Maybe, just maybe, the Nationals have solved their bullpen woes.
After a month spent trying to cobble together some competent relief work, manager Manny Acta has found success from a group of veterans. Kip Wells, Joe Beimel, Julian Tavarez and Ron Villone have combined to provide some stability at the back end of Washington's bullpen, and the result has been four wins in five games. Tavarez and Wells were instrumental in securing Friday night's 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks. Each pitched a scoreless inning, with Wells earning the first save of his 11-year career.
"Obviously, as an individual, you know you don't have a save in your career," he said. "But I got into a rhythm and started locating the ball pretty well and got three outs."
Acta isn't quite ready to proclaim his bullpen woes solved, but he does have more confidence in the group as it is now assembled.
"They're not lights-out yet, let's put it that way," Acta said. "But they're getting better, and they're experienced guys. ...Those guys still have good stuff."
NATIONALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4: Shairon Martis pitched well enough for 5 1/3 innings to improve to 4-0 on the season, and Washington's bullpen hung on late to secure the team's fourth win in five games. Martis allowed three runs but escaped a couple of dicey jams and now ranks among the NL leaders in victories as a 22-year-old. Adam Dunn and Jesus Flores each homered to pace the offense and set the stage for veteran Kip Wells to earn the first save of his 11-year career.
