Nats easing Ross into higher-leverage situations

DENVER - The day began with Davey Martinez mentioning he felt like it was time to start putting Joe Ross on the mound for significant situations.

"We're going to have to use him as more than a long man," the Nationals manager said Tuesday afternoon.

So when the bottom of the seventh arrived a few hours later, the Nats clinging to a 4-3 lead over the Rockies, who did Martinez summon from the bullpen but the young right-hander who came up as a starter and only now is trying to learn how to thrive as a reliever?

Ross wouldn't be out there long. He faced only one batter and threw only two pitches. But he retired Colorado's Drew Butera on a grounder to second. And after his bullpen mates finished off the game and a 6-3 victory, Ross could feel like he played a real role in it.

"It feels good to have him confident to use me later in the game," Ross said. "I'd like to get as many appearances as I can. And the guys that are here are working hard, been throwing a lot. So whenever I can step in to help out and do my job, I'm always ready for it."

Look for more of this from Ross. Given the Nationals' late-inning woes setting up closer Sean Doolittle, they've been searching for more reliable arms to pitch the seventh and eighth innings.

The right-hander, who had pitched only twice in 15 days prior to this outing, still needs to prove his surgically repaired arm can hold up to the altered workload. But the Nationals are taking steps to move him in that direction.

Martinez had Ross warm up during the fifth inning of Monday's game, alongside Matt Grace. Though Grace came in to pitch the sixth, Martinez wanted Ross (who would've entered had the Rockies lineup turned over to the point their right-handed batters were up) to experience what it's like to get "hot" without actually pitching, then see how his arm responded the next day.

By all accounts, Ross' arm responded well. Now the club has to see how he feels in the next few days, and how soon he'll be ready to take the mound again.

"(Martinez) has basically told me be honest with him with how I'm feeling," Ross said. "If I need a day, I'll get a day. But I haven't thrown a ton. I'm pretty much ready to throw every day. And by now, usually as a starter, I probably would have four or five starts already. But I'm feeling fresh and ready to go. Whatever innings I can get, I'll take, definitely."

And how is Ross adjusting to life as a reliever? Especially when he's only summoned to throw two pitches?

"It's a little different," he said. "But, I mean, I kind of knew where I was going into the inning. I guess just go in and give it your all for however many pitches it'll take. It's different, but I'm getting used to it a little bit. Can't say I'm fully there yet, but it's going well so far. I feel good."