Ryan Weathers pitched 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals on Friday and allowed one run while striking out six.
Weathers was fortunate to get out of a jam in the third inning with a double play ball that traded runners on first and third and nobody out for a run and a double play. Fernando Cruz came on in the sixth inning with runners on first and third (after C.J. Abrams stumbled on his way home and had to go back to third) and struck out two batters to preserve Weathers’ chance at a win, which Tim Hill promptly coughed up in the seventh. Weathers barely threw his fastball at all, as just 18 of his 91 pitchers weren’t sweepers, sliders, or changeups. He allowed four hard-hit balls. He’ll enter the second half of the season as a respectable 12-team starter going forward with a 4.15 ERA and a baffling 3-7 record.
