Nationals confront adversity head-on as All-Star break approaches

To gain ground as the Washington Nationals have over the last six weeks — to go from baseball’s most disappointing team to winners of their last 28 of 39 — the club had to address adversity.

So when the Nationals blew a two-score lead in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 5-2 win against the Kansas City Royals, Washington kept calm. Perhaps earlier in the season in a similar situation, as closer Sean Doolittle alluded to last week, the Nationals would have been rattled.

But over this stretch, the Nationals have grown comfortable when pushed.

“Even if we’re trailing, even if we lose a lead, (it’s) not, ’Here we go again,’” Doolittle said. “It’s: ’How are we going to do this?’ It’s not if, but when.”

The Nationals knocked in three runs in the bottom of the eighth, starting with Anthony Rendon’s RBI double that scored Adam Eaton head first into home plate. Pinch hitter Howie Kendrick then powered in two more runs on another double.

Washington — after being just 19-31 on May 23 — now head into the All-Star break leading the National League wild card by half a game. They are 47-42 overall, five games over .500.

“We don’t quit,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We don’t quit. Adversity builds character. Guys are playing with their heart.”

To help win Sunday’s game, the Nationals received another gem from starter Patrick Corbin. Since signing the 29-year-old to a six-year, $140 million deal, Martinez said Corbin has been everything “we hoped he could possibly be.” Against the Royals, Corbin struck out 11 — marking the third time this season in which the lefty has fanned at least 10 batters.

The Nationals’ starting pitching, in general, has been a key reason for their surge over the last six weeks. Entering Sunday’s game, Washington’s starting rotation posted just a 3.59 ERA — fourth-best in MLB and third-best in the NL. Collectively, Washington’s starters also lead FanGraph’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric with 11.9.

They’ve been even better since May 24, the beginning of Washington’s turnaround. Since then, the Nationals’ starters have a 3.21 ERA — trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers’ core as the best in baseball. Further, Washington’s starters have been reliable — pitching 229 ⅔ of 340 innings, per FanGraphs.

Corbin, too, has found his footing throughout Washington’s run. He’s been particularly good over his last four starts — tossing at least seven innings in each appearance and allowing one earned run or fewer in that span, a career-best.

“We’re kind of where we want to be here,” Corbin said. “Everything has been fun this year to be able to get to where we are and I’m excited for the second half to kind of see what this team can do.”

On Sunday, his only sign of trouble occurred in the fourth when the 29-year-old allowed two men to get on base. But the Nationals escaped the jam. Victor Robles threw a laser from center field to home plate that allowed catcher Yan Gomes to tag out Alex Gordon. Then, Corbin struck out Nicky Lopez to end the inning.

But with Corbin exiting in the seventh, the Nationals faced adversity in the eighth — an inning that has been a problem for Washington the entire year. Fernando Rodney and Doolittle each gave up a run that allowed the Royals to tie the game at 2.

Washington’s offensive rally in the bottom of the inning, however, saved them.

Soon, the Nationals turn their attention to the second half — but not before taking advantage of the four-day All-Star break. Asked if the team would rather keep playing — given how well Washington has performed — many members of the team said the break was coming at a good time.

Washington’s two All-Stars — Scherzer and Rendon — both withdrew from Tuesday’s event, citing minor injuries. Before Sunday’s win, Scherzer addressed reporters, saying he needed the rest to help the back tightness he has felt in each of his last two starts. Scherzer, though, said he should be fine for his next start.The Nationals return Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies, eager to see if they can keep performing at this level.

“I mean I might be a little biased because they kind of got me off the hook there, I think that was our best win of the year,” Doolittle said. “Rubber game of a series. … That’s a situation where the last day before the All-Star break, guys could be already be looking forward to the break. … I can’t tell you how much I love being a part of this team.

“The way that we’ve battled over the last [six] weeks, really coming together, picking each other up, grinding it out, it’s been fun.”