Two games into the Washington Nationals’ season, their starting pitchers and their catcher have shown plenty of promise. That’s where the focus should be, but it isn’t. Instead, attention has fallen on the bullpen, which twice has put strong performances from the young core out of mind.

On Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park, right-hander Jake Irvin had a solid debut, and Keibert Ruiz hit his second home run in as many games. But once Irvin exited, the bullpen allowed nine runs — including five in the sixth inning alone — for an 11-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

With the score tied in the sixth, Colin Poche loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Manager Dave Martinez then turned to Lucas Sims, who walked Edmundo Sosa. The Phillies led 3-2. Sims threw a wild pitch during the next at-bat. The Phillies led 4-2. Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run homer. The Phillies led 7-2. After Sims allowed a single, Martinez returned to the mound, and Sims headed to the dugout.

“We got 160 [games] left; nobody’s hitting the panic button,” said Sims, who has a 40.50 ERA. “It’s two bad games. We’ll get another one tomorrow, and we’ll bounce back and be ready to roll.”

Sims said he overcomplicated his first two appearances, trying to be too cute by throwing too many pitches. Poche said he hasn’t done a good enough job of attacking hitters. As a whole, the bullpen has given up 16 of the 18 runs the Nationals have allowed in two games. On Opening Day, it cost MacKenzie Gore a win during his historic outing. On Saturday, it cost Washington (0-2) a chance to even its series with the Phillies (2-0). Amed Rosario and Nathaniel Lowe each hit his first home run as a National, but they were too little, too late.

“It’s an unfortunate start to the season,” said Poche, who has a 54.00 ERA. “You don’t want to be basically the reason why you dropped the first two games of the year, but it’s a long year. We’re going to need all these guys in the bullpen if we want to end up where we want to be.”

Entering spring training, the makeup of the Nationals’ bullpen was unclear. Most of the relievers were inexperienced. Others were coming off down years. In February, Washington signed Sims, who misses bats but struggles with command. It also brought back Kyle Finnegan, its all-star closer in 2024. When spring training ended, the Nationals seemed better prepared. That hasn’t shown up so far.

The Nationals grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning thanks to Ruiz, who blasted a two-run homer that cleared the visiting bullpen in left-center field. Ruiz needed a strong start as much as anyone on the roster. Last year, he began poorly — in part because he was suffering from the flu — and never recovered. He finished with a 74 OPS+; 100 is average.

Martinez said Ruiz put too much pressure on himself in previous seasons but looked more relaxed this spring. That has carried into his first two games. On Saturday, he helped Irvin navigate the Phillies’ tough lineup, too.

Irvin threw a first-pitch strike to the first nine batters he faced. Early on, he benefited from strong defense behind him. Right fielder Dylan Crews — who went 0 for 5 with five strikeouts — threw out Schwarber, who was trying to stretch a game-opening single into a double. CJ Abrams robbed Brandon Marsh of a potential RBI hit to end the second inning.

It wasn’t until the fourth that the Phillies’ Bryson Stott tied the score with a two-run homer — off a well-located Irvin curveball — that sneaked just inside the foul pole in right. The 28-year-old threw 31 pitches in that inning but otherwise was efficient. Irvin mixed his five pitches, throwing 26 curveballs, 21 changeups, 21 four-seam fastballs, 12 sinkers and three cutters. His changeup usage was particularly notable — his 21 were the most he has thrown in his major league career.

But a positive development doesn’t always result in a win. That’s because, at the moment, Martinez is still trying to iron out whom he can trust to bridge the gap to his best relievers. In 2024, he used Derek Law, Jacob Barnes, Robert Garcia and Jose A. Ferrer to get to Finnegan.

Law is on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation. Barnes signed with Toronto as a free agent. Garcia was traded to Texas for Lowe, who had three RBI on Saturday. Ferrer will have an opportunity to close this season, but he allowed two runs on Opening Day. And Jorge López, a key offseason addition, was ill Saturday, so Martinez didn’t want to use him.

Before the game, Martinez said he would be willing to give young players opportunities to prove themselves in the early portions of this season. So after Sims exited, Orlando Ribalta entered in his place.

Ribalta debuted last year and looked uncomfortable in four games, but he was one of the best relievers this spring and made the team out of camp. His first assignment Saturday was Bryce Harper, who flied out. After that, J.T. Realmuto grounded out. In the seventh, Ribalta walked two hitters, then allowed a three-run homer to Marsh that carried into the home bullpen. All Ribalta could do was watch.

“You can’t walk eight, nine guys in a game and expect to win,” said Martinez, whose team walked eight. “You walk guys like that and give them free passes with a team like that, you’re going to get beat.”