Sunday, July 28, 2013

Instant analysis: Nats 14, Mets 1

USA Today Sports Images
Game in a nutshell: Remember when the Nationals were a disaster? You know, like, three days ago? Well, they've suddenly won four of their last five games and look capable of going on a sustained run. OK, OK, so we've been down this road before, and given the way this season has gone, you'd be wise not to get too excited yet. But there's nothing wrong with enjoying today's lopsided victory, a complete thrashing of the Mets pitching staff. The Nationals rapped out a season-high 18 hits, getting at least one base hit from seven of their eight starting position players (all but Adam LaRoche). Wilson Ramos hit a grand slam. Denard Span hit another homer. Ian Desmond went 4-for-4 with two doubles. Ryan Zimmerman had three hits. Nobody was happier about all that than Taylor Jordan, who in his sixth career start finally earned his first career win, allowing one run over six innings. The Nationals have by no means turned their season around. But they're back to 52-54, and they're actually feeling good about themselves for the moment. So that's an improvement.

Hitting highlight: There were no shortage of options here, so let's not limit this to only one specific player or one specific inning, but instead to one specific part of the Nationals' lineup: the bottom of it. They've had a problem all season getting production from the entire lineup, but today we saw what a difference depth makes. Their No. 6-8 hitters (Desmond, Span and Ramos) went a combined 10-for-12 with a walk, two doubles, two homers and 11 RBI. It's pretty hard to lose a game when that happens. Ramos' third-inning grand slam was the first of his career and earned a curtain call from the crowd of 31,467. Span's two-run blast in the sixth, meanwhile, was his second homer of the season ... and second in two days.

Pitching highlight: It's always a challenge for a rookie pitcher to face an opponent for the second time, but Jordan excelled in that regard today. He retired the first 10 batters he faced, displaying better use and command of his slider and changeup. He did put six men on base over his next three innings but was able to limit the damage and put himself in a position to earn his first career win in six tries. Thanks to the tremendous run support, the right-hander did finally get his well-deserved W. Jordan has now thrown 125 2/3 combined innings this year between the majors and minors, which may only leave him with one or two more starts before the Nationals shut him down for the season.

Key stat: This was the second time in 29 days the Nationals have led the Mets by 13 runs in a game.

Up next: After 11 games in the last 10 days, the Nationals get Monday off to travel to Detroit. They'll open a brief, two-game series with the Tigers at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, with Stephen Strasburg facing Anibal Sanchez in the opener.

48 comments:

NCNatsie said...

I'm telling ya. It's the song.

David Proctor said...

OMG that interview with Julie and Taylor was awkward.

Candide said...

No Gatorade? No shaving cream? WTF???

Chevy Chase Bob said...

Finally pizza and wings from Popa John and Hard Times.

MrsB loves the Nats said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sjm308 said...

Wow - 18 hits for the kid. Am watching and waiting for the gatorade but its not coming!! Paging WOLD, there is a Mr. Span calling. We are still far away from any plans in Oct. but I like the fact that we are playing good baseball. No errors today and except for an easy groundball yesterday the Rendon botched (no run scored) we have played well for several games.

Deserved day off and we have our big 3 primed for the next 3 games. Detroit might be a tad better than the Metropolitan's of NY but we certainly have to thinking we can play with anyone right now.

Go Nats!

MrsB loves the Nats said...

No Gatorade bath for Jordan....

What an effort by Taylor and Abad (did he really come in with bases loaded and left them all there)

Great game... Bats were in over load today...

Just a great game...

David Proctor said...

Davey sounds more perky today than he has in months.

natsfan1a said...

Sadly, today my tomato plants fell to the squirrels before I got to eat even one tomato, but the Mets fell to the Nats so it's all good. I kinda wish there wasn't an off day seeing as how the Nats are going so well but they'll have to wait a day to start things up again.

Congrats to Jordan. He's earned it - a few times.

sjm308 said...

So, the McCatty thing is not good. Davey seems to have an idea what he is going through. Wishes for a quick recovery. Wonder how it works with no pitching coach? Does Lett take over more responsibilty? Since Davey doesn't use his coaches as sounding boards anyway (according to one poster) I guess he will make those decisions just like always.

natsfan1a said...

What is the deal with McCatty? I missed the start of the game and heard only the brief mention during the game that he wasn't well.

sjm308 said...

1a - you have squirrels, I fight the deer. They convinced me years ago that all of my tomatoes will be from the farmers market. They don't touch my herbs though so the caprese salad is still an option. I am a huge Nationals fan but loss of tomatoes is a pretty big loss.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

No 1a - I need the off day... I haven't been to the grocery store in ages.. This will give me a good excuse!

Sorry to hear about your tomatoes... I want to do a garden but I have cats to worry about!

sjm308 said...

1a - I am sure there will be more information but the brief stuff I heard from the press conference lead me to believe it was heart related. Davey talking about him staying in the hospital, missing the flight to Detroit, taking blood thinners and getting the heart rate down.

David Proctor said...

Davey said McCatty would rejoin the team in Detroit. So it doesn't seem like a big deal.

BigCat said...

Yeah. Thought Taylor might get the pie in the face.

Good to see davey smile a little

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Dang... Desi and Span were both 4-4... Nice...

Joe Seamhead said...

Span just gave Coach Scau an accolade for a tip.

McCatty's BP soared before the game. Davey said he's doing OK. Best wishes being sent his way..

natsfan1a said...

sjm, we have the deer, too, but my neighbor turned me on to a device that works for them and I planted tomatoes for the first time in years. Unfortunately, the device doesn't work for squirrels and other critters. I do have the farmers market as a backup and my neighbor also gives me her "extras."

MrsB, yes, I'll find something to do on the off day. Research anti-squirrel devices, perhaps. I just have the one cat but he keeps me occupied as well. He'll watch parts of the baseball games but gets bored and falls asleep. :-)

Nats 128 said...

Joe, what did Span say about Schu?

natsfan1a said...

Thanks for the McCatty updates, David and Joe. Sending good thoughts for him from this sector as well.

natsfan1a said...

Oh, didn't see sjm's McCatty update before posting. Thanks, guys! Off to rustle up some dinner now.

Anonymous said...

Change the hitting coach, get 18 hits.
EASY PEASY!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

She continued with him a discussion that FP and Carp started, thus he was clueless what she was talking about.

Joe Seamhead said...

Denard said Schu told him to look for a particular pitch, but I doubt anyone told him to swing at a pitch that was millimeters off the ground!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Do we get 100% off on pizza as they scoted 7 x 2.

PChuck said...

>>>ordan has now thrown 125 2/3 combined innings this year between the majors and minors, which may only leave him with one or two more starts before the Nationals shut him down for the season.

It's actually about five more starts.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Told him toblook for fastballs.

Implying quit chaising breaking balls.

Axtually what I heard one player say he is trying to concentrate on fastball.

Joe Seamhead said...

Manassas, I always think fastball first. I also think it's generally a bad idea to swing at a first pitch off speed pitch, especially a curve.

How about our old buddy Alphonso Soriano goes 4-5 with a HR and 3 RBI's for the Evil Empire today?

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Gosh -- I hope we crush Sanchez on Tuesday...

NCNatsie said...

FP (or Carp) said last night Schu told Span to loosen his grip.

Faraz Shaikh said...

great win.

a sanchez and verlander when we visit detroit.

Joe Seamhead said...

Cards/Braves is on ESPN tonight..Go STL!

natsfan1a said...

Works for me. :-)

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Do we get 100% off on pizza as they scoted 7 x 2.
July 28, 2013 5:18 PM

BigCat said...

Gosh it's good to swing the bats. We had become almost unwatchable.

And Haren won. Eck is gone also. There is daylight at the end of the tunnel. Manassas, gimme that playoff tickets phone number!

BigCat said...

Ver lander has been getting rocked lately. All those 100 mph fastballs over the years maybe catching up with him

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

His velocity is down. He's been throwing around 92 lately, which is just unheard of from him. It's making him very hittable.

Joe Seamhead said...

Joe Seamhead said...
Win four out the next five, boys! GYFNG!!!


DC Wonk, here's an oddity for you: Jeter came off the DL for the 2nd time this month and homered on the first pitch that he saw. It was the first home run by a Yankee right hander since June 25th.
July 28, 2013 5:55 PM

David Proctor said...

The truth is: the remaining games against the Braves will determine how this season ends. 8 back with 9 to play, we control our own destiny. But that's very hard. The more ground we gain, the less perfect we have to be against them. This upcoming series against them is huge. We need to win 2/3 at the minimum.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

He told Harper to loosen up too

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I will take my chances winning 4 of eery 5.

We lost too many early, to just win 2 of 3 for the next 2 to 3.

Once we catch tge Braves we go back to winning 2 of 3.

David Proctor said...

Win 1/2 against the Tigers and sweep the Brewers. That's doable, imo.

Secret wasian man said...

Anybody notice Jewwits helmet? if he paid more than 7 bucks for that at walmart he got ripped off.

David Proctor said...

Amanda Comak ‏@acomak 1m
One #Nats player, referencing McCatty's... um... T-shirt photo, "He was supposed to break hearts, but not his own."

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Looks like the hekmet the pop corn comes in.

Unknown said...

love the optimism fellow NI'ers but this was the Mets we beat....how quickly we forget we lost 6 in a row vs. the Dodgers & the Pirates before we won 1, going into this series...do hope this is a sign of good things to come but let's get to .500 first before we start calling in with our credit card #'s to reserve play-off tickets...wow!

p.s. just saw the old town/Jordan post-game interview...yikes, way awkward.

JaneB said...

They should have done the Gatorade. I can't believe they didn't do it.

Post a Comment