Joe Ross mixes in changeup more to drop Brewers 6-1

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross bounced back well from a pair of losses on the West Coast with a commanding performance in a 6-1 win over the Brewers Saturday night. Ross went seven innings and allowed only six hits, the only run a solo homer, with no walks and four strikeouts.

It was his second win of the season against Milwaukee. It was also with only 82 pitches to get those 21 outs.

His bread and butter is his fastball in, but he said the big difference this time was the ability to slow down the changeup and keep it in the strike zone.

"I used my changeup a lot more today," Ross said. "I mean I didn't throw it a ton, but I definitely threw it more than I have the past few games, and I think that kind of helped me really for the most part getting through the lineup."

Ross (4-5) lost back-to-back shutouts of 5-0 on the road last week at the Dodgers and the Giants last week. He said he decided to look to make an adjustment tonight and try to implement the changeup more in his repertoire.

"I would say more kind of changing up the past couple games because I was a lot fastball, slider," Ross said. "So I think the changeup is just going to be the biggest thing for me going forward from here."

Manager Matt Williams said the fastball in is what makes it all work for Ross. That pitch never allowed hitters to extend their arms. Khris Davis' solo shot to lead off the seventh was the only blemish.

"I thought tonight was the best night he pitched fastball in to the right-handers," Williams said. "Threw a lot of them for strikes. That opened the plate for him for his other pitches. Threw some good changeups. He was in command, kept his pitch count down and allowed him to get through seven. I thought he pitched really well."

Ross has allowed one walk or less in nine of his 10 big league starts. Williams said that is why Ross has been so good this season is when he rarely makes a mistake, it's just a solo homer and not two, three or four runs on one swing.

"If you don't give them free passes, (you) make the other team earn their runs," Williams said. "He was upset about the pitch to Davis, it was a ball up in the zone. But other than that he made no mistakes tonight. He pitched really well, in command the whole game."

Ross also demonstrated his ability to bounce back after giving up a run or a couple of hits in a row. It is sometimes a very difficult lesson for a rookie to learn is to not get flustered after giving up a run.

"You just got to get back up there and go after the next hitter, try not to let it affect you," Ross said. "Because the last thing you want is the next guy get on and then kind of start the rally. So it's just kind of staying aggressive.

"It's just kind of something you got to do," Ross said. "Early hits like first two batters getting on you have to work your way out of jam(s) and get outs wherever you can, double plays or pop ups or anything like that. So that's just something I have been trying to work on recently is not letting them create the big inning."

Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who connected on a homer and a double plus two walks, said Ross was again making life difficult for hitters with a fastball that he could place inside and handcuff the batter.

"He's amazing," Rendon said. "He does the same thing when he goes out in each and every start. He pounds the zone and has that wipe out slider. He gets up to about 96, 97 (mph). So it's kind of hard to sit on pitches."

Ross wants to place his fastball so the hitter cannot setup well. But he also knows he has to keep them guessing with his other pitches.

"It kind of gets them away from being comfortable leaning out over the plate," Ross said. "If you just pound low and away all game, I think they can kind of sit on it and start to hit the ball around and then it opens up for the bullpen when they come in, just go pound low and away and I think it makes it easier for everybody after me coming in the game."

"It's one of his weapons, for sure," Williams said of the fastball. "His ball runs and sinks a little bit. Mid-90's fastball, so if he can locate in, if anybody can locate in, they've got an advantage over the hitter for sure."

With the seven innings Saturday, Ross is now up to 136 2/3 innings combined between the minors and majors so far this season, a career-high. He has had 24 total starts.

"I feel good," Ross said. "I don't feel like I'm getting tired at all. I'm sure at some point they might hold me back a little bit. But as of right now I feel good."