Dusty Baker didn’t want to chance it. Nationals reliever Sammy Solis entered Monday’s game against the New York Mets in the ninth inning and pitched successfully to get two outs.
But Solis, making his second appearance since missing 65 games with elbow inflammation, also allowed one man on base. With two outs, Baker elected to have Matt Albers face Mets pinch hitter Curtis Granderson in a righty-lefty matchup. Granderson was batting .258 against lefties like Solis compared to .226 against right handers like Albers.
The move backfired.
Albers let up a two-run homer in the ninth inning when Granderson was down to his last strike, but the Nationals’ bullpen can once again thank the offense.