Austen Williams got a rude awakening to life in the big leagues.
In his second appearance with the Nationals, the 25-year-old right-hander gave up three homers in the sixth inning Tuesday night to the St. Louis Cardinals in an 11-8 slugfest loss.
That came after he did not allow a longball in 68 minor league innings this season, spread across a total of 32 games (two starts) with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse.
“I can’t keep using the same guys every single day. These guys have to pitch,” manager Dave Martinez said of the decision to bring in the young hurlers.