Brady House, Nationals' defense playing on shaky ground, fall to Brewers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Nationals need a stronger defense.
Through the first inning of Saturday's matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Nationals' collective fielding percentage continued to fall -- fast.
Third baseman Brady House booted a bases-loaded ground ball, leading to an early three-run deficit. All three runs were unearned and they proved to be the difference in a 4-1 defeat at Nationals Park.
Through 34 games, the Nationals have yielded an MLB-high 28 unearned runs, committing a league-worst 31 errors.
The Nationals entered Saturday with the league's worst team fielding percentage (.976). The Athletics remain the league's cleanest-field squad, booting just seven fielding attempts on 1,108 total chances.
Nationals' defense ranks last in MLB
The Brewers started Saturday with starting pitcher Foster Griffin (3-1) retiring the opening two batters he faced. Then, the trouble started with a William Contreras single and consecutive bases on balls to Gary Sanchez and Jake Bauers.
With the bases loaded, Brewers batter Luis Rengifo reached when House misplayed a ground ball, allowing Contreras to score. Brandon Lockridge followed with a single to left field, scoring Bauers and Sanchez.
The Nationals' infield, as a unit, continues to struggle creating outs.
House, 22, posted a poor .914 fielding percentage on his opening 58 total fielding chances this season. The second-year big leaguer committed seven errors on 180 chances during his 72-game audition last season.
Second baseman Nasim Nunez had three errors on 132 chances and shortstop CJ Abrams also committed a fielding error Saturday, his fifth. Backup third baseman Jorbit Vivas had four errors on 46 chances.
The Nationals need defensive help.
