 |
US Presswire file photo The Nationals try to complete a sweep today at Rogers Centre. |
If you're going to try to pull off your second straight sweep on the road, might as well send your ace to the mound. Yep, Stephen Strasburg gets the nod, looking to improve his record to 8-1 and the team's record to 11-2 when he starts. He'll be opposed by young Kyle Drabek, the Blue Jays' key acquisition from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay trade several years back who to this point is an unimpressive 8-14 with a 5.26 ERA in 29 career starts.
One key change to the Nationals' lineup for this afternoon's getaway matinee at Rogers Centre: Adam LaRoche is not starting for the first time since May 7 (when he missed four games with an oblique strain). So Tyler Moore makes his first career start at first base in LaRoche's place.
Enjoy the game and the conversation as the Nats try to finish off a perfect road trip...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Where: Rogers Centre
Gametime: 12:37 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 178
Weather: Sunny, 65 degrees, Wind 12 mph in from LF
NATIONALS (37-23)
LF Steve Lombardozzi
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
DH Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
1B Tyler Moore
CF Rick Ankiel
C Jesus Flores
(RHP Stephen Strasburg)
BLUE JAYS (31-31)
3B Brett Lawrie
CF Colby Rasmus
RF Jose Bautista
1B Edwin Encarnacion
DH David Cooper
SS Yunel Escobar
2B Kelly Johnson
C J.P. Arencibia
LF Rajai Davis
(RHP Kyle Drabek)
UMPIRES
HP Gary Cederstrom (cc), 1B Lance Barksdale, 2B Fielden Culbreth, 3B Adrian Johnson
254 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 254 of 254 Newer› Newest»pRAA, I know Soriano did it against the Braves in RFK. I think 2 were against John Smoltz.
10 pitch at bat against Encamacion... Stammen lost the battle.
Strasburg usually wins out in long at bats.
Nattydread
Phew . . . we got through Batisa and Encarnacion in the eight. I trust we won't see them in the ninth, or any more this series
more from the Toronto broadcast:
Now batting, "Jesse Flores...."
Just when I thought we were getting some respect...
Wonk, I hope not because even in the worst scenario Blue Jays score at least a run and leave bases loaded with 2 outs for Bautista.
jeffwx... I was kidding. It's just that he's the only name caller on this site. Just disagree with him one time.
But then again, he thankfully single handedly brought Michael Morse to the Nats.
Lets let Stammen get a three inning save!
That quote was definitely from Yogi.
But it's important to remember that he didn't really say everything he said.
And the Nats are 3 outs away from turning an above .500 AL East team to sub .500 for the second time in a week and in their own house.
Oh, and 222:
Scooter's downfall was he got greedy. We didn't hear that Morse was injured until March if I'm not mistaken.
I tossed that in because I knew not everybody would be as clever as you, and might need an extra hint.
Oh, do we get Bad Brad again tonight?
Good situation to get Lidge in, imho.
Good idea to bring in Lidge. A nice low pressure situation to get him some work. We're going to need the full bullpen against the Yanks and Rays.
No, looks like Good Brad.
Brad Lidge... Would be nice to see him get hot...
Nattydread
NatsJack in Florida said...
jeffwx... I was kidding. It's just that he's the only name caller on this site. Just disagree with him one time.
Yeah, but disagree with Steve M. and he'll go crying to Mark and get your comments deleted.
Really, which is worse?
Lidge is looking pretty good...
Soul -- maybe tonight, but thankfully, apparently not this afternoon.
Sec222 -- you owe me a coke.
WOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!! The first road sweep ever!
Love a wide margin Win and a Sweep!!!!
Another Curly W in the books!!!
International sweepstakes!!!!
Rogers Centre was really dirty. It needed a good sweeping.
10-pitch 1-2-3 inning from a reliever who had ERA of 5+ coming into the game.
I'm lovin' this.
And maybe Lidge is on the way back, and can give some extra relief to the relief corp!
this comment intentionally left blank due to a recent cease-and-desist letter from MicheleS's legal team
Sweep-steaks will be served on the plane ride home!
Okay, I have to go and mow the lawn. And then SWEEP the clippings! Yeah!
I hope I see some of you folks tomorrow evening!
This why Davey is so good. Lidge gets some work and looks good. Smart.
pRAA.....peric....Ghost knows what he's talking about.
Coolest things Mark will never write again:
"The Nationals have never gone 6-0 on a road trip."
"The Nationals have never won a game at Fenway."
"The slugger Tyler Moore is the only Nats position player on the current roster without a home run this year."
Other nominations?
Was this the first time this season that the Nats starters 3 games in a row were the pitchers of record?
Not only a good time to bring Lidge in -- and great to see he still can summon up his stuff -- but two innings and 37 pitches waas plenty for Stammen. Now he could conceivably come in Saturday if we needed him, whereas if he'd pitched over 50 pitches you'd really want to give him at least three days rest.
It would be fantabulous if we had any similar low-stress, low-leverage big leads against the Yanks late to send in Lidge -- but I wouldn't count on it, so give him a shot now.
When thou has Dunn, thou hast not done, for we have Moore.
Section 222 said...
Coolest things Mark will never write again:
"Anderson Hernandez just missed catching up with that pitch."
Have to go back a long way to find a game where Espi had no K's with a hit.
BTW, TyMo now batting .290. Sure, small sample size.
Section 222 said...
Coolest things Mark will never write again:
"No Nationals team has ever finished the season above .500"
Just a guess.
nope gonat, that has happened before. check month of may 20th onwards.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSN/2012-schedule-scores.shtml
"The Nats will just have to hope tomorrow's starter, J.D. Martin, can end this skid."
NJ, I thought you were joking.
I've blindsided by the name that should not be said once.
Gonat, intersting question about pitchers of record. It does seem that so many games are decided late, the starter doesn't get the decision.
Going through the Schedule and Results page, I see Strasburg-Gonzalez-JORDAN have done it at least thrice (once winning all three), and that's about when I stopped counting. A couple of stretches went four in a row.
Two sweeps in a row! I may have to go buy a new broom for the evil empire's visit this weekend.
Can't tell you all how much I wish I could join you tomorrow evening for the meet and greet of my imaginary friends. Raise a glass to all things Nationals for me and I in turn will raise my galss at home to you all. Okay, I might raise it tonight as well but just to practice. :)
Was this the first time this season that the Nats starters 3 games in a row were the pitchers of record?
No, May 10-11-12. Strasburg, Gio, Znn beat the Pirates and the Reds twice; and again May 20-21-22, same guys against the O's, Phils and Phils.
This is the first time they've gone five in a row this season, maybe ever.
I was looking for shorthand to take notes on which pitchers got decisions, and I realized something funny.
My love's measurements: 37-47-27.
Soul, thanks for the stats
Uh, that would be "..... I in turn will raise my GLASS at home to you all..."
Knoxville, raise your gals any way you see fit.
Gonat said...
Was this the first time this season that the Nats starters 3 games in a row were the pitchers of record?
Not even the first time in the past week.
6/6 Jackson W
6/7 Wang L
6/9 Strasburg W
6/10 Gonzales W
You did say "pitcher of record" not "winning pitcher" after all.
This is the first time they've gone five in a row this season, maybe ever.
I don't see five in a row even now. Gorzelanny won Sunday's game, not Zimmermann.
I think I was anticipating Friday and Saturday. My bad.
Section 222 said...
Coolest things Mark will never write again:
"I wish that fascinating Baltimore fan on the WaPo site would post here once in a while."
Okay, you did say "again." Technicality. So sue me.
Section 222 said...
Coolest things Mark will never write again:
Will Wang win a game he starts?
Will fifth string catcher Jhonatan Solano be in over his head at the plate, being pressed into MLB duty?
I'm just now able to read the thread, having had to "watch" the game on GameDay. I laughed out loud so many times. Thanks, all.
Post a Comment