Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Game 141: Dodgers at Nats

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Nats and Dodgers square off in an old-fashioned doubleheader today.
Wet grounds last night forced the postponement of the Nationals' game against the Dodgers, so the two clubs will attempt to play two today the old-fashioned way: back-to-back. Yep, it'll be a traditional doubleheader. One ticket gets you into both games, with the nightcap beginning approximately 30 minutes after the first game ends.

Chien-Ming Wang, who was supposed to start last night, will pitch the opener for the Nationals. The Dodgers are starting Chad Billingsley for the first game.

I won't be at the park for this twinbill; taking Mrs. Z and baby Brian to the doctor for a follow-up appointment. But I'll be back on the beat full-time tomorrow. In the meantime, CSNwashington.com's Chase Hughes will take you through both of today's games, so please check back here for updates from him throughout...

DODGERS at NATIONALS - GAME 1
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 189
Weather: Chance of storms, 78 degrees, Wind 7 mph in from RF
STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (65-75)
SS Ian Desmond
2B Stephen Lombardozzi
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
CF Jayson Werth
RF Rick Ankiel
1B Chris Marrero
C Wilson Ramos
P Chien-Ming Wang

DODGERS (69-72)
SS Dee Gordon
1B James Loney
CF Matt Kemp
RF Juan Rivera
3B Aaron Miles
LF Jerry Sands
C Rod Barajas
2B Justin Sellers
P Chad Billingsley
11:53 p.m. -- It's dark and overcast here at Nationals Park and the forecast doesn't look great. There are of course two games to be played today so we'll see if they can get them both in. Capitals defenseman John Carlson is set to throw out the first pitch for the first game which should be interesting. He is a big baseball fan so he better have a better arm than John Wall did earlier this year.
12:14 p.m. -- Still overcast but the sun is starting to shine through at Nationals Park. The Capitals tweeted a photo of John Carlson's Nationals jersey, here is the link if you want to check it out:
http://yfrog.com/h4to7drtj
1:13 p.m. -- Juan Rivera of the Dodgers finds daylight in left-center to put L.A. up 2-0 early, Chien-Ming Wang is struggling to find the zone. Could have been worse if not for Loney's ground rule double and a nice snag by Ryan Zimmerman to get the first out.
1:31 p.m. -- Chien-Ming Wang looking much better in the second inning after retiring the side in order. Wang capped it off by fanning Chad Billingsley with an 86 mph sinker. The sinker was all over the place in the first inning so that's a good sign. He is at 28 pitches after two, 19 of them strikes.
1:49 p.m. -- Chad Billingsley struck out Chien-Ming Wang to leave three runners on the bases. Though they didn't score, the Nationals definitely got at the Dodgers pitcher. He threw 32 pitches in the second and walked three batters. Still 2-0 L.A. as we head into the top of the third.
2:00 p.m. -- L.A.'s Juan Rivera hits a line drive to left to score two more runs, it is now 4-0 Dodgers. Michael Morse hesitated by stepping forward and got out of position, he leaped but it was too late as the ball flew over his head and to the wall. Bad defense by Mr. Morse.
2:16 p.m. -- Rookie Stephen Lombardozzi works a 12-pitch at-bat to ground Desmond over to second, then consecutive doubles by Zimmerman and Morse make the game 4-2 Dodgers in the third inning.
2:19 p.m. -- Jayson Werth crushes his 19th homer of the year to left field to score Morse and we're all tied up at 4-4 now.
2:45 p.m. -- Quick fourth inning there as both Chien-Ming Wang and Josh Lindblom have 1-2-3 frames. Wang is back on the mound in the fifth, the Dodgers lead off with Dee Gordon who has singled twice today.
3:06 p.m. -- Another pitching change for the Dodgers, now in for Lindblom is lefty Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo is 1-2 with a 9.14 ERA on the season. The Nats will pinch hit Jonny Gomes for Rick Ankiel.
3:15 p.m. -- Wang back on the mound for the 6th inning, he has thrown 73 pitches, 48 of them strikes so far. Juan Rivera to lead off for Los Angeles.
3:23 p.m. -- Laynce Nix in to hit for Chien-Ming Wang. Wang finishes the day with 7 H, 4 ER, and 3 K's. He threw 80 total pitches, 53 of them strikes, in six innings of work.
UPDATE: Todd Coffey in to pitch.
3:42 p.m. -- Quick 7th inning for both pitchers, now we head to the 8th with Tyler Clippard in for Todd Coffey.
3:52 p.m. -- Bottom of the 8th set to begin with Mike MacDougal taking over as pitcher for the Dodgers. He is their sixth pitcher of the afternoon. MacDougal is 2-1 with a 1.92 ERA in 51.2 IP this season. Still tied at four runs, but the rain is starting to finally come down.
4:05 p.m. -- Ramos strikes out to end the 8th inning. On to the 9th with Drew Storen on his way to the mound to replace Tyler Clippard. Rain looks to have passed, but the game is still knotted up at four runs each.
4:19 p.m. -- Drew Storen gives up a two-out double to Tony Gwynn, Jr. who bats in two runs. The Dodgers now lead the Nats 6-4 in the ninth.
4:21 p.m. -- Dee Gordon strikes again with his career-high fourth hit and Tony Gwynn, Jr. scores to make it 7-4 L.A.
4:30 p.m. -- On to the bottom of the ninth as Balester finishes off for Storen. Storen left the game with 3 H and 3 ER in 0.2 IP. Pitching for the Dodgers is Javy Guerra with Alex Cora in to pinch hit for the Nats.
4:37 p.m. -- Ballgame, Dodgers take the first of a doubleheader 7-4. More to come...

95 comments:

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Hope Little Brian is high and dry...as well as all Nats Insiders. Let's play two!

GYFNG!!!

nationals7 said...

Tardy Congrats on Baby Brian!

Anonymous said...

Was told Game 1 is only on 1580AM.

Jim Webster said...

Heading for Nats Park. Hope the rain stays away.

PAY TO PLAY said...

A DC Wonk said...
Um, Ryan Zimmerman for the last 14 days:

.205/.239/.295

We giving up on him?

No, just blaming Davey or Eckstein for it. ;-)

September 8, 2011 11:56 AM

From the last post, a good LOL

Anonymous said...

I served with Mark Zuckerman, and you Chase Hughes are NO Mark Zuckerman!

Doc said...

Too bad Ernie Banks isn't around the park to throw out the ball for 'playin' two'.

Traveler8 said...

Chase, welcome to the party, we will be very glad to hear from you.

m20832 said...

Thank you chase!

Espi sits, Lombardozzi at second! C'mon rook, show the powers that be that you definitely belong in the bigs!

GYFNG!!!
GYFNG!!!

Twice 'cause the boys are DH'n!

m20832 said...

Does anybody know what the Sirius channel is for the Nats?

NatsLady said...

Oddsmakers giving Wang game a 33% chance of Nats win;
Giving Detwiler game a 22% chance of Nats win.

Don't see odds posted on either game being played.

The Joker said...

Let's play three....tomorrow

NatsLady said...

Wonder how long the O's will make the Yanks wait in Balmer. Little bad blood there?

natsfan1a said...

Hope that Mrs. Z and Brian pass their exams with flying colors, Mark.

Thanks for the updates, Chase.

(Doing reverse rain dance.) Rain rain, go away. All the Nationals want to play. Come again some other day. There, that should take care of it. Assuming that it works, then...

Go, Wang! Go, Det! Go, NATS!!!

NatsLady said...

I am hearing Charlie and Dave pregame on 1500.

natsfan1a said...

hmmm, going to go check out the tv.

NatsLady said...

Nyger being Zambrano - tee shirt ad.

http://274742.spreadshirt.com/nyjer-being-zambrano-A6279995/customize/color/258

A DC Wonk said...

Pay-to-Play -- thanks!

Folks, I'm going to game, but late -- I'll be in Sec 310 Row A (don't know which seat yet). Any chance of meeting up with anybody?

(I'll be with a bunch of my wife's co-workers, so behave yourself! ;-) )

I read that sjm308 will be in Sec 310, too. How will I recognize him?

I'll be the guy walking into that section probably around 2pm, with a big beard, and a pretty wife ;-)

And sunderland owes me a beer! ;-)

GYFNG

A DC Wonk said...

http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/20001 shows a big line of rain, just west of DC, but moving due north. (And I mean: _just_ west -- it's covering Arlington and western parts of DC, but not where the stadium is). I think we might escape it. Check out the time-motion view -- it's uncanny.

natsfan1a said...

Lotsa rain in Fairfax County right now. Hope you all escape it in DC and get in a couple of games. Will be multitasking and watching on the tv here. Have fun!

Arlington BigFish said...

M 20832: Re Sirius channel of game. The XM channels are 176-188; don't know how that translates into Sirius-ese. I'm an old XM user, & I haven't bothered to find out how they've meshed the 2 services.

NatsLady said...

Wonk, that's a big line of rain. An inch east and it pours on the stadium. That is almost creepy.

Bowdenball said...

NatsLady-

Were those odds a joke of some kind? The Nats are even money to slight favorites in both games.

Anonymous said...

Absolute deluge in Prince William

NatsLady said...

Bowdenball, here is the link I used.

http://www.thespread.com/mlb-baseball-public-betting-chart

A DC Wonk said...

NatsLady said...

Wonk, that's a big line of rain. An inch east and it pours on the stadium. That is almost creepy.

Isn't it amazing? And it's been that way for hours.

I think Mother Nature wants to see Lombo's debut today, too!

(Or maybe they just want to see both teams play a full 162-game schedule)

NatsLady said...

1500 for both games. 1580 for 1st game. FM 106.7 for 2nd game, per Charlie and Dave. Phil Wood between games.

LoveDaNats said...

Raining hard all morning in Reston, but I'm glad it's good enough in DC to go ahead with the games. Kids and hubby are gone for the entire day so I'm hunkered down with blankets, snacks and a big screen HD. I don't even know when was the last time I've had the chance to watch baseball all day. Positively decadent :)

A DC Wonk said...

Gulp. Looks like his having trouble with his sinker already. Four pitches, and he's given up a single and a double!

NatsLady said...

Wang sinker not working. Only two good pitches were sliders.

Bowdenball said...

I can't look at that link at work, NatsLady. But I think you misinterpreted the data. I've never in my life seen a major league baseball team that was given only a 22% chance to win a game. That would require a team to be listed as somewhere north of +400 on the money line, which is far beyond anything I've ever seen. Even +200 lines are rare.

Although if it was ever appropriate, it would be for a Chien-Ming Wang start. It was fun but it's way past time to pull the plug on this experiment. It actually concerns me a bit that the front office hasn't seen that already.

Eugene in Oregon said...

My recollection is that the Meadows Farm golf course (near Fredricksburg) had a 'zero' hole that you played first when you left the clubhouse. The hole wasn't listed on the scorecard and the apparent notion was that you needed a real-course warm-up to get your nerves squared away before you began keeping score. Essentially it was a no-harm start to a round of golf.

Perhaps Mr. Wang could use a 'zero' inning to start off each game?

NatsLady said...

Brewers' GM on Morgan.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/08/the-brewers-are-not-happy-with-nyjer-morgan

NatsLady said...

Bowdenball, maybe it means 22% are betting on the Nats?

NatsLady said...

Eugene: when I saw him in Chicago, he warmed up for longer than I have ever seen a pitcher warm up. He was out there easily a half hour before the Cubs' pitcher. Maybe it just wasn't possible to have that kind of warm up given the weather?

Bowdenball said...

That would make a little more sense, NatsLady. The kind of people who bet on a Dodgers-Nationals game at 1 PM on a Thursday are also the kind of people that can look beyond the ERA and W-L numbers and see that the 2011 version of Wang is easily the worst starting pitcher in baseball.

A DC Wonk said...

Game day said Lombo "Lined out sharply to 1b" -- anyone see it? Good wood?

LoveDaNats said...

Geeeez, MASN! Get some new commercials!

NatsLady said...

Yes, he would have had a hit but the 1B made a leap and stole it. Easily a double.

Second game of the DH is off. Somebody noticed that the prez is speaking tonight and roads are closed.

Anonymous said...

DC -- Yeah, he crushed it. Robbed by Loney

Anonymous said...

Talking about good wood on a day when Wang is pitching, probably not a good idea on a family blog.

SCNatsFan said...

Why is it that Wang seems to always be hit hard early?

A DC Wonk said...

... and Morse breaks up the perfect game by drawing a nine-pitch walk.

(If I say "no-hitter" will it jinx him? ;-))

Bowdenball said...

SCNats Fan:

Because that's usually the only time he's in the game?

LoveDaNats said...

Terrible at bat by Wang.

NatsLady said...

I must have misunderstood Charlie and Dave, they are still talking about the 2nd game, maybe they are recommending people take Metro due to road closures and prez speaking.

NatsLady said...

Second time Zimm rescues Wang with throw to the plate!

JaneB said...

I agree LoveDa. Watching on MLB app at lunch. Even I knew it was a slider coming for the third strike, after the fast balls. Oooof.

Eugene in Oregon said...

Is Strasburg available out of the bullpen?

NatsLady said...

Well, that was bad luck for Wang (Morse missing that ball). On the other hand, Nats may have caught a break on the previous play, looked like a tie at the plate on replay. Dodgers didn't argue it, though.

NatsLady said...

Whoever was asking about UZR, there is an example of how Morse's fielding percent does not reflect his fielding. He doesn't get an error, but he let a pretty "routine" fly ball turn into a double and two runs.

Bowdenball said...

NatsLady-

It was a hard line drive. Morse should have caught it for sure, but Wang shouldn't have had two men on base and then allowed a hard line drive to the outfield.

At some point the excuses need to stop and we all need to accept that Wang is simply the worst starting pitcher in major league baseball. I've been singing this same chorus for weeks now. I don't enjoy being right about a Nats player being terrible, but at some point we all need to take off the red and white blinders and accept reality. And that includes the front office.

NatsLady said...

Bowdenball, I didn't say Wang pitched well. He got lucky on the first play, and unlucky on the second. Shouldn't have to depend on "luck."

LoveDaNats said...

Lombo looks like a left-handed Werth at the plate. Let's hope he hits better.

Bowdenball said...

I wasn't picking a fight, NatsLady, just using your post to make my point. Seems we're in agreement.

The only question left is how to get Peacock ready to take Wang's spot in five days. He threw a good number of pitches two days ago, so it's kind of tricky. Maybe let him do a couple more innings today and then treat those two outings combined like a start and give him normal rest before the spot comes up again?

baseballswami said...

And -- Michael Morse is not a left fielder. You just cannot fault him for not getting a read on a ball in a position he is not trained for and has very little experience with. I am sure that he will try to learn the position but you can't make up for years of experience as an infielder that quickly. It takes years to learn to play a position really well. He already made himself into a serviceable first baseman. If he had always been a left fielder you could crucify him. Sounds like it's a good thing I am following the game on the computer at work and not watching.

NatsLady said...

Bowdenball-- I wouldn't go so far as to say we're in agreement. I'm not ready to give up on Wang.

LoveDaNats said...

Zim! FO - pay the man!

Anonymous said...

Don't we really have enough info on Wang now to know whether or not he stays or goes? What more can they really learn at this point? An eleven pitch at bat by Lombardozzi - impressive. We have to find a ray of sunshine somewhere these days.

NatsLady said...

Good, Lombo tired Billingsly out and the big guys get hits. Nice.

NatsLady said...

And Werth ties it! Dodgers are still replaying that play at the plate, which could matter now.

baseballswami said...

LovDaNats - agreed. And thanks for the tip off on the Zim hit.Since I am at work i can't follow gameday, Chase's comments and Nats Insider. Nice.

Anonymous said...

Look what Lombo has done. he deserves the credit for this inning

Bowdenball said...

NatsLady, I hope you're right. Especially now that we're back in this thing.

Part of me is hoping for a long enough rain delay to get Wang out of this game.

NatsLady said...

Well, I'm not Rizzo or Davey, but I don't have enough information on Wang. He has good innings and bad innings. That's frustrating, no doubt. But the upside is very high on a pitcher like Wang (is there another pitcher like Wang?). I don't see that kind of upside on someone like Detwiler...who has had a LOT of chances.

NatsLady said...

Agree on Lombo. He is the hero and it won't show in the box score.

But I do like Werth's homer, and the one he had before this one. No-doubters. Haven't seen a lot of those from him this year.

NatsLady said...

(sigh). Gotta pack up and go to work. Will listen on the radio. Y'all take care.

NatsLady said...

Nice inning, and I hear thunder.

nationals7 said...

I'm just so glad to be at the park! No rain... so far.. nice to see those big hits. New stadium announcer?where's Jerome?

Wally said...

How is there no rain at this game? I am in western Fairfax County, and the rain has been biblical - all day. Just seems crazy that 20 miles away they are in the 5th inning of a baseball game.

Anonymous said...

Prince William, too, Wally. Glad it's an official game now -- get ahead, then it can rain again!

sunderland said...

Wonk / sjm, can't make the game today, too many roads and bridges closed round these parts. Bummed. Enjoy. And Wonk, yes, I still owes you a beer, for sure.

Also, maybe those odds are for a Wang and Detwiler win, not a Nats win. Makes sense that way...

LoveDaNats said...

Where's Joe West when you need him?

Eugene in Oregon said...

Sorry, but I missed whatever the issue was with Werth's hit to deep right field. Anyone willing to enlighten me?

Anonymous said...

I hate this Jensen huy. can we get him to the nationals.

nationals7 said...

It's spritzing

LoveDaNats said...

Werth hit a long fly ball that the first base umpire called as caught, but replays showed the ball hit the wall first and then popped into the glove. Werth tried to argue as much but no review and play stood as called.

Anonymous said...

Ole!! Zimmerman would make a good bullfighter. Gotta love those infielders who play the ball to the side. Very old school. Brooks would be proud.

Anonymous said...

WB Mason makes me sick to my stomach. I swear I will never buy a product from them. I would rather the Nats lose their promotional dollars than be subjected to this for the entirety of my Nats fandom. Please Nats... have mercy on us with these commercials.

Eugene in Oregon said...

@ LoveDaNats - thanks. Now if we can just get another run (or three) across the plate...

Anonymous said...

never, never never lol

SCNatsFan said...

C'mon, lead off walk in the 8th and we do squat. These guys need to learn how to WIN!

LoveDaNats said...

Storen a little rusty? Or field conditions deteriorating? He's having a tough time.

Anonymous8 said...

Rusty? This is just tough to watch. He is just laboring out there and ready to be pulled. 3 earned against the bottom of the order. B-A-D

Anonymous said...

So many want to make excuses for the Nats. Didn't see MacDougal have any issues besides the fact he sucks. He didn't give up an runs.

nationals7 said...

Storen is really teed off in the dugout. Field conditions, not bad.

baseballswami said...

Drew has not pitched much at all in the last couple of weeks. I am not the only poster that has been expressing concern about it.Relievers, especially closers, need regular work, even during losing streaks. It's a shame, but he has had a remarkably good year. I think this is his worst outing all year, no? I also think he needs to get back on the mound just as soon as possible.He has always pitched best when he pitched often. This has been more than rust - it's way too much time off.

anonymous said...

Not to mention the fact that we have had a decent offense in basically only one inning. The game also would have been changed if the ump had gotten the call right on Jayson Werth's ball that went up against the wall.

Anonymous said...

This is one depressing team to watch. If Riggleman was still in that dugout right now with this record and the way this team is playing -- all of you would have been ready to crucify him.

LoveDaNats said...

.....AND there goes the hopes for a season near .500. It's a race for the cellar. At least it will be after 5pm when the next game starts and I can open the wine.

Gonat said...

Offense did a great job of picking up Wang. Just tough to watch a walkoff opportunity turn to a 3 run relief blowup by Storen to lose the tie and the game.

natsfan1a said...

LDN, I already had some chocolate cake, because there's no rule saying you have to wait 'til 5 p.m. for *that.* :-)

I think I'll just set the DVR and not watch game 2. (Except that I know I'll be clicking over to steal peeks 'cause I can't turn away. Le sigh.)

RPrecupjr said...

Note to Davey Johnson: Never, ever, ever, ever (I seriously canNOT say this enough) put your closer in in a tie game. This is Storen's third loss of the season. ALL have come when he enters a tie game. And to compare, Mariano Rivera has two losses this season....BOTH when entering in a tie game. I'm willing to bet if I went through every team's closer's stats and looked at their losses, I would find the vast majority happened when the closer came in in a tie game. I don't know why it happens, but it does. Please make a note of it Davey, preferably before the second game starts.

Anonymous said...

This a Terrible team with a terrible manager and a terrible GM. They are so far from competeing in this league its not funny. Other than Stras the minor league prospects are a joke.

Anonymous said...

Poignant -

Anonymous said...
This is one depressing team to watch. If Riggleman was still in that dugout right now with this record and the way this team is playing -- all of you would have been ready to crucify him.

September 8, 2011 4:41 PM

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