 games and reached the National League Championship Series after defeating the Nationals.

"I honestly think we thought of rest being important," Martinez recalled today. "And that's what we did. I can remember going through a stretch where we closed the cages, we did everything. And we just told the guys to stay away from the ballpark. Show up a little later. Just relax. Let's come back and have some fun. And it seemed to work."

Martinez sees similarities between the dilemma the Cubs faced last summer and the one the Nationals currently face. And so he is trying to preach a "less-is-more" attitude to his new team, especially the members of its struggling lineup.

"I really think at this point, when we've got a guy in scoring position or we're trying to get something going, they all start pressing," he said. "Hey, sometimes less is more. Go out there and just be who you are, and things will work out. I don't want you to try any harder. Try less, really. They're all good. They're all good hitters. This thing will turn around. We've had our opportunities to score runs, and I just sometimes feel like they think they have to be the guy. Just do what you typically do, normally do. And if you get walked, you get walked. The next guy comes up and he does what he can do. That's all I ask from them."

Update: The Nationals are trailing the Red Sox, 3-1, after four innings tonight, quite possibly because they've once again been trying to do too much. Tops on that list is Max Scherzer, who was all over the place early, hitting two batters and issuing a walk and a wild pitch. And after intentionaly walking Jackie Bradley Jr. to load the bases with two outs for Rick Porcello, Scherzer promptly got ahead 0-2 on his former Tigers teammate with two sliders before trying to overpower him with a fastball. That fastball, though, was over the plate, and Porcello drilled a double to left-center to clear the bases. The Nats have strugged to get going against Porcello, and Daniel Murphy didn't help matters when he made a poor decision and tried to go first to third on Wilmer Difo's second-inning single to right. Murphy, still laboring to run on his surgically repaired knee, was thrown out easily as the crowd buzzed with disapproval. The only good news so far: Anthony Rendon led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run, getting the Nats on the board.

Update II: It's been slow going for Murphy in his quest to rediscover his pre-surgery swing, but he just finally showed something in the bottom of the sixth. He hit his first homer of the season, a shot to right-center off Porcello. That cut the deficit to 3-2, which is where it remains as Martinez turns to his bullpen. Scherzer is done after six innings of three-run ball on 108 pitches. Brandon Kintzler is first man up.

Update III: And Kintzler immediately was greeted by Mookie Betts, who launched a leadoff homer to left-center in the top of the seventh. Boston is back up 4-2, and the Nats pitching staff continues to struggle to deliver "shutdown" innings.

Update IV: The Nats are having no trouble hitting solo homers tonight. Bryce Harper just became the third member of their lineup do that, launching a ball way deep into the second deck in right field. But they can't deliver any run-scoring hits with guys on base, and that is why they still trail 4-3 heading to the ninth.

Update V: And that's your ballgame. Nats lose 4-3, their fifth straight loss by one run, their 16th one-run loss of the season (against eight wins).