Williams on defense, Cole and Janssen; players react to 8-1 "clunker"

Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Phillies was a tough one for the Nationals with Stephen Strasburg allowing six runs, five earned over just 3 2/3 innings. It's the third start in the past four where he did not complete four frames.

But, the defense was not stellar either. The sloppy fielding netted four errors, tying a season-high from the April 27 8-4 loss at Atlanta.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said they didn't take any solace from the loss just because they have played better defense during the last month. Four errors is still four errors.

"The idea is that we need to play well to give ourselves a chance to win," Williams said. "Today was a clunker. But all in all, over the last couple of weeks, it's been darn good. I'm not worried about their intensity level or anything of that nature. Today was just one of those games, that happens sometimes. But, get back at it tomorrow."

Shortstop Ian Desmond said the mistakes in the field are not the sign of their early season sloppy play returning. It is just one bad game.

"You write it off," Desmond said. "It's one of those things you shake off, get ready to go tomorrow."

With Strasburg gone in the fourth inning, rookie right-hander A.J. Cole stepped in and lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, but striking out seven and walking none. Cole threw 65 pitches, 43 for strikes.

Williams said Cole did his job and mixed his pitches to disrupt the Phillies' timing in the middle innings, lasting through the eighth.

"He stretched our bullpen," Williams said. "Unfortunately, those are the positions that he's been in. He saved extra work for the bullpen today. He's able to get out there and go to 100 (pitches) if we had to. He threw some good changeups. He gave up a couple of runs, but all in all threw the ball well, threw strikes and worked through the innings we needed him to work through."

Saturday was the debut of right-hander Casey Janssen, who was activated after missing the season's first 41 games. He had been sidelined by right shoulder inflammation. Janssen was a success, working quickly. He forced the Phillies into a 1-2-3 ninth frame.

"Felt good. Obviously, I wish as a whole we had played a little better," Janssen said. "But, it was good to get an inning in there and get my feet wet and be a part of this thing."

Janssen did not waste any time with his delivery and kept the game moving, something Williams liked to see, especially in an 8-1 game.

"Good command of the strike zone, got the second baseman on a cutter," Williams said. "Threw (Ryan) Howard a couple of curveballs for strikes, which is good, commanded the zone. He works fast, and when he's throwing strikes like that, he can do it to both sides of the plate. I think he felt good coming out of it, no issues, that's a good sign for us."

"It's just me," Janssen said of his accelerated pace. "I love playing the game, and I don't know, I'm excited every time I get the opportunity to pitch, and I know other guys show it differently. It's who I am."

Janssen said his command was pretty good, and that was due in part to the opportunity to work with veteran catcher Wilson Ramos.

"It's coming along. I felt good," Janssen said. "It's nice to have a familiar face in there you kind of know what you want to do with, and pitch to a plan or a scouting report. So from that standpoint, it was good, and I'll continue to work with Ramos and get on the same page a little bit more because he hasn't seen me enough. We'll get there. This was a good first one."