Nats go quietly in finale, now face deadline decision (updated)

MIAMI - It's tough to imagine that the outcome of one game on July 29 in front of a crowd of 12,112 at Marlins Park that was more interested in the Talking Pitbull Bobblehead Giveaway than the actual ballgame being played would be the sole determinant whether the Nationals front office decides to be a buyer or a seller before Tuesday's trade deadline.

Club executives have watched the Nats play 105 games now in 2018, and the total sum of those four months should leave them with a better feel for this team's chances than one Sunday matinee in a lifeless domed stadium.

But if Nationals players wanted to leave a good taste in decision-makers' mouths entering the final 48-hour period before 4 p.m. Tuesday, they sure failed their mission this afternoon during a 5-0 loss to Miami to wrap up a series that served as a microcosm of the season to date.

"They have a job to do, and we have a job to do," outfielder Adam Eaton said of the club's front office. "I hate to put it in their hands. If we do our job and come out and play, we put it in our own hands."

The Nats came to town in a tough spot, having just re-placed Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list and knowing they'd be without Anthony Rendon for several days following the birth of the third baseman's first child. Then they put together back-to-back blowout wins over a clearly inferior opponent, raising hopes.

Then they lost Saturday night's game in agonizing fashion. And then they lost today's finale while barely putting up a fight, digging themselves into an early hole and getting held to two hits by José Ureña and the Marlins bullpen.

"I think yesterday's game was frustrating. Today's game was just flat," manager Davey Martinez said. "We came out, we had a few runners on base the first couple innings and couldn't do anything. Our offense didn't do anything today. Just our offense was not there today."

That the Nationals would come out flat today, fully aware what's at stake right now, was a source of legitimate displeasure for their rookie skipper.

"I'm not happy about it," Martinez said. "Of course. Like I said, we're playing for something. And they get it. It's just one of those days. For whatever reason, we come out and couldn't swing the bats today."

The end result after all that? The Nationals are back under .500 once again. They'll head into Monday's off-day at 52-53, though after the Phillies lost their third straight to the Reds they remain six games back in the National League East with 57 to play.

So where does that leave general manager Mike Rizzo, his staff and his bosses, who all spent the weekend in the offices on South Capitol Street considering their options? They've now got 48 hours to decide whether to buy, sell or stand pat.

"Not by any means are we giving up," Martinez said. "I know we're not down here. I know they're not up there. I know Rizzo is not that guy. I know the front office ain't those people. So we've got to keep pushing. But we've got to do it here. Regardless of what happens after this deadline, we've got to play baseball, consistently every day."

Today's game certainly revealed some of the deficiencies that have left the Nationals in this predicament.

Jeremy Hellickson lasted only 4 2/3 innings, throwing strikes and not surrendering much hard contact but also not putting away hitters when he had the chance. The Marlins scored all five of their runs off Hellickson with two outs, delivering four clutch hits.

"It's kind of the story of the last few games: All my runs come with two outs, and a few times with the pitcher up and two outs," Hellickson said. "Nobody in, and I can't make a pitch. Just got to bear down with two outs and get that last guy. It's happened too many games in a row now."

The Nationals defense didn't supply a lot of help to its starter. One of Miami's runs scored when Bryce Harper couldn't quite track down Martín Prado's deep drive to center field in the third. Another scored when Daniel Murphy misplayed a grounder to second base with two outs in the fifth, opening the floodgates for a three-run inning.

"We're down 3-0, I get a ground ball to end the inning, I misplay it and three turns into five," Murphy said. "And it shouldn't happen."

The Nationals lineup? Well, it was nonexistent. Harper legged out an infield single in the top of the first, which proved huge because it was the team's only hit in six innings against Ureña. The Marlins starter did issue four walks and plunked another batter, but the Nats couldn't convert and stranded runners in scoring position in both the second and third innings.

Down five runs midway through this one, the Nationals went through the motions and finished out the game with little resistance.

The only question now: Is that how they'll approach the remainder of the season?

"We need a sense of urgency," Eaton said. "It's gotta be now. Every single series from here on out should be a playoff series where we've got to win it. We've got to win every series. It's gotta happen now. It can't happen next week. It can't happen the week after. It's got to happen now."