June 18, 2013

Washington Nationals Game 69 Review: Chad Tracy’s homer too little, too late as Nats fall to Phils 5-4

June 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In a matchup between two over-5.00 ERA pitchers on two teams struggling to find the .500 mark, the Philadelphia Phillies (34-37) topped the Washington Nationals (34-35) 5-4 in walk-off fashion Monday night.

It’s been a frustrating road trip for the Nats, who have managed to win three of seven thus far despite their offensive woes.

With former National John Lannan (ND, 0-1) on the mound for the Phillies, Washington had a legitimate shot at erasing memories of Sunday afternoon’s frustrating loss to the Cleveland Indians.

In fact, the Nats struck first – and early – against Lannan. With one out in the first inning, Anthony Rendon drew a walk before Ryan Zimmerman took first on a hit-by-pitch. Jayson Werth singled to left to drive in Rendon and give the Nats a 1-0 lead before Ian Desmond grounded into a double play to cut the inning short. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 68 Review: Indians shut out Nats in rubber game

June 16, 2013 by 2 Comments

In perhaps the Washington Nationals’ (34-34) most frustrating display of offensive insufficiency this season, the Cleveland Indians (34-34) took the interleague series rubber game 2-0 at Progressive Field Sunday afternoon.

Bypassing any minor league rehab assignments, Stephen Strasburg (L, 3-6) allowed just one run on one hit in his first appearance off the disabled list, showing no evidence of lingering back pain.

Strasburg’s sole run allowed came in the bottom of the fourth after Jason Kipnis drew a one-out walk and stole second, only to advance to third on a throwing error by Jhonatan Solano. In the next at-bat, Carlos Santana singled Kipnis home to position Strasburg for the not-so-deserved loss. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 67 Review: Tracy ties, Rendon wins game with solo homers

June 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

If someone told you the Washington Nationals had a five-run lead with Jordan Zimmermann on the mound, you would assume –correctly, in this case — the Nats would win the game. It didn’t work out the easy way, though, as Zimmermann was roughed up by the Cleveland Indians and left the game trailing after five innings. But Chad Tracy tied the game in the top of the eighth with a two-out solo home run, then rookie Anthony Rendon won it with his first career homer, a solo shot with two down in the ninth inning.

The 7-6 win allows the Nats to remain 5 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East, moving their record over .500 again to 34-33.

The Nats jumped on Indians starter Scott Kazmir right off the bat in the first inning. With two outs, Ryan Zimmerman launched his eighth home run of the season to right center, a blast over 400 feet. Jayson Werth (2-for-3, BB) followed Zim’s lead, blasting one in the same direction for his sixth of the year, giving the Nats a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

Ian Desmond led off the second inning against Kazmir with a home run of his own, a laser to the left field corner that hit off the rail above the yellow home run line on the top of the tall fence in Progressive Field’s left field corner.

The Nats had a chance to really bust this one wide open in the third, loading the bases with no outs on a lead-off double by Anthony Rendon (3-for-5, two runs, RBI) and back-to-back walks by Zimmerman and Werth. Adam LaRoche smoked a grounder to second baseman Jason Kipnis, who started a 4-6-3 double play. Rendon scored on the play, but Zimmerman got a late break as he had to make sure Kipnis didn’t catch the low liner, and he was almost picked off on the relay from first baseman Nick Swisher over to third base — a potential triple play.

Zimmerman later scored on a wild pitch by Kazmir on what turned out to be ball four to Desmond, to make it 5-0. Desmond was Kazmir’s last batter.

The Indians got on the board in the bottom of the third. Mike Aviles doubled with one out, and Kipnis brought him home one out later with a single through the hole on the left side to make it 5-1. Cleveland cut the score to two in the fourth inning, as back-to-back homers by Carlos Santana and Mark Reynolds made the score 5-3 after four innings.

 Zimmermann had more trouble in the fifth. Mike Aviles reached on a one-out single, then Michael Bourn flied out for the second out and it looked like Zimmermann would breeze. But then, Kipnis singled, moving Aviles up a base. Nick Swisher followed with another single and Aviles scored to make it 5-4. The big blow came when Michael Brantley smashed a double to center, scoring both Kipnis and Swisher.

The Indians had come all the way back from five runs down to take the lead against one of the National League’s best starting pitchers.

The Nats were confused against several Indians relievers after Kazmir (2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K) was lifted. Matt Albers, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined for 4 1/3 shut out innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. But in the eighth, Chad Tracy pinch-hit for Chris Marrero against righty Joe Smith with two outs, and got a high fastball he could handle, driving it to center field for his second home run of the season, tying the game at six.

That set the stage for the ninth inning. Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano got Lombardozzi and Denard Span without incident, which brought Anthony Rendon to the plate. On an 0-1 count, Rendon popped up to foul territory done the right field line. But even though RF Michael Brantley or 2B Jason Kipnis could have made the catch, it inexplicably fell between them for a foul ball. On the next pitch, Rendon drove one down the right field line that just cleared the fence for his first home run of his MLB career — and a 7-6 Nats lead.

Rafael Soriano gave up a two-out double in the ninth, but LaRoche snared a live drive off the bat of Bourn for the last out. Soriano earned his 18th save of the season.

THE GOOD: Chad Tracy. The much maligned pinch-hitter had not reached base in his last 21 plate appearances and was hitting .131/.172/.180 entering play. But he came through big-time when the Nats needed it Saturday night.

Also, Rendon. Kid looks like he belongs, eh?

THE BAD: In the top of the sixth, with two down and a runner at third, Steve Lombardozzi pinch-hit for Jeff Kobernus. Lombo hit a soft, spinning line drive off the end of his bat toward short. Off the bat, it looked like there was no way Mike Aviles would be able to make a play. But Aviles bare-handed the spinner and got the generous call at first. Lombo’s supposed to have decent speed and he was thrown out on a play he should have beaten.

THE UGLY: With the season he’s having, it’s tough to call Zimmermann’s outing ugly, especially since he had a two-run lead with two outs and a man on in the fifth. But three straight hits gave the Indians the lead and ended his night. Overall, six earned runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings — on a night he had a 5-0 lead — was indeed ugly.

THE STATS: 8 hits, 5 BBs, 7 Ks. 0-for-5 with RISP, 5 LOB. No errors, one DP.

NEXT GAME: Sunday at 1:05 pm against the Indians. Stephen Strasburg (3-5, 2.54) returns from the D.L. to face Corey Kluber (4-4, 4.08).

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Washington Nationals Game 66 Review: Indians Top Nats in 9th on Questionable Baserunning Call

June 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Washington Nationals (33-33) managed just two hits in their series-opening 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians (33-33) at Progressive Field Friday night, thanks in part to what could have been deemed interference by Jason Kipnis in the ninth.

Gio Gonzalez (ND, 3-3) allowed just three hits and one home run over seven innings pitched. He walked four batters and struck out eight, throwing 73 of 127 pitches for strikes. Entering Friday’s matchup, Gonzalez boasted a 5-0 career record against Cleveland with an 0.72 ERA.

But, as has so often been the case, the Nats’ bats remained quiet. Their first – and only – run off right-hander Justin Masterson (W, 8-5) came in the third inning via two walks, a single and a wild pitch that brought home Kurt Suzuki. [Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 65 Review: Zimmerman and Desmond rake in Nats 5-4 win over Rockies

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

As the Washington Nationals slowly get guys back from the disabled list, and their hitters warm up with the summer weather, they are starting to look more like the team that was heralded in the pre-season as legitimate World Series contenders.

In the series finale in Colorado, the Nats used big days at the plate from Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond, and a return to the mound from Ross Detwiler, to beat the Rockies 5-4 and raise their record back above .500 at 33-32.

Detwiler, returning from an oblique injury, was going to be limited to about 80 pitches, and he didn’t do himself any favors out of the gate as got behind right away in the first inning. After the Nats went down 1-2-3, Detwiler’s first pitch was ripped by Dexter Fowler into right field for a lead-off double. Fowler went to third on a groundout by Jordan Pacheco, and came in to score on Tyler Colvin’s pinch-hit single to left.

Yes, pinch-hit in the first inning. Carlos Gonzalez, an early N.L. MVP candidate, was hit in the lower left leg by a foul ball off the bat of Pacheco while standing in the on-deck circle and had to be removed from the game.

Zimmerman got the Nats on the board in the top of the third. Detwiler led off with his first hit of the season, a soft live drive to right. Two outs later, Zimmerman crushed a fastball from Francis to the bleachers in left field for his seventh homer this season and extends the Nats team record with a home run in 78 consecutive series.

Lifetime, Zimmerman owns a .365 average with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 28 career games at Coors Field.

The lead didn’t hold long though. The Rockies pushed tow across against Detwiler in the bottom of the fourth. Troy Tulowitzki singled to lead off and scored on Michael Cuddyer’s double that Jayson Werth then misplayed into an error in right field, allowing Cuddyer to go to third. Detwiler coaxed a grounder out of Wilin Rosario, but it was enough to bring Cuddyer in to make it 3-2.

Detwiler made it through five innings in his return to the rotation. He gave up three earned runs on six hits, without walking a batter, and struck out two. He threw 77 pitches, 51 strikes. Craig Stammen (W, 4-2, 2.94) took over for Detwiler and provided two innings of scoreless relief.

The Nats got a gift run to tie it in the seventh. Ian Desmond led off with a single and stole second as Kurt Suzuki struck out for the second out of the inning. Then, with Steve Lombardozzi hitting, Desmond was awarded third, and then home, when Rockies reliever Wilton Lopez was called for back-to-back balks by second base umpire Bob Davidson, widely known across baseball as “Balkin’ Bob” due to his proclivity for making the anomalous call.

Zimmerman delivered again in the eighth for the Nats. After Roger Bernadina’s one-out double, Zim cranked a double the other way which plated Bernadina, who appeared to jam his shoulder on the head-first slide on his double and was seen grimacing and being attended to by trainers in the dugout after he scored, though he did take the field the next inning.

Jayson Werth moved Zimmerman to third with a ground out and the Rockies inexplicable walked Adam LaRoche to face the Nats hottest hitter, Ian Desmond. The shortstop came through again for the Nats with his fourth hit of the day, an infield single in the hole that Tulowitzki gloved but could not make a play on. Zimmerman strolled home to make it 5-3.

Xavier Cedeno and Drew Storen combined on a perfect eighth inning in relief, and while Rafael Soriano gave up a run in the ninth, he held on for his 17th save of the season.

THE GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman. He loves hitting in Coors Field. 2-for-4 with a homer, double, three RBIs and two runs scored. His yearly averages are up to .274/.350/.458.

THE BAD: Denard Span took another 0-fer in Colorado, going 0-for-4. Werth and Suzuki joined him today taking the collar.

THE UGLY: The Rockies lost Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler and Troy Tulowitzki, their three best players and NL All-Stars all this season, to injury.

THE STATS: 9 hits, 4 BBs, 9 Ks. 2-for-5 with RISP, 6 LOB. E: Werth (1, fielding). 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Friday at 7:05 pm ET at the Cleveland Indians. Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.59) faces RHP Justin Masterson (8-5, 3.68)

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Washington Nationals Game 64 Review: Ohlendorf leads Nats to 5-1 win over Rockies

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Washington Nationals used eight starting pitchers all of last season, and only five up to September 1. Wednesday night, they used their eighth starter so far this season, sending journeyman Ross Ohlendorf against the Colorado Rockies at mile-high Coors Field. Ohlendorf came through for the Nats, keeping the Rockies’ potent offense off the board for six innings, leading the Nats to a 5-1 win to even the three-game series at a game apiece.

The Nats (32-32) called up Ohlendorf to make a start in Stephen Strasburg’s normal spot in the rotation. With the Nats’ ace due back next week, it’s probably a one-off shot for Ohlendorf, but he made the most of it. The 30-year old veteran journeyman, who owns an 18-32 record with a 5.10 ERA in 108 MLB games with the Yankees, Pirates and Padres pitched six innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits and two walks, striking out two. Ohlendorf threw 54 of his 89 pitches for strikes.

The Nats stuck first in the fourth inning against Rockies starter Jorge de la Rosa. Ryan Zimmerman earned a nine-pitch base on balls and took second on Jayson Werth’s comebacker. Adam LaRoche struck out looking, but Ian Desmond delivered with two outs, singling to right field to plate Zimmerman.

They tacked on more runs in the sixth. With de la Rosa running out of gas, Jeff Kobernus walked on four pitches. Zimmerman then clobbered one to deep center, where center fielder Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez collided, with the ball falling safely for an RBI double for Zimmerman, ending de la Rosa’s night.

Werth grounded out against reliever Adam Ottovino, moving Zimmerman to third. The Rockies intentionally walked LaRoche to set up a righty-righty matchup with Desmond. Ottovino uncorked a wild pitch, moving LaRoche up to second. Desmond then foiled the Rockies plans, singling to center to score both runners and give the Nats a 4-0 lead.

The Rockies finally got to Ohlendorf in the sixth. Fowler walked with one out, but was erased on a fielder’s choice, with Jonathan Herrera taking his place at first. Herrera stole second when no defensive player covered the bag. With two outs and first base open, the Nats decided to pitch to MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez, and he made them pay, tripling to left field to drive in Herrera.

Ohlendorf got out of the inning by coaxing a long fly ball from Troy Tulowitzki to end the frame.

The Nats picked up another run in the eighth as LaRoche doubled to right, took third on Desmond’s ground out, and scored on Anthony Rendon’s RBI double. Rendon has 13 total bases in six games since rejoining the Nats. Danny Espinosa had 13 total bases in his previous 19 games before being placed on the D.L.

From there, the game was in the hands of the bullpen, and Ian Krol, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano all did their jobs to deliver the win.

THE GOOD: Ross Ohlendorf, naturally. He’ll probably only get one start for now, but he was very good in a tough park to pitch in when the Nats really needed it.

THE BAD: Denard Span. 0-for-4.

THE UGLY: The Nats lost four runners on the bases, including Jeff Kobernus getting thrown out stealing in the first inning, and Ian Desmond caught stealing twice. For a team struggling to score runs, you can’t waste outs on the bases.

THE STATS: 8 hits, 8 BBs (a season-high), 8 Ks. 3-for-11 with RISP, 8 LOB. E: Ohlendorf (1, throw).

NEXT GAME: Thursday at 3:10 pm ET against the Rockies. Ross Detwiler (2-4, 2.76) returns from the disabled list to face LHP Jeff Francis (2-4, 6.30).

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Washington Nationals Game 63 Review: Nats, Haren pounded by Rockies

June 11, 2013 by 2 Comments

Over the weekend, the Washington Nationals took two of three against the A.L.’s Minnesota Twins to pull their season record back to .500. But Tuesday, a return to N.L. play against the Colorado Rockies induced more headaches, as Dan Haren allowed the Rockies to bat around in the fifth en route to an 8-3 loss at Coors Field.

Haren (L, 4-8, 5.70) allowed five earned runs in that one inning. In his five innings, he gave up eight hits and a walk, including two home runs in that fateful fifth inning.

The Nats cut the score to two runs in the eighth, but Drew Storen’s tough 2013 continued, as the former closer gave up three runs to cement the loss.

After the teams traded zeros in the first inning, the Nats jumped out to a lead in the second. Ian Desmond drew his 12th walk of the season (in over 250 plate appearances) to lead off. Anthony Rendon followed with a single to center that advanced Desmond to second. Kurt Suzuki’s grounder to third forced Desmond for the first out of the inning. Haren completed a successful sacrifice with two strikes, and Denard Span laced a drive into right field to plate both runners.

Haren fell apart in the bottom of the fifth. He first allowed a walk — just his tenth of the season — to the leadoff batter, catcher Wilin Rosario. Tyler Colvin followed and crushed a center-cut fastball down the right field line and into the bleachers for Haren’s league-leading 16th home run allowed this season. With one out, Jordan Pacheco pinch-hit for Rockies starter Jhoulis Chacin, and singled to center. Dexter Fowler doubled to put runners art second and third.

Haren was able to strike out Nolan Arenado for the second out of the inning. but Carlos Gonzalez — on an MVP pace — crushed a cutter that didn’t cut to the opposite field, depositing the ball into the first row of the stands in left to put the Rockies up 5-2. For Gonzalez, it was his 18th home run and 51st RBI of the season.

Haren’s night was over after allowing the Rockies to bat around in the fifth. The veteran, signed to a one-year, $13 million contract last off-season, gave up five earned runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out six and allowed the two home runs.

The Nats got one back in the top of the eighth, as Werth walked, went to second on Adam LaRoche’s ground out, and scored on Desmond’s RBI single.

But Drew Storen gave that back — and then some — in the bottom of the frame. Five straight hits to start the inning, including Colvin’s second two-run home run of the night, resulted in three more Rockies runs to make it 8-3. The three-run inning marked the end of an eight-appearance scoreless streak for Storen.

THE GOOD: Erik Davis and Fernando Abad each pitched a scoreless inning with a combined five strikeouts to keep the Nats in the game for a while.

THE BAD: Drew Storen. Three earned runs on four hits, a walk and a homer, the half inning after the Nats cut the lead to two. Not bueno.

THE UGLY: Dan Haren. Let’s face it, he isn’t getting the job done. With the way the Nats rotation lined up at the start of the season, all the Nats needed was .500 from Haren. With the offense’s struggles so far, letting down all the rotation, the Nats needed more out of Haren and he hasn’t been able to comply. His once-biting cutter now hangs in the middle of the plate at 84-85 and is getting eaten alive. Among the many things going wrong for the Nats, Haren has to be at the top of the list.

THE STATS: 8 hits, 4 BBs, 3 Ks. 2-for-8 with RISP, 8 LOB. No errors, 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday at 8:40 pm ET against the Rockies. Ross Ohlendorf (4-5, 4.27 at AAA-Syracuse) makes his Nats debut against Jorge de la Rosa (7-3, 3.38).

NATS NOTES: After the game, the Nats announced they traded Henry Rodriguez, DFA’d last week, to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league RHP Ian Dickson. Dickson, 22, was 2-2. 6.88 at High-A Kane County this season. In 26 career minor league appearances, Dickson owns a 7.3 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9.

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Washington Nationals Games 61 & 62 Review: Nats sweep doubleheader from Twins to get back to .500

June 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In the regularly scheduled 1:35 game Sunday, the Washington Nationals tied their season benchmark for runs in a inning. In the nightcap, a rescheduled affair prompted by the rainout Friday night, the Nats came from behind by three runs to win a game for the first time all season. The result: a sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the day/night doubleheader, which pulls the Nats back up to the .500 mark at 31-31.

The early game was all about two big innings… and Jordan Zimmermann. The leader of the 2013 staff did it again, pacing the Nats with seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball. Rookie Ian Krol and Xavier Cedeno – lefties both — kept the Twins off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the shutout.

The late game was a case of chipping away at a deficit, one run at a time, until the Nats overcame the hole they’d dug themselves, with four different players driving in runs and four different players scoring runs. Then a parade of relievers shut the door and kept it that way until the Twins’ last out was exhausted.

In the early game, the Nats exploded for their seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings off Twins starter Scott Diamond. Consecutive singles by Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche set the table for Ian Desmond in the fourth. Desmond singled to center and third base coach Trent Jewett sent Werth, who was cut down at the plate on a great throw by center fielder Clete Thomas. But Anthony Rendon followed with a smash off shortstop Pedro Florimon’s glove, and LaRoche and Desmond both came around to make it 2-0.

In the next inning, Diamond intentionally walked Werth to load the bases after Jeff Kobernus walked and Ryan Zimmerman doubled. LaRoche made him pay, with a single to the left side which plated Kobernus. A visit by the Twins pitching coach did no help, as Desmond followed with a two-run single three pitches later. Rendon put the cap on the inning, doubling off reliever Ryan Pressly to drive in LaRoche and Desmond.

The rest was up to Zimmermann, who was equal to the task yet again.

In the nightcap, Nathan Karns was not very good and put the Nats in a hole early, allowing four earned runs in the first three innings, on five hits and two walks. Washington got a run in the third on three consecutive singles by Roger Bernadina, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. But an Adam LaRoche strikeout and Ian Desmond double play ground ball halted the threat there.

Two innings later, LaRoche came though, with a two-out RBI sacrifice fly, which brought home Denard Span to cut the lead to one and moved Bernadina to third. Again, the rally stalled at just one run as Desmond was called out on strikes.

The Nats tied the game finally in the sixth. Anthony Rendon singled off shortstop Pedro Florimon’s glove and scored on Span’s two-out triple. Bernadina walked to give Zimmerman a chance to take the lead, but the Nats No. 3 hitter struck out looking to end the frame.

The very next inning, though, back-to-back doubles by LaRoche and Desmond did the trick, putting the Nats up 5-4.

The entire bullpen were the heroes in the second game. It started with Craig Stammen, who came on for Karns in the fourth and blanked the Twins for two innings. Erik Davis, Fernando Abad, Tyler Clippard (W, 5-1), Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano (S, 16) all did their jobs to earn the Nats 31st win of the season.

THE GOOD: Jordan Zimmerman. We’re out of superlatives for the stoic righty. Two hits, two walks and 8 Ks over seven shutout innings for his ninth win of the season.

In the early game, Desmond went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Rendon went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. In the evening game, Roger Bernadina went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored. Nice game for The Shark.

THE BAD: Kurt Suzuki went 0-for-3 with 4 LOB in the first game.

THE UGLY: Karns. He left everything up in the evening game and paid for it. With Detwiler coming back this week, Karns will probably find himself back in Syracuse for more seasoning.

THE STATS: First Game: 14 hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. 5-for-10 with RISP, 8 LOB. E: Rendon (4, fielding), Zimmerman (11, throw).

Second Game: 10 hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. 3-for-14 with RISP, 9 LOB. E: Rendon (5, fielding); one DP.

NEXT GAME: Tuesday at 8:40 ET in Colorado against the Rockies. Dan Haren (4-7, 5.45) faces Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.59).

NATS NOTES: Before the games, the Nats recalled 1B Chris Marrero from AAA-Syracuse. The right-handed hitter was hitting .306/.355/.502 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 55 games for the Chiefs. After the games, the team sent 1B/OF Tyler Moore to Syracuse. Moore has struggled all season and the team hopes that he’ll find his swing playing every day in the minors.

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Washington Nationals Game 59 Review: Oh, mediocrity! Nats fall into third place with loss to Mets

June 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

All the good feelings from the Washington Nationals’ first walk-off win of the season didn’t even last 24 hours.

Nats starter Dan Haren was hit early and often, and lasted just four innings, as the New York Mets — ten games under .500 themselves – scored five runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-1 win as Washington’s moribund offense never mustered any type of attack whatsoever.

With the loss, the Nats drop below .500 again (29-30) and to add insult to injury, slid into third place in the N.L. East behind their arch-rival Philadelphia Phillies.

Haren actually got through the first inning unscathed, and the Nats gave him an early lead when Ian Desmond’s two-out single in the bottom of the first brought home Denard Span from third base.

That would be the end of the highlights for Nats fans.

Lucas Duda led off the second with a double to right, then Marlon Byrd clobbered an 84-MPH splitter from Haren that just hung in the middle of the plate.

The Mets went right back after Haren in the third. Daniel Murphy’s one-out single preceded David Wright’s eighth homer of the season. After Duda flew out to center, Byrd punished a cutter that didn’t cut, driving his eighth home run to left to make it 5-1.

The competitive portion of the contest was over.

The Nats had runners on base in every inning but one, but managed just the lone run in the first inning. Their best chance to score came in the fourth, down 5-1. With runners at second and third and one out, though, Span struck out swinging on three pitches, then Jayson Werth struck out looking on three pitches.

The Mets picked up two runs in the fifth off Craig Stammen and three off Erik Davis in the seventh inning adding to the embarrassing total.

It was that kind of night, in that kind of a season.

THE GOOD: The lone bright spot for the Nats was the Major League debut of reliever Ian Krol, who gave up a double to his first batter, but then struck out three straight to leave the runner stranded.

THE BAD: Steve Lombardozzi, Tuesday night’s “hero” for his walk-off sac fly, went 0-for-4 to drop his slash line for the season to .228/.241/.290.

THE UGLY: Dan Haren. I’ve been patient with the veteran starter, hoping that the glimpses we’ve seen here and there would become the norm and not the anomaly. But that’s just not the case. Five earned on seven hits, including three home runs. He’s tied for most home runs allowed now and he’s just not getting it done. Unfortunately, with Detwiler still on the D.L. and Strasburg joining him there, there really aren’t any other options unless Haren comes up lame again too.

THE STATS: 8 hits, 1 BB, 6 Ks. 2-for-9 with RISP, 8 LOB. No errors, no DPs.

NEXT GAME: Thursday at 7:05 pm against the Mets. Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.64) hosts Shaun Marcum (0-6, 5.71)

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Washington Nationals Game 58 Review: With changing tides, Nats win in walk-off fashion

June 5, 2013 by 1 Comment

Amidst an array of roster moves, the Washington Nationals (29-29) out-pitched the New York Mets (22-33) in their return to Nationals Park Tuesday night to record a much-needed 3-2 win.

It was anything but a quiet day for the Nats, who welcomed back Jayson Werth for his first game since May 2. Washington recalled – but sat – Anthony Rendon and also brought up left-handed pitcher Ian Krol.

With few signs of Zach Duke, Danny Espinosa or Henry Rodriguez lingering in the Nats’ clubhouse, Jordan Zimmermann (ND, 8-3) powered on for eight innings of top-notch baseball, providing the revised lineup with a shot at coming back in the later innings – something they haven’t done much of all season.

Considering some of the rocky outings Jeremy Hefner (ND, 1-5) has had thus far, the Mets’ fandom could applaud his effort as well. The 27-year-old right-hander held the struggling Nationals to just one run over four hits and one walk in seven innings.

As such, once more, a Nationals pitcher tossed a gem only to get cheated out of a win – but, at the very least, this battle was not one to be lost for all. It was almost as though a sense of urgency swept over the Nats – even if it has yet to take hold in the form of bat power. [Read more...]

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