May 23, 2013

Washington Nationals Game 28 Review: Haren solid in 3-1 win over Braves

May 2, 2013 by

Dan Haren’s season sure didn’t start the way he wanted it to, but in his last couple of outings we’ve started to see more of the veteran pitcher the Washington Nationals thought they were getting when they inked him to a $13 million contract over the off-season. Thursday night in Atlanta, Haren authored his best performance of the young season, leading the Nats to a split of the four-game series, beating the Braves 3-1 before an announced 19,806 at Turner Field.

After splitting the series in Atlanta, the Nationals remain 2 1/2 games behind the Braves in the division.

Haren (W, 3-3, 5.01) went eight strong innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk, striking out four in the process. The Braves only run of the game was a solo home run by Dan Uggla in the seventh inning.

Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth and gave up a single to Even Gattis, but otherwise held the Braves in check for his ninth save of the season.

The Nats (14-14) did their damage early to Braves (17-11) starter Kris Medlen (L, 1-4, 3.38). Washington got a run in the first when Denard Span doubled to lead off the game, took third on a wild pitch, and came in to score on Steve Lombardozzi’s grounder through the hole on the left side.

They picked up two more in the second. Adam LaRoche doubled off the wall in right to start the inning and went to third on Anthony Rendon’s single. Wilson Ramos hit into a fielder’s choice that got LaRoche hung up off third base. Haren bunted the runners up to second and third with two outs. Span slapped one the other way that third baseman Chris Johnson couldn’t handle, and both runners scored. It was originally ruled an error, but later changed to a two-RBI double for Span.

The rest was handled by Haren, who scattered two singles and a base on balls until Uggla got to him in the seventh. In the eighth, Haren got Andrelton Simmons to ground out and Reed Johnson singled to center. After getting Jordan Schafer to fly out, manager Davey Johnson went out to check on Haren. Haren emphatically responded to his manager, then struck out Johnson to punctuate his strong performance.

THE GOOD: Dan Haren. He continues a string of very strong starting appearances for the Nats. This is the guy they thought they were getting.

THE BAD: Bryce Harper. He won’t be in this column often, but the young slugger went 0-for-4 with a K and 3 LOB.

THE UGLY: Jayson Werth left in the fifth inning after trying to track down a ball in the corner and was replaced by Roger Bernadina. Werth has been dealing with hamstring and ankle injuries.

THE STATS: 8 hits, 5 BBs, 12 Ks. 3-for-11 with RISP, 10 LOB. No errors, no DPs.

NEXT GAME: Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 pm from PNC Park. Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.03) faces A.J. Burnett (2-2, 2.83).

 

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Washington Nationals Game 28 Review: Zimmermann dominates in Nats’ first victory over Braves

May 2, 2013 by

Jordan Zimmermann (W, 5-1) proved himself a dominant force Wednesday night at Turner Field as he became the first Washington National this season (14-14) to out-pitch the Atlanta Braves (17-10), 2-0.

At last, a member of the Nats’ rotation stumped the Braves. After holding the Cincinnati Reds scoreless with just one hit in nine innings last Friday, what did Zimmermann do? He blanked the Braves and gave up just two hits in eight innings Wednesday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak dating back to last season against the rivals to the South. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 27 Review: Gio inconsistent as Braves unravel Nats yet again

April 30, 2013 by

The very same Gio Gonzalez (2-2) who one-hit the Cincinnati Reds just five days earlier unraveled in just four innings Tuesday night as the Washington Nationals (13-14) fell 8-1 to the Atlanta Braves (17-9) at Turner Field.

As such, the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde saga continues to play out on the mound for the Nats.

If you had focused in on only select portions of Gonzalez’s stint, you could strategically craft a recap of his performance quite unlike the actual outcome. After all, Gonzalez fanned a season-high nine batters, five of whom struck out in four pitches or less. His fastball reached 94 MPH consistently, he picked off B.J. Upton at first base and threw 56 of 95 pitches for strikes. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 26 Review: Nats waste chances in 3-2 loss to Braves

April 29, 2013 by

STRASBURG EXAMINED BY DOCTORS FOR “FOREARM TIGHTNESS” AFTER THE GAME

Stephen Strasburg wasn’t himself yet again, giving up 10 base runners in six innings. There were several close or missed calls by the umpires on the bases. And Tyler Clippard couldn’t hold a tie game in the seventh.

But the bottom line in the Washington Nationals 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves — the Nats eighth loss in a row to their division opponent — was repeated missed opportunities with runners on base, as the Nats had seven hits in the first six outs and managed to score just twice against Braves rookie starter Julio Teheran.

Denard Span was picked off after singling in the first inning. In the second, a strikeout trying to sacrifice bunt turned into a double play when the runner off second strayed too far.  A hard hop turned into a 3-6 double play in the third. Two one-out singles in the fourth died on the vine. Two no-out runners in the sixth did the same. The Nats repeatedly put runners on base against the Braves and either ran into outs or couldn’t cash them in.

Add it all up, and the Nats (13-13) fall back to .500, 3 1/2 games behind the Braves in the N.L. East.

Adding injury to insult, after the game Strasburg complained of forearm tightness and was being examined by the Nationals medical staff.

Strasburg struck out eight in six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and a wildly uncharacteristic four walks. Several times in the first inning he missed so badly with fastballs that Kurt Suzuki couldn’t handle that went all the way to the backstop. He struggled with his fastball command all evening long, and often was seen shaking out his arm, lifting it above his head trying to keep it loose. On one visit to the mound by pitching coach Steve McCatty, Strasburg seemed visibly agitated, and had a look of exasperation on his face all evening long.

That he did battle through it and keep his team in the game was a testament to his tenacity and talent, but we’ll have to wait and see on the doctor’s review for any long-term prognosis.

Strasburg’s first inning struggles this season continued against the Braves, and he was lucky to escape the first with just one run against. He walked the leadoff batter, Jordan Schafer, on a 3-2 after missing wildly with several fastballs. Andrelton Simmons struck out, but Schafer stole second on the swinging strike three. Justin Upton, leading the N.L. in home runs this season, singled to right to score Schafer, and it was 1-0 after three batters.

First baseman Freddie Freeman followed with a single and Upton went to third, but Freeman took a wide turn at first and Ian Desmond threw behind the runner to nab him at first – in a very close play — to limit the damage against Strasburg.

The Nats jumped all over Braves starter Julio Teheran in the second and scored twice, but could have had so much more. The Nats hit four consecutive singles, from Adam LaRoche, Desmond, Chad Tracy and Kurt Suzuki, to take a 2-1 lead. Strasburg tried to sacrifice but could not get the job done. When he bunted through strike three, Tracy led too far off second and was thrown out by catcher Gerald Laird for a killer double play.

Strasburg continued to labor inning after inning, but kept the Braves off the board until the fourth. Again, a leadoff walk came back to hurt Strasburg, as Freeman drew a base on balls leading off. Dan Uggla’s one-out single moved Freeman up a base, but Strasburg got B.J. Upton swinging for the second out and looked like he might escape. But Laird took an o-1 fastball to center on a line to bring Freeman home. The Nats cut the ball and threw to get Uggla out at third and the replay showed they got the out before the run crossed, but home plate umpire Laz Diaz upheld the run scoring.

Strasburg performed better as the night went on, and struck out the side in the sixth to end his outing, punctuated by a 98-MPH fastball to finish off B.J. Upton.

The Braves took the lead against Tyler Clippard in the seventh. Again, the Nats pitchers allowed a leadoff walk, and again it came around to score. Laird walked on five pitches to start the inning, went to second on a sacrifice, took third on a single by Schafer and scored on Simmons’ sacrifice line drive to Jayson Werth in right.

THE GOOD: Ian Desmond. 2-for-4, run scored.

THE BAD: Tyler Clippard. Took the loss and didn’t look sharp.

THE UGLY: Stephen Strasburg. In previous games, he’d been able to right the ship after his first inning struggles. But in this one, he never really did find his rhythm, despite making some big pitches. But his health is the main concern now.

THE STATS: 10 hits, 1 BB, 11 ks. 2-for-9 with RISP, 6 LOB. No errors, 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Tuesday at 7:10 pm at Atlanta. Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 4.50) faces Tim Hudson (2-1, 4.50).

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Washington Nationals Game 12 Review: Braves complete sweep; Gio hammered in loss

April 14, 2013 by

After consecutive losses to the Atlanta Braves on Friday and Saturday, the Washington Nationals needed Gio Gonzalez to be the “stopper” on Sunday. He ended up being whatever the opposite of stopper is as the relentless Braves lineup pounded him and the Nats 9-0 before 39,389 under sun-drenched skies at Nationals Park.

The Braves (11-1) jumped all over Gonzalez early — and often. From the very first pitch, which B.J. Upton lined for a double, you could tell this one could end up being trouble. Gonzalez got uber-slumping Jason Heyward to fly out, but he walked Justin Upton before allowing a run-scoring double to janitor-turned-Babe Ruth Evan Gattis. Gio got Dan Uggla swinging for the second out, but couldn’t get the Braves to stall. Chris Johnson ripped a pitch right back through the box to score two more, and the Nats trailed 3-0 before they took a swing.

Gonzalez cruised through the second inning, but got into even more hot water in the third. Justin Upton led off with his seventh home run of the season, which leads the Major Leagues. Uggla drew a one-out walk and Johnson singled again, to set up Andrelton Simmons’ three-run home run, his first of the season.

Atlanta picked up two more in the sixth against reliever Zach Duke. Braves pitcher Paul Maholm hit a one-out single, took second on B.J. Upton’s single and scored on Heyward’s double to the right field corner. After an intentional walk to Justin Upton, B.J. scored on Gattis’ sacrifice fly to right.

The rest was all Maholm. The lefty was dominant against the Nats (7-5), going 7 2/3 innings to earn his third win of the young season. He blanked the Nats, allowing just four hits and a walk, striking out seven.

THE GOOD: Kurt Suzuki went 2-for-3. That’s all I got.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa was hit on the right hand in his only at bat. He played another half-inning in the field before being lifted for Steve Lombardozzi. The team announced during the game Espinosa left with a “sore right hand”.

THE UGLY: Ryan Zimmerman made another throwing error, his third in as many games against the Braves. He also made several plays, including starting a pair of 5-4-3 double plays. Manager Davey Johnson insists Zimmerman is healthy but concedes his third baseman is still gaining strength in the surgically repaired shoulder.

THE STATS: 4 hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. 1-for-5 with RISP, 7 LOB. E: Zimmerman (throw, 3); Lombardozzi (1).

NEXT GAME: Monday against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Jordan Zimmerman (2-0, 2.08) faces Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 3.27) at 7:10 pm.

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Washington Nationals Game 11 Review: Hudson shuts down Nats; Ramos pulls hamstring

April 13, 2013 by

It’s a high bar indeed, when a starting pitcher allows no earned runs in six innings and we accuse him of “struggling”. But Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg has set that standard for himself in his young career. He had trouble locating his fastball through the early innings against the Atlanta Braves, but eventually settled down to get through six innings.

Unfortunately, his teammates were thoroughly shut down by Braves hurler Tim Hudson, and the Nats (7-4) fell to the Braves 3-1, before a sellout crowd of 41,992. Adding injury to insult, catcher Wilson Ramos sustained a pulled hamstring trying to leg out a ground ball in the eighth inning. Manager Davey Johnson indicted the pull was “pretty deep”, and suggested Ramos would need a few weeks to recover. If that is the case. Jhonatan Solano would be first in line to replace Ramos on the roster.

Strasburg didn’t have his best stuff, but he battled through six innings. His final line — two unearned runs on five hits and one walk with a hit batter, wild pitch and seven strikeouts — masks the lack of pinpoint control and his trouble locating his fastball through most of his appearance. Indicative of his struggles on the day, Strasburg failed to retire the Braves Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, shortstop Ramiro Pena and pitcher Tim Hudson, who went a combined 3-for-3 with a walk.

After laboring in the first and second innings, Strasburg looked like he had righted the ship and was going to have a 1-2-3 inning in the third. Justin Upton rolled over on a fastball and hit a soft grounder to third base. Ryan Zimmerman fielded cleanly, but his sidearmed throw drew Adam LaRoche off the bag and Upton reached on the error. Given another opportunity, the Braves capitalized, as rookie Evan Gattis hit his fifth home run of the season, into the visitor’s bullpen in left center.

But Strasburg (L, 1-2, 2.95) seemed to settle down a little bit after the third inning and he got into a groove as his day went on, retiring his final seven batters consecutively.

The Nats cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fifth on Danny Espinosa’s first home run of the season. That was, unfortunately, the only run the Nats would get off Braves starter Tim Hudson (W, 2-0, 2.50). The veteran right-hander dominated the Nats lineup over seven innings, limiting the Nats to four hits with no walks.

THE GOOD: Danny Espinosa. He’s been really struggling out of the box, but showed signs of life with the homer.

THE BAD: Ryan Mattheus. One run on three hits in one inning in a one-run game. Nats needed Mattheus to lock it down with the one run deficit and he couldn’t.

THE UGLY: Zimmerman’s throw. You can’t give good teams like the Braves an extra out, and that’s what that error did. The bats let the Nats down Saturday, but Zimmerman’s error set Strasburg up for failure.

THE STATS: 4 hits, 0 BBs, 4 Ks. 0-for-1 with RISP, 1 LOB. E: Zimmerman (throw, 2), 0 DPs.

NEXT GAME: The Nats send Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 0.82) to the mound on Sunday to face Paul Maholm (2-0, 0.00) at 1:35 pm.

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: With help from Mother Nature, Nats top Braves 9-3

March 24, 2013 by

Before they could even turn the lights on at Space Coast Stadium, swirling winds and reports of a nearby tornado sent fans and ball players scrambling for cover with the Washington Nationals leading the Atlanta Braves 9-3 in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon.

Jordan Zimmermann pitched 6.0 impressive innings, allowing six hits, three runs – only one earned – three walks and four strikeouts over 85 pitches on an outrageously windy day in Central Florida. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: Strasburg delivers but Nats fall 7-2 to Atlanta

March 11, 2013 by

Stephen Strasburg looked sharp through five innings Monday night before accounting for four runs in the Washington Nationals’ 7-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Space Coast Stadium.

Strasburg allowed just one hit – a single by B.J. Upton in the second inning – and a walk before he came on to start the sixth inning. Until that point, both teams remained scoreless as left-hander Paul Maholm also tossed for five impressive innings.

Christian Bethancourt flied out to start the sixth, but Reed Johnson followed with a single to right. Tyler Pastornicky also chopped one to shallow right and Jordan Schafer walked to load the bases. Justin Upton then batted in Johnson and Pastornicky on a single to left to put the Braves up 2-0 before the Nats called upon Zach Duke to relieve Strasburg. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: Nats rally late then hang on to beat the Braves

March 1, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals equaled their number of wins in the Grapefruit League with their number of ties on Friday, beating the Atlanta Braves 6-5 at Champion Stadium on the Disney Complex in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The Nats spring record now stands at 2-3-2.

Jordan Zimmermann made his second start of spring training and though he allowed two runs on five hits, was solid. He struck out four in three innings and did not walk a batter. He looked to be working on his changeup, a pitch he rarely uses, in particular. After the game, Zimmermann said he was very happy with his changeup and the pitch could find its way into his repertoire more often.

The Nats No. 3 starter — in name only — threw 39 of his 49 pitches for strikes, including six of the aforementioned changeups.

Zimmermann gave up a solo home run to Braves slugger Jason Heyward in the first inning. In the second, Juan Francisco reached on a one-out base hit, went to second on Christian Bethancourt’s infield single and scored on a Reed Johnson single to center. He retired Braves regulars Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and B.J. Upton in succession in the third, his final inning of work.

Ross Ohlendorf followed and gave up another two runs on three hits. As Zimmermann, he did not walk a batter and struck out two. Tyler Clippard struck out one in his inning of work. Fernando Abad gave up a hit and stuck out two in a scoreless inning while Cole Kimball walked one and struck out two in a scoreless frame. Jeremy Accardo gave up a run in the ninth but finished things up for the save.

The Nats offense started with Bryce Harper, who homered in the first inning off Braves top prospect Julio Teheran. He finished 1-for-2 on the day.

The Nats busted out in the eighth inning off Braves farmhand Cory Rasmus. Jhonatan Solano and Eury Perez started the innings with back-to-back singles and Anthony Rendon walked to load the bases. Will Rhymes singled to center to plate Solano and Steven Souza walked to force in Perez. Zach Walters popped out without advancing the runners, but Carlos Rivero followed with a double to clear the bases.

The Nats face the St. Louis Cardinals, in a rematch of last season’s NLDS, Saturday at 1:05 pm Eastern at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

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Washington Nationals Spring Training: Don’t Bet on a Bryce Harper Slowdown Just Yet

February 26, 2013 by

If you have been checking into the Washington Nationals spring training games for indication of a Bryce Harper sophomore slump to come, now might be the time to consider a new hobby.

In Washington’s 9-5 loss to a team many expect to be the Nats’ strongest opponent in the NL East – the Atlanta Braves – Harper went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a single and two runs scored to bring his batting average this spring to .750.

Sure, spring training numbers mean arguably nothing. That said, why starve a Nats fan of the opportunity to get at least a little excited by the fact that Harper is just three hits away from matching his total of nine hits from last spring? With Harper looking bulkier at the plate than he did last year, for now, Nats fans can dream of what could be if Harper hits for greater power throughout the coming season.

Along with Harper, Ross Detwiler can rest a little easier tonight. In the first inning of Tuesday’s game, he retired the side on 13 total pitches against the Braves’ Reed Johnson, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton, and caught Heyward looking on a 79 MPH curveball.

Detwiler allowed just one hit – by Dan Uggla – in the second inning. He forced Freddie Freeman to fly out to Harper in left before B.J. Upton reached base on a fielding error by Tyler Moore at first. Dan Uggla singled in the next at-bat but Detwiler retired Juan Francisco and Christian Bethancourt to get out of the inning unscathed.

A southpaw for Team USA, Detwiler was likely happy to face many familiar faces on the Braves as he gets ready to play competitive ball. In the third inning of Tuesday’s matchup, however, Atlanta succeeded by playing small ball against the 26-year-old. Ramiro Pena and Johnson hit back-to-back singles and Justin Upton singled to left with one out to bat in Pena. With two outs, B.J. Upton lined to left to bat in Johnson, and the Nats called in Ryan Perry for relief – for which he provided little. Nevertheless, by the end of his stint, Detwiler had thrown 28 strikes out of 41 pitches for a final line of 2.2 IP, 5H, 2ER.

Perry officially earned the loss after allowing six hits, five earned runs and two walks in 1 2/3 innings of play. Lefty Bill Bray allowed the Braves to tack on an additional earned run in the fifth, and the Braves tallied an extra unearned run off right-hander Jeremy Accardo before calling it a day with a 9-5 win over D.C.

The Nationals are now 1-2 in Grapefruit League action this year and will go on to face the Miami Marlins at home tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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