WASHINGTON - The pitch from Aníbal Sánchez floated towards the plate like a butterfly, a changeup of just 63 miles-per-hour in the sixth inning to Anthony Santander.
But most of his offerings stung like a butterfly – to borrow a phrase from boxing legend Muhammed Ali – on Friday night against the suddenly ferocious Baltimore Orioles.
Sánchez, in his second start of the year for the Nationals, gave up 10 hits, three walks, and five earned runs in just 5.1 innings. The veteran right-hander was tagged with the loss in an 11-0 debacle and saw his ERA rise to 7.