Saturday, March 16, 2013

Nats vs. Astros - 3/16/13

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman each are in the Nats' lineup.
VIERA, Fla. -- Let's see ... Stephen Strasburg is on the mound. Ryan Zimmerman is at third base. The lineup is chock full of regulars. The game's on TV and will be played under the lights. Is it April at long last?

Sorry, it's still only March 16. But tonight's Grapefruit League game will be as close to a regular-season game as you're likely to see from the Nationals this spring. That includes Zimmerman in the field for the first time this spring. Look for him to be out at third base for about three or four innings, depending on how he feels and how quickly he can get two at-bats.

It also includes Strasburg both on the mound and at the plate. This is the first time this spring the Nats haven't used a DH, so the reigning NL Silver Slugger pitcher gets to take some hacks for the first time.

Plenty of updates to come, so please check back...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: Space Coast Stadium, Viera
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: Astros radio via MLB Gameday Audio
Weather: Sunny, 71 degrees, Wind 8 mph in from LF
NATIONALS
CF Denard Span
RF Jayson Werth
LF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Stephen Strasburg

ASTROS
LF Trevor Crowe
3B Brett Wallace
1B Carlos Pena
RF Fernando Martinez
CF Rick Ankiel
C Carlos Corporan
SS Marwin Gonzalez
2B Jake Elmore
RHP Lucas Harrell

6:08 p.m. -- And we're underway with a strike from Stephen Strasburg to Trevor Crowe. Beautiful night here ... aside from the brushfire that's been burning all afternoon off in the distance. Gotta love Viera.

6:22 p.m. -- Things got off to a big of a ragged start for Strasburg, who gave up a leadoff single to Crowe and then watched as Brett Wallace was awarded a single on a lazy flyball to left that Bryce Harper might have lost in the sun and the wind. But Strasburg rebounded to retire three in a row, striking out the last two he faced, including old pal Rick Ankiel. Or, as the local PA announcer called him, "Rick Anky-el."

6:25 p.m. -- Didn't take much for Lucas Harrell to retire the side in the bottom of the first. He got Denard Span to fly out to left on the first pitch, Jayson Werth to strike out on three pitches and Harper to tap a ball in front of the plate on the first pitch. Scoreless after one as Strasburg re-takes the mound already.

6:33 p.m. -- And there's Ryan Zimmerman's first fielding chance of the spring: a slow roller that he had to charge in on and then throw across his body. He pulled that play off flawlessly, as he almost always does. It's funny, even though that's a tougher play, everyone's more interested to see how he handles a routine grounder tonight. Strasburg is through two scoreless on 39 pitches (30 strikes). Still scoreless.

6:50 p.m. -- Strasburg is absolutely dealing right now. He just struck out the side in the top of the third, giving him four K's in a row and six overall. He broke off a couple of knee-buckling curveballs. He's through three scoreless innings on 52 pitches, 40 strikes.

6:56 p.m. -- Meanwhile, Harrell has been dealing himself and has now held the Nats' "A" lineup hitless through three innings. Nothing particularly well-struck so far off the right-hander. It's still 0-0 after three.

7:04 p.m. -- Uh-oh, just when Strasburg looked unhittable, striking out five in a row, old pal Rick Ankiel gets a hold of a fastball and sends it flying over the right-field wall for a solo homer. Is that any way to great a former teammate and friend? Guess so. Strasburg has otherwise been fantastic and is getting tremendous break on his curveball tonight. He's thrown 50 of 67 pitches for strikes through four innings. Should have one more in him. Nats now trail 1-0.

7:13 p.m. -- That'll do it for Zimmerman, who got four innings in the field and two at-bats. He wound up with only that one defensive chance, the slow roller in which he threw across his body. The Nats, by the way, are still hitless against Harrell.

7:21 p.m. -- What a heads-up play by Adam LaRoche to end the fifth inning. As Trevor Crowe roped a double to the gap in left-center, LaRoche trailed him around first base and actually wound up tagging him out at second base when Ian Desmond threw behind him. That's a play first basemen are supposed to make, but how often do you see a veteran actually do it in spring training? Impressive. As was Strasburg, whose night probably is done. His final line: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 81 pitches, 59 strikes. His only hiccup was the Ankiel homer. Still 1-0 in the middle of the fifth.

7:27 p.m. -- Er, I take that back. Strasburg is back out for the sixth, sitting on 81 pitches.

7:35 p.m. -- Now he's done for good after a flyout and a walk. Davey Johnson comes out to ask for the ball after Strasburg's 93rd pitch of the night. He also pulled Ramos, bringing in an entirely new battery of Craig Stammen and Chris Snyder. Ramos' signals must've been starting to come up in the zone, a sure sign of fatigue.

8:02 p.m. -- Ladies and gentlemen: Your 2013 Houston Astros! (You have my sympathies in advance, Bo.) They let not one but two routine balls in the air fall harmlessly to the ground in the bottom of the sixth, ultimately setting up a two-run inning for the Nats. Gonna be a tough year for Mr. Porter and Co. The Nats now lead 2-1 moving to the seventh.

8:30 p.m. -- A laborious eighth inning for Drew Storen, who was charged with three runs. It's been a bit of a ragged spring for Storen, who has pitched only two 1-2-3 innings in seven total appearances. Meanwhile, Ryan Zimmerman admitted he was a little nervous when he took the field for the first inning tonight but got more comfortable as the game progressed and emerged feeling good about the state of his shoulder. He would've liked another fielding chance or two but is confident he's good to go nine innings if needed. Nats now trail 4-2 in the 8th.

9:15 p.m. -- Game over. Nats lose 4-2.

49 comments:

Positively Half St. said...

I am not trying to be mean, but I can't tell whether the Houston lineup is anywhere near what the opening day lineup will be like. I am guessing that the lack of Justin Maxwell means it isn't that close, but for the Astros the difference may not be significant.

Gonat said...

Nats look like they are putting out their Opening Day roster.

NCNatsie said...

Right you are, Gonat. The only question would be at catcher. Do you think the choice of Ramos for tonight has any implications for O.D?

Section 222 said...

Haren is your 5th Starter not Det

See Mark's tweet: "Davey also reveals he plans to have Dan Haren as No. 4 starter and Ross Detwiler as No. 5."

Oops.

I'm a little surprised by this choice since the 4th starter will pitch the last game against the White Sox, and I thought maybe Davey would rather have Haren face the Braves. The Braves haven't seen him since May 16, 2010, and the only player in the lineup that day who is still a starter for the Braves is Jason Heyward. On the other hand, Haren faced the White Sox twice last year and had quality starts in both games. So maybe Davey wanted to line him up to face them.

Then again, "John's my guy...."

JayB said...

yea because Davey always tells the truth in the Press.....ask Lanan about that.....

peric said...

1/2 Street? Ankiel over JMax? And who is Houston's manager again? And does he know both players? And who do you think he likes better?

Easy answer there.

peric said...

Detwiler is the #4 guy. Davey is probably showing some deference to the veteran by not sticking him in the #5 hole. And Detwiler is still young and has yet to throw 200 innings or even complete an entire season as a starter?

So, it makes sense all things considered. If his performance warrants it Detwiler will get moved up when Davey decides its time to switch around the rotation.

peric said...

yea because Davey always tells the truth in the Press.....ask Lanan about that.....

Lannan ~= JD Martiin from the left side. He has value because he's a lefty but he's still AAAA. And that will be clearly seen soon enough.

Traveler8 said...

Not seeing Jose Altuve in the lineup for the Astros tells me that they are not on their starting nine.

Section 222 said...

You guys are hilarious. Do you actually think it matters who is #4 and who is #5? Or that it's a competition based on merit? Come on.

MicheleS said...

Well, some good news for me, Tomorrow I will be live from Lakeland.. and I get the treat of seeing Gio pitch. See y'all tomorrow.. sprung for the MLB.tv for a month so I could watch some games while traveling...

Drew said...

The Astros didn't also aren't starting big LF Chris Carter, who they picked up in the Oakland deal.

I wonder if the Astros brought Freiman, the big second-string first baseman who homered against the Nats on Thursday.

MicheleS said...

Scratch that.. I get Ross tomorrow instead.. Equally as happy!

Drew said...

Enjoy Lakeland, MicheleS. Don't forget the sunscreen.

baseballswami said...

Nice to see Rick Ankiel extending his career in Houston. He is a good guy and Bo will basically have another coach in the dugout. We outgrew him, but he has something to contribute to the Astros.

Another_Sam said...

This game feels real.

baseballswami said...

A_sam. And the pitchers are hitting now. Significant sea change.

baseballswami said...

Zimmy can throw!!!!

Joe Seamhead said...

This home plate ump is a pitcher's best pal. Ask Ankiel or Werth.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I was going to say Ross is tomorrow.

Joe Seamhead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Seamhead said...

Zimm? Throw from 3rd? Looked pretty.

baseballswami said...

Joe- it's a beautiful thing. Espi looked pretty sharp now too.

Rabbit34 said...

Just amazing how this lineup had the best record in baseball. Now, with a little luck, this year.........?

NatsNut said...

Michele, don't forget to take the cookies with you tomorrow.

MicheleS said...

Nats Nut.. had I known Ross was pitching I would have baked him some cookies..

Good see Stras serve up a meatball to ank so he can make the team (it's the Astros, but still it's a team)

baseballswami said...

Well, I guess Stras is stretched out now.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Strasburg stretching out nicely.

EmDash said...

Today's example of 'things they'll never happen outside of spring training:' Tyler Moore in as a pinch runner for Bryce Harper.

EmDash said...

Oh, Astros. Man. No collision on that play, at least!

Another_Sam said...

Ill take it.

Candide said...

So the Nats are trailing 1-0 to what sounds like the AAAA Astros?

Yikes...

UnkyD said...

Not any more..... :)

baseballswami said...

These hitters look a lot like Team USA .

Theophilus T. S. said...

Anybody notice Mark DeRosa's hitting .400+ for Toronto?

baseballswami said...

I did notice that DeRosa likes being north if the border.

baseballswami said...

Storen have dead arm?

EmDash said...

Oh, Drew. He just has bad spring trainings, right? Right?

Drew said...

You're killing me, Smalls!

baseballswami said...

He needs to announce his presence with authority.

MicheleS said...

swammi... as long as Drew announces his presence with authority after 4/1, i am okay.

NatsNut said...

Hi there, good Henry. Nice to see you again.

TimDz said...

PFB, Henry....

UnkyD said...

My Boy!!

MicheleS said...

Henry looking good....

phil dunton said...

Henry alway looks good when there's no pressure.

phil dunton said...

Henry alway looks good when there's no pressure.

MicheleS said...

phil... are you already sucking on lemons? It's not even May yet.... ;-)

EmDash said...

Not a Henry fan, but credit where it's due - he kept his composure after the error and got out of it. Good to see. Hopefully it'll be good for his confidence.

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