Monday, September 10, 2012

Instant analysis: Nats 5, Mets 1

US Presswire photo
Ryan Zimmerman rounds third base following his 21st homer of the season.
Game in a nutshell: Looking to bounce back from a rough weekend against the Marlins, the Nationals didn't waste much time pouncing on Collin McHugh. They roughed up the Mets rookie right-hander for three homers during an eight-batter span in the third and fourth innings, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. They actually were held hit-less by the New York bullpen after that, but rode Gio Gonzalez's effective start and scoreless innings of relief from Ryan Mattheus, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard to secure a fairly easy victory. Gonzalez became the majors' first 19-game winner, and the Nationals opened a six-game road trip in strong fashion. Their magic number for the NL East is down to 16; their magic number for the final wild card berth is 9.

Hitting highlight: The Nationals' scoring barrage took a break yesterday, but it was back in full force for the opener of this series. They blasted three homers -- Kurt Suzuki's solo shot in the third, Ryan Zimmerman's two-run shot a few batters later, Ian Desmond's two-run shot in the fourth -- and none was a cheapie. Desmond's was especially impressive, a real clout into one of the bullpens in right field. It was only the latest example of the shortstop's newfound stroke to the opposite field: Seven of his 22 homers this season have been hit to the right of straightaway center. Only one of Desmond' 22 career homers prior to 2012 was hit in that direction.

Pitching highlight: It looked like it might be a long night for Gonzalez when he walked his first batter of the night, then issued another free pass to David Wright moments later. And truth be told, the left-hander wasn't sharp at all. He wound up walking five and throwing only 58 of his 104 pitches for strikes. But he did come through with big pitches when he needed them and wound up with strong overall results: one run allowed on three hits over six innings. The only real blemish on his pitching line: Scott Hairston's solo homer in the fourth. Gonzalez's quality start proved more than enough to earn him win No. 19 on the season, making him the first MLB pitcher to reach that milepost in 2012.

Key stat: Desmond's 22 homers this season are the most ever by a Washington middle infielder, a span that includes the 1901-71 Senators and the 2005-present Nationals.

Up next: Gonzalez became the majors' first 19-game winner tonight. New York's R.A. Dickey will try to join him tomorrow. The knuckleballer goes up against Jordan Zimmermann at 7:10 p.m. in a matchup of two of the best right-handers in the NL this season.

63 comments:

MicheleS said...

WOO HOO!.. Sweet.. Let's take it to R.A tomorrow night! Go Brew Crew (only for the next few days)

Swift Eagle said...


Key stat: Desmond's 22 homers this season are the most ever by a Washington middle infielder, a span that includes the 1901-71 Senators and the 2005-present Nationals

____________________________

Thank you Mark for not lumping in the Expos stats...I hate it when people do that, the Expos are gone...

Swift Eagle said...

Michele, are you able to put in an early jynx on R.A.? Or does it only work once the game starts? Lol

MicheleS said...

Swift.. I think in game only...haven't tried to any other way, would be afraid to go against the baseball gods

ehay2k said...

19 wins. Unthinkable for a Nats pitcher on previous teams. We were happy with double digit wins. Heck, in 2007, we were happy with double digit no-decisions!

Too bad about the Barves win. But as long as our magic number keeps going down, it really doesn't matter.

Swift Eagle said...

Good call ehay...haven't heard too many people bemoaning the loss of T. Milone lately...Gio has been great, on and off the field...

JaneB said...

Exactly, ehay. Our number just needs to keep going down, and we will be good to go.
Loved FPs comments wboutbthevfamilies of gyve dressed as seats, and the wisdom in the observation that pitching for a contender is a lot more pressure than what RA is pitching for...and I say that with enormous respect fir Dickey.

GYFNG!

NatsNut said...

my Braves fan brother just texted that Braves announcer mentioned this stat: The Mets are the only NL East team with a losing record at Citi Field.

ehay2k said...

Sorry - thought Barves had won. They just left bases loaded in the seventh. Still a chance for the Brew Crew!

GYFBG!

Swift Eagle said...

The Mets are Marlins are a lot better than the teams in the cellar of all the other divisions...Cubs, Astros, Padres, Rockies...

Swift Eagle said...

Mets *and* Marlins...

Swift Eagle said...

Brewers have runners on 1st and 2nd with No outs in the 7th...Kimbrel had to pitch over an inning yesterday and may not be avail today...

NatsLady said...

Oh, thank you, Jonny Venters! Keep up the good work.

Gonat said...

Brewers finally get something going!

Swift Eagle said...

TIED on a throwing error, Still no outs!!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

1-1 2 In scoring positions for Brewers

Exposremains said...

lets go brewers, lets go..

ehay2k said...

Pressure on the Barves, big time!

baseballswami said...

So we eliminated the marlins this past weekend, the mets tonight. Two down.

JaneB said...

And go Brewers!!

Gonat said...

Brewers take the lead!!!!

NatsLady said...

Aoki-san with a double. Brewers up 3-1 with still no one out.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Aoki 2 run double 3-1 Brewers

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I. thought it was going to be grand slam for Aoki

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Comas sac fly 4-1

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Gomez

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Braun intentionally walked

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Chopper threw Aoki out at home. 2 outs first and second

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Weeks walks. bases loaded.

Secret wasian man said...

So I was going to say brew up 3. 1. Looks like you guys are all over it. Gnight

JaneB said...

Is this Atlanta game on anywhere? I'm looking at gameday and it's slow.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

.I am watching on my job extra innings package I give myself for Christmas every season. Taylor Green grounds out to end inning.

Remember Brewers bullpen is terrible.

ehay2k said...

I can't find the game on FiOS. MLB network may cut in. Just listening via At Bat.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Damn auto correct I am watching on MLB. extra innings. channel 775 on my cable.

on 772 Reds have bases loaded 2 outs

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Bruce strikes out with bases loaded. off to the 11th inning

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Braves retired 4-1 bottom of 8th

Gonat said...

Prado tries to stretch a 1st to 3rd on a single by Freeman and gets thrown out for the last out. Never make the 3rd out at 3rd base...

Section 222 said...

Prado just thrown out trying to go first to third to end the top of the 8th. Really nice throw and swipe tag. Brew Crew leads ATL 4-1. One inning left to reduce the magic number to 15.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

EHAY the throw by Gomaz to throw out Pearl looked like a Harper play.

Section 222 said...

I really hate rooting for Nyjer.

peric said...

Milwaukee scores 4 in the bottom of the 7th now lead ATL 4-1. Nats could drop their E# by one more.

peric said...

Fixed lineup. Fixed rotation for now. Lannan doesn't get to face the Braves. But Gio and Detwiler do with EJax in between.

Davey sounds like he is going to take it to the house with this lineup.

Steady Eddie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steady Eddie said...

Onto the ninth in Milwaukee.

Uggla, McCann, and Simmons up for the Barves. In total, 2 for 7 on the night, so they've already gotten their hits for the game. Let's hope.

Steady Eddie said...

Uggla out on a flyout.

Steady Eddie said...

McCann grounds out to first.

Gonat said...

This is unreal. Brewers win! Nats magic # to 15. Nats lead to 6 1/2

Steady Eddie said...



Simmons grounds out 4-3, MAGIC NUMBER IS 15!!!!!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

F7. 3U 4-3 3 outs Brewers win 4-1

Section 222 said...

Yes! Thank you Crew.

Gonat said...

Nats needed this especially with RA Dickey on the mound tomorrow.

Joe Seamhead said...

Braves got 10 hits, drew 3 walks, and scored 1 run!

JaneB said...

Hurrah! I hope the Brewers go on a nice 3 game tear.

Gonat said...

The Magic counter just changed to 15!

ehay2k said...

Excellent! 15 left folks, that's not a lot, but not yet a gimme.
G'night all.

Gonat said...

Joe, Prado was thrown out twice at 3rd base!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Jose Habit web gem to have Reds and Give go 12

Gonat said...

Jose Tabata?

SonnyG10 said...

Hoo Rah! Go Nats! Hey, we have a 19 game winner on our staff! Whoppie!!!!

Section 222 said...

So I get how Mark posts his instant Analysis as soon as the game ends, but how the heck does he get the Magic Number counter to change almost instantaneously while he's presumably interviewing players or writing his gamer. Well done.

Section 222 said...

Todd Frazier is apparently in a big slump. .182 in the last 10 games. 0 HR, 0 RBIs. Hope for Harper as ROY?

Mike J said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike J said...

"Thank you Mark for not lumping in the Expos stats...I hate it when people do that, the Expos are gone... "


So are the 1901-71 Senators, but you're not complaining about that are you?

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