CJ Abrams, Nasim Nuñez lead Nationals to 3-2 win over Brewers

For the Nationals, it’s the little details that will likely determine their fate this season.

Focusing on baserunning and executing routine plays has to be the norm. After Saturday’s error-filled loss to the Brewers, the Nationals’ pregame on Sunday morning looked different.

There was urgency as an infield coach walked around the field with a stopwatch, timing the players as they completed plays. Manager Blake Butera was also shouting different game situations from home plate before hitting a ball at certain infielders. The rationale is, if the team practices at game speed, it will transfer over to the games.

So far, so good, after Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Brewers.

“Everything we do is to make sure our practices [are] harder than the games; that way we challenge these guys when it doesn’t necessarily count,” Butera said. “That way, when they get in the game, it almost feels a little bit slower.”

With the Nationals in the infancy of their rebuild, it’s important to form good habits. Many would say the team is overachieving at 16-19, but the organization has the long-term view in mind.

Creating routines for their players is paramount as they develop their young roster and establish a culture. That Butera was proactive in addressing Saturday’s lackluster play is notable.

“We’ve been a little rusty on the defensive side, so we just need some stuff to sharpen us up,” said second baseman Nasim Nuñez, who recorded two RBI singles. “It’s a good thing that we do have that, so we have games like we did [Sunday].”

The pitching staffs for both teams were sharp. Through four innings, Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson was working a perfect game.

But shortstop CJ Abrams’ fifth-inning single ended that.

The ball didn’t have a great exit velocity (90.3 mph) and was hit on the ground, usually a recipe for a routine out. But Abrams hustled and reached first.

With one out and Nuñez at the plate, Abrams was ready to pounce and steal second. After two good pickoff moves, Abrams got a huge jump, stealing his sixth base of the season.

With his team trailing by a run and a runner in scoring position, Nuñez unloaded on a 2-2 changeup in the strike zone for an RBI single.

​The Nationals took a 2-1 lead on José Tena’s one-out triple before Jorbit Vivas lined out and Keibert Ruiz flied out to end the inning.

“When [Nuñez] can come up in big spots and do what he did today [with] big hits and huge at-bats to help us win the game today, and then what he is on the bases, too,” Butera said. “He can go first to third and score, first to home and steal bases. There’s just a lot of different aspects of the game where Nas helps us win.”

Butera also lauded Abrams for his baserunning and putting the Nationals in a position to get a zero off the board.

“Those two guys, when they’re going and they’re on base, it’s a lot of fun,” Butera said. “[It] helps our offense a ton.”

Abrams provided a jolt for an offense that hadn’t found much success in the weekend series against the Brewers. Washington scored two runs across the first two games.

With those key at-bats from Nuñez and Abrams, coupled with a stout performance from the pitching staff, it was a complete win.

Left-hander PJ Poulin was used as an opener and thrived, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Right-hander Zack Littell was the bulk reliever and posted his best outing in weeks. He allowed one run on one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts.

The defense also supported its pitching staff. In the seventh, Nuñez ranged to his left to field Sal Frelick’s hard-hit ground ball to end the inning. With one out and runners on first and third in the ninth, Nuñez made an impressive read on a slow roller and delivered a quick throw to first baseman Curtis Mead.

Playing clean baseball is not going to result in a win every time, but it establishes a high floor that will give the Nationals a chance in most games.

The Nationals have been more competitive than many expected them to be, but there’s ample room for improvement in the beginning stages of the Paul Toboni era.

This article has been updated.