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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER After a mostly successful road trip, the Nats are back home tonight. |
We've seen Laynce Nix essentially take over as the starting left fielder in place of Michael Morse. We've seen Roger Bernadina take over as the starting center fielder while Rick Ankiel is on the DL. We've seen Drew Storen essentially take over as closer and be incredibly effective at, too. (Did you know he hasn't allowed an earned run since his first outing of the season?)
And, of course, we saw Nats Insider go down for about 21 hours. Thankfully, the issue has been resolved. There are still several postings (and hundreds of comments) missing from late Wednesday and all day yesterday). If you happened to miss my article on Bryce Harper's vision correction and the local optometrist who has worked with him, here's a link to that.
Thanks to everyone for your patience through this. I'm back at the ballpark tonight, and I'll have updates throughout, so please check back often...
MARLINS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187
Weather: Chance of showers, 65 degrees, Wind 8 mph RF to LF
STARTING LINEUPS6:58 p.m. -- Excellent rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner just now by loyal reader Gene! Nice to meet you down in the tunnel leading to the field earlier, too. Sorry I couldn't chat longer, was running late for my live TV spot on CSN.
NATIONALS (18-19)
CF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
C Wilson Ramos
LF Laynce Nix
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Jerry Hairston
P Tom Gorzelanny
MARLINS (21-15)
CF Chris Coghlan
3B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Hanley Ramirez
1B Gaby Sanchez
C John Buck
LF Logan Morrison
RF Mike Stanton
2B Omar Infante
P Chris Volstad
7:05 p.m. -- And we're underway with a strike from Tom Gorzelanny to Chris Coghlan. Cloudy skies but no rain so far. Keep your fingers crossed.
7:14 p.m. -- Gaby Sanchez has become the new Hanley Ramirez. He's just killing Nats pitching this season. With a two-run homer to deep left-center in the top of the first, the Marlins first baseman is now hitting .375 with two homers, three doubles and eight RBI in seven-plus games against Washington so far. And if that wasn't bad enough, John Buck did his best Gaby Sanchez impersonation seconds later, crushing his own solo homer into the left-field bullpen. Both came on fastballs from Gorzelanny, who actually recorded three strikeouts in the inning. His breaking ball looked much more effective than his fastball in the early-going. Nats in a big hole early, down 3-0.
7:20 p.m. -- In more pleasant news, it appears Laynce Nix has assumed the starting left fielder's job from Michael Morse. Read more about that in this just-posted CSNwashington.com article. In other pregame news ... Ryan Zimmerman jogged today for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery early last week. Zim hasn't begun any baseball activities yet, and he's still a little sore at times. But all signs are that he's progressing on schedule. That doesn't make watching the Nats on TV any easier for the Face of the Franchise: "Yeah, that's the hardest part, being patient, I think," he said. "Just sitting around, watching them play and not being able to do anything is really hard to do."
7:27 p.m. -- Jayson Werth sure has struck out looking a lot this season, hasn't he? After watching another strike three go by to end the bottom of the first, I decided to figure out just how much. Turns out 18 of Werth's 36 strikeouts have come with his bat sitting on his shoulder. So exactly 50 percent. For comparison's sake, Ryan Howard (who leads the NL with 44 strikeouts) has been caught looking only 23 percent of the time.
7:46 p.m. -- They finally gave in and decided not to pitch to Gaby Sanchez, and it worked. After intentionally walking Sanchez with one out and a man on second, Gorzelanny got Buck to ground into a 6-3 double play. So it's still 3-0 Marlins heading to the bottom of the third.
8:02 p.m. -- The good: Both Bernadina and Desmond put together a couple of really nice at-bats to put the Nats on the board. The bad: Werth struck out again, this time on a check-swing of a breaking ball way low and outside the zone. That's strikeout No. 37 for the season and his sixth in his last seven at-bats. Then LaRoche finished off the rally killing by grounding into a fielder's choice. It's time for the Nats' No. 3 and No. 4 hitters to start coming through in these situations. So far, they're not doing it nearly enough. 3-1 Marlins after three.
8:07 p.m. -- Man, Mike Stanton hits the ball really hard. He just crushed a homer to left that needed about two-thousandths of a second to leave the yard. Just a laser off Gorzelanny, who has now allowed three homers tonight, all on fastballs. Marlins lead 4-1 in the fourth.
8:13 p.m. -- OK, legitimate beef here by the Nationals over a blown call. Chris Volstad bunted with one out and a man on first. Ramos made a poor decision in trying to throw out the lead runner (he was late and threw way wide of second base) but Hairston and Gorzelanny immediately started arguing with plate umpire Paul Nauert. Why? Because the ball clearly hit Volstad's bat as it bounced up off the ground. He was in the batter's box, so that should be ruled a foul ball. Instead, both runners were safe. It didn't come back to haunt them, but still a terrible call by the umps.
8:19 p.m. -- Looks like Laynce Nix is intent on locking down that left field job, huh? Just crushed a homer, his fifth of the year, to right-center. That trims the Marlins' lead to 4-2 in the fourth and raises Nix's season average to .301. He's got more homers in 73 at-bats this season than he had in 165 at-bats all last season.
8:30 p.m. -- Speaking of trying to lock down a starting job ... Roger Bernadina is a man on a mission. He just raked a two-out, two-run double to tie the game 4-4 in the fourth, then stole third base for good measure. Bernie is now 3-for-3 tonight, and he's now hitting a robust .348 for the season. Impressive.
8:33 p.m. -- Meanwhile, in Lakewood, N.J., Bryce Harper just extended his hitting streak to 17 games by beating out a chopper back to the mound.
8:44 p.m. -- Oh. My. God. Bernadina just made a ridiculous catch to end the top of the fifth and bail out both Gorzelanny and Todd Coffey (who replaced the lefty with two outs and Stanton at the plate). Stanton tagged a liner to straightaway center. Bernadina did take one step in first before recovering, but man did he recover. Caught the ball with a full, over-the-shoulder leap, then fell in a heap as his body twisted and turned. He stayed down for a few seconds, too, as the crowd feared he was injured. But he bounced back up eventually and then got a huge, standing ovation as he trotted back in to the dugout. Still 4-4 in the middle of the fifth after the catch of the year.
9:02 p.m. -- Well, things have settled down a bit since Bernadina's Web Gem. The Nats' bats have gone cold since Roger's two-run double in the fourth. Coffey is now on for his third inning of work. Still 4-4 heading to the seventh.
9:06 p.m. -- By the way, if you missed Bernadina's catch, you can see it here on MLB.com.
9:14 p.m. -- Matt Stairs with his second hit of the season! Batting average now over .100!
9:23 p.m. -- And the Marlins retake the lead on a home run by Logan Morrison, in his first game back from the DL. Took a 2-2 fastball from Tyler Clippard to deep right-center, putting the Nats down 5-4 in the eighth.
9:44 p.m. -- Here's all you need to know about Michael Morse's status right now: With the game on the line in the bottom of the eighth, a man on third and two out, Riggleman left Nix in to face lefty Mike Dunn rather than pinch-hit Morse and force Edwin Rodriguez into bringing in righty Burke Badenhop. Then again, Nix delivered big-time, drilling a grounder just inside the first base bag to score Werth and tie the game 5-5.
9:53 p.m. -- Man, Drew Storen is throwing as filthy as any reliever in baseball right now. Just filthy. Made Hanley Ramirez look silly to end the top of the ninth. Chance for the Nats to walk off now ... and guess who's due up third? The one and only Roger Bernadina.
10:07 p.m. -- Well, Bernadina did draw a two-out walk, then took third on a hit-and-run single by Desmond. But after Ian stole second -- not a real wise move there) -- the Marlins were able to intentionally walk Werth and bring in lefty Randy Choate to face LaRoche. Bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth, tie game. It's up to LaRoche now to get a hit off a lefty.
10:13 p.m. -- And LaRoche grounds out to second on a 2-2 pitch from Choate, and for the third straight day, the Nats are going to extra innings. Interesting scene during the changeover: Riggleman came out of the dugout and walked way out toward second base to have a word with Desmond. Guessing the manager wasn't too happy with his shortstop stealing second on his own.
10:21 p.m. -- Another dominant inning from Storen. We go to the bottom of the 10th. Due up: Ramos, Nix and the pitcher's spot.
10:29 p.m. -- Michael Morse, pinch-hitting for Storen, crushes a ball to deep center, points his index finger to the sky as the crowd stands in anticipation of the walk-off homer ... only to watch the ball hit about 2 inches shy of clearing the fence in the deepest part of the park. That's only a 405-foot double, folks. And now we're going to the 11th, with Brian Broderick on to pitch.
10:39 p.m. -- And the Marlins take a 6-5 lead, but only because of an incredible slide by Omar Infante. Infante came all the way around on Greg Dobbs' double to right. Jerry Hairston's relay throw beat Infante to the plate, but he managed to somehow pull his left arm bag and elude Wilson Ramos' tag, then just barely touch the plate with his fingertip before Ramos could re-apply the tag. We're talking a margin of inches here deciding this game.
10:48 p.m. -- That's your ballgame. The Nats lose a heartbreaker, 6-5 in 11 innings. Game of inches tonight. Morse misses a homer by two inches. Infante then gets his fingertip on the plate with Ramos' tag about one inch away. Hmm, I sense a theme for a postgame analysis story. Stay tuned...
78 comments:
Sing it PROUD, Gene!
GO NATS!!!!!
It feels like forever since the last home game. Can't wait to sit in what might be a light drizzle, have a dog fish head and watch a game. Then do it all again tomorrow.
I'm heading out tonight too. Ready to cheer loudly for the national anthem. (Gene - your alter ego isn't DC Washington is it? Did you get to pick a cool pseudonym when you become an anthem singer?)
I really wanted to "vent" after last nights meltdown, but when I tried to log onto the NI website, as everyone knows by now, I couldn't. Probably a good thing.... But I also did not get to see other fans whining about exactly what I had on my mind so there was no one to commiserate with me. No therapy, per se. I've since slept, so I'm relatively calm now. I still don't like it, but I'm getting over it.
....still think we (read Riggs) could have or should have done something other than what he did though....
There I said it, whew. Ok, moving on.
2 out of three again this weekend.
A little more hitting please.
I'm very happy the Nats went 4-5 on this past tough road trip. Of course, 9-0 would have been nice as well :)
Go Nats!
Welcome back, Mark, Nats, and fellow Insiders. There, that should cover it.
I likely won't make it to the ballpark this week due to life and workload getting in the way. I hate when that happens. :-) Will be there in spirit, though, and watch on tv, whether in real time or after the fact.
Oh, and go NATS!!
Les,
What should he have done?? and if you didn't think of it before it happened then it's second guessing and it doesn't count.
My thoughts at the time were to keep Zimm in because he came out after a soft single to Gonzalez but I always want my starter to stay in until he shows signs of fatigue such as leaving pitches up and losing the bite on the breaking stuff.
But since Clippard was unavailable I had absolutely no problem with using Burnett; as far Slaten; he was effective for 2 innings and the Nats were in BP preservation mode last night so I have no problem with leaving him in for 3.
In conclusion; the results stung but there was nothing wrong with the moves.
Agree with JD, the moves Riggleman made last night were okay, unfortunately those involved in the moves, especially Brunett just didn't come through as we would have liked.
Sound check. Instead of bombs bursting in air i heard livo crack some to deep center Watching bp in front row.
If you're in the stands, don't listen. SING!
Go get 'em, Gene. You, too, Livo!
"Bulpen preservation mode" is a fine excuse, but Broderick and Henry Rodriguez were still available. Why was Riggleman unwilling to give Zimmermann a chance to get out of the 7th while he was pitching one of the best games of his career, but left Slaten in for the longest outing of his career? How will our young pitchers ever learn to get out of late-game jams if Riggleman gives then the hook every time?
I hope Gorzo makes Riggs give him a chance to go deep in the game tonigt. Go Nats!!
Nats paid a big price last night for carrying two mop-up relievers (Rodriguez and Broderick) on their roster. This forced them to stay with Slaten, who didn't have it.
Easy sm13, because if Riggs would have left Zim in and they scored a couple of runs everyone would be screaming that he left them in too long and asking why isn't Burnett pitching.
The reason Broderick and HRod weren't in, no confidence in Broderick and HRod throws the ball in the dirt or a ball as many times as he throws a strike.
Riggleman made good decisions with Zimm and Burnett last night, they didn't work out, it happens sometimes. With a team that will be lucky to go .500 this year it will happen more often than not.
I think the sooner everyone realizes that this is not the Phillies or Yankess and the team isn't going to win 100 games, the lower the blood pressure will be.
-Don
There were no "bad" moves last night. You can kinda hindsight critique them but I never jumped outta my seat and screamed at the tv. He probably should have left JZimm in to try and get out of the 7th, but with a high pitch count and a 4 run lead, he probably figured, "what's the worst that could happen? Burnett walks the pinch hitter and then gives up a grand slam to Prado? Haha, no chance that'll happen."
What is going on with Burnett? He seemed like he was unhittable in the beginning of the season and he's just collapsed. Is there a possible injury situation? Are we going to DL him like we did to Gaudin and bring BallyStar back up?
Just met the Z man! (mark z, of course).
Grandstander,
Like I said there was not much with Burnett last night; on the walk to Conrad he had him struck out but didn't get the call and Prado spoiled 3 or 4 nasty pitches before the homer. It happens; he's a very good hitter.
I hope our guys were watching Prado! I'd like to see them start spoilin' some nasty pitches, themselves.....
Yeah, Burnett will probably be fine. I'm not terribly concerned about him.
Alright, Gene....Iced Tea, with lemon... Just sips, then after they say PlayBall!!! Hit up the Dogfish Head!!!!!
I think Riggleman stuck to the plan with Zimmerman last night. They are not going to let him get to an exhausted state, and start over throwing this early in his return.
Rizzo needs to pull a couple of trades so a couple of guys can go back down to finish school.
This working without a full roster is old to me, while Riggleman must have nightmares about running out of options.
I understand that sometimes deciisons don't work out as planned, but I still think Jordan needs to learn to pitch out of jams in later innings. He only gave up a walk & a bloop and his manager lost confidence in him in a hurry. To mis-quote Yogi, half of becoming a #1 starter is 90% mental.
Checking the stats, Clip, Burnett and Storen had all thrown 2 days in a row going into last nights game. So I partially agree with Sad Man that he had to "save" his pen for tomorrow. Here is the question. If you can't pitch HRod or Broderick in close games, then you might as well get rid of them. Why are they on the team.
Everyone says we aren't the Phillies or the Yankees....blah blah blah. Trust me, we are narrowing the gap everyday. Sadman....get HRod and Brod in the game.
Eck working hard I see. How hard is it to take a third strike? Werth doing what Eck says swing at pitches when you feel like it.
Attaboy Desi!
Ok did I hear the sound correctly was Werth booed in that last at bat?
Is it too late to return Werth?
Plenty of players have gone sour after a trade, so Werth is not alone. But he got booed for his second strikeout, once looking and once swinging at two bad pitches. The talk about Eck makes no sense to me. As Werth said recently, he's been hitting baseballs since he was 6 years old. How is any coach going to change what he does? It's in his head. Besides, if you really want to work on a swing, you do it in ST, not during the season. If someone like Werth needs coaching at this stage of his career, he's not worth his pay. He'll figure it out. Or not.
This is a feeling like a replay of last year only they were over 500 before falling into the abyss that is a Nationals season ....last year they had a game on the road where all looked great and then BAM they lose in extras and never recover ....and at that time it was all "things are just a little off" and "they will come around"...and another season lost
People do not boo easily around here .....Dunn strikes out 4 times in his last game here and he gets cheered .....Werth has reached a level now that is going to make the situation harder .....people are running out of goodwill
I know this is crazy, but if this thing gets close in the late innings...I think you have to pinch hit for Werth or LaRoche at this point. I trust Cora to at least swing at a close pitch with two strikes.
Is this the same Laynce Nix who was 'sposed to help out, from the bench...."just in case"?
Bernadina is not going back to Syracuse!
Falling into the abyss, CB? Really? How does that stuff even creep into the mind, after after taking two series, from division rivals, on the road?
Baffling pessimism. Really.
Hey!!! Look at Bernadina.... Tumbling into the abyss!!!
This just in...
Bernie wants to stay in DC...
Ima open up a watering hole at the Park, called "The Abyss"..... CBinDC drinks for free!
Bernie is killing it! How is he the backup to Ankiel?
Boy..... Wish I coulda seen that catch......
WOW!! Saw that live from 106. Amazing. Shock. Great moment! Double standing ovation.
I say again...Bernie wants to stay in DC...
masnstinks........ He's not. Not anymore.
Bernie!Bernie! I think we have found our CF AND OUR lead off hitter! BERNIE BERNIE!!!!
The abyss was a past tense reference and if you did not think the seasons in years 08 09 10 did not feel like and endless abyss well I guess I am pessimistic.....I think they are trap in a cycle and if they have any chance to break out you have to recognize the cycle ...but I really do not mind if they prove me wrong since I want a positive outcome ....you know whistling in the graveyard ....that is why I bought a Willie Mo Pena ball....I figure the negative energy it contains would act as a magnet to attract positive energy
Can someone post a link to Gene's National Anthem???
Would love to have seen it! It takes a brave person to sing the anthem!
I'm jes' pokin' at ya CB....
MLB.com hasn't posted Bernie's catch yet.... They will, though....won't they?
Responding to an earlier post about Storen. I am sure whoever suggested the trade was on some serious mind altering drugs...
My personal opinion.... Storen is the next Trevor Hoffman.... I know.. I have had to much of the KoolAid, but I honestly believe that. The Kid has the same makeup!
Ok.... They loaded The Catch.
Say Hey! That fella's got a glove on hIm, no?
Marquis as a pinch runner???? Really? isn't there anyone else on the bench???
JM is useful, like that... Saves a position player for the inevitable Double switch, later...
On Buck's fly to center to end the 7th, the Marlin announcer immediately said "that is no place to hit a ball with that kid out there.
Tough week, for Clip n Burn....
Some exciting baseball this past week - sometimes a little too exciting. It's kind of odd that the action is coming from the most unlikely people, too. On opening day, we would not have predicted that Laynce Nix and Bernie were providing the action.
"Clutch Desmond".... Gotta nice ring to it....
Attaboy, Desi!!!
Fatherhood agrees with Desi!!!!
Make contact, El Roacho.....walk off time...
Rats.
no amount of good defense is worth watching la roche choke time after time after time. we may have won a game or two with his scoops at first, but could we not have equally won a few games if we had a first baseman that could hit the baseball??
Odd how LaRoche and Werth just cannot be relied on when it counts. I know that Werth hit two home runs this week but most of his at bats he just really looks bad. Maybe the bottom of the line-up can come through again. These extra inning games are messing with my sleep!
Too bad Pudge wasn't catching.
On the Dobbs hit Werth did a great job, Hairston did a good job, Ramos did a swipe tag, when the ball was so much ahead of the runner all you had to do is lay the glove down. So I give him an F for the play. That was definitely and easy out given away.
Right. We'll get 'em tomorrow!!!
man again losing and losing and losing again and again
The Roach and Nix need to trade spots in the batting order.
I had a sinking feeling as soon as I saw Broderick warming up.
Batters 3,4 and 5 killed us tonight. Went 0 for 12. For comparison Marlins 3-4-5 wernt 5 for 14 3 runs 3 RBIs and 2 homers.
When will Werth and LaRoche start earning their money.
As for Ramos I remember early in Little League our coach taught us, you do a swipe tag when the ball is late, and just simply place the glove between the runner and the base if it is early. Do swipe when early. I must had a better Little League coach. But alas I couldn't hit a curve ball, but I knew how to tag.
Love Da Nats the game should still be going on despite Broderick. Ramos forgot what we all learned as kids don't swipe tag when the ball is early. Someone above mentioned they were coached that. I was too.
Just as I suspected would happen. The pitchers qre fading as soon as we start scoring runs. The last 4 games we have 7,7,5,5 runs. If the pitchers did what they had done til then all 4 are wins, but no they start pitching worse as soon as runs are scored. Come on MCCatty don't let up on them kick some tail.
Bobby K. not sure why the pitchers have become lax. I am still not thrilled with the hitting as they waste a lot of down the middle pitches. I am disappointed that the pitchers have slacked off, but tomorrow is another game. Losing close games usually comes down to executing little things, like place a tag instead of slapping one.
We could have used Mr. Walkoff (Zim) tonight as there were so many chances as Michael Morse was ohhhh so close.
Play of the night was Bernadina commiting ROGGERY.
A few thoughts after attending an exciting game, even with the loss:
1. I was ready to give the old "good job" to Gene anyway but that was awesome! People in my section were commenting on it. Sing at more games!
2. Why on earth did they play Cee-Lo Green's "F You" during the middle of the third to greet the troops? I cannot think of a more inappropriate song. No one around me could figure it out either.
3. There was no noticeable Marlins cheering section at the game tonight. Every boo you heard (and there were enough) was from a Nats fan or a generic attendee.
4. Broderick is not only wasting a spot another pitcher could use, but you could just feel the energy level disappear when he entered the game. LIke we were conceding. Even if we hold him all year, isn't this the kind of thing--putting him into games he's not prepared to succeed in--that's supposed to hurt a guys confidence and wreck him as a pitcher? How is this helpful? Is there a threshold where he performs so badly that we get rid of him, or are we stuck with him no matter what?
Even with the loss, it was fun to see hits and Bernadina's play was one to remember. Losses like this would have been highlights last year...
Might be the best catch I have ever seen live.
Real tough loss. Probably goes untalked about but the double play by Ramirez and their secondbaseman when we had two one and no one out was also a major league play, I thought Bernadina would beat it out but they were perfect. How long do you keep Werth and LaRoche at 3/4 and to be honest, Ramos has done nothing in his last 6 games, batting ave. is now under .280 which is a huge fall from .390. We do scratch and claw and if Ramos makes that tag the game might still be going on. Important, at least for me, that we come back tomorrow and win big. I still remember last years slide from 20-15 and seriously don't want to go through something like that again.
Go Nats
ps: Great National Anthem Gene and when I pointed out to my son who you were he recognized you. That also means I have to be careful what I write since he reads Mark and the comments. Had both sons with me at the park and the only thing better would have been a curly W (also caught a T shirt up in 308!!)
Grats to Gene on the anthem, very good!
I'm so glad someone else mentioned the song choice for the military appreciation deal. What was that? Especially given the actual lyrics (that may not be written on this blog), seems like a totally weird song to play for that moment. It's still better than God Bless the USA though. Man I hate that song. There's got to be a happy medium.
The sound guy also messed up Werth's walk up song twice.
Tonight was a heartbreaker, but oddly enough, I'm not really upset. We played good baseball. Werth and LaRoche stunk up the joint, but that's nothing new. Good crowd, good atmosphere, first game back after a better than expected road trip.
Tomorrow, I'm hoping for some revenge against Sanchez. I want to walk out of the park with more than my eco-friendly tote bag.
Remarkable play by Bernie. Great play be Infante. Entertaining ballgame, despite the result.
The Nats got two fine pitching performances down on the farm tonight. In Hagerstown A.J. Cole was much improved in his second turn, giving up one earned run over four innings to lower his ERA to 3.52. He must be on a tight, precautionary pitch count as he stretches out.
(Some kid named Harper extended his hitting streak to 17 games.)
At AA, Brad Peacock moved 'em down in Richmond, striking out 14 and giving up just one walk. He's now 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA.
Wasn't at the game so missed the anthem. Sounds like a poor choice on the troops salute music. Wonder whether someone pushed the wrong button or something?
Loved The Catch and look forward to seeing it on year-end highlight shows.
Mark can you find out about the song choice for honoring the troops. We here do not approve.
Awww.
Thanks all. But bernie stole the show.
Back to the assumed name and snotty comments.
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