The impulse after Thursday’s loss is, of course, to blame the umpires and the questionable fair call on Cameron Maybin‘s hit that allowed Pedro Ciriaco to score the game-winning run. It was a borderline call at best, and the fact that it ended the game will only serve to magnify the call’s scrutiny.
But none of that changes the larger point: The Washington Nationals shouldn’t have put themselves in that position in the first place.
Once again, Max Scherzer was as good as ever: five hits, nine strikeouts, no walks. A measly two runs.