Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Game 33: Tigers at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Nats and Tigers give it another shot tonight, with much better weather.
Hey, let's try this again. Twenty-four hours after the Nationals and Tigers were supposed to open their two-game series but were "rained" out, they'll be back on the field for another attempt. The forecast is much, much better today, though there still are some pop-up showers out there that could affect things, so keep that in mind if you're coming to the ballpark.

Jordan Zimmermann once again gets a chance to face this potent Detroit lineup. He'll be doing so on six full days of rest, which isn't necessarily a good things for him. Over his career, Zimmermann is 16-8 with a 2.61 ERA when pitching on normal four days' rest but 13-19 with a 4.00 ERA when pitching on extra rest.

The extra day off probably did some good for Bryce Harper, who has now essentially had three days to rest his bruised left side. Jayson Werth, on the other hand, still hasn't been given the green light to return from a tight hamstring, despite the fact the field should be dry tonight.

Updates to come, so please check back...

DETROIT TIGERS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WNEW (99.1 FM), XM 184
Weather: Chance of showers, 66 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (17-15)
CF Denard Span
SS Ian Desmond
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Tyler Moore
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

TIGERS (19-11)
CF Austin Jackson
RF Torii Hunter
3B Miguel Cabrera
1B Prince Fielder
LF Andy Dirks
SS Jhonny Peralta
C Alex Avila
2B Omar Infante
RHP Anibal Sanchez

UMPIRES
HP Hunter Wendelstedt
1B Jerry Layne (cc)
2B Alan Porter
3B Greg Gibson

6:45 p.m. — Here's your weather update: It's been raining on and off all afternoon, and the tarp remains on the infield. There's been no sign of either starting pitcher yet, so obviously this game isn't going to start on time. It basically takes 30 minutes or so once the tarp is removed before the first pitch can be thrown, so keep that in mind as you wait this out.

7:22 p.m. — The tarp is beginning to be rolled up, though there's still no sign of the starting pitchers. My guess would be that we're looking at first pitch around 8 p.m.

7:23 p.m. — Sure enough, the Nats just announced first pitch will be at ... 8 p.m.!

8:02 p.m. — And we're finally underway after a 57-minute rain delay. Jordan Zimmermann fires a fastball to Austin Jackson for strike one.

8:06 p.m. — Wow, what a play by Ian Desmond to end the top of the first. After Adam LaRoche couldn't handle Torii Hunter's bouncer to first (resulting in LaRoche's second error of the season), Desmond lunged well to his right to snag Miguel Cabrera's line drive, then fired back to first base to double up Hunter. Stellar play there by the shortstop in a scoreless top of the first.

8:13 p.m. — Leadoff single for Denard Span in the bottom of the first, but he's quickly erased on Anibal Sanchez's pickoff move. That seems to have happened a few too many times to Nats baserunners so far this season. Scoreless after one.

8:23 p.m. — Zimmermann had to battle a bit in the top of the second, allowing a leadoff double to Prince Fielder on a hanging 0-2 curveball and then issuing a two-out walk to Alex Avila after getting ahead in the count 0-2. But the right-hander battled his way through it, and so his scoreless streak remains intact, now at 20.

8:38 p.m. — It's tough to notch three hits in an inning and still not score a run, but that's what the Nats just did in the bottom of the second. Of course, when those three hits are an opposite-field single by LaRoche (now 6 for his last 11, having reached safely in 10 of his last 14 plate appearances), a bunt single by Danny Espinosa and a lob-wedge infield hit by Kurt Suzuki, you understand how they didn't score. Oh well, at least they're making Sanchez work a bit. Scoreless after two.

8:53 p.m. — And Zimmermann proves mortal after all. He finally gave up a run, allowing a two-out double to Hunter past a diving Zimmerman at third base, then an RBI single to Cabrera. There's certainly no shame in giving up hits to those two All-Stars, but thus ends the scoreless streak at 20 innings. The Tigers are the best lineup Zimmermann has faced this season, and it's showing. They may only have the one run so far, but they've made him throw 51 pitches through three innings. Nats trail 1-0.

8:59 p.m. — And the Nats get the run right back, thanks to Span, who led off the bottom of the third with a triple into the right-field corner. He even stumbled coming around second and still made it safely. Harper then lofted a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Span home and evening this game at 1-1 after three.

9:13 p.m. — A big break for the Nats, and because of it they take the lead. With two on and one out, Suzuki lofted a flyball to right field. LaRoche (who recorded yet another opposite-field single) took off from second, tagging up. A good throw by Hunter would've had him easily, but the throw skipped past Cabrera and struck a photographer out of play. Thus, LaRoche was automatically awarded the plate on the throwing error, so the Nats have taken a 2-1 lead after four.

9:21 p.m. — Zimmermann finally completes his first clean inning of the night, retiring the side in the top of the fifth on a pair of strikeouts and a flyout. He's retired five in a row and seems to be starting to find his groove. He's at 73 pitches through five.

9:31 p.m. — Man oh man, you think Harper was sitting on that first-pitch curveball from Sanchez? He sat back and then demolished it, sending the ball flying well up the right-field bleachers for his 10th homer of the season. So the Nats have taken a 3-1 lead after five and provided Zimmermann a bit of a cushion.

9:47 p.m. — Sanchez certainly hasn't seemed affected by the home run. He's struck out all four batters faced since Harper's blast. It remains 3-1 as we move to the seventh, with Zimmermann back on the mound on 87 pitches.

9:57 p.m. — Zimmermann finishes his night on a high note. He completes seven innings of 1-run ball on 101 pitches, striking out seven while walking two. He's due up second in the bottom of the seventh, and Tyler Clippard is warming in the Nats pen, so that'll do it for him. Still 3-1 at the stretch.

10:04 p.m. — Here comes the biggest inning of the game, the top of the eighth. It'll be Clippard against Cabrera, Fielder and Dirks, with the Nats up by two runs.

10:24 p.m. — It took 34 pitches (an astounding 10 of them with two outs and two strikes), but Clippard completed a scoreless eighth. Talk about your high leverage situations, whew. Still 3-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth.

10:42 p.m. — OK, here we go. Rafael Soriano in for the ninth. He'll face Infante, the pitcher's spot and Jackson. It would take two Tigers reaching base for Cabrera to come up again. Obviously, Soriano would prefer to avoid that scenario.

10:48 p.m. — That's it. Soriano wraps up his 11th save in 12 tries and gives the Nats a 3-1 victory. Zimmermann earns his NL-leading sixth win. And the Nats beat Sanchez for the first time in ... get this ... 20 career encounters.

154 comments:

Tcostant said...

Still no Werth? Interesting...

Eric said...

Braves win. C'est la baseball!

Let's do this Nats!

Janus said...

Careful, you'll wake the beast.

SEE EVERYDOBY, SEE??? Moore getting more time, when will you ever listen...etc.

Kidding aside, I don't think it's anything more than Davey being careful with a hamstring injury.

Eric said...

"Careful, you'll wake the beast."

Is this meant to be self-directed? ;)

Holden Baroque said...

I think that's slang for some teenage boy thing. I could be wrong.

baseballswami said...

Thunderstorm at my house . Fields sure to be slick. Let's just give Jayson this one more day.

Janus said...

Bright sunshine and blue skies in SE right now, but not saying that's gonna last.

SonnyG10 said...

Thunder and grey skies here in Reston.

A DC Wonk said...

In Fairfax -- just heard thunder . . .

Eric said...

It's looking like it'll be kinda dicey through the evening, in terms of rain disrupting the game.

A DC Wonk said...

(hmm, I'm a little late to the weather-report party scene, I see . . . ;-) )

NattieNation13 said...

I smell a backdated DL stint for the Werewerth a la Zim and Ramos. The prevailing strategy I keep hearing is, "it's still early, let's get it taken care of once and for all." Zim repeated this message tens of times to reporters during his time away.

Seems like a little bit of a change in tune (for the better) for the Nat's training/medical staff, who has struggled in the past to help limit player's nagging injuries from turning into much longer DL stints...

Dave said...

Looking pretty gray and gloomy in South Riding. I bet it rains on me on my way home.

Dave said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dave said...

Incidentally (to beat the dead rain-check horse once again), one of my season plan partners who had last night's game (in a different section from me) reports that he called the Nats ticket office, complained, and was able to change his season ticket to a different game.

This sort of confirms my impression that they are making this all up as they go along--including the last-minute change in policy yesterday.

If you talk to the right person in the office, you might get the results you desire. On the other hand, you might not.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

70's and not a cloud in the sky in Newport Beach.

SonnyG10 said...

Thunder and a cloud burst in Reston.

Get Your Re(n)d On said...

This sort of confirms my impression that they are making this all up as they go along--including the last-minute change in policy yesterday.

For every policy there are always exceptions. Sometimes you don't even have to be nasty to get an exception, sometimes being nasty will piss someone off and they'll turn you down. This applies (almost) everywhere, not just with the Nats.

As for the last minute policy change, they might have settled on the policy a while ago and just forgotten to update the web site. They've been known to be slow with web updates in the past. Do they still have the paper copy of the A-to-Z Guide? What does that say?

Janus said...

Weather update for SE, now cloudy and big fat drops of rain, seems like the thunderstorm is coming through. If it can pass in a couple hours we might be ok.

Knoxville Nat said...

Showers off and on all day in Knoxville.

Drew said...

It's gray in Richmond.

Wait, that's just the re-enactors.

Get Your Re(n)d On said...

"Tcostant said...

Still no Werth? Interesting..."

Wet track tonight. Davey already said that would keep Werth out of the lineup.

peric said...

Et cum Spiritu tu ...

jeffwx said...

and there's more storms behind this line....moving up from the Southland.

A DC Wonk said...

Drew said...

It's gray in Richmond.

Wait, that's just the re-enactors.

good one!

jeffwx said...

We had hail here in College Park, MD
wait this isn't the weather blog

Steady Eddie said...

The other reason for not starting Werth tonight is his very poor BA (don't have the ## at my fingertips)against Anibal Sanchez. He's not going to have his timing sharp in his first game back in a week, so why start him out against an established nemesis?

Faraz Shaikh said...

31PA and 19 Ks: werth against sanchez.

EmDash said...

True, but if the Nats hold out everyone with a poor track record against Sanchez, they wouldn't be able to field a team. *g*

Section 222 said...

Good seats in the Infield Gallery are available on StubHub for the next 20 minutes (until 2 hours before gametime) for as little as $9. But beware the new rainout policy!

Ron In Reston said...

In non-weather news:

J.A. Happ has been released from the hospital

The Phillies crumble a little more, with Halladay going in for shoulder surgery:

http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2013-05-08/roy-halladay-injury-update-phillies-shoulder-surgery-labrum-rotator-cuff-bone-sp?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl13%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D310187

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Faraz, are you sure those aren't ALRs numbers from 2 weeks ago? (Wink)

Faraz Shaikh said...

GoSM, possible but good thing that those numbers are history.

sjm308 said...

222 - I have gone from sick as a dog to a sick puppy but my son has convinced me to stay home and use the RCR points we get from missing this game to pick up another. Guess you can call me a fair weather fan but the reality is, I went from 180 lbs to 172 in just one night. I will spare details.

Great thing is my spousal equivalent saw that Chicken Soup Recipe in a nationals article and it really does wonders.

Will be rooting from home - Go Nats!!

Eric said...

sjm, rest up and feel better! My 7-month old son just got over a NASTY viral infection with a GI component. Scared me badly at a couple points with a fever spikes up near 104.

Great news about Happ.

jeffwx said...

Hey section222, what is the new rainout policy ?
SJM, glad you are staying home. Can't have the plague reducing Nats attendance for the rest of the season.

jeffwx said...

section 222 for $9 dollars...a good deal.
Sold my section 135, row C for tonight's game for a bit more on Stubhub....but then I sit next to the Mayor of Natstown.

http://mlb.mlb.com/cutfour/#contentId=33500296

Dave said...

Raining hard in southern Loudoun County now. My Weather Channel app just beeped a severe t-storm warning for NoVa.

So will we see a double-header tomorrow?

jeffwx said...

hmmm, feeling sick for tomorrow. They may try to get this one in. It should die down by about 10 PM ;)

sjm308 said...

thanks everyone!

Janus said...

The storm has passed here in southeast, there are just a few lingering raindrops.

Section 222 said...

Feel better sjm. I'll be in 308 using RCR points on Friday. Maybe you can exchange tonight's game for that one if it's rained out. Oh wait! :-)

skidge said...

Per Twitter, Nats management has caved---back to old rainout policy. (At least for yesterday's game... Unclear about future.)

Dave said...

Looking at Barry Svrluga's, Amanda C.'s, and Mark's tweets, it looks like not just for last night's game, but forever. Old policy back in place.

So good for everybody who made all that noise!

jeffwx said...

Maybe everyone with infants at home can avoid the park until this crud is passed ;)

Check the radar before heading out:
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=LWX&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

Candide said...

Mark tweeted: Mark Zuckerman ‏@ZuckermanCSN 10m

#Nats announce they've changed their rainout ticket policy, will allow exchanges for future games as they'd done in the past.

Then Boswell tweeted:

Thomas Boswell ‏@ThomasBoswellWP 11m

Nats should switch back to old rain check policy: xchange for future tickets, subject to availability. Not legal issue, but good ethics & PR

Mark needs to hit Boz up for a drink!

Dave said...

New post on that very subject, in fact.

jeffwx said...

super weird,,,like Mark is reading our minds

Holden Baroque said...

On my way ... with the rain gear.

Be nice to one another for a while, willya? The real news has been nauseating lately.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Pouring here in Manassas

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Tarp on the field

Section 222 said...

Don't worry Sofa. i'll be at the game, so no spatting with Feel/Harpo/RichP/Dominats tonight. Maybe he'll pick on someone else. I hope not.

Holden Baroque said...

Deuces, no worries. Fall by 314F if you have time.

Holden Baroque said...

If you can, bring DEET.

Holden Baroque said...

314 ... here there be tyger fans.
Looks like my work is cut out for me.

Eric said...

Deep in 314 where the mighty tiger lies
Sofa and the insiders were taken by surprise
So captain deuces zapped him right between the eyes...ZAP!

Gonat said...

Glad Bryce was in RF but not sure what LaRoche was doing.

Gonat said...

Web Gem by Desi!!!

Gonat said...

Not again. Not again. Span. Nobody compare him to that former CF of the Nats or you will get the wrath of some on here. Brain Dead.

EmDash said...

Base-running: this team's nemesis.

Nattering Nat said...

So, a question. Do you think Desi short-hops those throws to LaRoche so often on purpose (he does it a LOT), because he knows Adam is so sure-handed. Or will he be tagged with a bushelful more errors in the future, once LaRoche is no longer there as a human vacuum cleaner?

Holden Baroque said...

Pretty good crowd, considering.

Exposremains said...

The weird thing about Span is that he's getting picked off but its not like he's stealing a lot of bases.

Gonat said...

Exposremains said...
The weird thing about Span is that he's getting picked off but its not like he's stealing a lot of bases.

May 08, 2013 8:19 PM
__________________________

It was so strange that he just froze like he was not watching the pitcher. Real bad. That's twice this year as he did the same to lead off the Braves game against Tim Hudson.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Inning should be over strike 3

Exposremains said...

I'm glad Zim didn't have to throw that ball, it had yips written all over it.

EmDash said...

Good job working out of trouble for Zimmermann.

Gonat said...

Ump has no respect for the strike zone. 3-2 pitch and it's in the K Zone and he still doesn't get the call. WTF Even if the ball is close, he gets called out on 3-2.

Holden Baroque said...

Tygers... not so intimidating, really. The guy next to me is 13 weeks old.

Candide said...

Welcome to May, ALR.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Umps have mot respected Nats yet. you pitch well you get close calls is the usual. But not for the Nats.

Nats 128 said...

Either Denard Span needs glasses or Denard Span needs a scan of his brain to make sure its functioning properly as you can't get picked like that. That's the type of pickoff that you only get caught on if its a balk and that wasn't a balk which makes that a moment of temporary brain freeze.

Nats 128 said...

"Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Umps have mot respected Nats yet. you pitch well you get close calls is the usual. But not for the Nats."

Sorry, that was not a close call. That was a strike on all 162 games a year plus the postseason.

Ump blew it.

Candide said...

Two hits that don't leave the infield.

Nats 128 said...

I will echo what has been said before about Span that unless he is stealing he can't take a lead that large. I am thinking that is his 5th pickoff since the first games of Spring Training.

EmDash said...

All right, no runs. But 4 hits off of Anibal Sanchez! That's kind of a moral victory.

EmDash said...

Span's pickoffs are indeed a problem, but it's not like it's just him who has baserunning issues. It's been a weakness team-wide this year...and last year, for that matter.

EmDash said...

All defensive issues are officially the Diamond Dry's fault, you guys!

Nats 128 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nats 128 said...

EmDash, yah, I'm not buying that. FP is such a homer that he has lots of excuses for plays not getting made.

Nats 128 said...

If Ryan Zimmerman gets in front of that ball and knocks it down you hold Hunter to a single and he won't score on that single by Cabrera.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

zim not knocking the ball down hurts Jzim just knocking ball down and hunter would be on second.

Nats 128 said...

Manassas Nats' Fan, that sounds familiar.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

When we learn that we need to score first?

David Proctor said...

That's a good way to make up for the pickoff, Denard.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Dont get picked off

Nats 128 said...

Nice triple by Span. Lucky he didn't break his ankle on the slide.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Good job harper

EmDash said...

A run!

Gonat said...

I watched the replay on the Span triple. It looks like the baseball hit the hinge on the bullpen door and bounced away from the rightfielder!

Gonat said...

Pitcher's best friend, el double play!

EmDash said...

I don't know that swinging early and often on Sanchez, as the Nats seem to be doing, is the optimal strategy. The Tigers' bullpen kinda sucks. Getting to their bullpen would be a good thing.

Candide said...

Moore with two Ks already. Look for a three-run homer in the 8th.

Nats 128 said...

Moore has been playing almost every game now and still looks overmatched most of the time.

UnkyD said...

Your attention, please... Spinner has eclipsed the Mendoza line...

EmDash said...

LaRoche running on Torii Hunter somehow worked. WHAT.

Gonat said...

Trent Jewett having the slowest position runner going? OK it worked out.

Candide said...

Jeeze, watching ALR running from second... I think I could run faster than him with a mule on my back.

Gonat said...

EmDash, I owe you a drink!

Holden Baroque said...

Help. How was that.out of play?

Candide said...

EmDash, Sanchez is around 65 pitches through 4. That's 16 pitches per inning.

Holden Baroque said...

"Moore with two Ks already. Look for a three-run homer in the 8th."

I think that ia going to be his career ... a MS Dave Kingman.

Joe Seamhead said...

Say what you want.ALR somehow, someway successfully tagged, advanced and scored on a Tori Hunter miscue.

EmDash said...

That's true, Candide, they made him work more in the 4th inning, I think.

Joe Seamhead said...

Sofa, the ball hit Adam's wrist and bounced into the cameraman's little alcove area.

Jeff Wang said...

sec3, it was out of play because it hit a cameramen.

Gonat said...

HOME RUN HARP!!!!!!!!!

Joe Seamhead said...

Span and ALR both more then make up for their earlier guffaws.
Sofa, comparing Moore to Kingman may be a bit harsh. But, man did Dave hit some bombs!
Morse wasn't in the lineup today for Seattle. Beast is slumping, too.
Incidentally, Rendon has had a couple of good days going 4-7 with a dinger and three doubles.
Way to go, Kid!!!

Candide said...

I think Harper's ribs are feeling okay.

Drew said...

723 from Henry Aaron.

Gonat said...

The rainout yesterday and the dayoff on Monday got Harp back to feelin' good!

JaneB said...

I'm officially unworried about ALR and Espi. Thrilled we have BamBam on our team. Wondering when we might see RZimm hit a dinger this season.
I love them all.

MicheleS said...

TATER! it's getting a little chilly but not for Bryce

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

angel Hernandez takes the lead in being being the worse ump again.

Real controversy.

A's homer with 2 outs to tie in 9th called a double then the 3 blind mice lead by Angels do not change ruling. Both the Indian and A's broadcast showed it easily a homet. All broadcaster and MLB network guys shocked umps blew it. Ll implied ngel hates Melvin that is why not overturned

Joe Seamhead said...

Hey, look who stopped in! Hi, Jane and Michele!

Gonat said...

That K of Avila even crossed up the Ump. Sick!!!

Gonat said...

JaneB, RZim has 1 hr that he hit in Miami.

MicheleS said...

JoeS
At the game tonight and cell service stinks

Drew said...

I don't care if Cabrera homers.

Just do not wak him ahead of Prince.

Gonat said...

Tyler Clippard got his man!

Drew said...

Nice job on Miggy.

Gonat said...

K-lip!!! Bye bye Princey!

Drew said...

Clip makes Prince look like the Pauper!

(Pauper, don't preach!)

Joe Seamhead said...

How did Fielder get his bat under that strike 3 pitch?
There was barely enough room between the ground and the ball for a bat to fit!
Come on Clip!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Clippard drives me crazy

Drew said...

Clippard is risking my television's life.

EmDash said...

Come on Clip...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Why does he walks so many. lets go ahead run in the box. Just crazy

Secret wasian man said...

Clipp is a joke. This game will soon be 4. 3. Trade him for a left handed reliever

Secret wasian man said...

I'd rather see Henry

SCNatsFan said...

It is almost like Clip would rather walk the bases loaded rather then let a guy get a hit. Not good for an 8th inning man. Can't wait for his quote tomorrow "i've walked plenty of guys who didn't hurt me"

Exposremains said...

And Clippard walking the park again. Really annoying

Secret wasian man said...

C'mon ump. You suck

EmDash said...

Jeez, this strikezone.

waddu eye no said...

heh heh heh. thank you mr clippard

Secret wasian man said...

Hitter bailed him out. That was ball 3. Uhhhh c'mon guys.

EmDash said...

Cardiac Nats are back.

Candide said...

Soriano better shut down the 9th, 'cuz I'm all out of Maalox.

Secret wasian man said...

Believe it or not refs in Caps game actually worse than this ump

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Maloox. Used as usually in a Clippard inning. That halh inning took forever.

Nats 128 said...

"Secret wasian man said...

Clipp is a joke. This game will soon be 4. 3. Trade him for a left handed reliever"

You call yourself a Nats fan? Clipp isn't a joke, you are!

Joe Seamhead said...

Breathe! Clip was missing.

DannyEllinosa said...

Clippard = torture

Nats 128 said...

Nothing worse than seeing people on here turn on players. Clipp gets the Triple Crown winner and Prince Fielder and then got squeezed by the ump but some traitor turns on him.

Ticks me off more than___________

Holden Baroque said...

Tuck it up. I am.

EmDash said...

Would appear that the guy we really don't want Soriano to face is Prince Fielder. He's had 5 plate appearances - 1 walk, 2 hits. Both of those hits were home runs.

waddu eye no said...

wonder if harper figured his fan al kaline was watching.

JaneB said...

Thanks gonat. I forgot that one. I'm just to him hitting more of them, I guess.
Tuck in!

Holden Baroque said...

Pitche Soriano!
Tuckin it up here boss!

JaneB said...

SHARK!

Gonat said...

Right man in Left field. Bernadina!!!

Candide said...

UNTUCK!

waddu eye no said...

tuckin A

Secret wasian man said...

Yeahhhhhhh nice job mr Untuck

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