Nationals finally winning games via standout defense

It would not be accurate to refer to the Nationals as a "good defensive team." They still rank close to the bottom of the majors in every defensive metric, both traditional and new-age.

But it would be accurate to say the Nationals are playing much better defense right now than they did through the season's first two months. Back then, it felt like they failed to make one or two plays every night that directly contributed to a loss.

Right now, it feels like they're making one or two plays most days that directly contribute to a win.

"I think guys are settling in," catcher Kurt Suzuki said. "I think the effort level has always been there, but now it's just a matter of going out there and playing. Nobody is trying too hard, kind of letting the game come to them and kind of playing baseball like we know we can."

That's a common refrain throughout the Nationals clubhouse. When they were botching plays in the field left and right, most felt like it was a reflection of too much effort, of players trying to save the season with one big play.

This is a more relaxed group now, and it shows in their clean performance.

"You know what I think really happened? Guys tend to try a little harder (when things aren't going well)," manager Davey Martinez said. "And they do it for their teammates: 'I'm going to pick him up. I'm going to do this, do a little bit more of that.'

"Just be you. Just play the game. That's one thing I think they're doing right now. They're playing the game."

The last two days perhaps represented a high point for the Nationals' glovework. In sweeping the Phillies, they made a host of impressive plays, including three inning-ending throws to retire runners trying to advance to third base or home plate.

It happened twice during Thursday night's 7-4 win. Trea Turner dove to knock down a two-out grounder up the middle in the top of the second, and though he couldn't retire the batter he was able to hop back to his feet, reset himself and made a strong throw to the plate to nail Scott Kingery trying to score all the way from second.

"A lot of times it's just a matter of getting rid of it," Turner said. "When I look up and I see where (Kingery's) at, he's maybe a step past third. So I've got a lot of time to just make an accurate throw. ... Once you got that footing, you've got a lot of time to make that routine throw to (Suzuki). And whether you want to one-hop it or throw it in the air, you just want to get it there and let him put the tag on."

Suzuki put a good tag on Kingery in the top of the second, and he put a good tag on Bryce Harper in the top of the fourth. That big out came after Jay Bruce sent an RBI single to right, trimming the Nationals' lead to 3-2. Harper attempted to tie the game by scoring from second, but Adam Eaton made perhaps his strongest throw of the season and Suzuki applied the tag and held on through Harper's hard slide.

"It's awesome," Suzuki said. "I think as a catcher, you have a duty obviously with the pitchers and whatnot, but at the same time preventing runs from crossing home plate is the name of the game. With a play like that, it's really important to make sure you get yourself an out, and there were two great defensive plays by Eaton and Trea. They put those throws right on the money."

Turner made another standout play when he dove to snag César Hernández's fifth-inning grounder up the middle, then flipped the ball to Howie Kendrick, who turned a sharp 6-4-3 double play.

It was the latest in a growing string of standout defensive plays by a team that made so many defensive mistakes during its ragged start to the season.

There's a long way yet to go, and the Nationals can't consider themselves an above-average defensive club at this point. But they're finally trending in the right direction. And there's no doubt they're now winning games as a direct result of their play in the field.

"We don't make those plays, things get crazy," Martinez said. "That's part of playing good, winning baseball."