Extra-Inning Win to Snap the Skid

For the sixth season in a row, Walters is the official bar of the Natchat podcast located across the street from the ballpark, just off South Capital Street. Now the set and the one-one on the way. So we had a line drive well hit to right, wood going back toward the warning track. He reaches up. He makes the catch a step from the wall. Foster Griffith, and after throwing 52 pitches in the first two innings, is able to go seven strong innings tonight. He has the nationals in front, three to one after seven with a spectacular performance. The two-two from Hellsley, swinging a ground ball right side, past the diving aligns on base hit right field. Crews trying to score. The throw from Tiberis is offline, and the nationals are in front, four to three. A little while delivers here at the top of the 10th. The RBI single leading off the frame, scoring the free runner. The nationals have to lead back here in extra innings. Now the set and the pitch. Fastball, ground ball to short runner breaks for the plate. Abrams throws home, Millis to tag. He's blocked the plate for the out. Nice play by Abrams. A throw on the run, moving to his right. He comes down the runner at home for the second out of the inning. Here's the 1-0 delivery. Swing in a ground ball right side. This is at Nunez. He has it. He double clutches. He throws on to first in time, and the nationals win it. Justin Lawrence nails down the save in his nationals debut. He strands the bases loaded into the bottom of the 10th for a four three nationals win. As they snap a four game losing streak, Dalen Lyles hit on the top of the 10th, the winning margin. As Lawrence walks the tight rope and gets to the other side to nail the save in his NATS debut. And welcome to NATS Chat. I'm Al Galdi, host of the Al Galdi podcast. Washington Nationals Insider and Mark Supramid of NATSjournal.com is off for this installment of the podcast, but good to be with you. And the NATS four game losing streak is over. Wasn't easy. They blew yet another late inning lead, but the NATS won a four three ten inning win at the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in game two of a three game series. This was a game in which the NATS blew a three one eight inning lead, but the NATS won. They in M.O.B. 2020 six regular season are back at 542 and 42 run differential of plus three. The O's now are 39 and 45 with a run differential of minus 24. And how about the difference between the two teams in one run games? NATS 12 and 12 O's just six and 13. This installment of NATS Chat brought to us by the nonprofit Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund tired of paying $4 for a gallon of gas CCA in action fund is raffling three amazing electric cars, including a Rivian SUV is part of an annual fundraiser to fight for clean air in the DMV get three chances to win with just one ticket at ev raffle.org. That's ev raffle.org coming up later in the show conversation that the creator owner and executive producer of the NATS Chat podcast Tim showvers had with Doug Foster, who is a descendant of Rube Foster, the man who is part of the group of people who created the Negro leagues. Andrew Rube Foster. The live from September 1879 to December 1930 lived a fascinating life. Rube Foster is known as the father of black baseball. So we look forward to that conversation. So the NATS during their run from 2012 through 2019 of eight consecutive winning regular seasons, five playoff appearances for NASA league East titles and a world series title had so many great seasons from starting pictures, right? The NATS since that run have not had many great seasons from starting pictures. The three best regular seasons by NATS starting pictures this decade. So 2020 through 2025, or as follows, I'm going by winds up of replacement per baseball reference number one, Max Scherzer in 2021, despite being traded by the NATS. So he over 19 games all starts for the NATS accumulated 3.3 B war. For two Mackenzie Gore in 2025 3.1 B war number three Josiah Gray in 2023 3.0 B war. But could it be that foster Griffin is having the best season by a NATS starting picture since the team won the 2019 world series. Could it be that foster Griffin is having the best season by a NATS starting picture this decade? One in this 4 3 10 inning win at the Orioles on Saturday night was outstanding. Put aside what happened with the bullpen, put aside what happened with the offense. The number one item from this game from a NATS perspective was foster Griffin. He allowed one run which was unearned in seven innings with nine strikeouts superb. He gave up to three hits all of which were singles. Here's your two walks. He threw a lot of strikes a hundred 12 pitches 75 strikes 37 balls and yes I did say 112 pitches given how bad that that's bullpen has been lately. NATS manager Blake butera clearly rode Griffin clearly went with Griffin and Griffin was up to the task Griffin rose to the occasion in the part of the second allowed an unrun on two singles and an error which was a win out throwing error by second baseman Nassim Nunez who air meld the throw to first base and attempting to complete a double play of making the put out at second base. Now helping to cause the error was a nice slide by Blaze Alexander but that earn run the lone blemish for foster Griffin in this game. How about what foster Griffin is doing here on his one year reported 5.5 million dollar contract Griffin now in this regular season 17 games all starts ERA of 2.93 whip of 1.04 strikeouts per nine innings of 8.97 he absolutely is a candidate for the 2026 National League All-Star team. He has a games through Friday had a wins above replacement per baseball reference of 2.2. He is tracking toward having the best season by a NATS starting pitcher this decade. We didn't know what to think about foster Griffin on opening day right and one of the conversations that Mark and I had in the lead up to the regular season was well foster Griffin. He's basically being handed a spot in the rotation going to be interesting to see what he does with that just because there's so much that we don't know about what he is as a major league pitcher often having spent the previous three seasons in Japan. Well foster Griffin is the NATS ace. I mean, there's no question about that. He is the NATS number one pitcher so far this season December 22nd. The NATS announced having signed Griffin to a one year contract as a free agent again 5.5 million dollars per reports. What a bargain in this his age 30 season and what a performance to help the NATS snap. There are four game losing streak. So foster Griffin was great, but the NATS relief pitching in this 4 3 10 inning win at the Orioles on Saturday night was not great. The NATS again blew a late inning lead. They blew a 3 1 8 inning lead. This is becoming as routine is like the seventh inning stretch. In fact, you have the seventh inning stretch and then you get your blown lead by the NATS ball pen. Like that's how things go right now with NATS games. Four NATS relievers combined to allow two runs in three innings. PJ Pooleon officially allowed one run in two thirds of an inning. He would end up being a two run eighth for the O's. Phase three batters and got two outs or Landau Revolta officially allowed one run in a third of an inning. He came into the game in the bottom of the eighth with a runner on third two outs and then adds up three one. He to the first batter he faced gave up a two out RBI double by Peter Lanzo to deep left field on a one two pitch to cut the NATS lead to three two and Revolta on his very next pitch gave up a pinch two out first pitch RBI single by some well beside you into right center field to tie the game at three or Landau Revolta had been so good for the NATS. You know, as of just a few weeks ago, if I had said to you, who is the NATS reliever who you most trust? Maybe you would have said Brad Lorde, but there's a decent chance you would have said or Landau Revolta, but Revolta is not having a good month of June. Revolta now has allowed at least one run run in five of his last eight appearances. However, Clayton Beater, he tossed a perfect bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts. Beater looks so good. It was really nice to see Peter pitch like that. Just in Lawrence and his NATS debut tossed a scoreless bottom of the tenth despite giving up a two out single and despite issuing a two out walk, but he got the save and he became you ready for this. The ten different player to record at least one save for the NATS this regular season. That is something. That is one of the great stats for the 2026 NATS that here we are still weeks away from the All-Star break and ten different NATS each has at least one save so far in this regular season. Just in Lawrence. The NATS this past Wednesday afternoon announced having claimed them off outright waivers from the Minnesota twins. The bottom of the tenth did become rather interesting, but the second out in the bottom of the tenth came via a nice play by shortstop CJ Abrams, who made a backhanded catch of The Grounder by Till Award and Fire at Home were Jeremiah Jackson with Tag Down. out by Cater Drew Millis and Lawrence came up big for the final out of the game. The third out in the bottom of the tent came by Lawrence getting some well Bessio to ground out to second baseman Nassim Nunez with the bases loaded to end the game. A huge out obtained by Justin Lawrence. Some well Bessio is one of the world's best players came up to bat with the bases loaded. But Lawrence retired Bessio got the out and ended the game. And he proved the Elias Sports Bureau became the first Nats pitcher to record a save in his regular season debut with the team since Sean Doe little on July 18th 2017. The Nats bullpen was not good. Make no mistake. But the bullpen found a way to close out what ended up being a Nats win. Here was Blake Butteira during his post game session with reporters late night on Saturday night and then we'll hear multiple follow-up exchanges. Happy right now. Obviously just with the way these last few days have gone and then to give up the lead there. Again, obviously just like no. Here we go again and couldn't have been happier with the response. In the 10th there and Dailin doing what he does to get a base hit there to take the lead. Going back to the 9th after they tied it Clayton Beter going out there and look the Bessies looked in a while now. Look which challenge those guys and asked them to come out and attack hitters and look we're ball to believe the world in him and he went out there and attacked and got beat. He wasn't walking guys and that's that's a positive. Clayton Beter goes out there in the 9th and I thought he had the best stuff he said in a while and pitched a really good inning and then Justin Lawrence walking to the team gets right in there in the 10th in a big spot and holds it down for us. I know you said that the Morales stayed high throughout all of this but how much of a confidence boost can I come back when he'd be like that for this team right now? Yeah I think more than anything is a sigh of relief. It's obviously after how these last few days have gone. It's hard. It's tough when you have leads and you lose them and you feel like you should have won some games especially against a team like the Phillies just the last few days and to bounce back and then come back again tonight after they tied it and end up with the W on the road is huge. We're good, tired, we're not tired but do you get used to seeing Foster out there on the mound or is it still like are you able to appreciate the start they're just putting up? I appreciate every time he's on the mound just we all have a ton of confidence in Foster. He pitches his tail out for us and leaves it all out there every single time. What was it? The decision to put them back out there. I know you said you're going to lean on him post game but like what does that conversation like look like in that moment? Yeah he's up there near the 100 pitch mark and obviously want to take care of Foster but it's conversation with him and pay how you feeling. He wanted to give us a little bit more so he doesn't need to say anything more than that to me. We love when he's out there. Yeah, how could you not and Foster Griffin keep in mind it did what he did off his terrific outing this past Monday night. A Griffin in the Nats 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. This past Monday night June 22nd one run in seven and a third innings with nine strike outs versus no walks. What a week for Foster Griffin. What a season for Foster Griffin. This installment of Nats Chat is brought to us by our friends at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund. One of the best nonprofits fighting for a greener environment in the DMV. They're back with their a-fanual electric vehicle raffle for the planet with all proceeds going to help their fight for cleaner air and a healthier Chesapeake Bay. 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That's EV raffle.org or check out the link in today's show notes. >> Right hander to the belts. Young delivers swing at a ground ball base. It passed the third base man Alexander down the line and the foul ground. Rounding third, Laugan trying to score a throw to the plate. Not in time, heading for second, Bebos. No play there. So Taylor wore a chase to the log of line, shallow left field trying to throw out wild good knot. And so Bebos heads up, takes second after his RBI single and 15th run batted into the year. The nationals are on the board here in the second. It's Washington won and Baltimore nothing. >> Well, the Nats offense in this 4-3-10 inning win at the Orioles on Saturday night. So the Nats scored four runs, but really should have scored more. The Nats had 13 hits, which were a home run, three doubles and nine singles in the Nats drew three walks. But the Nats went just three for 15 with runners in scoring position and struck out 14 times. Now, nothing with the Nats offense to me was more interesting than what happened with James Wood, who as we know has been struggling. So he for this game was the Nats starting right fielder and number one batter. He went over four with a walk and the reached right outs and he got taken out of the game after seven and a half innings as Blake butara inserted Jacob Young into the game to play center field and move starting center fielder, Dylan Cruz to right field. And this was shocking. I mean, you had to wonder was James Wood injured? Was he dealing with some sort of ailment as best as we can tell he was not? Butara took wood out of the game. Butara took the Nats best hitter who yes is struggling, but still he's the Nats best hitter took him out of the game and what was the close game? And boy could this have cost the Nats. Young came up in a big spot and did not come through. Jacob Young in the top of the tent with runners at the corners, two outs and the Nats up for three had a fly out to center fielder Colton Couser for the third out. Now who knows what would have done in that spot and as mentioned, what is struggling right now does not look good at the plate. But I mean, I ask you, who would you rather have batting wood or young? The answer is wood a hundred times out of a hundred. So interesting that Blake butara did this. Obviously, wanting Jacob Young's defense in the game, but at the expense of the bat of James Wood. And we have seen Blake butara in latter inning decisions, prioritize offense over defense. In this case, he prioritized defense over offense. But again, with wood struggling, you wonder if butara maybe looked at wood in a different light. I still don't come back to it. If it's James Wood or Jacob Young in a close game, I don't care how much wood is struggling. You still want wood in the game. You still want wood batting. That was remarkable that butara did that. So he could have taken like Dylan Cruz out of the game, but instead butara took James Wood out of the game. So really interesting decision by Blake butara. But there was so much more to the Nats offense in this game. Luis Garcia Jr. is on fire. He is the Nats starting first baseman and upper two batter went four for five with a solo homer, a double and two singles, a four hit game for Luis Garcia. He and the Nats one run fifth had a lead off homer to right field for a two one Nats lead. He homered again and this homer was some shot. The homer per stand cast went a projected 418 feet and had an exit velocity of 114 miles per hour. And Garcia in the top of the six had a two out double to right field. Luis Garcia Jr. For this month of June now has nine home runs and a slugging percentage of seven 16 Nats since Kyle Schwarber in June 2021. Have we seen a Nats player be this prolific at hitting for power in a month of June. Garcia for the regular season now has 14 home runs and an OPS of 816 including a slugging percentage of 514. Galen Lyle is an at starting left fielder and upper six batter went two for five with a double and an RBI single a Lyle in the Nats one run second had a went out opposite field ground rule double off the warning track and left center field Lyle in the Nats one run 10th had a lead off RBI single through the right side of the N field for a 4-3 Nats lead and Lyle in the bottom of the six made a diving forward backhanded catch for a lead off line out by Peter Lanzo as a Lyle continues to demonstrate defensive improvement. Another standout defensive play by Dalylin Lyle. The one one swing a line drive hooked to left racing on in his Lyle into a dive and he caught it. Another backhanded diving catch toward the infield by Lyle. He for this regular season now has an OPS of 709. Jorby Beba she was an at starting third baseman and upper seven batter three for five with with an RBI single and two other singles. A B boss in the Nats one run second had a one out opposite field RBI single into left field out of one two pitch for a one nothing Nats lead. And Drew Millis, he is in that starting catcher and number nine batter went two for five with an RBI single and another single. Did get charged with a pass ball, but Millis in the Nats one run six had a one out opposite field RBI single through the left side of the infield out of one two pitch for a three one Nats lead although Millis did get thrown out at home on Luis Garcia juniors two out double to right field as Millis in trying to score from first to home got tagged out by a good bit and aggressive send by Nats third base coach Vectoris Davis and the others did execute the relay throw in tag really well. But the offense overall was good just some missed opportunities of an that's like I said could have scored a lot more than four runs given how many guys were on base over the course of this game. So the oral starting pitcher for this game was the guy who lately has been their best starting pitcher branded young two runs and five innings with eight strikeouts gave the Nats plenty of problems. So young did give up seven hits which were a home run two doubles in four singles issued two walks, but he threw a lot of strikes 93 pitches 62 strikes 31 balls. Good job by the Nats of getting young out of the game after five innings. He over those five innings through as mentioned 93 pitches and the offense ended up doing enough to come away with the win. What clearly was a needed win for this Nats team. Here's the one two from Garcia swinging a ground ball toward the whole past the third base. Now Alexander base hit. Vibas coming home. The throttle plate by Ward is not in time. The flex away from the catcher. Trump but Millis holds it first. Drew Millis delivers the nationals lead at three to one. He snuck that ground ball past Blaze Alexander for the RBI single the other way. Game three this series Sunday afternoon at one thirty five and that's have listed Zach let tell as they're probable starting pitcher for the game. The owes of listed Kyle Bradish as they're probable starting pitcher for the game. This installment of Nats chat brought to us by the nonprofit Chesapeake climate action network action fund Tardov paying four dollars for a gallon of gas CC a in action fund is raffling at three amazing electric cars including a Rivian SUV is part of an annual fund razor to fight for clean air in the DMV get three chances to win with just one ticket at EV raffle dot org that's EV raffle dot org you can find us on X at Nats underscore chat you can find us on blue sky at Nats chat podcast you can email us Nats chat podcast at gmail dot com we have a website you could check out Nats chat podcast dot com at what you can purchase a Nats chat podcast t shirt. Is on the radio Sunday morning nine to ten on ESPN Richmond which is what oh six point one FM in the Richmond Virginia area and Sunday morning nine to ten on ESPN radio 94.1 in the Virginia Beach area all nationals radio highlights on that chat or courtesy of one oh six seven the fan I'm Al Galdi. Thank you for listening. We'll talk to you next time on the Nats chat podcast and we leave you now with Tim show verse conversation with Doug Foster descendant of Rube Foster who is known as the father of black baseball. Here we are at Niger leagues night at national park on its Tuesday night is in that's host the royals police to be joined by someone part of Niger leagues royalty Niger leagues legacy hosted a panel before the game and it was a special and all and it's become an anal tradition here at Navy yard. Your connection to the Niger leagues. My name is William Douglas Foster Jr. I am the great nephew of the great Andrew Rube Foster founder of the Niger league also known as the father black baseball and also the grandson of William Hendrick Foster a Hall of Fame picture of the Niger leagues. How has your life changed this decade once the Niger leagues got more respect and the numbers were elevated to major league status and evening such as this to compare your life as being part of the family treat you are in in 2026 compared to maybe 2019 or 2016. Yeah I think the difference has been you know just like night and day it's almost now like especially once 2020 came we celebrated 100 years of the Niger league there's found been so much more interest in the Niger league and not so much as just the more popular names that you know about like the Jackie Robinson and the Sean Gibson I mean Josh Gibson and the cool pop of bells but now the other stories like which I believe is the most probably important untold story Andrew Foster because it wasn't for him obviously this wouldn't be maybe there wouldn't have been a platform for the Josh Gibson's but it's just been like night and day so there's been so much more attention and when there's more attention to the Niger league then there's more attention on how the Niger league come about and when you talk about how the knee came about and you're talking more about my uncle and then I just that just overwhelms me and gives me a more sense of a pride like how can I honor that legacy and that's what make that's what motivates me to kind of do some of the things I'm doing in there honor. Far listeners give him one fact to what you want them to remember about Andrew Roop Foster. So the reason why he created the Niger league was because he wanted to have a Niger league team to play against in Major League baseball he didn't necessarily want Niger league players to be able to play in Major League baseball he wanted a team and Niger league team to play in Major League baseball and we couldn't get that to happen. You said the best way to make that happen was to create the Niger league. When people think of Andrew Roop Foster they think of him as the manager and as a coach and an executive but but they don't forget and when they don't remember is he was probably one of the best pitchers in the early 20th century. He had a record 51 win straight and he got his name by teaching Ru Wadale the screwball. So people think of him as a manager but he really was one of the best pitchers in the Niger league in the early 20th century. Give us one fact what you remember about Bill Foster. Well this is what he told me he said he has a winning record against Satchel Page. Now it might not be enough records to support it but that's my grandfather I'm rolling with it. Our listeners will remember that one last one for you. Do you have an opinion on Oscar Charleston versus Willie Mays? That's a tough one I mean you know I always say this like it's hard to compare only because there is so much we don't know about Oscar Charleston. There's a lot that we know but because it was so hard to keep records up and you know and then just it's just we don't know how great some of these Niger league players were. Really Mays phenomenal player but for me you know and I know this might be me putting the ball it's hard to compare because you just don't know how great Oscar Charleston is. Louis awaits. And the pitch. We're going to long drive deep to right field. Forget about it. Going going and gone goodbye. Along home run on a Utah street all over the big Walden right field. Luis Garcia Jr. 114 miles an hour leaving the yard. [Music]