Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Game 148: Dodgers at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
John Lannan faces Josh Beckett in the nightcap of today's doubleheader.
Who's ready for some more baseball? The Nationals and Dodgers are right back out there for the second half of this doubleheader. And by virtue of their 3-1 victory in the just-completed Game 1, with another win tonight the Nats would clinch the first postseason berth by a Washington baseball club since 1933.

There are two changes to Davey Johnson's lineup: Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki are taking a seat, with Steve Lombardozzi and Jesus Flores taking their spots. In a bit of a surprise, both Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse are back in the lineup after playing in Game 1.

John Lannan, meanwhile, takes the mound for the Nationals, looking to improve to 4-0 and secure what would be quite a milestone victory for the franchise and the District of Columbia.

Plenty of updates to come...

LOS ANGELES DODGERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS (Game 2)
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), ESPN Radio, XM 185
Weather: Clear, 68 degrees, Wind 6 mph in from CF
NATIONALS (90-57)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Steve Lombardozzi
C Jesus Flores
LHP John Lannan

DODGERS (76-72)
2B Mark Ellis
LF Shane Victorino
CF Matt Kemp
1B Adrian Gonzalez
SS Hanley Ramirez
RF Andre Ethier
3B Luis Cruz
C Matt Treanor
RHP Josh Beckett

UMPIRES
HP Alan Porter
1B Mike Winters (cc)
2B Mark Wegner
3B Clint Fagan

7:47 p.m. -- And we're underway. Again. John Lannan starts off Mark Ellis with a fastball for ball one.

8:15 p.m. -- OK, now that I've had a chance to catch up on things, an actual update on this game: We're through two scoreless innings, with both Lannan and Josh Beckett cruising along. Lannan needed only 26 pitches to get through his first two frames, though the Dodgers do have a couple hard-hit balls, just hit right at fielders. Adam LaRoche has the Nats' lone hit so far, a leadoff single in the second. He, though, was immediately erased when Michael Morse grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. So we go to the third inning, still a 0-0 game.

8:35 p.m. -- How much do two-out walks hurt? A lot. Just ask Lannan, who issued back-to-back free passes in the top of the third to Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez and paid the price for it. Hanley Ramirez roped a two-run single to right (making him now 10-for-22 with six RBI and a 1.185 OPS in his career against Lannan) and then Andre Ethier added an RBI single to make it 3-0. Just like that, the Nats are in a hole early.

9:02 p.m. -- Well that turned ugly in a hurry. Lannan got beat around in the top of the fourth, giving up three hits and plunking Victorino. With the bases loaded, two out and Hanley Ramirez at the plate, Davey Johnson brought out the hook and summoned from the bullpen ... Chien-Ming Wang. Yep, his first big-league appearance in three months. And what did Wang do? Uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch on his very first pitch. He then allowed another run to score on a weird play in which Zimmerman fielded a hot shot to third and somehow managed to tag Gonzalez during a collision between the two. However, plate ump Alan Porter ruled Kemp crossed the plate before that out was recorded (though replays appear to show that not being the case. Regardless, it's now 6-0 Dodgers after four ugly innings.

9:18 p.m. -- Meanwhile, Josh Beckett has faced the minimum through five innings. Thank god for LaRoche's leadoff single in the second. Otherwise, we'd really have a story on our hands tonight, just not the one the Nationals wanted.

9:36 p.m. -- Hey, what do you know? The Nats got another hit off Beckett. Corey Brown, pinch-hitting for Wang, ropes a double to right in the bottom of the sixth. They still haven't scored, though. So it remains 6-0 after six as Zach Duke enters and Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth exit. This just turned into a spring training game.

9:57 p.m. -- I suppose if there's a silver lining to this game, it's that Wang and Duke have combined to throw 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Though I'm not sure how much of that you can attribute to their pitching performance and how much you can attribute to the Dodgers taking their foot off the gas pedal up six runs. Still 6-0 as we go to the bottom of the eighth.

10:25 p.m. -- Well, I have three words for anybody who left the park early tonight, with the Nats trailing by six runs: YOU. BLEW. IT. They just stormed all the way back in the bottom of the eighth. Morse homered. Lombardozzi homered. Harper beat out a slow roller to third. Morse delivered another big hit, a two-run single. Just like that, this game tied 6-6 as we go to the ninth. Unbelievable.

10:29 p.m. -- And just like that, Matt Kemp crushes Tyler Clippard's 0-2 fastball (and the hearts of everyone in attendance) to lead off the top of the ninth. The Dodgers are back on top 7-6, and now the Nats will have to rally again.

10:45 p.m. -- It's over. They lose 7-6 after storming back from six runs down in the eighth. They'll have to wait until tomorrow to go for the playoff clincher.

138 comments:

SonnyG10 said...

Go Nats, take the second game also.

GYFNG!!!

SCNatsFan said...

Don't get me wrong, at the start of the season I would have taken the wild card - even the second wild card. Somehow right now that won't be enough. Still, take that step tonight. Go Johnny L.

sm13 said...

Despite some of his public comments, this lineup indicates that Davey does think the wild card clincher means something special. Go Nats!

Eugene in Oregon said...

Got to watch the game live -- at least with one eye -- for the first time since Friday. Well played; well pitched; some timely hitting. But how about a bit more offensive pressure in the nightcap? GYFNG!

Gonat said...

Not to be lost in all of this is that the Nats beat the Dodgers, something they couldn't do in April 2012.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

History will be made, tonight.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

With my new phone I am having a problem adding a comment. So I am on the computer.

I have the setting set to auto turn, but this site is staying rotated across from side to side even though I hold in up and down.

When rotated side to side I cannot comment.

Any suggestion what to try to straighten this up?

Holden Baroque said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Holden Baroque said...

MNF, you're on a Windows tablet, I take it?

Holden Baroque said...

Wow, Kristina is wearing the Big Eyelashes tonight.

Secret wasian man said...

I think morse is still hurting. Maybe the shark should have played game 2

Holden Baroque said...

Shark has that "I could have started" look, no doubt.

Holden Baroque said...

bbl

ehay2k said...

Lol Sofa about the Shark - my thoughts exactly!

ehay2k said...

Eek - bases loaded for Hanley.

Faraz Shaikh said...

Lannen is laboring?

Faraz Shaikh said...

wait I thought Zimm and Morse were gonna sit out game 2.

ehay2k said...

Hanley hit a good pitch down and away. It wasn't as if LannEn gave him a meatball...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Cue Peric for his opportunity to bash Lannan.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I do not have a tablet,. I have a phone.

Not sure who is making me madder, the phone, or Lannan walking people into scoring position. I absolutely hate free bases. McCatty went out there, and he threw another ball after that. What is the point of throwing balls. Can't have your fielders he;lp at all.

Exposremains said...

I have to say this inning was very similar to 2011 Lannan. Around the 4th inning he has one really bad inning.

ehay2k said...

Manassas Nats fan - with phones and some sites, if you are looking at the "mobile version" won't rotate the image with the screen. You can see if there is a "request desktop Site" option in the browser, or a link to the Full Site on the page.

ehay2k said...

I must add that some phones force me to take a tablet!

Secret wasian man said...

Legion of doom a time. The nats gutted out a much needed win in the first game. But they are looking to lose the 4 th game out of 5. The hitting is really down, guys are banged up, and the starting pitching has been better. The way things have been going I think the division is in jeopardy. Thank you for letting me vent. Feel free to start insulting my opinions now.

mick said...

It would be neat if Lannan could some how get the win and symbolic, oh well

mick said...

Secret wasian man

actually, Nats should be rested... worse case scenario is the lead over Braves would be 5 with 14 to go. I like the Nats odds. I am hoping we do not get the best overall record, I know I will get blasted in here, but I would rather play the Giants in the first round than the Braves. This playoff format is terrible by the way...

Secret wasian man said...

Awful outing by lannan. Nice few wins when we needed them before. But it's crunch time in September and he's not good enough. Now the bullpen is shot for tommorow

ehay2k said...

Sigh, not a good night for Lannan. Just seemed like he started nibbling. Maybe he was just having control issues. Lately, it seems we get two outs and then our pitchers just can't close the deal.

ehay2k said...

Our Wang national nightmare...

mick said...

can we all agree that Wang will not pitch in post season, lol

mick said...

Lannan just lost his control early, one of those outings... give him a break he will be fine. What I am waiting for now is the Legion of the shutdown again, lol. Wonder how many idiots on MLB network will start in about Strass

Secret wasian man said...

Mick, the playoff format is a joke. You are correct about that. I no im very critical. But right now the nats are NOT the best team in the NL.

mick said...

Secret wasian man.... I think Nats are better than Braves and Giants, i am not sure if they are better than the Reds. What matters is how they go into October

Gonat said...

Umps screw up another one. Are these replacement umps?

mick said...

Gonat.... lol, but I have to say, I will take the MLB umpires over the joke in the NFL

ehay2k said...

Wow. can't believe that a) Kemp was jogging home with 2 outs and b) that the umps blew the call that badly.

I think we are seeing the Hanley effect on the Dodgers and the Umps. Must be "mail it in" night.

Secret wasian man said...

Right now I would not bet on the nats against , brew, dodgers, braves, giants, reds or phillies. Just not playing well. Even less than mediocre.

mick said...

It just figures that when the Nats nake post season, MLB gets goofy and basically gives home field advantage to the teams with the worse record in the first round. After a 162 games you are telling a 90 plus win team to play the first 2 on the road against a team with maybe 87 wins. This is crazy!! If that team wins the first 2 at home,which is very possible, it means the team with the better record must win 3 in a row

Secret wasian man said...

The nats will get the wild card. Win that at home. Then get two against braves at home. Maybe not such a bad thing.

mick said...

ehay2k agreed

Exposremains said...

you know why he the HP umpire missed because he was looking at the 3rd base play never looked at Kemp.

On another note, if you gonna give up by putting CMW you should take Zim, Werth, Harper, Morse out of this game.

mick said...

Secret wasian man Nats will win East

Gonat said...

This will tell us if Wang has any chance of contributing to this team.

mick said...

Exposremains


very good point, Davey may do that in the 5th or 6th if Nats have not scored

mick said...

Gonat said...
This will tell us if Wang has any chance of contributing to this team.


I already know the answer to that, lol

Secret wasian man said...

Mick, I certainly hope you are correct. You must admit though the play lately does not give one much confidence.

ehay2k said...

Wang needed a longer warmup. Ooooh- holding my breath watching him run to cover first. Not his strong suit...

ehay2k said...

Secret - just remember that we very likely win one game in Atlanta except for a terrible call by the ump saying LaRoche was off the bag.

Gonat said...

mick said...
Gonat.... lol, but I have to say, I will take the MLB umpires over the joke in the NFL

September 19, 2012 9:03 PM
________________________________

It took a while for Bob and FP to make the same joke.

ehay2k said...

Maybe FP is reading the blog tonite?

Hi FP!

mick said...

Secret wasian man

If we lose tomorrow to Dodgers, I will be concerned. I think we have to win the series verse Dodgers and Brewers period.

Playing the Braves, the game I was down on was the last game. I thought everyone played poorly after losing a game that a jerk umpire gave away on Saturday. The first loss was a great game, Desi just made a bad throw. So I had no problem with the first tow games. Lannan just hada tough outing. However, i expect Nats to win 2 of 3 verse Dodgers

mick said...

Gonat... lol

mick said...

Secret wasian man remember this series is a MUST for Dodgers, they are playing for their lives

ehay2k said...

Morse's injury not getting any better by keeping him in a doubleheader - he's just not THAT kind of DH.

Need to put Bernie in to give Morse a break and the Shark some AB's

mick said...

ehay2k I agree with you

mick said...



How about letting Wang finish this out and save the bullpen?

ehay2k said...

mick said...

Secret wasian man remember this series is a MUST for Dodgers, they are playing for their lives

---

WAIT - you mean people were complaining about the Nats and shutting Stras down, and if the Dodgers lose, Magic and Kasten are going to put the whole team down? Wow. ;-)

Exposremains said...

medlen 8 innings of shutout ball

ehay2k said...

I thought that only happens to greyhounds...

Gonat said...

Desmond smashed a ball that went nowhere and Victorino hit a ball that looked like an easy out that Harper turns into a Web Gem near the warning track.

mick said...

ehay2k lolololo

mick said...

Medlen right now is the best starter in the NL, hopefully he will cool down

mick said...

all right Wang!

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

In The begining of The second inninig lannan era was 2.11 after Two outs in The third.....4.43! Thats crazy

ehay2k said...

mick - either that or he gets a lot more attention from scouts. If he has any weaknesses, they will be found.

mick said...

ehay2k , will they be found by October, that is the question?

ehay2k said...

Nats fan in Brasil - that's because despite the fact that this is September, it's only his third (fourth?) game all year.

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

Ehay i know that, but dont u think Thats really awkard? By The way davey should put The whole bench in, give this team new energy!

mick said...

most important thing tonight is too rest some starters but try to get CMW through the 8th

Gonat said...

mick, I think Davey may pull Wang and go to Duke to eat some innings.

mick said...

Beckett has only thrown 51 pitches, one of his best outings

Faraz Shaikh said...

nothing seems to be going on here. c u guys tomorrow.

mick said...

Gonat and that is fine. Just rest the big boys for tomorrow

Gonat said...

That Adrian Gonzalez is a slick fielding 1st baseman also.

mick said...

Gonat.... he sure is

mick said...

I wonder if Beckett goes nine?

mick said...

only 57 pitches for Beckett, Dodgers will have a rested pen tomorrow

mick said...

nice job Corey!

DJB said...

I'm not sure Nats will win NL East, but at least we will make the Wild Card. This team does not have the bats to go anywhere in October.

mick said...

DJB its all about pitching in playoffs

ehay2k said...

Nats fan in Brasil - it happens like that all the time in April and May. If Lannan had pitched a shutout his ERA would have plummeted.

Beckett has only thrown 61 pitches through 6 innings? can the Nats pitchers please pick up some tips?

Nats Fan in Brazil said...

DJB, welcome Back! We really missed The legion of DOOM

DJB said...

Mick, they don't have the pitching either. We're limping into the playoffs at the very best.

DJB said...

Keeping it real....I owe you all a steak dinner if I'm proven wrong.

mick said...

This may be Beckett's best game of the season. For Dodgers fans, that is good news, I still think it will be Braves and Cards in Wild Card

mick said...

DJB.... I love Mortons in Bethesda, lol

peric said...

Uh Ghost why trash him? He is what is. That's why he wasn't the best pitchier in Syracuse (Duke's was). That's why he has a 4.23 ERA. If he wasn't left-handed he might have been released.

I am wondering whether Davey was giving us a hint about the right-handed starter on Sunday? He was following the Oriole's promotion of Dylan Bundy, (by-the-way according to Nats scouts and coaches Nate Karns was the best pitcher in that league this season NOT Bundy. Keep that in mind;), when he said the Nats also have possibilities down in the Florida Instructional League ...

Bryon Kerr went on about Gilliam and some others ... BUT there is a power pitcher with major league experience who might have been the best pitchier in the system after Nate Karns. His first year as a starter he was pretty impressive and the Nats need to make decisions about him during this offseason.

We might just see Ryan Perry on the mound on Sunday. He is ramping up fo for the AFL. Seems to me he might be perfect ... IMO perhaps a better choice than Lannan for a spot in the rotation.

peric said...

Cortisone shots for Mikey Mo!!!

peric said...

Cortisone shot for Lombo!!!

ehay2k said...

Today's pitchers - Lannan, Wang, Duke. Rearrange the letters : Gland Wanna Nuke

And I type that and BOOM - two homers. Game ON!

Gonat said...

That botched 6th run really looms large now.

ehay2k said...

Gonat - it's the Nats' job to make sure that the umps' incompetence does not impact the game. ;-)

Score 4 more!

Gonat said...

Mick, I jinxed Adrian Gonzalez! LOL

ehay2k said...

lol Gonat - quick, say something nice about their next pitcher!

RickH said...

Wow! I finally get home after missing both games and they start scoring! Should have made it back sooner!!!

RickH said...

BRYCE!!!

ehay2k said...

RickH, please do not move from where you are! Have food and beverages delivered to your exact location. ;-)

RickH said...

C'mon, Danny! Put that cortisone to work!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I was rea;;y ticked off Satruday at the Ump. Then I was more ticked off at the press that didn't get an interview with the ump. (MLB lets a pool reporter talk and none did.

Well tonight the play was just a joke, and someon has to have the guts to get to the truth as that is really the presses job. I don't need an interview with Lannan. I want an interview with the 3 umps who called the run good. What did they base the decision on? Not on what happened for sure.

Mark please be the pool reporter as all the others have prooven to be non reliable. You are reliable so do it, as that is what the fans really want to know. They already know Lanna lost control, and don't care for an interview about that.

Thanks in advance (of course I did that Saturday to no avail).

Exposremains said...

it could be 5-4.

RickH said...

ehay2k ... NOT moving!

ehay2k said...

full cobra pose from Morse there...

RickH said...

WHOA, NELLIE. THAT IS ALL.

Gonat said...

ehay2k said...
Gonat - it's the Nats' job to make sure that the umps' incompetence does not impact the game. ;-)

Score 4 more!

September 19, 2012 10:05 PM
___________________________________

Yah, but that is now the difference.

Exposremains said...

would love to see the face of Braves player in the clubhouse

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

the F.P. Santangelo line of the year:

"This is fast-break offense."

JaneB said...

We should be up one! Please let the seventh run cross so we really are. Insane here.

Gonat said...

Goon squad getting it done tonight!!!!

JaneB said...

And please, Mark, you or someone else, ask what happens to the blue who didn't even pay attention to the runner NOT crossing home plate. Can he be benched or fined?

Gonat said...

How did the ball carry by Kemp.

ehay2k said...

Seems like an odd location for an 0-2 pitch. Perhaps Severe Jammage was in order? Or Low and away?

Exposremains said...

clippard forgot what momentum means

Gonat said...

ehay, it wasn't thrown high enough. Its a chase fastball that Tyler didn't elevate enough.

Drew said...

To repeat:

Do not let Stanton beat you.
Do not let McCutcheon beat you.
Do not let Votto beat you.
Do not let Chipper beat you.

Do NOT let Matt Kemp beat you!

Gonat said...

Expos, the guy closed out the first game 3 hours before. Give him some slack. Sheesh.

ehay2k said...

In on Gonzales' hands. Much better location for an 0-2 pitch.

ehay2k said...

gonat, I know, but Kemp likes the high ball. Seems like you'd rather miss in the dirt.

Holden Baroque said...

Gonat, agreed, but still. You don't let Kemp beat you.

Gonat said...

Section 3, My Hitterish Sofa said...
Gonat, agreed, but still. You don't let Kemp beat you.

September 19, 2012 10:37 PM
____________________________________

He didn't let him. He missed his pitch.

Holden Baroque said...

If anybody is hoping for the Nats to win this more than Alice, it should be Alan Porter.

Holden Baroque said...

Well, "let" is a big word.

Gonat said...

Where's Wilson Ramos when you need him. The Brandon League killer.

ehay2k said...

Ramos is rehabbing right now, probably with a "I could hit that guy" look on his face.

Gonat said...

I'm not sure League threw a ball in the strike zone to Corey Brown.

peric said...

Where's Wilson Ramos when you need him. The Brandon League killer

He'll be back next season.

peric said...

Everyone trying to hit the bomb again ... as Morse proved just a single would work.

Gonat said...

The Nats had their largest come from behind 9th inning walkoff last year against Seattle and Brandon League. I think it was 4 or 5 runs.

Holden Baroque said...

League was with Seattle a long time. I bet Suzuki is thinking that.

Gonat said...

That 1 run screwup by the ump is the difference. Heck of a comeback.

Holden Baroque said...

Well, everybody got their money's worth today.
Go get 'em tomorrow.

Holden Baroque said...

The worst call all year, by far. And the WP by Wang. And the bad inning by Lannan. But still.

Exposremains said...

I think I would like to see maybe Garcia instead of Clippard because he pitched earlier

Gonat said...

There's a great lesson to a bad inning where you have to minimize the damage because a 4-0 defecit is much better than 5-0 as you can see when your team has the ability to comeback.

SonnyG10 said...

I am so mad at Alan Porter for giving the Dodgers that run and I'm mad at Davey for not putting up more of a protest. That potentially cost us the ball game. The game would have been tied after the nineth and who knows what would have happened then.

DJB said...

Closing is getting difficult. I would like a lights-out closer.

ehay2k said...

Dang game of inches. Six blank ones between each of the umps ears, apparently.

SonnyG10 said...

After listening to Davey's postgame comments, I guess there was nothing he could have done differently to change the outcome. He said Alan Porter told him he saw the play. Alan's a lying s.o.b. If he saw the play and gave the run to the Dodgers anyway, he should be fired.

SonnyG10 said...

I don't like Clip as our closer. I would rather have a power arm for that job.

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