Overhauled 'pen steps up again as Nats complete first sweep since April

WASHINGTON – The Nationals’ decision to pitch a bullpen game on Sunday gave the team an extended look at the new makeup of its relievers since Monday’s Trade Deadline.

Four relief pitchers combined to clinch the series sweep (the club's first at home this season and first overall since April 10-12 in Milwaukee) in the Nationals’ 7-1 win over the Reds at Nationals Park.

“The theme I saw was strikes – nine strikeouts – no walks,” said Nationals manager Blake Butera. “We're going to have a chance to win a lot of games when that's the line. … These guys did an outstanding job of working through this lineup.”

In the past week, the Nats dealt Foster Griffin to Cleveland, designated Zack Littell for assignment, traded for Major League relievers Yovanny Cruz, Will Dion and Jake Bird and optioned Eddy Yean and Carson Palmquist to Triple-A Rochester.

Butera tabbed right-hander Brad Lord to start in the series finale against the Reds. It was Lord’s second game back from missing a month because of left side tightness.

After pitching an inning in his return on Wednesday, Lord worked 2 2/3 frames on Sunday. His 51 pitches (36 strikes) were the most he had thrown since July 1. Lord allowed one run on two hits and one hit batter. He struck out four, his first multiple-strikeout appearance since June 26 (five against the Orioles).

The Nats then went with the left-handed Dion, who was acquired from the Guardians, to face the righty-heavy Reds.

“It gives hitters a different look,” said Lord. “It makes it harder when you have multiple different guys that come in out of the ‘pen, and you have to game plan for all the guys with all these different strengths. It just makes it that much harder.”

Dion continues to look comfortable with his new team, pitching three scoreless innings, and he did not allow a hit until his final batter. Dion tied a career high in innings while throwing 30 of 41 pitches for strikes, earning his first career win.

“He’s not afraid out there, that’s the big thing,” said Butera. “... [He has] a funky arm action with really good stuff; the curveball is really good; the fastball plays up because of the carry; and then he's got a good changeup, too. So he’s able to neutralize both righties and lefties.”

Needing to cover 3 1/3 more innings, the Nationals called on right-hander Trevor Williams. A starter at the time of his right elbow surgery last season, Williams returned as a long reliever on July 29. On Sunday, Williams worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit and two strikeouts. He was aided by a spectacular double play turned by Nasim Nuñez, CJ Abrams and Andrés Chaparro to squash an eighth-inning threat.

Bird pitched a perfect ninth.

"They had a bullpen day today, and I thought we kind of started chasing, trying to hit everything,” said Reds manager Terry Francona. “They go fast, slow, fast, slow. And [we] started getting into that rocking chair where instead of being stubborn enough to sit on something, we tried to hit everything and kind of played into their hand.”

After the Nationals went 1-7 on a two-city road trip to Atlanta and Philadelphia, this return home has been welcome for their bullpen. In the three-game series hosting the Reds, Nats relievers pitched three scoreless innings with one walk Friday (Cruz, Orlando Ribalta, Clayton Beeter) and 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball Saturday (Max Kranick, Cruz, Beeter, Tom Cosgrove).

“I think we have some interesting arms down there now, and I think we have some different looks, too,” said Butera. “... It’s a lot of fun when these guys are throwing the way they have this series. If they continue that, I feel really good about our shot.”