Williams discusses Nats' 3-1 loss
By Dan Kolko
PHOENIX - Stephen Strasburg pitched pretty well tonight, allowing three runs over seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
Bronson Arroyo was better, however, throwing his 16th career complete game, allowing just one run, walking one and striking out seven.
The Nationals had a few chances against Arroyo, but outside of Ian Desmond's RBI triple in the second inning, they weren't able to push anything across.
The D-backs tied it up in the fourth on Miguel Montero's RBI single and then took the lead an inning later on Paul Goldschmidt's two-run double.
Manager Matt Williams discussed the Nats' loss after the game.
On Strasburg's fourth and fifth innings of work: "Paul Goldschmidt gets paid to do what he did. Just a hanging curveball that (Strasburg) left up in the zone. And that happens. He's a good hitter."
On Strasburg's outing overall: "It was all right. That particular inning, he gave up a hit to the pitcher, which kind of led to it. But overall, I thought he pitched fine. Bronson was better tonight, though. All over the zone with all the pitches that he had. Kept everybody off-balance."
On the Nats failing to capitalize with runners in scoring position: "Yeah, well, you want to take advantage of those opportunities. Didn't happen for us tonight. Something to be said for the guy on the mound for the opposing team. He knows what to do to get out of innings. Pitched well."
On how tough it is when Arroyo is able to throw strikes from so many arm angles: "It's hard. It's hard when you're predominantly right-handed, too. He can throw all of his pitches for strikes. Multiple arm angles. It's difficult. He doesn't throw especially hard, but commands the zone with all of his pitches. It was difficult tonight."
On opting to have Strasburg bunt in the fifth inning when the Nats had runners at the corners and one out: "We're in a one-run game, and that is a safety squeeze. But we have to read that. We're not going to run into an out. If he lays down a good bunt to the right side, (Tyler Moore's) going to break from third, though. Worst-case scenario, you've got guys on second and third and Denard (Span) coming to the plate. But the ball was bunted right back to Arroyo. So there was no chance for Tyler to score."
On Strasburg's fourth and fifth innings of work: "Paul Goldschmidt gets paid to do what he did. Just a hanging curveball that (Strasburg) left up in the zone. And that happens. He's a good hitter."
On Strasburg's outing overall: "It was all right. That particular inning, he gave up a hit to the pitcher, which kind of led to it. But overall, I thought he pitched fine. Bronson was better tonight, though. All over the zone with all the pitches that he had. Kept everybody off-balance."
On the Nats failing to capitalize with runners in scoring position: "Yeah, well, you want to take advantage of those opportunities. Didn't happen for us tonight. Something to be said for the guy on the mound for the opposing team. He knows what to do to get out of innings. Pitched well."
On how tough it is when Arroyo is able to throw strikes from so many arm angles: "It's hard. It's hard when you're predominantly right-handed, too. He can throw all of his pitches for strikes. Multiple arm angles. It's difficult. He doesn't throw especially hard, but commands the zone with all of his pitches. It was difficult tonight."
On opting to have Strasburg bunt in the fifth inning when the Nats had runners at the corners and one out: "We're in a one-run game, and that is a safety squeeze. But we have to read that. We're not going to run into an out. If he lays down a good bunt to the right side, (Tyler Moore's) going to break from third, though. Worst-case scenario, you've got guys on second and third and Denard (Span) coming to the plate. But the ball was bunted right back to Arroyo. So there was no chance for Tyler to score."
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