Nats Tie Again, 3-3

The Nats ‘pen was in midseason form, turning a 3-1 lead into a 3-3 tie against the Astros.

Josiah Gray threw 39 pitches and got five outs, allowing the first Houston run in the 2nd on a double, a wild pitch on an uncaught third strike, and two hit batsmen. He also gave up a first-inning single but was bailed out when Houston ran into a 9-3 DP.

The blown save went to Julian Fernández on a walk and a single in the 8th.

No watchlist player started the game. Here’s how they did coming off the bench or out of the ‘pen:

• Seaver King replaced Nasim Nuñez at 2B and flew out for the second out of the 7th.
• Phillip Glasser subbed for James Wood in RF and led off the 8th with a double and his first ST hit.
• Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin followed Daylen Lile in LF and struck out in the 8th.
• Chad Lomavita replaced Keibert Ruiz behind the plate and struck out to end the 8th,
• Cayden Wallace pinch-hit for DH Jose Tena and popped out in the 6th and grounded out in the 9th.
• Yoyo Morales pinch hit for Andres Chapparo and struck out in the 6th and played 1B for the last three innings. He flew out in the 9th to go 0-for-2.
• Andrew Pinckney subbed for Joey Weimer in CF and struck out in both of his ABs.
• Andrew Alvarez threw three scoreless innings, walking three, striking out three, and allowing one hit.
• Griff McGarry gave up the second Astros run while retiring just two of six batters faced. He walked two, gave up a double, and hit a batter.

The Nats are off until Wednesday, which gives you plenty of time to pore over the first MLB Pipeline Top 30 for Washington. TL;DR – More than half of the list was acquired between July and December with all five from the MacKenzie Gore trade in the Top 25.