Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Game 90: Nats at Phillies

Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
PHILADELPHIA — Well, we figured Scott Hairston would find his way into the Nationals' lineup tonight, given his career numbers vs. Cole Hamels (12-for-30, five homers, 1.521 OPS). But we didn't figure he'd be stepping to the plate for the very first at-bat of the game.

Yes, Hairston will lead off tonight, a curious spot for him given his career .299 on-base percentage (.233 this season). But perhaps Davey Johnson didn't want to throw his whole lineup out of whack with Denard Span getting the night off, so it was easiest to keep everyone else in place and just put Hairston at the top. We'll see how this works out. We'll also see how Bryce Harper does in center field, the first time he's started out there this season.

Taylor Jordan, meanwhile, makes his third career start, hoping to take another positive step forward. With Ross Detwiler now on the DL, the rookie right-hander knows he'll get at least one more start (Sunday in Miami), so he shouldn't feel the pressure to have to perform tonight. Maybe that will allow him to relax and just do his thing.

Updates to come, please check back...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 183
Weather: Chance of storms, 86 degrees, Wind 5 mph out to RF
NATIONALS (46-43)
LF Scott Hairston
SS Ian Desmond
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
2B Anthony Rendon
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Taylor Jordan

PHILLIES (44-46)
CF Ben Revere
SS Jimmy Rollins
2B Chase Utley
LF Domonic Brown
3B Michael Young
RF Delmon Young
1B Darin Ruf
C Carlos Ruiz
LHP Cole Hamels

UMPIRES
HP Vic Carapazza
1B Gary Cederstrom (cc)
2B Kerwin Danley
3B Lance Barksdale

7:08 p.m. — We are underway with a strike from Cole Hamels to Scott Hairston. A muggy 86 degrees at gametime.

7:13 p.m. — The good news: Hairston still owns Hamels. He singled to center to improve to 13-for-31 in his career against the lefty. The bad news: Ian Desmond grounded into a double play and Bryce Harper struck out looking at a curveball from Hamels. Onto the bottom of the first.

7:20 p.m. — Apparently, it's "Hit a leadoff single, then erase it with a double-play grounder" night at the ballpark. The Phillies just did the same thing as the Nats in the bottom of the first. Ben Revere singled to center, only to be wiped out on Jimmy Rollins' 4-6-3 double play. Taylor Jordan completes the inning on 10 pitches, 6 strikes. Scoreless after one.

7:27 p.m. — You know, it hasn't gotten a whole lot of attention, but Jayson Werth has been on an extended tear at the plate. He just crushed a 1-1 changeup from Hamels into the bleachers in left-center, giving the Nats a 1-0 lead in the second. Add that homer to his previous 22 games, and Werth's slash line is now .377/.456/.597. That's quite impressive over a significant stretch of games.

7:52 p.m. — He's given up several hard-hit balls, but Jordan has managed to face the minimum through three innings so far. The kid looks more and more comfortable with each inning he gets up here. He's at 40 pitches, 24 strikes, so far tonight. Nats still lead 1-0 after three.

8:09 p.m. — Well, that was ... well, that was not pretty. With a man on second base and two outs in the fourth, Domonic Brown lined a single to right. Werth came up firing to the plate, and though his throw was on-time, Kurt Suzuki couldn't handle the short-hop and the ball scooted away. Worse, Suzuki then misfired to second base trying to get Brown advancing, but that throw skipped into center field for an error. And worst of all, replays showed Chase Utley never even touched the plate. Bad call by Vic Carapazza, but some ugly defense from the Nats, too. This game is now tied 1-1 after four.

8:16 p.m. — Five offensive innings in the books, and the Nats have nothing other than Werth's homer and Hairston's leadoff single. Well, and a pair of plunkings via Hamels at Suzuki. That's both old-school and prestigious. Some might call it fake-tough, but I won't go there. Still 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.

8:32 p.m. — Boy, the double-play ball has been big for Jordan tonight. He's induced three of them in five innings, helping keep the damage to a minimum. That's where a good sinkerball pitcher really makes a difference. Jordan is at 72 pitches through five, ready to return for at least one more inning of what remains a 1-1 game.

8:59 p.m. — The third time around the lineup was a problem for Jordan in his two previous starts, and it was again tonight. He retired only one of five batters faced in the sixth, though he wasn't helped by his defense. LaRoche was charged with a tough error on a potential 3-6-3 double play. Unfortunately, the ball hit Rollins and skipped past Desmond into left field, allowing a run to score. Michael Young's two-run double, though, was the big blast, and it came before Davey could get Jordan out of the game. The Nats now trail 4-1 after six, and Jordan will remain winless through his first three career starts.

9:11 p.m. — Well, at least they put a couple of guys on base in the seventh. It was a couple of infield singles that did it, but at least the Nats gave themselves a chance against Hamels. And then Suzuki skied a fly ball to shallow center field, ending that rally. It remains 4-1 at the stretch, and the Nats are down to their last six outs.

9:31 p.m. — Huge opportunity for the Nats in the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out, and Charlie Manuel came to the mound, ostensibly to take Hamels out. Except Hamels talked his way back in. And then he backed it up. He struck out Zimmerman on three pitches, the last a 92-mph high fastball. Werth then battled to a full count before skying a flyball to center to end the inning with the Nats still trailing 4-1. Not the result you wanted, but that was some pretty good theater for July 9.

9:38 p.m. — Last chance for the Nats. It'll be LaRoche, Rendon and Suzuki in the ninth. Left-hander Antonio Bastardo enters from the pen, perhaps only to face LaRoche.

9:54 p.m. — That's it. The Nats lose 4-2 — Wilson Ramos delivered a two-out RBI double off the right-field wall but Scott Hairston made the final out to end it — dropping their second straight in Philly. That leaves them at 46-44.

272 comments:

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BigCat said...

Can't stand Hamels. Why haven't we drilled him for the Harper thing. Gad perfect opportunity his last time up. Man on third with 2 out. Hard as you can.... Right in his ribs

Holden Baroque said...

Positive thinkers live longer, better lives.

mick said...

paul and wasian

lolololo

Holden Baroque said...

Mick, I've been meaning to ask, what does "lololo" mean?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Suzuki had his chance to get even with Hamels.

Arggggggg.

mick said...

laughing out load

Unknown said...

would have liked to see Ramos there instead of Suzuki...bring in Papelbon.

Jane Elizabeth said...

If Suzuki can't hit any better than this, then he deserves much more rest. That was a pathetic at bat.

mick said...

sofa...I could post ha ha ha, ho, ho ho, hee hee hee, etc...just easier to say lol

lol

Holden Baroque said...

Ah. A reduplication of LOL, but with three Outs. Got it.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Right back to 6 games behind. We get Ramos back and Davey decides not to play him. Suzuki made 2 errors on one play, although only one was give to him and he comes up empty at the plate, over and over.

Our big trade of the mid-season is for some guy that Rizzo used to know years ago who bats under .180....

mick said...

i meant loud not load...oh my

ha ha ha ha

Holden Baroque said...

Carp would have liked to see Ramos there, too, evidently.

Unknown said...

mick, "loud" not "load"...right?

LOL - laughing out loud.

mick said...

hee hee

Jane Elizabeth said...

Suzuki did well last season but let's face it. The A's didn't want him anymore. He has no power and now he isn't even getting on base. His defense is decent but he isn't the greatest at throwing out runners.

Unknown said...

mick, haha...LOL!

UDM - u da man!

BIT - bring in Torts!

mick said...

oh braves are up.... 6 games back is tough

mick said...

paul...love it!!!

Unknown said...

well Scotty has 2 hits so far and our lead-off hitter last night had 0, an upgrade.

Holden Baroque said...

DANG, how do you not get to third?

Unknown said...

some of the worst base-running I have ever seen right there.

Section 222 said...

No, we don't need to plunk Hamel to make ourselves feel good. JZnn already got him for the Harper thing last year, and the HBPs tonight were not intentional. The better thing to do would be to get hits off him.

Hairston, what the heck were you doing?

Holden Baroque said...

Strike zone is really floating now. Dang, I hate that.

Unknown said...

plate ump must have $ on the home team.

Section 222 said...

Baseball 101. You go halfway on a ball that's not obviously going to be caught. That was pretty darn bad.

Holden Baroque said...

Hairston was tagging up--that's trying too hard, pressing seriously.

mick said...

ok paul...you have a great sense of humor so let me try this idea out....I think Jayson Werth is on to something with "Eat Face"

the fact that Jayson looks like a 1970's circa adult movie star adds to my idea for a t-shirt or even an app... how about a pic of Jayson with the slogan TIITF!

BigCat said...

A good pitcher just eats up zim

Jane Elizabeth said...

Terrible at bat by Ryan Zimmerman.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Blue robbed Ryan on that first pitch... Affected the entire at bat...

Jane Elizabeth said...

Ump is in a hurry to go get drunk...

BigCat said...

Ump ain't helping. But you still got 2 more strikes.

Unknown said...

home plate ump is just awful...what a flippin joke he is...get tossed Davey, stand up for your team.

jeffwx said...

jeez...the ump is desperate to call a stike

mick said...

be positive Mick...wax on, wax off, breathe in breathe out like Mr Miyogi says

Secret wasian man said...

Umpire just a joke in this inning. When are these fools gonna be accountable for this?????

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Floating SZ.... Frustrating... Again, should have been taxing Hamels earlier... Making him work for the outs but we were flailing at the plate...

Defense was bad tonight...

sec205 said...

Are you kidding?

mick said...

I would love to see davey EAT FACE of umpire

Section 222 said...

Ack. Good AB by Werth, he just missed it. Terrible AB by Zim with the bases loaded and Harper just having walked. The bad first call is no excuse. (And by the way, pitch track had it as a strike, who cares that the catcher's mitt hit the ground.) It didn't screw up Harper's AB and it didn't screw up Werth's AB.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Ryan Zimmerman comes up and pouts after he doesn't get the first pitch call, which was a terrible call, but you have to at least get a run home, but nothing but a pathetic whiff....

Secret wasian man said...

Tea had its chances. Our best guys up and they don't get it done. Now it's really hard to stay positive. WERTh tried his best. Yeah. A moral victory

Jane Elizabeth said...

Wow! A hitting lesson from Ryan Zimmerman?

jeffwx said...

agreed 222, who cares how the catcher catches it

Section 222 said...

Boy that Ian Krol has some impressive numbers. Too bad Davey didn't take advantage of how well rested he is two innings ago. Grrr.

BigCat said...

Good AB for werth. It is time for zim to make some changes. Standing 4 feet from the plate with the big leg kick ain't cutting it anymore.

Unknown said...

mick, ha! great movie and Mr. Miyogi was Arnold from happy days, one of the best sit-coms ever, how can you not love the Fonz, Joanie, Chachi, Ralph Malph, Potsie, Richie Cunningham, Mr. C (Howard, right?) and Marion (Mrs. C)...loved that show...

ok, I regress...did I say I hate the Phillies? darn, I think that was our best chance to get back in the game...hope I'mm wrong.

mick said...

if Zim was a rookie, i could sympathize with him, however, being a vet...well???

mick said...

i hear ya paul!!!

Jane Elizabeth said...

Zimmerman needs to be doing whatever it takes to get that runner home from third. Very disappointing to see him losing concentration so often at the plate this year.

Jane Elizabeth said...

Davey basically seems to believe that all of his players are equal, unless there is a lefty/righty advantage and then he grossly overestimates the benefits of putting in the inferior player.

BigCat said...

Krol a whole lot like Randy Myers

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Krol looked outstanding, of course....

Ghost - you still here?

Steve Walker said...

Team's achilles heel is offense, especially against lefties and on the road. The defense seems to have stabilized and the bullpen, too. But this team simply CANNOT HIT! Rizzo will need to try to fix this in the offseason. They are not good enough with the 13-14 hitters they have - Span, LaRoche, Lombo, Shark are all sub-par with the bat and probably need to go in 2014, at least 2 of them - team is carrying too much "dead wood" (pun intended) to be a post-season team right now.

BigCat said...

Bottom line. 3 runs in 17 innings. And if not for papelbon it would be 1 homerun in 2 games. Tracy gettin loose..... Look out Phillies!!!

Secret wasian man said...

Suzuki can't hit either.

mick said...

unkown...I think you are right...I disagree about middle relief, I think it is questionable at best

jeffwx said...

well like they say
a k is better than a DP

Secret wasian man said...

Great point Unknown. Thought we were on a roll. Then we go backwards again. And the worse part is its against Philly. Now 6 games back again. I guess that's the definition of MEDIOCRE

jeffwx said...

please play Ramos more

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Come on Hairston

Unknown said...

wow, Mayberry looks lost out there in right field...come on Scotty, HR right here.

Secret wasian man said...

Agree Jeffwx. Suzuki just can't hit.

BigCat said...

Hit it to RF

nats guy said...

They are back

nats guy said...

They are back

Secret wasian man said...

And now we can listen to FP and Carp make excuses for the team.

Secret wasian man said...

Oh no did Ray just say Hamels is tough???? Good night.

Secret wasian man said...

Oh and 2 more errors. NOW GOOD NIGHT

Section 222 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Secret wasian man - the excuses are wearing very thin and getting very old. "Yay-- we swept the Padres, the turnaround is here!" Except the Friars have now lost ten in a row, so that sweep wasn't indicative of much of anything.

That was yet another disgraceful performance behind a rookie pitcher who deserved a whole lot better support from his veteran teammates both offensively and defensively.

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