Nationals look to turn page after road series win streak ends at 5

ST. PETERSBURG -- One bad pitch. That’s all it took for the Nationals to drop their first road series since early May.

A hanging slider from right-hander Orlando Ribalta was clubbed for a two-run go-ahead homer by Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca in the seventh inning that handed the Nats a 4-3 loss on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

Washington was denied in its bid for a franchise-record-tying sixth straight road series triumph that was last achieved in 1994, when the club was the Montreal Expos.

There’s no time for the Nationals (40-38) to hang their heads. On Monday, they begin a four-game home series against the Phillies, a team directly ahead of them and the Marlins (40-38) in the National League East standings.

“We could leave here frustrated, losing that one-run game today and having a chance to leave here winning two out of three [games],’’ manager Blake Butera said. “We’ve got the Phillies coming to town, who are ahead of us right now, and they’re playing good baseball.

“We know we’ve got another challenge in front of us. It’s not going to get easier as we go. You can either back down or you can take this as fun ... and let’s go.’’

Butera said Sunday’s game was another learning experience for a young, exciting Nationals team that’s weathering some ups and downs while continuing an obvious upward trajectory.

“I think our club needs to understand when you’re playing really good teams and you’re playing meaningful baseball games, one bad pitch, one mistake defensively, one mistake on the bases, those things cost you [and] that’s the difference between winning and losing,’’ Butera said.

“Look, it’s fun to play these meaningful games. We’re in it right now. We’re feeling good, and teams are not taking us lightly. We have to play really good baseball.’’

The Nationals snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning, when Dylan Crews smacked a two-out RBI double to score CJ Abrams, who reached with a one-out double. Abrams made it 3-1 in the sixth with his 17th homer (his third homer of the series). From there, it was left to the Nats’ bullpen since left-handed starter Andrew Alvarez was lifted after just four innings (and 68 pitches) to counteract the Rays’ righty-heavy lineup.

Gus Varland surrendered a Statcast-projected 436-foot solo homer to Ryan Vilade in the sixth, making it a one-run game. In the seventh, Ribalta gave up a one-out single to Yandy Díaz, then his 1-1 slider was hammered by DeLuca for the game-winner.

“I love the process [by Ribalta],’’ Butera said. “I was happy with the stuff. He attacked hitters. His fastball velocity was the highest it has been this year. Yandy got the single, but you can live with that one. It’s really just that offspeed pitch we hung to Jonny and just trying to figure out was that the right pitch selection there and what happened on that pitch?’’

“I was trying to help the team win and, unfortunately, it didn’t work out,’’ Ribalta said.

Sunday’s result must be quickly put in the rearview mirror. It’s onward to a big series against the Phillies -- and quite likely, many more big moments this season for a Nationals team aiming to stay in postseason contention.

“It’s great being part of this,’’ Ribalta said. “A lot of our young guys just want to go out there and leave it all out there for the team, and just win, just help in any way possible. It is a good [situation].’’

“It’s fun and it’s exciting,’’ Abrams said. “As a group, we work hard together and that shows up on the field. We just have to stay consistent.’’