Top of lineup makes it easy for Fedde and bullpen

PITTSBURGH – They got plenty of production from the top of their lineup. They got the five innings they needed from their starter. And by the time they needed to turn to their bullpen, the Nationals held a comfortable enough lead for manager Davey Martinez to bypass a few of his best relievers and save them for another day.

All in all, that spelled a very good night for the Nats, who waltzed to a 7-2 victory over the Pirates on Jackie Robinson Day at PNC Park.

As had been the case in each of their three previous wins, the Nationals got at least five innings from their starter, with Erick Fedde completing five up-and-downs tonight despite an elevated pitch count early. That’s been the clear formula for the team’s success so far in 2022.

Sustained offensive production hasn’t always been a hallmark, but it was on display tonight, particularly from the top four batters in Martinez’s lineup. César Hernández, Juan Soto, Nelson Cruz and Josh Bell went a combined 8-for-16 with three walks and six RBIs, leading the way.

For the fifth time in five days on this road trip, Hernández reached base leading off the top of the first. And for the fourth time, he wound up scoring to give the Nationals a quick lead.

“Don’t try to do too much. Just get on base,” Martinez said. “The home runs will come for him. Right now, he’s staying on the ball with two strikes, hitting the ball the other way. He’s trying to get on base, which is awesome. He’s the guy that for me, I count on him to get on base for Soto and Cruz and Bell. When he can do that, as you can see, things happen.”

Indeed, Cruz drove in three runs, one apiece in each of his first three at-bats, two of them via single and the other via broken-bat grounder to third. The 41-year-old designated hitter also drew a walk to complete his evening.

“If you have that situation, you want to drive them in,” Cruz said. “Try not to do too much, just stay inside the ball and try to find a gap.”

Bell picked up the other three RBIs out of the cleanup spot, twice beating the shift with run-scoring hits through the empty left side of the infield.

The bottom of the order chipped in as well, with Yadiel Hernandez and Lane Thomas turning a pair of doubles into a fifth-inning run.

It wasn’t the prettiest night for Fedde. He labored more than once, needed 36 pitches in the second inning alone and was sitting only 68 total when he walked off the mound at the end of the third. But he found a way to do what was ultimately needed of him, finishing strong and getting the game to the bullpen.

“He’s been here for quite some time. I want him to understand who he is, and what he can do,” Martinez said, revealing some frustration with Fedde’s tendency not to get ahead in the count with his best pitch, his cutter, while pitching with an early lead. “I know it’s part of the process, but he’s got to start getting it. I know he can pitch five or six innings on 80 pitches or so. We’ve got to get him there.”

That bottom of the second could’ve spelled doom for Fedde, who issued two walks and two singles, the last of which by Hoy Park brought home the Pirates’ first two runs. The right-hander recovered, though, and struck out Daniel Vogelbach to strand two more runners on base.

He stranded another runner in scoring position in the third, and that was the start of his strong finish to the evening. Fedde would retire eight of the last nine batters he faced, keeping his pitch count under 100 by the time he closed out the fifth.

“I wish I could say I didn’t, but I for sure was peeking at the pitch count,” he said. “I knew there in the fourth, I need a quick one to get through five and give the bullpen some rest. I was glad I had a quick fourth and then got through the fifth.”

That allowed Martinez to turn to his “A” bullpen, as he’s done in each of his team’s four wins to date. Sean Doolittle got the call a bit earlier than usual, pitching the bottom of the sixth because the Pirates had a couple of lefties due up. Doolittle continued his perfect run to begin the season, retiring the side. He has now faced 12 batters, retiring all 12, five on strikeouts. He’s thrown only 40 pitches, 31 of them strikes.

On all other nights, Martinez would’ve asked some combination of Steve Cishek, Kyle Finnegan and Tanner Rainey to pitch the final three innings and ensure victory. But on this night, with his team having extended its lead to five runs, Martinez felt comfortable giving the ball to members of his “B” bullpen.

And they rewarded him for the show of faith: Austin Voth tossed two perfect innings, then Paolo Espino closed out a nice and tidy win for the visitors.

“These guys were good today,” Martinez said. “And tomorrow we’ve got some fresh arms in case we need them.”