The Washington Nationals had runners on third base and first with no outs in the 9th inning. The score was a 4-3 deficit against the Miami Marlins. All the Nats needed was a productive out to tie it. They couldn’t do it, and the difference in the game goes back to a dropped pop-up by Luis Garcia Jr. in the 8th inning.

The Marlins tried to hand the game to the Nationals in the 9th inning with their own poor defense and pitching. But Washington needed an extra run to tie it, and two to win and couldn’t get key contact from Keibert Ruiz, Amed Rosario or James Wood.

Manager Dave Martinez did not use José Tena to pinch hit for Rosario, and just like last night, didn’t make moves in key spots. And then after the game, Martinez was asked where the blame should be put, between players and coaches — and he went in full defense mode on behalf of his coaching staff.

You can expect that players, agents, writers, and anyone with a brain knows that the teacher/student debate is never this simple. Working hard is important, but so is working smart. Everyone should share in the failures and successes.

The end-result, the Nationals have now lost seven straight games. As we keep seeing in this losing streak are mistakes and a lack of focus — none bigger than Garcia’s flub of a pop-up and yesterday’s Bermuda triangle play. By the way, Wood hit an almost identical Bermuda triangle pop-up to end the game — and the Marlins executed.

The good teams make these plays.