Friday, July 1, 2011

Game 82: Pirates at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
After a wild road trip, the Nats are back in town for a long homestand.
Let's see, the last time the Nationals played at home, they had just capped a sweep of the Mariners, surged above the .500 mark, leaving the crowd ecstatic ... only to find out minutes later Jim Riggleman had resigned as manager. Yeah, things have changed a bit since then.

Davey Johnson makes his home managerial debut tonight. More significantly, the Nats will attempt to win for the first time under their new manager. They'll face another surging team in the Pirates, who are two games over .500 and send a tough right-hander to the mound tonight in Charlie Morton (though he posted a 12.27 ERA over his last three starts and had his most-recent turn in the rotation skipped due to a "tired arm").

Tom Gorzelanny, a former Pirate, starts for the Nationals. The lefty was very good last time out, holding the White Sox to one run over seven innings, albeit in a losing effort.

Check back for updates...

PIRATES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 188
Weather: Clear, 84 degrees, Wind 7 mph in from CF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (40-41)
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Jayson Werth
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Laynce Nix
1B Michael Morse
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
P Tom Gorzelanny

PIRATES (41-39)
LF Alex Presley
3B Chase d'Arnaud
CF Andrew McCutchen
RF Matt Diaz
1B Lyle Overbay
SS Ronny Cedeno
2B Josh Harrison
C Michael McKenry
P Charlie Morton
5:18 p.m. -- You'll notice we still don't have the Nats starting lineup. Davey Johnson has been in meetings and getting interviewed by us media types all afternoon, so he hasn't had a chance to talk to the team's medical staff to check on some guys (such as Laynce Nix). We should have the lineup soon, though. And for what it's worth, Davey said during his pregame session with us that he intends for Roger Bernadina to continue as his regular center fielder and leadoff man, with Rick Ankiel serving as the fourth outfielder. Meanwhile, there's been another change to the coaching staff: Dan Radison was fired as first base coach. Radison is one of Jim Riggleman's closest friends, so it's no surprise this happened, though it's another unfortunate domino effect of Riggleman's resignation. Trent Jewett, who had been serving as bench coach the last four games, will now take over at first base. Pat Corrales, brought back by Johnson, takes over as bench coach beginning tonight.

5:43 p.m. -- Lineup posted. No real surprises. The pitcher is batting ninth, something Davey made clear would be the case as long as he's managing here.

6:52 p.m. -- For a complete recap of Davey's pregame comments about the changes he'd like to be made to the Nats' roster, click here.

7:06 p.m. -- And we're underway with a strike from Tom Gorzelanny to Alex Presley. Crowd still filing in, but there's lots of near-empty sections throughout the upper deck and down the lines.

7:14 p.m. -- Gorzelanny got himself into trouble in the top of the first, putting two on with one out. But as has so often been the case for members of the Nationals rotation lately, he got out of it thanks to the double play. Tailor-made 6-4-3 off Matt Diaz's bat to get out of the jam. Nats coming up to bat.

7:27 p.m. -- And the Nats squander their own golden opportunity in the bottom of the first. Roger Bernadina and Jayson Werth each singled off Charlie Morton to get things started, but Ryan Zimmerman (still searching for his swing since returning from the DL) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. A Laynce Nix walk put runners on the corners with two outs, but Michael Morse had his bat shattered by Morton and grounded out weakly to short to end the first inning scoreless.

7:39 p.m. -- Still scoreless after two, as both starters retired the side. Can't fault Danny Espinosa, though, because he smoked a line drive to third to lead off the bottom of the second, only to be denied by a diving Chase d'Arnaud.

7:55 p.m. -- Yikes, the Nats' sloppy defense has returned. Two errors in the top of the third, one charged to Gorzelanny (who had trouble fielding a bunt and then threw wild to first), the other charged to Morse (who threw wide to Gorzelanny covering first). Amazingly, that was Morse's first error in six years. He hadn't been charged with one since August 15, 2005, while playing shortstop for the Mariners. In between, he went 214 consecutive games without committing an error, cleanly fielding 764 defensive chances. This one didn't directly allow the Pirates to score (they did that on a groundout) but it capped an ugly inning in the field for the Nats, who now trail 1-0 in the third.

8:06 p.m. -- You know, for all of his struggles making routine throws, Ryan Zimmerman still starts a 5-4-3 double play better than any third baseman in the game.

8:23 p.m. -- Gorzelanny has settled down since that shaky third inning, though he still surrendered hits in both the fourth and fifth. The Nats, meanwhile, haven't done anything against Morton since the bottom of the first. Don't know if those of you watching on TV will pick up on this, but Morton's delivery is almost identical to Roy Halladay's. That's not by coincidence. After a terrible 2010, Morton (who has a similar repertoire of pitches as Halladay) made a point to try to mimic his delivery. The results have been very positive so far. His sinker is sharp, as is his slider. 1-0 Pirates heading to the bottom of the fifth.

8:38 p.m. -- Nice job by Gorzelanny getting out of a sixth-inning spot. With McCutchen on third and only one out, he got Overbay swinging at an 82 mph slider, then got Cedeno swinging at a 92 mph fastball. The guy has got good stuff, and he's shown he can make batters swing and miss. And through his last 13 innings, he's only allowed one earned run. His season ERA is down to 3.82.

8:41 p.m. -- Roger Bernadina to the rescue! Connects off Morton's first pitch of the sixth and puts it over the out-of-town scoreboard. That's Bernadina's fifth homer of the season, and it snaps the Nationals' 17-inning scoreless streak. It's now 1-1 in the sixth.

8:45 p.m. -- Wow, Clint Hurdle with a quick hook. Morton is done after 5 2/3 innings and only 88 pitches. Like I mentioned earlier, he was skipped over the last time around the rotation due to a tired arm. Perhaps Hurdle is being over-protective with the right-hander. Pretty big break for the Nats, who now get 3 1/3 innings against the Pirates bullpen.

8:53 p.m. -- Definitely a missed opportunity there for the Nats. Left-hander Tony Watson came in to face Laynce Nix, then issued four straight balls. That brought Michael Morse to the plate in what should have been an advantageous matchup for the slugger. Except Watson struck him out, ending the sixth with the game still tied 1-1.

9:05 p.m. -- Gorzelanny again comes up big to get out of a jam. With one out and the go-ahead run in scoring position, he struck out my fellow Horizon High School alum Brandon Wood -- shoot, I could've done that! -- and then got Alex Presley as well. That's eight K's for Gorzelanny through seven strong innings. Still 1-1 at the stretch.

9:15 p.m. -- Seven innings in the books, and the Nats have managed only one run on three hits. Go back over their previous five games, and they've now totaled 28 hits in their last 53 innings at the plate. Is that good? No. Gorzelanny, meanwhile, is done after seven solid innings. Tyler Clippard in to pitch the eighth inning of a 1-1 game.

9:43 p.m. -- Wow, could that have been a more pathetic display of hitting from the Nats' Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters? With two on and nobody out in the eighth, the table was set for Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Laynce Nix to come through and drive in the go-ahead run. Werth and Zim never even picked up their silverware. Both struck out looking at fastballs, Werth on an 0-2 pitch from Chris Resop. Nix at least swung and missed for his K. Ugh. Still 1-1 going to the ninth.

9:47 p.m. -- 1-2-3 top of the ninth for Drew Storen. Chance for the Nats to walk off here. It'll be Morse, Espinosa and Ramos against Tim Wood. Interesting that Hurdle isn't sticking with Resop here.

10:04 p.m. -- Matt Stairs: Tonight's hero. Yes, seriously. Davey decided to send the 43-year-old up to pinch-hit for Ian Desmond with the winning run on third and one out in the ninth. And he came through. Crushed an 0-1 pitch from Wood off the right-field wall. Nats win 2-1, and Davey gets his first win as manager.

97 comments:

natsfan1a said...

Hope the day off and some home cookin' will get this team going again. Let's go NATS!!

Anonymous said...

Charlie Morton (though he posted a 12.27 ERA over his last three starts and had his most-recent turn in the rotation skipped due to a "tired arm").

Which means he'll pitch a 4 hitter.

Tcostant said...

Did Bobby Bonilla hit the lottery, sort of... Today he is set to make $1,193,248.20 each year, payable every July 1st, until 2035

http://deadballers.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/pfotd-bobby-bonilla-contract/

It could be worse here people, enjoy the ride.

Happy long weekend to all.

Anonymous said...

I'm feeling optimistic today. We currently have the best player in the National League at three of our positions, 3B, 2B and Catcher. 1B is in great shape with M. Morse. Jason Werth is due to explode with his bat. More talent is on the way. Go Nats!!!

Anonymous said...

Also, the best Manager in baseball, a long homestand, and beautiful weather in DC!

Constant Reader said...

Did you guys see this column focusing on Adam Dunn?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/07/01/adam-dunn/index.html?sct=mlb_t11_a0

I was in the 'fond of Adam Dunn, but four years is crazy' camp. I really do hate seeing him under such scrutiny.

Anonymous said...

Ladson (washingnats): I have been informed that Dan Raddison has been dismissed as first-base coach of the #Nats. Trent Jewett will replace Raddison. #MLB

Now, Jim and Dan can play golf and go fishing together.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

I Feel a 3 of 4 series win for us. Starting tonight. I am feeling the Nats collecting more hits tonight than they have been doing most of the time recently.

2 hours before game time and no lineup. This is what Davey was accused of in his last stop as the Dodger shipper.

natsfan1a said...

He was accused of not getting the lineups out in time for posting to blogs? I didn't even know they had blogs back then. :-)

Ladson evidently needs a proofreader because it's "Radison."

UnkyD said...

1A... I suspect as I read papers and mags, these days, that proofreaders have been eliminated, in this economy....

Soul Possession, PFB Sofa said...

in time for the newsreels, 1a.

JaneB said...

Time for some insights into first and third base coaches. I know they help guys steal and tell 'em when to come ho e or to third. I know Bo has been helping us (and by "us" I mean the players) run more aggressively. Howndomwe know if we have a good one? I love everythung about Bo. I liked Radison because in between innings he always made sure a kid got any ball he held.

Thanks in advance, guys.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

No announcement of bring Ray Knight on board, He was the Reds' hitting coach under Davey Johnson, and I have been calling for him for over a season now.

Anonymous said...

No announcement of bring Ray Knight on board, He was the Reds' hitting coach under Davey Johnson, and I have been calling for him for over a season now.

More than likely one would expect Ray Knight will soon be replaced ala' Dan Radison. You haven't been doing your homework Manassas Nats Fan. You get an "F" for this quarter:

From Boz's 1996 expose on the then new Orioles manager Davey Johnson:

Johnson’s general manager, Jim Bowden, was 18 years his junior, but every bit as opinionated. The pair of supposed know-it-alls got along fine, even on a limited budget. “I had no problem with Bowden,” says Johnson. “He will tell you exactly what he’s thinking on every little issue. You knew exactly where you stood. That made it easy.

”Ultimately, Johnson even proved he could take an unjust firing with grace.In 1994, the Reds finished first in the strike-shortened season. To some, it was a meaningless year. To Johnson, managing a team back to first place, even by half a game, was “my greatest vindication.” Better than coming back from his beaning. Better than proving the Orioles shouldn’t have traded him.Yet, even while Johnson was concentrating on winning games, one of his coaches, Ray Knight, was gaining popularity with Schott. Long before the 1995 season, the Reds announced that Knight would be their manager for the 1996 season! Only in Schottsville.


Johnson spent last year grooming the man whom some believe tunneled under him.“I’ve never been afraid to hire a coach who might end up getting my job,” Johnson says.

Others have a less generous view of Knight, who’s never managed anywhere. This spring, Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox was asked about Johnson’s handling of the Reds last year. Cox blew a fuse. “Ask Ray Knight. He’s got all the bleepin’ answers . . . South Georgia boy, too, I hate to say. He’s ripped Davey like hell. That’s ridiculous,” said Cox. “Every time Knight opens his mouth, he says, We’re gonna do this’ or, We’re gonna {change} that. We’re not going to be card players. We’re going to be ready to play.’

Goodbye Ray it was nice havin' ya.

Anonymous said...

Ray Knight: the other guy in that era who was heard exclaiming: "I did not have sex with that woman!"

MurrayTheRed said...

Just a question to other STH's on this blog. Did anyone get the Crystal Bat that we were promised?

Anonymous said...

No "crystal bats" but here is the completely expected lineup courtesy of Adam Kilgore: #Nats lineup: Bernadina, Werth, Zim, Nix, Morse, Espinosa, Ramos, Desmond, Gorzelanny.

FS said...

I have an issue with the word 'fired' right now. I mean mainly the association with this organization. McLaren was respectfully let go. What possibly happened with Dan now? Even if he was Riggs' close friend, why did he not go out McLaren's way?

Anyways, we are back to pitcher hitting 9th. Whatever right now, I want this team to get out of the hitting slump and win some ballgames.

Anonymous said...

I have an issue with the word 'fired' right now.

Reading between the lines FS "Radog" was Riggs enforcer. Not really competent enough to manage a ball club. Not the case with every other coach including McLaren. The ball players were surprised when Riggleman quit. They were deeply saddened when McLaren followed suit.

Kind of tells you something about Riggleman's priorities.

natsfan1a said...

5:45, MZ has lineup there, if you refresh.

True that, Unk. It was more of a facetious comment on my part, as I doubt such staffers would be proofreading tweets, anyway.

sec3, good one re. the newsreels. Cue the tinny music and rattly projector: "The home nine returns to the field today to battle the booming Bucs..."

Anonymous said...

He has consistently ranked at the top of the Eastern League in nearly every category this season.

Correcting Mark Zuckerman's colleague Chase Hugh's. Brad Peacock has consistently ranked at the top in nearly every category throughout AA across every AA league. Not just the Eastern League.

MFC said...

Will the Pirates hit Espinosa tonight after he stood and watched that home run the last time we played them? The game the next day was rained out, hence tomorrow's double header.

FS said...

Didn't Pedro used to stare at guys after striking them out? I am just saying that pitchers tend to show off too. So why do hitters have to get HBP their next at bat?

MicheleS said...

I am at the game! Lets get a win

Not Werth It said...

I totally love everything Davey Johnson has said so far. Finally, no more late game pinch hit at bats from guys who have long storied careers of playing defense and not hitting.

Go Nats! Big Homestand!

Stranded_in_Philly said...

Following the game from the accela train. Can't get audio/mlb.tv streaming video, but its nice to have updates here!

Waddu eye no said...

I agree about proofreading. Seams theirs no editor's anywear. Or is it just two much autospell? Who nose?

Sent from my ifone

Exposremains said...

why do I get the feeling that when there is runners on base and Zim comes to bat he's very likely to hit in a DP

Anonymous said...

zimm back to hagerstown. I mean cmon even werthless got a hit. Zimm is really hurting us. bat him 9th

Anonymous said...

down 1-0. We cant come back from that deficit with our offense or lack of. Time to turn on lifetime.

UnkyD said...

Waddu..... Roflmao!!!!

sjm308 said...

5 errors two games ago - two errors already and we are down 1-0. Bob Carpenter driving me crazy and did FP really say Gorzo made a good play as he threw the ball away on the first error. Over to Dave and Charlie as soon as I finish typing this. I still feel really really unsure about this team.

Go nats!!

dj in Fl. said...

Guess we might as well as go and get Davey some offense, the defense seems to have left with Riggs, and we will not win this way.

FS said...

I think that four hitter comment might come true tonight. LOL

Anonymous said...

The guys cant hit out of a wet paper bad. can you say 4 straight LLLLLLLLLsssss. Worse of all they are BORING again

CBinDC said...

Ohh here we are back where we had hoped to no longer be .....errors backed up with no hitting ......where did the team go .....???/

Anonymous said...

This will be perfect symmetry with the Nationals starting an eight game winning streak on the road in S.D with three wins. The losing streak started on the road with three loses in Anaheim and will end with eight, and the Nationals exactly 9 games below .500, just where they were when they started the win streak.

Jim Webster said...

I've been mostly a Bob Carpenter fan (maybe it just dates from the time MASN-Comcast fight got straightened out and we got TV coverage for the first time in 05 or 06) but if I hear him say "serious jammage" one more time I swear I will untie my shoe and consider throwing it at the tube.

FS said...

Anon 8:24, Nationals also lost three on road before winning next eight.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Hitting so easy even a caveman can do it.

Anonymous said...

As a Pirates fan I can tell you that this isn't a quick hook for Hurdle. This is his normal hook. You'll never see so many 1 run in 5 2/3 inning lines as you will with the Pirates thi9s year.

CBinDC said...

Jim Webster said...
"one more time I swear I will untie my shoe and consider throwing it at the tube."

You still have a tube ??

I can't it's now to big and no glass for anything bounce off of to throw anything.

Exposremains said...

I wonder if some of the comments that johnson made about some players underachieving offensively was a warning to Eckstein. I dont think he's a bad hitting coach but I'm not sure he's the right guy for this group of players. Anybody else thinks that?

Anonymous said...

I wonder if some of the comments that johnson made about some players underachieving offensively was a warning to Eckstein. I dont think he's a bad hitting coach but I'm not sure he's the right guy for this group of players. Anybody else thinks that?

They were definitely aimed at the players. Johnson says "Stairs gets his first RBI, we're really celebrating that." The says, "Hondo use to say, I want a guy with a big hairy chest [who scares the bejeebers out of the opposing manager] on the bench next me." Matt Stairs the handwriting is on the wall dude.

Come to think of it Johnson does quote Hondo a lot? Hmmmmmmm .... wonder if Hendo's wish is about to be granted?

baseballswami said...

At this point it's going to be a stretch to get to 4 hits. No energy at all - little bit of tension in the clubhouse lately with coaches getting the ax and the manager talking changes?

Jim Webster said...

CBinDC said... "You still have a tube ??"

You oughta see my icebox and my typewriter. And my hand-entry calendar. Some habits die hard.

Drew8 said...

You HAVE to have Werth bunt there.

Take off the blindfold and he'd still miss the pinata.

MicheleS said...

They are trying to start the wave. Ugh!

CBinDC said...

Ohhh so now the big hitters have no bullets

Exposremains said...

Werth, Zim I don't get it....

Will said...

Looking at those photos of Werth hanging out with Zim last night, I can't help but think of when Roy Hobbs dating Kim Basinger's character in The Natural and the disastrous hitting slump that followed. Werth is our bad luck "charm."

Will said...

"was dating". iPad typing sucks. But so does our lineup.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Os Jayson Werth Zim's new batting coach? Remember Ryan do not swing if the ball is over the plate with 2 strikes, Only swing if it is in the dirt.

Anonymous said...

hahaha pathetic. Werth and Zimm just plain embarrassing. I am really starting to hate those two guys. Riggleman goes and the party starts. Ah yes we have Portis and Stubblefield on our hands here. Inmates running the asylum and down it goes. AT LEAST NIX SWUNG!!!!

nationals7 said...

Lethargy....

nationals7 said...

76 SO for Werth

FS said...

I don't think I can take another game past 10 PM.

JaneB said...

MichelleS, I'm blaming part of this non-productivity on The Wave, and the impulse to do THAT instead of stay in the game.

Some kinda walk off win coming our way now. C'mom Mickey and Espi!

nationals7 said...

WERTH. Bad influence.. more ego than talent.

Waddu eye no said...

Guys...
Ladies read this blog. Stop talking about your tubes.

nationals7 said...

They just showed stairs loosening up.

FS said...

I thought we decided not to boo our players.

Drew8 said...

BUNT! BUNT!!! BUNT!!!!!!


If Ramos grounds to short I'm throwing something through my TV.

OK, maybe it'll be a sock.

nationals7 said...

You're gonna sock your tv?

UnkyD said...

Chicks dig the long ball, Willie....

JaneB said...

Okay. I didn't see THAT coming. I really didn't.

A nice Curlie W in the books,

FS said...

Matt Stairs for MVP!!!

nationals7 said...

Phew

Nats fan in NJ said...

Ok, I can breath now...

CBinDC said...

What ??? Stairs on a walk OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF !!!!

JaneB said...

It would be a nice time to retire, doncha think? Go out on a high.

CBinDC said...

Really I am to blame for Werth's troubles I went a bought the jersey ...it is all on me ....see you all at the Park tomorrow I always want to go to a doubleheader so here is my chance yeah!

Anonymous said...

FS said...

Anon 8:24, Nationals also lost three on road before winning next eight.

This will do. The reverse voo doo worked.

Slidell said...

As Dibble used to say--- "Even a blind squirrel . . . . " However, I give credit when it's due, and it is.

baseballswami said...

Ok , confession time - so who else besides me was positive he was going to gdip or strike out? Weird game in a season of weird games. I know, we'll take the w, but, wow. How do you suppose that ump is feeling about now?

Anonymous said...

This, apparently, is how we roll. Bring on the alcohol - that's the only way to get through it. What ever happened to the maalox and bourbon guy?

Drew8 said...

Take that, Pequod -- and no, this isn't Mark Halperin.

The white whale lives on....

Will said...

You know it must be Canada Day when Matt Stairs walks us off. Shoulda done a maple syrup shower instead of bubble gum and shaving cream.

Tim said...

I was dying to see what the comments would be after that walk-off.

You guys & girls are a riot.

Let's explode tomorrow!

FS said...

Let me be the first one to say this:

In case of emergency, use Stairs.

Seriously though that was a solid swing and Werth should take note.

Anonymous said...

Double header tomorrow - Charlie and Dave the only option for the first game. Start praying to the baseball gods now for some holiday fireworks. Did anyone tell RZ that it's a holiday weekend? We need some offense!!!

sjm308 said...

Wow, so much strategy in the last inning!! Doubt if we will get the "ha,ha" neganon for the rest of the night but what a great win. Have to believe that actually playing Stairs in California might have helped him tonight. Also love that he kept Bernadina in the game when he made his double switch. We are back to .500, I can breath again and would just love to see a split tomorrow. We have not given up an earned run in over 18 innings.
Also liked him bringing in Storen in the 9th and having Burnett warming for the 10th. He is making these guys accountable and I am pretty sure they will respond.
Storen just threw 7 piches tonight so he will be available along with the rest of the pen tomorrow.
By the way anon 9:47, please go back to your skins and please don't compare baseball to football or this team to that bunch - if you need a reference just listen to George Carlin may he rest in peace. and a hardy "ha, ha"to you (loser)
Go Nats!!

CBinDC said...

Hmmmm Halpren comes back to DC and the Nats win .....spooky no?

gonatsgo said...

What do you all think about the coaching changes? Do you think Radison will be the last to go? I really like Bo Porter and I hope he is not going to get fired, too. McCatty seems safe because the pitching is good, Eckstein seems to survive no matter how bad the offense is. It would probably be better for the players if things settled down now.

masnstinks said...

Mark - in regards to gonatsgo post - interesting question. Do you have any info on that? Any further changes coming in the coaching staff?

Anonymous said...

Stairs with the game-winner. Let the angst begin.

natsfan1a said...

Great win and loved that it was Stairs with the walkoff. The guys about tore off his jersey during the dogpile after. No snarky comments here, just congrats and appreciation. Matt seemed a little verklempt in the postgame interview. I love the redemptive aspects of the game.

I had P-Nats tix before the doubleheader was scheduled so I won't make it, but I would expect that it would be a good crowd.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

Stairs actually looked more like 2001 Stairs there. Too bad that one has been missing this year, but looked confident tonight. Now can we get Werth un track.

Will be in section 309 Row C watching tomorrow's festivities.

Manassas Nats Fan said...

ERA update

Overall 3.47

Starters 3.57

Relievers 3.25

Anonymous said...

Is it me or is Mike Morse the leader of the team right now. Seems most vocal and demonstrative on the field.

Bill Stoneman said...

Happy Canada day! Thank you Mr Stairs.

Drew8 said...

Minor league report:

Below the AAA level, there's a strange good-news, bad-news pattern as the starting pitchers make great strides, but some key hitters regress.

Bryce Harper's average has dropped to .312 -- though he did steal three bases in tonight's game. At Potomac, speedster Eury Perez has slumped so badly that he's hitting .273 and he's been dropped to the bottom of the order.

At AA, Derek Norris had a sparkling .371 on base percentage heading into tonight, but his batting average has dropped to an alarming .201.

Meantime, other than Sammy "So-So So Far" Solis, a lot of starting pitchers are shining at the lower levels. At AA, Shairon Martis has dropped his ERA to 2.82. At Hagerstown, Robbie Ray has lowered his ERA to 1.95.

On the leadoff hitter front, Lombo is still smoking at Syracuse. After 51 at bats in AAA he's hitting .431. But for those of us wondering if he could be the answer, there's a big catch. He hasn't drawn a single walk.

Sec3MySofa said...

I've suspected this before, but watching the replays--he really DID get all of that one. And it hit halfway up the wall. Even last year, that would have been ten rows deep.
Please, Matt, don't do a Lefty.

Grandstander said...

Come on guys, we all knew when Stairs came to the plate that he would hit a walk-off single of the right field wall. I mean you could just feel the crowd anticipating it.

No, but seriously, well done, sir. I guess all those ABs in LA helped him get his timing or something because he's been looking sharp the last few days. But Werth, jeez man, the league has you figured out something awful. Take first pitch strike, swing second pitch ball, take third pitch strike. Seems like every AB from him.

Nice to get Davey his first win at home, now we're over that hump, back to .500, and have a bunch of home games coming up which is where we seem to have feasted all season long.

True doubleheader, Saturday, July 4th weekend, $2 tickets? Yes, please!!! Can't wait to wake up!

MicheleS said...

I just got home from the game.. God I hate Metro! Never again. Driving in on 7/4.

Happy Stairs got the walk off.. nice to see Davey win his first 1.

I think Morse and Espi are the team leaders. Which is good because they are the best players. I think Werth is hurt. Something is not right there.

John C. said...

MicheleS, just walk up to Capitol South. On a night like this it's a lovely walk, and you get on the Metro before the crowds that get through the Metro entrance and sort themselves out. It makes taking Metro home much easier.

sjm308 said...

MicheleS - depends on which line you need to get home but my key is dropping by Jusin's Cafe for a nice craft beer, let the crowd die, and then metro is a breeze (as long as the dreaded track work is not going on). If you do walk to Capitol South there are also two bars right across the street (see the theme developing here) as well and Cactus Cantina is usually hopping. The final option which involves a little longer walk but rewards you with wonderful dining options as well(my favorite is the milk shake at Teds Bulletin with a shot of Jamesons added) is to 8th st. and then the Eastern Market Metro Stop. These stops are much more pleasant after a win.

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