NL Worst of the Night: Henry Rodriguez Almost Walks Away Game for Nationals

Highlighting a bad performance from the previous night in baseball might seem like a harsh way to start the morning. But look at it this way: If you had a rough night or bad day, here's someone who may have had it worse.

I was initially ready to give "NL Worst of the Night" (dis)honors to the Milwaukee Brewers' Yovani Gallardo for issuing six walks in his start versus the New York Mets on Monday.

Yet despite those walks, Gallardo only allowed two runs and two hits, and might have won if he'd received more than one run of support.

So we're training our focus instead on another walk-prone pitcher. With the Washington Nationals holding an 8-5 lead over the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning, Henry Rodriguez came in to close out the game.

Walking the leadoff batter is never a good way to begin a relief appearance, yet that's what Rodriguez did to pinch-hitter Will Venable. Rodriguez fell behind two balls, no strikes, but came back to even the count 2-2 before missing with his next two pitches to walk Venable.

Rodriguez then got pinch-hitter James Darnell to pop out to the catcher. One away. The Nats' closer was still okay. Get a double-play ball or maybe strike out the next two batters and it's on to the next game.

Of course, it's not always that simple. Especially when a pitcher can't locate the strike zone. 

Rodriguez kept missing with his fastball, and walked the next batter, Cameron Maybin on five pitches. 

But Rodriguez did seem to find some control and get ahead of Chris Denorfia in the following at-bat, with a one ball, two strikes count. From there, however, he missed the strike zone with his fastball and slider and eventually walked Denorfia on seven pitches. 

That loaded the bases and got Rodriguez pulled from the game. Nats manager Davey Johnson had seen enough and brought in sinker-baller Sean Burnett. Burnett got the ground ball the Nats needed, resulting in an inning-ending double play and an 8-5 win.

Coming off an outing in which he allowed four runs, with a homer and two walks, are the Nationals considering making a change at closer?

Johnson says no, admitting he probably made a mistake by pitching Rodriguez for the third straight day. Rodriguez may also have been worn down after throwing 28 pitches on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds. 

“I still have utmost confidence in Henry,” Johnson said after the game. “That was his third day in a row going and he threw a lot of pitches. I’ll probably giving him off tomorrow regardless. I still have a lot of confidence in him.

"I went up to him after the game, I said, ‘Henry, you’re my man. I still got a lot of confidence in you.’ That’s the first time he’s actually been wild.”

OK, Davey—let's not go crazy in defending the guy. We're still talking about a reliever who averages almost seven walks per nine innings. 

But Rodriguez is the Nats' best option at closer until Brad Lidge and Drew Storen return. Craig Stammen and Ryan Matheus have been extremely effective in middle relief and could be shifted to the ninth inning. Would the Nats really want Rodriguez coming in and walking batters in the seventh or eighth innings? Better for him to begin the ninth with the bases empty. 

Well, until he loads them all up with walks, that is.

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