FLUSHING, NY — Nationals right-hander Yovanny Cruz, a former Yankee traded for first baseman Luis García Jr. and now part of D.C.’s relief core, had a big moment at Citi Field Saturday.
The Yankees are struggling to hit and score runs while García, off to a slow start in the Bronx, is among the league’s leaders in batting average and RBI. The Yankees are anticipating a turnaround down the stretch.
Earlier this month before MLB’s August 3rd Trade Deadline, Yovanny Cruz was dealt to the Nationals from the Yankees in a trade for Luis García Jr. – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Part of the trade was giving some hope to a struggling Nationals bullpen that sits last in league ERA, a team in the hunt of a NL Wild Card spot with a continued tendency to lose late leads. It has hindered their game despite leading MLB in home runs, runs scored, and stolen bases.
So Cruz, with limited appearances out of the ‘pen with the Yankees (four appearances with five innings pitched and six strikeouts) was dispatched to the mound to close out a win and keep the Nationals in that wild card hunt. Already manager Blake Butera had opted for a bullpen game by calling on five pitchers prior to Cruz.
A 4-3 Nationals lead quickly vanished. A four-seam fastball with minimal command caused Cruz to walk Mets lead-off hitter Brett Baty on five pitches. He went with the slider, got A.J. Ewing to swing and miss next and then Francisco Álvarez followed with the game-tying double.
Francisco Álvarez’s ninth inning game-tying double provided Francisco Lindor with the opportunity to come up clutch for the Mets Saturday afternoon vs. the Nationals in Queens – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
What followed next was a slider to Francisco Lindor, resulting in a walk-off single for the multiple-time LatinoMVP as the Nationals lost a tough one, 5-4. While Cruz sustained his first loss, the Mets have won the first two of a three-game weekend series.
Another win more for pride and encouragement with their eighth victory in their last 11 games.
But the Nationals had this one, the bullpen once again failed in a crucial game. It’s not the offense, nor the starting pitching that provides length. Get to the bullpen and it’s a different outcome.
“I think Yovanny’s still trying to find his footing a little bit,” said Nationals manager Blake Butera.
It’s possible that Cruz has not adjusted to his new surroundings, then again the trade was applauded, a fastball and slider were potent pitches in his limited time with the Yankees. Cruz said he had no confidence with the fastball in his previous two outings so he went with the slider.
In nine career MLB appearances (four with Yankees and five with Nationals), Yovanny Cruz has a 6.48 ERA with 10 strikeouts – Image Credit: MLB
It’s the story of a relief pitcher, perhaps adjustments for the 28-year-old rookie out of the Dominican Republic who made his MLB debut May 20th with the Yankees. He met the media in a quiet Nationals clubhouse and faced the music.
“Since I threw the first fastball, I didn’t feel comfortable with it,” he said through an interpreter. “That’s why I immediately made the switch to the slider. I thought that was going to do the job, but it didn’t.”
Said Butera: “The big thing is confidence. It’s hard coming over to a new team where you don’t really know a ton of people, and it’s a little bit easier when you jump into this and have success right away. We’ve got to help Yovanny. That’s up to us as a staff to get him right.”
A few years ago the Mets had similar circumstances related to a star relief pitcher in making an adjustment. All-Star Edwin Díaz came over from the Mariners with a slider and fastball that led the league in saves, recording a career-high 57 in 2018. Though numerous times the closer struggled with the Mets due to no life with his slider, fastball, and command.
Yovanny Cruz of the Nationals may be going through similar growing pains to what Edwin Díaz faced early on in his career with the Mariners and Mets – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Late game leads were lost because Díaz, now struggling with the Dodgers, opted one pitch over the other. It’s reminiscent of the early going with Cruz and the Nationals.
Lindor, the Mets’ leading hitter during their late season streak of wins (.305 batting average last 15 games), got hold of a slider that went to right. It was his 10th walk-off career RBI and before that Jefry Yan, known for his jumping on the mound strikeout dramatics, threw 1.2 scoreless innings in relief and earned his first career Major League win.
But the Mets are in their adjustment period. With a season or not, next year is what’s important for them, looking at what the future holds. Their bullpen also was revamped at the trade deadline and interim manager Andy Green is taking notes with president of baseball operations David Stearns.
Said Cruz: “My talent is why I am here. It’s a new organization and I also feel I changed my style of pitching. When I was with the Yankees, I was attacking a lot more with the fastball. Here I’m throwing more splitters. I know my slider is really good.”
The Nationals, though still in the postseason hunt, need to find a way with a bullpen in transition and little time for adjustments. Cruz has that potential and the adjustment could commence Sunday afternoon in the series finale.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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