May 21, 2013

Washington Nationals Game 42 Review: #GoonSquad

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Washington Nationals got power production from the middle of their lineup Friday night against San Diego, but when it counted… finally… the bench came through, as Chad Tracy’s pinch-hit home run in the top of the tenth inning led the Nats over the Padres 6-5 to take the first two games of the four-game set at Petco Park.

This game had a little of everything: bad starting pitching, good starting pitching, good defense, not-so-good defense. Timely hitting… well, you get the point. But homers by Adam LaRoche (two on the night), Ryan Zimmerman and, ultimately, Chad Tracy, paced the Nats offense and led them to victory.

Gio Gonzalez got the start for the Nats (23-19), and it looked to start with like we were going to get “Bad Gio”, as he allowed two runs in the bottom of the first on a couple of walks, a steal, a single, and a throwing error by Bryce Harper. What made matters worse was that the Nats were doing their best to stay off the bases completely against Padres rookie starter Burch Smith, striking out whenever they had the chance.

After Gio righted the ship, the Nats finally broke through on Smith in the top of the fourth inning. Harper singled to right and too second on Ryan Zimmerman’s single to left. Adam LaRoche stepped up and continued his hot streak, homering for the third game in a row with a massive clout to center.

The Nats tacked on two more in the sixth, with Zimmerman (2) and LaRoche (7) going back-to-back, chasing Smith from the game, making it 5-2.

Jedd Gyorko homered in the bottom of the frame to cut the Nats lead to two.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth. Rafael Soriano came on to close the game out, but was victimized by some poor defense and lucky hits. With one out, Chris Denorfia grounded one toward the hole. Zimmerman ranged to his left and make a clean pickup, but threw to the inside of the bag, drawing LaRoche off first. Soriano got Everth Cabrera to fly to center for the second out, but Chase Headley singled to right to plate Denorfia to make it 5-4. Yonder Alonso pinch-hit and singled to right to make it first-and-third, then Kyle Blanks hit a soft line drive to right to score Headley to tie the game.

Huston Street entered for the Padres (18-23), but with two outs he left a changeup in the middle of the plate and Chad Tracy delivered, with the first pinch-hit RBI of the season for the Nats, driving the change into the right-center bullpen to break the tie.

Despite some nervous moments in the bottom of the frame. Drew Storen hung on for his first save of the season, despite allowing two singles in the inning.

THE GOOD: Adam LaRoche. Welcome back.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa. 0-for-4, 3 Ks. I might have to retire “The Bad” until Danny gets his shoulder fixed.

THE UGLY: 15 strikeouts. 15! I know that these days no one has a stigma about striking out, but seriously, 15 Ks?!?

THE STATS: 7 hits, 2 BBs, 15 Ks. 1-for-3 with RISP, 3 LOB. E: Harper (3, throw), Gonzalez (1, throw), Zimmerman (9, throw). No DPs.

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 8:40 pm ET against the Padres. Jordan Zimmermann (7-1, 1.69) faces Eric Stultz (3-3. 4.57).

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Washington Nationals Game 37 Review: Suzuki’s error proves costly as Cubs top Nats 2-1

May 12, 2013 by 1 Comment

For the second day in a row, the Washington Nationals (20-17) were reminded of why, in baseball, it all comes down to the fundamentals.

With the Chicago Cubs (15-22) and Nats tied 1-1 in the ninth, Alfonso Soriano led off against Rafael Soriano with a single to left before pinch-hitter Julio Borbon followed up with a single of his own. With one out, the Cubs successfully ran the double steal with Wellington Castillo batting. Much to the Nats’ misfortune, however, Kurt Suzuki threw so far left of third base on the play that he bounced the ball into foul territory, allowing Alfonso Soriano to score the only go-ahead run the Cubs would need.
[Read more...]

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Washington Nationals Game 32 Review: Espinosa, Moore power Nats over Pirates

May 5, 2013 by

It was a day of unlikely heroics for the Washington Nationals (17-15), who topped the Pittsburgh Pirates (17-14) 6-2 at PNC Park Sunday afternoon.

The Gio Gonzalez (W, 3-2) of old returned to the mound in the nick of time, holding the Bucs to five hits, two runs and two walks over 6.0 innings pitched. [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 22 Review: Gio’s gem helps Nats get on track against Reds

April 25, 2013 by

Natstown has been waiting for a game like this.

Gio Gonzalez pitched like an All-Star, giving the Washington Nationals eight innings of one-hit ball. And the bats finally broke out, with 12 hits and five extra base hits — including homers by Bryce Harper and Danny Espinosa. The result was an 8-1 drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds before 24,748 at chilly Nationals Park.

Gonzalez was, in a word, sublime. He spotted his two-seam fastball all night, keeping Reds hitters off-balance with a wicked curveball. The only hit he allowed was Joey Votto’s opposite field home run in the fourth inning, little more than a blip against his record. Gio struck out seven in the effort to move to 2-1 on the season with a 4.50 ERA.

The bats jumped all over Reds’ starter Bronson Arroyo, starting in the second inning. Ian Desmond hit a one-out single and scored on Espinosa’s double to the wall in right center. Espinosa went to third on Kurt Suzuki’s soft line drive over the shortstop’s head. After a sacrifice by Gonzalez, Espinosa carried home the Nats second run of the game on Denard Span’s infield single to short.

The Nats got right back at it in the third. Harper led off with his eighth home run of the season, a no-doubter to center. Jayson Werth followed with a single to left. Adam LaRoche reached on an error by Votto, and the runners moved up to second and third. Werth scored on a Desmond ground out, which moved LaRoche up to third. Espinosa then yanked an 88-MPH sinker into the Nats bullpen in right field to give the Nats a comfortable six-run lead.

The home team tacked on two more in the eighth inning. With two outs, Suzuki drew a base on balls from reliever Logan Ondrusek. Roger Bernadina, pinch-hitting for Gonzalez, singled to center for his first hit of the season. Span followed with a line drive over center fielder Shin-Soo Choo’s head, clearing the bases with his first triple of the season.

Rafael Soriano, who hadn’t pitched in five days, walked Choo to lead off the ninth, but erased him on a double play and got Votto to ground out to finish the game.

THE GOOD: Danny Espinosa. batting lefty, the switch-hitting second baseman needed a night like that. 2-for-4, homer, double, three RBIs.

THE BAD: Steve Lombardozzi. Inserted in the two-hole (and playing third base) to shake things up a bit, Lombo went 0-for-5 and didn’t make solid contact on anything.

THE UGLY: Adam LaRoche. Another o-fer (0-for-4, K) drops his early average to .159/.243/.317. A career .219 hitter, he can’t wait to see the calendar flip at this point.

THE STATS: 12 hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks. 4-for-9 with RISP, 6 LOB. No errors, 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Friday night at 7:05 against the Reds. Jordan Zimmermann (3-1, 2.67) hosts Homer Bailey (1-1, 3.24).

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Washington Nationals Game 17 Review: Twice for Bryce – Harper goes deep to help lift Nats over Mets 7-6

April 21, 2013 by

Bryce Harper went 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs as the Washington Nationals (10-7) topped the New York Mets (8-8) 7-6 at Citi Field Saturday afternoon.

The Nats banked on the long ball early on to give Gio Gonzalez (1-1) his first lift of the game on Ian Desmond’s first-pitch homer to left in the second inning. [Read more...]

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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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Photos: White Sox v. Nats, April 9

April 10, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-7 on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. You can read DSP’s game re-cap here.

Here are a just few photos of last night’s game with descriptions under pictures. All photos were taken from the stands. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments! Thanks.

Photo 1 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 1 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 2 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 2 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 3 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 3 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Photo 4 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 4 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 5 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 5 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Photo 6 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 6 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

 

Former Nat Adam Dunn - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Former Nat Adam Dunn – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Denard Span and Jayson Werth after Werth's home run - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Denard Span and Jayson Werth after Werth’s home run – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Jayson Werth hit the 500 career RBI mark - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Jayson Werth hit the 500 career RBI mark -
Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Ian Desmond hustling back to first - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ian Desmond hustling back to first – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

I think I would fall over if I tried to lift my leg this high - Drew Storen - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

I think I would fall over if I tried to lift my leg this high – Drew Storen – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

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Washington Nationals Game 7 Review: Nats survive homer-fest with 8-7 win over Sox

April 9, 2013 by
Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

With 15 teams in each league now, interleague play will be a necessity almost every night of the season. The Washington Nationals started their interleague rations with a win Tuesday night, outlasting the A.L. Central Chicago White Sox 8-7 before 24,412 at Nationals Park. There were a combined six home runs in the affair, with Adam LaRoche clubbing a pair.

The scoring started in the top of the first. Gio Gonzalez toughed out a first inning where he loaded the bases on two hits and a walk while throwing 33 pitches. He almost got out of the frame unscathed but a two-strike balk while pitching to Alexei Ramirez brought in Jeff Keppinger to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead.

The Nats tied it up in the fourth. Denard Span singled to lead off, took third on Bryce Harper’s single to right, and scored on Ryan Zimmerman’s fly out to medium deep right field.

Ian Desmond launched a no-doubt-about-it shot over the visiting bullpen to lead off the fifth and give the Nats a 2-1 lead.

Gonzalez, despite not having his best stuff, made it through five innings with a lead. He threw 99 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. He gave up just the one run on four hits and two walks, striking out seven.

That lead wouldn’t last, however. In the top of the sixth, Alex Rios lined an 0-2 pitch from reliever Craig Stammen to center to lead off the frame. He stole second and took third on Wilson Ramos’ throwing error as the ball ended up in short right center field. Paul Konerko lofted a fly to deep center that delivered Rios, leaving Gonzalez without a decision. Stammen gave up two more singles in the frame but escaped without further damage.

But the Nats had more damage left in their bats. Span led off the sixth with a double to the right field corner. Jayson Werth, who flied out to the deepest part of center field his first time up, made no mistake about it the next time, clobbering one into the left field bleachers to put the Nats back up by two.

After a Harper strikeout, Zimmerman walked to bring up Adam LaRoche, who to that point was hitless in 15 at bats this season. He crushed a 1-1 offering from Jake Peavy to straightaway center for his first hit and home run of 2013 and a 6-2 Nats lead.

 The White Sox wouldn’t go quietly though. Tyler Clippard came on for the seventh inning as was roughed up. With one out, Alejandro De Aza walked, followed by a single from Jeff Keppinger. Clippard retired Alex Rios on a foul to first base, but Paul Konerko unloaded on a 1-0 fastball, sending it half way up the stands in left field to cut the Nats lead to one at 6-5.

The Nats got an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh. Steve Lombardozzi drew a one-out walk pinch-hitting for the pitcher’s spot and went to third on an errant pick-off throw by reliever Donnie Veal. After walk by Span, Werth coaxed a ground ball through the left side for a single, which plated Lombardozzi to stretch the Nats lead back to two at 7-5.

But the scoring wasn’t quite over, as LaRoche added his second hit of the night, his second homer of the season, in the eighth inning to deliver another important insurance run and make the score 8-5.

LaRoche’s home run loomed large, as Alex Rois treated Rafael Soriano rather rudely, mashing a two-run home in the top of the ninth to extend his personal homer streak to four games and cut the lead to 8-7. But Soriano got Korerko to fly to center to end the game and send nervous Nats fans home with a smile.

THE GOOD: Adam LaRoche. He broke out in a big way, including mashing his second homer against a lefty relief specialist.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa. 0-for-4 with a K. Now hitting .154/.214/.269.

THE UGLY: Tyler Clippard. Three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. Not up to his usual par.

THE STATS: 13 hits, 3 BBs, 4 LOB. 2-for-4 with RISP. E: Ramos (1). 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday vs. White Sox at 7:05 pm. Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 1.50) hosts Gavin Floyd (0-1, 3.00)

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Washington Nationals Game 2 Review: Nats shut out Marlins for second game in a row

April 3, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals followed the same script they used Opening Day to defeat the Miami Marlins in consecutive games: strong starting pitching, a flawless bullpen performance, and just enough offense to start the season 2-0, becoming just the 13th team in MLB history to open a season with back-to-back shutouts in a 3-0 win over the Marlins before 26,269 chilly and wind-burned fans at Nationals Park.

Gio Gonzalez tossed six shutout innings in earning his first win of the season. He struck out five and allowed just two hits and two walks in his first appearance of the season. He also chipped in on offense, homering in his second at bat against Marlins starter Kevin Slowey, making his first start since 2011.

Gonzalez, in fact, might not have made this start at all, as he came out of the bullpen with a raging headache — to the point that manager Davey Johnson expressed concern for his lefty starter. But after some aspirin and a massage, Gonzalez was able to take the hill after all and register a quality start regardless.

Gonzalez’ fifth inning home run broke a scoreless tie, and the Nats added a run in the seventh on a fielder’s choice by Denard Span with runners at the corners and a Ryan Zimmerman RBI single in the eight, which plated Bryce Harper, who had doubled in the previous at bat.

Gonzalez gave way to Ryan Mattheus for the seventh, and the righty in his first appearance gave up a hit and struck out one in his inning of work. Drew Storen didn’t allow a runner and struck out one in the eighth, and Rafael Soriano gave up a hit and a walk, but struck out one in a scoreless ninth for his second save in as many games.

The Nats host the Marlins Thursday at 4:05 pm in the final game of the three-game set. Jordan Zimmermann faces LHP Wade LeBlanc for the Marlins.

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