Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Game 114: Braves at Nats

Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
While there's almost certainly a faction of the Nationals clubhouse — not to mention the fan base — that would love to see some form of retaliation tonight against the Braves after last night's plunking of Bryce Harper, you get the sense the Nats feel like the best revenge right now would be a victory over the NL East leaders. These two teams still play six more times this season after tonight, so there's still time for retribution.

But it's certainly worth watching right from the get-go tonight when Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound, just in case the right-hander has something up his sleeve. He'll be seeking his 14th win, which would be tops in the NL, and more importantly he'll be seeking to get the Nationals a much-needed win over an Atlanta club that has now won nine of 12 head-to-head encounters this season.

Kris Medlen gets the ball for the Braves, who surely are out for blood themselves, trying to sweep this series, win their 13th straight and expand their division lead to a staggering 15 1/2 games.

Updates to come...

ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 184
Weather: Chance of storms, 81 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF
NATIONALS (54-59)
CF Denard Span
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

BRAVES (69-45)
RF Jason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
C Brian McCann
3B Chris Johnson
2B Dan Uggla
CF B.J. Upton
SS Andrelton Simmons
RHP Kris Medlen

UMPIRES
HP Sam Holbrook
1B Adam Hamari
2B Rob Drake
3B Joe West (cc)

7:06 p.m. — And we're underway with a fastball outside to Jason Heyward. Obviously no retaliation there.

7:18 p.m. — And three batters into this game, the Nats already trail 1-0. Heyward led off with a double to left-center, then scored shortly thereafter when Freddie Freeman lined an RBI single to center. That was, incredibly, Freeman's eighth hit in his last 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position. For comparison's sake, the Nats as a team have seven total hits with RISP over their last seven games.

7:25 p.m. — Kris Medlen, meanwhile, set the Nats down in order in the bottom of the first, striking out both Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper. This one isn't exactly off to a rousing start.

7:42 p.m. — Make it six up, six down for Medlen, who is cruising along. He's got three strikeouts, including Ian Desmond looking to end the second, the Nats still down 1-0.

7:49 p.m. — Zimmermann has surrendered a hit to the leadoff man in each of his three innings so far, but he's escaped allowing only the one run so far. He's at 57 pitches, which is a pretty high total at this point.

8:14 p.m. — Eighty-eight pitches through four innings is an even higher total. That's where Zimmermann now stands during what has been a laborious outing, to say the least. He gave up another run in the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out and needing a great catch from Denard Span on Medlen's drive to deep left-center. Yes, Medlen. Zimmermann loaded the bases again with two outs, this time for Freeman, the last guy you'd want to face in that situation. He did manage to strike the Braves' No. 3 hitter out to end the inning, but he's not long for this game. Tanner Roark is already warming in the pen, primed to make his MLB debut. 2-0 Braves, middle of the fourth.

8:26 p.m. — Whoa, this game is suddenly tied. For that, you can thank Harper, who drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. And you absolutely can thank Werth, who clobbered a 2-run homer to right-center, his 16th of the year, to continue his absolute tear at the plate. And now a double whoa: Zimmermann is yanked after four innings and 88 pitches. Roark in to make his debut in a 2-2 game in the fifth, with the heart of the Braves' lineup due up. I don't know if anything is physically wrong with Zimmermann. But his recent performance, and Davey's quick hook tonight, certainly suggest there could be something wrong with him. Stay tuned. It's 2-2 after four.

8:45 p.m. — Tanner Roark, ladies and gentlemen! Two scoreless innings for the rookie right-hander, including a nifty diving grab of Medlen's popped-up bunt, starting a double play to end the top of the sixth. This remains a 2-2 game.

9:06 p.m. — It's not 2-2 anymore. Justin Upton demolished a pitch from Fernando Abad into the left-field bullpen, putting the Braves back on top. He took his time rounding the bases, too, not a surprise. Abad, meanwhile, has now seen 10 runs cross the plate while he's been on the mound over his last 10 appearances: five that he actually let score, plus five more inherited runners. Not good. It's 3-2 Braves at the stretch. The Nats still have one hit: Werth's homer.

9:20 p.m. — And this game is re-tied. Werth and LaRoche each delivered one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Nats three for the night. LaRoche then helped break up a double play at second base, with Desmond charging hard out of the box to beat Dan Uggla's throw to first and bring home the tying run. It's 3-3 heading to the eighth.

9:42 p.m. — And now the Nats trail by 3 runs as it all falls apart in the top of the eighth. Ryan Mattheus and Ian Krol combined to give up three runs on three hits and two walks, capped by Heyward's RBI single and Upton's two-run double. Here's a valid question for Davey Johnson postgame: Why, in a tie game in the eighth, was a fresh Tyler Clippard not considered out of the bullpen? I'm not sure what the rationale there would be. Regardless, it's now 6-3 Braves and the Nats are down to their last six outs.

9:55 p.m. — And now they're three outs away, still trailing by three, with Craig Kimbrel looming in the ninth.

10:27 p.m. — It's over. The game, I mean. You all can decide if the season is as well. Tonight's final: 6-3. The Nats loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn't convert. The Nats get swept in the series. They're 0-6 against the Braves at home this season. They're 3-10 overall against Atlanta. They trail the NL East by 15 1/2 games. They trail the NL Wild Card by 9 games.

306 comments:

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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 306 of 306 Newer› Newest»
Holden Baroque said...

Yes, Sofa, just a rhetorical question. as people will throw an error at a player that covers a ton of real estate only to have the ball go off their glove. Just wondering if anybody here has ever played any of the OF positions at an any adult level.

Ah. I hear you. Tough to give an error on a ball he had to slide to get to, but that's the classic "if you asked him, he'd say he should have caught it" play.

And yes, tho mostly an infielder.

NatsLady said...

All right, Mattheus.. Remember which hand is your pitching hand...Just take a shower.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Wow, Davey is now into the ballgame. Something woke him up. Maybe it was Bryce getting in his ear!

David Proctor said...

Here is what someone who is watcing the Braves broadcast said:

"It was after he flied out. They showed Desmond giving him a talking to and then Johnson joined in and seemed to be yelling, getting kind of heated about it. Desmond walked off and Johnson continued.

Our guys were guessing it had something to do with Harper not running the play out, which the replay showed."

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

We have scored no runs on tgeir bullpen.

Goin into yesterday our bullpen had an ERA of 4.14.

It is among the biggest differences in the team is bullpen effort

Holden Baroque said...

OK, now a fastball above the zone and ...

nevermind.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Right past LaRoche.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

or should I say "Past a diving Adam LaRoche"

Unknown said...

0-2 curve ball? pathetic.

Knoxville Nat said...

" Apparently the Braves broadcast showed Harper being chewed out by Davey Johnson. I can't possibly imagine about what. I've never seen Davey chew someone out."

David, the Barves broadcasters are speculating that Johnson was getting on Harper for not running hard out of the box on his last AB.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Riddle me this. Why did Clippard not pitch the 8th?

He might screw up but no worse than Krol who has given this game away.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

It was fun while it was tied.

Holden Baroque said...

Who the heck is calling for curveballs here?? WTH?

David Proctor said...

Well can't blame Davey for this one. He played the matchups and the Braves still beat us.

NatsLady said...

Krol needed to waste one on 0-2.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Embarrassing....

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sec. 3, My Sofa said...
Who the heck is calling for curveballs here?? WTH?


Is there a rule about that?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I blame Davey 100% why no clippard ro start the 8th

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

HIT HIM KROL!

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I wanted him to hit Upton.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I'm not understanding why DJ left Krol in there... This chit is terrible... I'm so pissed right now...

NatsLady said...

Krol is upset, look at his face, it's all blotchy. He's done so well, gotta be hard for him.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

Again... I ask why was TR taken out... He was cruising... I swear these Nats make me want to slap some people...

Just embarrassing... Totally not our year...

Knoxville Nat said...

All of this started with 2 out, is that correct? If so, pathetic.

Holden Baroque said...

To be fair, Upton's hit was a shot, 12 or 15 feet to LaRoche's right. That wasn't his fault.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sorry, LaRoche needed to at least knock down that ball.

SCNatsFan said...

This team is not good. Going to see the PNats tomorrow night, hopefully Purke. I'll be able to enjoy baseball again, if only for a night.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Why are going to bottom of yhe bullpen list when clip was rested. Terrible personel decisions again.

Why did Matheus walk the pinch hitter with all crap pitches. He set up Krol to screw up which Krol glsdly hung a curve ball to be smashed.

Our bullpen as a group has neen as bad as our hitters.

Clippards been fire Doriano fine most of the time. The rest have been poor at best.

Joe Seamhead said...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Right past LaRoche.
August 07, 2013 9:35 PM
Ghost Of Steve M. said...
or should I say "Past a diving Adam LaRoche"
August 07, 2013 9:35 PM

---///---
Freddie Freeman couldn't have gotten to that ball.

David Proctor said...

"Again... I ask why was TR taken out... He was cruising... I swear these Nats make me want to slap some people..."

He went 2 innings in his first major league appearance. Plus, he would have had to bat. Why would you let him hit?

Granted, he could probably hit better than Bernadina. But still.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Their bullpen wouldn't hang a curve ball to be smashed.

NatsLady said...

Matt Harvey with a complete game shutout.

Joe Seamhead said...

Ghost, you get ridiculous on balls that you think that ALR should've gotten to. Look objectively at the replay.

jeffwx said...

don't it make you wonder

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Really, that Heyward ball went right under LaRoche's glove. Stop making excuses for him. You can go to the MLB GameDay and click on Videos and watch it again and again.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Rizzo biggest failure to me is the bullpen

Notice most teams most relievers throw 95+

We have no one that can blow people aeay.

Unknown said...

face it folks:

1) Braves have our number - they will be 6-0 in OUR stadium this year if they win tonight (trying to be optimistic)

2) it just ain't our year

it happens but yes, it hurts...only real issue now is do we throw at one of their guys in the 9th? I say no point, should have done so last night.

MrsB loves the Nats said...

I feel like I did in 2008 and 2009 watching this team... I was looking forward to baseball so earnestly last off season and it's August and I'm ready for this season to just be over...

My pick for the WS - Cards and Red Sox...

jeffwx said...

I broke my old mac and couldn't log on.
Anything happen in the last week ;(

Can someone write a thesis on why the Nats haven't been able to hit with RISP even with less than 2 outs ?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I blame krol hanging a curve ball more than ALR.

WHY was Span batting first again

He hits so much better 7th. I blame Davey for that too.

Holden Baroque said...

Sec. 3, My Sofa said...
Who the heck is calling for curveballs here?? WTH?

GOSM said ...
Is there a rule about that?


I hope not. It just seemed like such a poor choice of pitches there, and I was sitting here calling for another fastball off the plate. But no one hears me. Sigh.

jeffwx said...

Don't it make you wonder - Fleetwood Mac, Rumours

SCNatsFan said...

I hope Stammen drills someone. Anyone.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sec3, it needed to be a curveball out of the zone to get him to chase. 0-2 count and you leave it over the plate? Not a good pitch.

David Proctor said...

Mark DeRosa claimed off waivers. I actually wouldn't mind if it were us. He's been moderately productive and he was a big leader last year.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

96mph to RZim and he swings right through it. That should've been deposited in the Red Porch seats.

Holden Baroque said...

Really, that Heyward ball went right under LaRoche's glove. Stop making excuses for him. You can go to the MLB GameDay and click on Videos and watch it again and again.

No, it really didn't. I went back and slo-mo'd it twice. He was fully extended on the ground, and it was at least his height again further to his right, so from where he was standing, I'm guessing 12-15 feet away.

jeffwx said...

Never going back again

Holden Baroque said...

Sec3, it needed to be a curveball out of the zone to get him to chase. 0-2 count and you leave it over the plate? Not a good pitch.

Well, that's for sure. Certainly needed to be off the plate, whatever it was.

jeffwx said...

Why are we the least productive offensive team in baseball ?
We have names like Werth, Harper, Zimmerman, Desmond, Ramos

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Going into yesterday Braes bullpen gave up 0 runs in 11 games our 4.14 ERA. yesterday both gave up 0.

Today again Braves 0 Nats 4.

Our bullpen is not carrying its weight at all.

Had the numbers been reversed instead of 3-10 we would be 10-3.

2 games behibd.

So one could blame the bullpen just as easily as the hitters for our situation.

Starters in general only section doing the job.

jeffwx said...

No one is carrying their weight except the starters and JW

Is ALR, Zimm, Rendon, Desmond, Span ??

D'Gourds said...

This season is officially a Bust. Davey's prediction came true. What a disaster.

jeffwx said...

Is our bullpen one of the worst in baseball ? No

Is our offense ? Yes

MrsB loves the Nats said...

MnF - it's not just the bull pen... It's the batters, it's the coaches, it's the managers...

Is just not up year... I know people like to keep calling certain folks but, realistically, all of the Nats line up can be called out, including young Harper...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

I see Mark in his comment above asked the same question I did why a rested Clippard not pitching the 8th?

Please sask at thepresser.

Holden Baroque said...

Have I ever mentioned that I hate the Braves?

BigCat said...

Zim just can't catch up with the 96+ anymore. He has to cheat/lunge now which makes him vulnerable for the off speed.

Have said for a year or so that Zims big leg kick and high "Dick Allen" hands don't work anymore. I think either he makes adjustments or he is in trouble

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Sec3, he needed to take a step and a dive. Instead he froze and dove and it was right by him. Those are the plays a Gold Glove has to at least knock down if not make.

Was it a tough play? Yes. Your team is fighting for survival and you wait for someone, anyone, to step up. It didn't happen.

Watch the video at 39 seconds. He froze and dove without taking a step and diving and missed it by 4 feet.

jeffwx said...

Are the coaches and the managers the reason why
Zimm, Ramos, Span, ALR, Desmond not driving in runs ?

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Hold the presses Ramos throws out a man

jeffwx said...

Will the Nats RBI leader have less than 80 ?
When's the last time that happened....1908

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

He is one that threw the hanging curve ball, so dont feel sorry for him.Throw a good one and its a K. You cannot make mistakes late in the game. I have pity for him as he is 100% responsible for tge good or bad.

Almazar80 said...

The team's been bad all year. This downward spiral is not surprising. It's a continuation of the type of play they've exhibited since spring training. It's not a good team. Last year they had good luck on their side. This year, not so much. Besides, had the regular season been two seasons longer in 2012, the Braves, in all likelihood, would have caught them. Strasburg was spent when September came along last year. This year, he has done a lot better (longetivity wise), but the overall lack of talent in the squad dooms the Nats to second, third or perhaps even fourth place. It's not going to be better next year. The talent is plain lacking. It's not attributable to a lot of people having subpar years. It's attributable to having a lot of subpar players that played well for a year (and thereby gave Rizzo the illusion that he actually built a talented club). The truth, now evident, is the Nats cannot compete against the good teams in the NL.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

jeff, how many games did they play in 1908?

BigCat said...

That was the perfect time to drill someone. 2 outs, no one on. Bingo ! Ooops...... Sorry BJ. But nooooo

jeffwx said...

So the braves got the Uptons and Chris Johnson and Evan Gattis

What did we do to improve the lineup this year ?

Holden Baroque said...

This team is not fighting for survival. It would be nice if they were, but they aren't. I don't recall him ever having those "cat-like reflexes" on line shots. I think that's unrealistic. We'll have to agree to disagree there, I guess.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Not much.

jeffwx said...

154 in 1908
The year with the lowest ERA by MLB.
It was a small ball year...no one waited for the 3 run hr then.

Holden Baroque said...

They played 154 games in 1908. The Cubs won 99, and their last World Series.

jeffwx said...

154 but good point Ghost
but then Ed Walsh pitched over 400 innings that year. Better pitching, smaller gloves and balls.

Dave said...

Here's this dude Kimbrel with his stupid vulture-pose. Grrr.

Almazar80 said...

Make that:

If the regular season (in 2012) was two weeks longer in 2012, the Braves, in all likelihood, would have caught the Nats. They were closing and the Nats were fading. This year, there is nothing to fade from since you can't really go down from a flat line.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Bryce swings at Ball 3.

jeffwx said...

Yes, the Cubs won the WS because Merkle never touched 2nd

Holden Baroque said...

Dang.
One to jeffwx.

BigCat said...

I will say this.........I feel very good about having Rizzo calling the shots on player personnel People bitch n moan, me included, but Riz had done a greet job

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Good job Bryce!

Unknown said...

well at least Harper hasn't given up.

NatsLady said...

Come ON, Kimbrel doesn't need help. That was low.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Our hitters have stunk all season.

Bullpentake away Clip and Soriano is just as bad as the hitters.

Haren fine since ASG the top 3 PRETTY GOOD. DET ROSS O AND D ok

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

LaRoche lurking on deck.

jeffwx said...

Even Rizzo gave himself a C (as did Mark).
Some good moves...some questionable non-moves...but hindsight is 20/20

Joe Seamhead said...

Ghost Of Steve M. said...
Really, that Heyward ball went right under LaRoche's glove. Stop making excuses for him. You can go to the MLB GameDay and click on Videos and watch it again and again.
August 07, 2013 9:46 PM

---////-///--
I have watched it. Three times. You're overly critical of ALR on every ball that goes up the first base line for a hit. You really are. Adam hasn't gotten to some balls this year that he should have. That wasn't one of them, in my opinion.

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Joe, UZR says differently, actually very different. Argue with them.

BigCat said...

C- c-comeback? Nahhhhhh

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Why we the only bullpen without 5 98 mph relievers? We dont have 1

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

LaRoche. Just another pathetic at-bat.

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Thanks ALR take strike 3 right over the middle.

Then kimbral throw a mistake and Ian just fouls it back.

jeffwx said...

Keep him at cleanup, move Span back to leadoff,
move espinosa to 2nd when he's batting .150
Continue to use Bernadina, Tracy as ph.

Insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.

jeffwx said...

oh and keep using Storen in critical situations

yep...RISP in scoring position and no outs...

Manassas Nats' Fan said...

Last 2 weeks only 3 hitter worth their weight Werth, harper, ramos.

Holden Baroque said...

Speaking of the Buffalo...

jeffwx said...

We are not in the same league with the Braves, Dodgers, pirates, Reds, Card, Dbacks but we can compete with the phils/brew crew/Marlins/Mets/Padres so 2nd division

However, If there is one guy I want to bat it is Ramos

Holden Baroque said...

Well, they are in the same league, technically...

Unknown said...

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

jeffwx said...

mercifully, this series is over

Unknown said...

at least we lost this one differently

BigCat said...

Laroche needs to give some money back to the Lerners. He is absolutely killing us

Ghost Of Steve M. said...

Yep, so close at the end. Ramos just didn't get the elevation on it.

jeffwx said...

yes, but we did our typical 5-6 hits per game

Almazar80 said...

Two bad Ramos didn't quite do it in his final at bat. But he has not been bad.

jeffwx said...

yes...could be that Harper, Ramos and Desmond are the only 3 that can hit the heat that the boys are throwing these days.

jeffwx said...

In hindsight, the season ended when we stood pat with our bench, came in the season with no lefty reliever, when we expected ALR to hit like he did last year, when we replaced a power bat with Span, w

Anonymous said...

jeffwx has said it well:

In hindsight, the season ended when we stood pat with our bench, came in the season with no lefty reliever, when we expected ALR to hit like he did last year, when we replaced a power bat with Span.

I can summarize this team in 6 words:

Mental team, bad leadership, total hype.

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