Monday, May 27, 2013

Nats come up short in loss to Orioles



These days if you get ahead against the Nationals, you’re probably going to end up walking away with the victory. Sure, you could say that in general about any baseball game, but the 2013 Nats have had major trouble coming back into ballgames.

So when the Orioles took a three-run lead in the fifth inning on Monday in their 6-2 win before 41,260 at Nationals Park, they essentially hit a mark the Nats have yet to overcome this season. Each and every time Washington has been down by more than two runs, they have gone on to lose.

Their offense as a whole has been struggling and when they’re behind matters seem to get even worse. And when facing the second best offense in the majors in the Baltimore Orioles, the two runs Washington put up just aren’t going to cut it.

I don't think anyone's pressing,” Zimmerman said. “I just think we haven't scored any runs. Their guy threw the ball well today. We got some hits just couldn't score any of them. Against a team like that, that does score runs, you're going to have to find a way to score more than they do.”

It certainly didn’t help the Nationals that pitcher Gio Gonzalez was not on his game. After submitting four consecutive quality starts, Gonzalez labored through 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore. He allowed four earned runs off eight hits and four walks, tying the most batters he’s allowed on base all season. 

Gonzalez was asked afterwards if he is having trouble being consistent, as he sits with a 3.90 ERA on the year through his first 11 starts. 

You’re entitled to have a bad game once in a while, I’m not going to be perfect,” he said. 

“But at the same time, I felt like I was in the zone, I felt like I was attacking them, I felt like I was being where I wanted to be, velocity was still up, and that’s a good hitting team - you’ve got to give them credit.”

Gonzalez got through the first three innings scoreless and entered the fourth with a one-run lead. But the fourth inning brought the heart of the Orioles’ lineup up for the third and then fourth time of the game. Suddenly the hits started falling in bunches.

Chris Davis led off the frame with a walk and Matt Wieters followed with a single. Davis then moved to third after tagging up on a Steve Pearce flyout. The Orioles’ eighth hitter, Yamaico Navarro then worked a full count and took the seventh pitch of the at-bat to left field for an RBI single. It was a fastball inside, but Navarro came around on it and chopped it over Zimmerman’s head.

“It was a fastball up and in, jam shot and he found a hit,” Gonzalez said. “It wasn’t hit soft enough for us to make a play and he just lined it right where it needed to be. That’s basically it.”

Gonzalez said he wished he could have stopped the bleeding right then and there, but failed to and let the game get away from him.

Both Navarro and Wieters were moved into scoring position by a Jason Hammel bunt and each then scored on a Nick Markakis single into the gap in left-center field. 

The Orioles added another run in the fifth inning off Gonzalez after Adam Jones and Davis led off with a double and a single. Jones scored from third on a Wieters sacrifice fly.

While Gonzalez had a long afternoon, Hammel survived an early score to pitch eight innings for the first time this season. He allowed eight hits and two total runs, but walked nobody and had eight strikeouts. He is now 6-0 with a 3.15 ERA against the Nats during his career.

The two runs the Nats scored were off a Tyler Moore double in the second inning and a Zimmerman single in the sixth. Two runs off eight total hits for the team, not the timely hitting the Nats needed to overcome the powerful Orioles’ offense. Washington left 14 guys on base in the loss and went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Struggling as an offense overall this season, the Nats have been piling up hits as of late, just not runs. In their recent homestand, four games into it so far, they have 39 total hits but are average just four runs a game. 

Johnson hopes the hits will start matching up with each other and the Nats can start getting more runners across the plate.

“That’s been kind of our M.O.,” Johnson said. “We’re showing signs of coming out of it hopefully.”

Zimmerman, hitting third for the Nats for much of this season, is hopeful the team is close to breaking through.

“We just haven't been able to consistently, up and down the lineup, put together good at-bats day in and day out. When you can't do that you don't score runs,” he said.

The Nationals will face rookie pitcher Kevin Gausman on Tuesday, perhaps providing a chance to score some runs. Suzuki knows they haven’t hit their stride yet, but is confident they will and soon.

“For the most part it’s going out there and keep battling. This game is mentally wearing,” he said.

“That’s the ebbs and flows. Sometimes it’s like that, but when we do get on a roll a little bit, it’s going to be fun.”


81 comments:

Nats 128 said...

The curveball seemed to leave him and that walk to Davis to leadoff the inning didn't help. Other than that, it was a lot of weak contact that found green grass.

phil dunton said...

Moore is batting .150 and he got one freaking hit today and the press is talking about him heating up! That shows you how low the bar is set for the pathetic offense.

Secret wasian man said...

Well said Phil. You can't polish a turd. Tyler is a turd

jeffwx said...

Well he has a modest 4 game hitting streak, has raised his average from .121 to .154 but agree tha it is too short a period to make any strong conclusions.

Gonat said...

SWM, seriously? He looked like a solid bench player last year. He just isn't seeing the ball well this year. It's called a slump. I had suggested a few weeks ago to option him back to AAA to get him going. They are probably waiting for Werth to come back.

Secret wasian man said...

When is WERTh coming back?

fast eddie said...

We're still in a team hitting slump.
Zimm: "Their guy threw well today". What is that? Look at our scoring stats--everyone "throws well" against us.
And can someone explain why Henry has not been DFA'd?? Does Rizzo really think one of our NL East rivals will pick him up??

Gonat said...

Dustin Ackley the top prospect a few years back just got optioned to AAA.

If he can get sent down, can't understand why the Nats won't do it with some of their youngsters.

Nats 128 said...


Look at Ackleys career. Came up a little after Espy and his numbers dropped like Espy just not as bad.

Ackley was the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 draft.

Ackley Stats

jeffwx said...

.705 OPS, 4.04 R/G League average = Mets
How do we get there.
Werth should help if he comes back next week...trade his bat for Bernadina is a good thing

But I can't justify any other changes in current lineup that will help...Don't see major changes in hitting...maybe Desmond gets hot.
Am I missing something?

Nats 128 said...

Healthy Bryce, healthy Werth. Nats need a better approach at the plate. They are not walking into the batter's box with confidence.

jeffwx said...

True, more healthy Bryce ABs = less bench ABs
but that and Werth unlikely to push OPS more than 10%
And Zimmerman is a conundrum...only reason I can guess why he isn't driving the ball deeper is his shoulder still getting better.

jeffwx said...

I think We'll need to acquire another AB in July but hopefully at not too big a cost. Unless Rendon is ready but most bloggers tell me he won't be.

NatsLady said...

Span fine. RZim fine. ALR fine. Desi and Bryce slumping but should be OK, Werth coming back. Susuki OK, considering he is our "backup" catcher. Not getting much out of

- Espinosa
- Lombardozzi
- Bernadina
- Moore

And due to injuries, those guys are starting. Same for Suzuki, with Ramos out. If we didn't have injuries, Bernadina and Moore would be on the bench, and Davey would maybe use Espy/Lombo matching up with pitchers.

Either Bernadina and Moore will benefit from more playing time, or they won't. Just going to have to live with it for a while.

NatsLady said...

Zim said he has good days and not good days. He had a few good days when he didn't make errors and drove the ball quite deep. Unfortunately they were windy days, and the ball stayed in. Today I suspect he didn't feel great, he made an error and only was able to get singles.

baseballswami said...

Moore and Lombo both have 10 rbi's , same as Suzuki. Last four games they are showings signs of hitting better, Bernadina also. Takes a long time for the avg to start creeping up. ALR 's avg is still trying to recover. None of them can erase former games. All they can do is go forward. They get a hit per game I will take it.

SCNatsFan said...

As long as we continue to field a lineup where .240 is considered good the our starters will have to be perfect. Even if Rizzo wanted to go out and get a bat there is no place in our healthy lineup. We made our bed and have to lie in it.

Gonat said...

A more solid lineup will make all the players better as thats how it works.

jeffwx said...

NL, could be right...lineup needs Harper and Werth...looking forward to next week, and thinking we should sweep O's in the Yard...Not excited about tomorrow.

Gonat said...

SCNatsFan, the Nats have an opening at 2nd base. The Giants got Scutaro at the trade deadline and he's turned into a steal for them.

I still think Rendon will be an upgrade at 2nd and so do many of the media. Rizzo wants to give Espinosa more time.

The Ackley comparison is how it should work.

jeffwx said...

I just remember last year, we had a lot too look forward to, offensively...
Harper coming up
Morse off the DL
Werth in August.
Zimmerman and Cortisone...

Except for Werth and possible more consistent health from Harper, I don't see anything to improve lineup to near league or Mets average.

baseballswami said...

Very high percentage of the lineup is bench players. How many teams could do well under those conditions? One bench player, maybe, if all the regulars are hitting. We need Bryce and Jayson in the lineup. They are the heart and soul, and in that order. Harper the heart, Jayson the soul. Also missing a pitcher and a bullpen guy, plus we have Henry and a couple of minor leaguers in there. Again- how many teams could play well under those conditions? I wish it was different and I hope it changes, but here we are.

jeffwx said...

But I'm kind of in a downer mood tonite. Maybe pizza will help. A scuturo kind of move would be great. And am worried about Harper.

baseballswami said...

Ben Revere just had a fight with the Green Monster. Don't know if the wall won or not.

baseballswami said...

Jeffwx- hear you. I was thinking ice cream.

jeffwx said...

Braves doing ok losing their bullpen and until recently Freeman/Heyward/McCann.


Maybe a good bench (like we had last year) makes more of a difference than I think, given every team hurts sometimes. Depth charts are cool.

jeffwx said...

Pizza and Ice cream would be even better. The Nats will look a lot better after that and need to forget I have work tomorrow.

Gonat said...

Tim Hudson is getting crushed in Toronto. 6 earned so far.

Candide said...

Right now the Nats hitters are:

On-base percentage - 14th in the NL
Slugging percentage - 13th
OPS - 14th
Runs scored - 13th
Batting average - 13th
Ks - 3rd

I guess these figures shouldn't be too surprising when you have three or four guys in the lineup flirting with the Mendoza line every single day.

The only reason they aren't fighting it out with the Marlins for last place is the pitching.

Hammel started today's game with an ERA around 5.50. Just another in a long line of oppo pitchers who suddenly get healthy against us.

I'm personally on a three-game attendance losing streak. Lost to the Cubs Mother's Day, the Phillies Saturday, and Baltimore today. Maybe someone wants to think about paying me to stay away and eat our tickets. Next game for Cunegonde and me is against the Braves, Friday, June 7. The bidding starts at $100.

Speaking of Cunegonde, she kept careful score today. Had to explain the infield fly rule to her when an O popped up with one out and a man on first, and a couple of plays involving fielder's choices messed her up. But three months ago, she didn't even know what a scoresheet looked like. Today she was nagging me for the lineups while we were sitting at the picnic tables behind 312 before the game.

At this rate, I figure in another year, Rizzo'll be asking her for trade advice...

Candide said...

Okay, this makes me feel a little better. Your 2013 Dodgers at work. Batter strikes out, but catcher lets the pitch get away, then he throws the ball over the first baseman's head trying to throw out the struck-out batter.

baseballswami said...

Candide- I had a nice three game streak going until Mother's Day. Now I am wearing the two Gio losses. We need to get back on track, and soon. I am not attending tomorrow, you? Go Rookie Pitcher!!!

Gonat said...

Bill Shaikin ‏@BillShaikin
#Angels LHP Sean Burnett to see doctor later today. He says his left elbow hurts after playing catch today

SCNatsFan said...

Gonat I still have Rendon penciled in at 2B in the second half of the season. Too big a bat to leave in the minors in a team sorely in need of some offensive jump.

Candide said...

Swami - we're not due back until June 7th, so there's plenty of time for people to bribe me to stay away. Repeating, bids start at $100. Limited time offer - act NOW! Operators standing by.

natsfan1a said...

My hubby and I are at 1-2. Don't have tix for tomorrow, but will watch on tv. Maybe I can hook up the radio feed downstairs, so I can mute the tv. Yeah, that'd be good. Ice cream sounds good, too.

natsfan1a said...

That's cool about Cunegonde's scorekeeping, Candide.

Anonymous said...

Biggest mistake Rizzo has made in his role of GM is trading Morse. He is the equalizer that this team is missing. What you lose in speed or fielding you far make up for with hitting (power and avg) and clubhouse presence. I've said this since day 1 and I'll shall continue to repeat.

jeffwx said...

If it was only so easy to say your blog name 5c3cd06e-......

jeffwx said...

My next game on the Teddy plan is the 8th (Need to get rid of tix on June 4, Sect. 135, Row C, less costly than Candide) ...should be lots of hits I'm sure, but mainly from the Blues Travelor

NatsLady said...

Barves getting clobbered. Can't say I mind at all.

Gonat said...

SCNatsFan, glad to hear it.

Gonat said...

Just read Cole Kimball may have injured himself. Don't know details. Hope its not serious.

Eric said...

Phillies getting clobbered, too. Much easier to get over a loss when we break even in the standings...

Let's hope we gain some ground tomorrow...

Gonat said...

Remember that red-hot April by Justin Upton?

He's now batting .269

Remember the big signing of his brother BJ Upton?

Yah, he's benched again tonight and hitting around .150

jeffwx said...

I reduced my fios package cause I'm going broke...but while I still have MASN, have lost MLB.
Is it worth getting back or maybe need to bite the bullet again and get the MLB full package ?

baseballswami said...

I am addicted to MLB network programming. Any time of the day or night-- baseball. Can't live without it. They have been showing classic baseball movies lately, too.

Anonymous said...

@jeffwx: I have MLB Inside Pitch and I love it. I can watch all the out of market games and root against the Braves and Phillies on Nat's off nightts.

I also watch the M's and Met's to root for Morse and Ankiel (for now)

Joe Seamhead said...

Justin Upton has struck out three more times tonight,too,Gonat.

Gonat said...

Joe, exactly. The Braves are in a team slump and their pitching isn't great and their bullpen is in trouble.

Nats have to pick up ground on them.

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

"jeffwx said...

And Zimmerman is a conundrum...only reason I can guess why he isn't driving the ball deeper is his shoulder still getting better."

Ryan Zimmerman is not the problem.

@ZuckermanCSN Ryan Zimmerman with his team-leading 24th RBI in only his 37th game. That's a 106 RBI pace over a full season.

jeffwx said...

Thanks everyone, just ordered the MLB inside pitch for my ROKU.
May have to get back MLB network...IT's heating up and Slim (my dog) and I will have to stay cool.

jeffwx said...

Zimm is still a clutch hitter for sure. Would like to see a bit more power but will take RBIs anyway they come.

Eric said...

Braves lose... Sweet.

Gonat said...

Barves lost.

Gonat said...

Eric, ring me up bartender!

jeffwx said...

Great...Jays win

Eric said...

::: gulp :::

Ah! Tasty. :)

baseballswami said...

Looks like Miami and probably the Phils-- it's 8-1 in the eighth. Mets lead Yanks 2-1, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to actually root for the Yankees.

jeffwx said...

Hey Mark, Cabrera has 57 RBIs in 37 games...On pace for 251 RBIs over a full season.
Count on it ;)
Hack Wilson is done.

jeffwx said...

Mets win

Eric said...

Mets are 6 back... I'm indifferent about their outcome for now...

Section 222 said...

I saw JZnn's debut in 2009, then Strasburg's in 2010. Now Nate Karns in 2013. Hoping he's a future starter and star for us. Tough spot to be put in though. The Orioles are a tough lineup these days.

Not so the Nats. I had to laugh when Candide talked about three or four of our starters flirting with the Mendoza line. Ty-Mo and the Shark aren't flirting with it, they can barely see it from below. Not a lineup that's inspiring much fear amongst opposing pitchers, that's for sure. Get well soon Werth and Bam-Bam.

Eric said...

Ok make that 5.5 back... heh

baseballswami said...

Ryan Howard doubled off the Green Monster, almost went yard - and then made a rookie base running gaffe and got caught off base. Have you noticed that he can barely run at all anymore?

jeffwx said...

Whoop, played 51 games already
Zimm on pace for 76 RBIs
Cabrera on pace for 181.
Hack Wilson still rules

baseballswami said...

Tyler Moore got intentionally walked yesterday. I think the scouting reports indicate that he could go yard at any time. Even with his average, they respect the potential power. He is due.

jeffwx said...

Eric said:
Mets are 6 back... I'm indifferent about their outcome for now...
========================================
Damn Yankee (fans)
See the play, better than the movie IMHO

jeffwx said...

TYMO..11 hrs in 230 ABs...Thats a 26 hr pace over a full season.
Gotta tweet it before Mark does. ;)

baseballswami said...

Bernadina almost hit one out today. I would say that puts him on pace for about -- one. Just like DSpan.

jeffwx said...

Bos 8, Phils 3...My dog, Slim, is indifferent about the standings at this moment..and I tend to concurrrr

jeffwx said...

baseballswami said...

Bernadina almost hit one out today. I would say that puts him on pace for about -- one. Just like DSpan.
May 27, 2013 10:09 PM

And Gio

Section 222 said...

Good points jeffwx. Fun with irrelevant projections. If Zim wants to get to 106 RBI, he's going to have to pick up his pace, because there are only 111 games left for the Nats, not 125. But let's hope that Zim plays more than 78 of the Nats' remaining 111 games, which is what your 76 RBI projection assumes. If he plays them all, he's on pace for 96 RBI. At this point, I'll take that.

jeffwx said...

section 222, thanks for the correction...would be difficult to play them all, of course but I'll take anything over 90 too.
And Phils reliever walks in a run...I kind of feel sorry for Charlie Manuel...a lot of running out to the mound.

jeffwx said...

So I'm betting on 12 hr/90 rbi season IF he stays healthy...that would be productive.
but as one Nats senior exec said, we have 2 100 million dollar contracts but no 100 million dollar players ;|
Was there a better way to spend 200 Million for the good of the Nats ? How should they spend the next 200 million ?
(can think of lots of ways to spend that kind of dough for more humanitarian causes)

Drew said...

How about some good news?

In his second outing after Tommy John surgery, Sammy Solis threw four innings for Potomac. Get this: no hits.

nats guy said...

Jeffwx,

The prolem with RZIM is the power loss caused by slower bat speed due to the shoulder. He might be able to keep up the average but he is now pretty much a singles hitter with warning track power and he plays a power position. I don't know what to make of the throwing. He has the oddest motion I have ever seen in 50 years of playing and watching baseball.

ehay2k said...

Why do our guys still suffer from poor approaches at the plate? If only there were some form of instruction for hitters, you know, like the Orioles seem to have.

Rizzo, a new hitting coach and new team doctor should be on your shopping list.

Holden Baroque said...

"I've said [MorseMorseMorse] since day 1 and I'll shall continue to repeat."

Because there might be a kid somewhere reading this blog for the first time...

natsfan1a said...

Nice baseball allusion there, sec3. :-)

Holden Baroque said...

Unfortunately, the new kid won't be reading this far down, one'll shall might could suppose.

ehay2k said...

Natsjack, I respect your baseball knowledge which is certainly far greater than mine. Given that, how can you explain a lack of a two-strike approach from most of the lineup? Why are they never prepared for a soft tosser?

I agree we have some guys whom are just not good hitters, and for that reason they cannot square up and hit the ball. However, the lack of approach is what kills me, especially form guys whom have had nothing but Eck as their instructor in the majors. I note that ALR had one of his best springs ever last year after he rehabbed and worked out with a different instructor.

You simply can't out all of the blame on the students. Eck has not gotten good enough results to warrant keeping his job.

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