Baker: Nats need to get better in close games

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Dusty Baker spoke of the importance of one-run games during postgame Monday following the 4-3 loss to the Orioles.

With the loss Monday, the Nationals are 19-15 (.559) in one-run games this season. Baker likened close games like last night's contest as similar to what you will encounter in a playoff series: Good pitching and crucial late game at-bats spelling the difference.

Baker hopes his team can deliver better in the clutch against good teams, because that's what will happen in a playoff-type situation.

"Yeah, generally pretty decent. You always want more," Baker said. "But usually you can do more with a leadoff double, anything other than a home run. You can look back on one-run games, and they've been kind of haunting us on the road this year. We've certainly got to get better, because we take pride in winning those one-run games.

"Like we said in spring training, the team that wins one-run games is usually the one that's out in front and stays out front. This is what it's going to be kind of like in playoff baseball because they're not going to let the game get out of hand. You're going to have to get some two-out hits and execute. Like tonight with the runner on second and nobody out. Cause the scores are generally going to be close like it was tonight."

One other key to close games for the Nationals recently is their inability to get men home after promising starts to innings. The Nationals have left seven men or more on base in each of the last eight games. Over the course of the first 120-plus games of the season, the Nationals have left 10 or more men on base 24 times. They are only 14-10 in those games.

The Nationals have certainly had trouble beating the Orioles in recent seasons. The last season they did not have a losing record in the Beltway Series was 2011 when they split six games (3-3).

But since that season, the Nationals are just 6-15 (.400) against the Orioles, including last night's 4-3 loss.

Right-hander Mat Latos was solid in his second start for Triple-A Syracuse. The Alexandria, Va., 28-year-old former Reds, Padres (and others) starter went six innings, scattering six hits, allowing one run (no earned runs), with three walks and three strikeouts, a 2-1 no-decision loss to Pawtucket. Latos' ERA is now 0.82.

Try to get to your seats early Wednesday night as the Beltway Series shifts to D.C. I will get the opportunity to interview Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky on the Nats jumbotron videoboard during pregame at Nats Park. The Q&A is expected to begin around 6:30 p.m.