WASHINGTON – After allowing 18 earned runs in his last three starts, veteran Zack Littell bounced back on Sunday afternoon against the Brewers in the Nationals’ 3-2 victory.
Littell pitched 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen following lefty opener PJ Poulin, a strategy manager Blake Butera has implemented five times this season for matchups. Poulin kept Milwaukee off the board for Littell to enter in the third.
Littell allowed just one hit, one run, one walk and recorded one strikeout. He faced 13 batters and threw 41 pitches (23 strikes).
The 30-year-old right-hander had been looking for answers to a frustrating start this season. He entered Sunday 0-4 with a 7.85 ERA. He had given up eight runs (all earned) in four innings against the Giants on April 17, eight runs (six earned) in six innings against the Braves on April 22, and eight runs (four earned) at Citi Field against the Mets on April 28. Opponents slashed .365/.408/.778 during that stretch.
Littell avoided joining Albie Lopez of the 2001 Devil Rays as the only pitcher in the past century to allow eight-plus runs in four straight starts.
Littell signed a one-year, $7 million contract with Washington on March 10 during Spring Training.