Game 141: Dodgers at Nats

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats and Dodgers square off in an old-fashioned doubleheader today.

Wet grounds last night forced the postponement of the Nationals' game against the Dodgers, so the two clubs will attempt to play two today the old-fashioned way: back-to-back. Yep, it'll be a traditional doubleheader. One ticket gets you into both games, with the nightcap beginning approximately 30 minutes after the first game ends.

Chien-Ming Wang, who was supposed to start last night, will pitch the opener for the Nationals. The Dodgers are starting Chad Billingsley for the first game.

I won't be at the park for this twinbill; taking Mrs. Z and baby Brian to the doctor for a follow-up appointment. But I'll be back on the beat full-time tomorrow. In the meantime, CSNwashington.com's Chase Hughes will take you through both of today's games, so please check back here for updates from him throughout...

DODGERS at NATIONALS - GAME 1
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 189
Weather: Chance of storms, 78 degrees, Wind 7 mph in from RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (65-75)
SS Ian Desmond
2B Stephen Lombardozzi
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Michael Morse
CF Jayson Werth
RF Rick Ankiel
1B Chris Marrero
C Wilson Ramos
P Chien-Ming Wang

DODGERS (69-72)
SS Dee Gordon
1B James Loney
CF Matt Kemp
RF Juan Rivera
3B Aaron Miles
LF Jerry Sands
C Rod Barajas
2B Justin Sellers
P Chad Billingsley

11:53 p.m. -- It's dark and overcast here at Nationals Park and the forecast doesn't look great. There are of course two games to be played today so we'll see if they can get them both in. Capitals defenseman John Carlson is set to throw out the first pitch for the first game which should be interesting. He is a big baseball fan so he better have a better arm than John Wall did earlier this year.
12:14 p.m. -- Still overcast but the sun is starting to shine through at Nationals Park. The Capitals tweeted a photo of John Carlson's Nationals jersey, here is the link if you want to check it out:
http://yfrog.com/h4to7drtj
1:13 p.m. -- Juan Rivera of the Dodgers finds daylight in left-center to put L.A. up 2-0 early, Chien-Ming Wang is struggling to find the zone. Could have been worse if not for Loney's ground rule double and a nice snag by Ryan Zimmerman to get the first out.
1:31 p.m. -- Chien-Ming Wang looking much better in the second inning after retiring the side in order. Wang capped it off by fanning Chad Billingsley with an 86 mph sinker. The sinker was all over the place in the first inning so that's a good sign. He is at 28 pitches after two, 19 of them strikes.
1:49 p.m. -- Chad Billingsley struck out Chien-Ming Wang to leave three runners on the bases. Though they didn't score, the Nationals definitely got at the Dodgers pitcher. He threw 32 pitches in the second and walked three batters. Still 2-0 L.A. as we head into the top of the third.
2:00 p.m. -- L.A.'s Juan Rivera hits a line drive to left to score two more runs, it is now 4-0 Dodgers. Michael Morse hesitated by stepping forward and got out of position, he leaped but it was too late as the ball flew over his head and to the wall. Bad defense by Mr. Morse.
2:16 p.m. -- Rookie Stephen Lombardozzi works a 12-pitch at-bat to ground Desmond over to second, then consecutive doubles by Zimmerman and Morse make the game 4-2 Dodgers in the third inning.
2:19 p.m. -- Jayson Werth crushes his 19th homer of the year to left field to score Morse and we're all tied up at 4-4 now.
2:45 p.m. -- Quick fourth inning there as both Chien-Ming Wang and Josh Lindblom have 1-2-3 frames. Wang is back on the mound in the fifth, the Dodgers lead off with Dee Gordon who has singled twice today.
3:06 p.m. -- Another pitching change for the Dodgers, now in for Lindblom is lefty Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo is 1-2 with a 9.14 ERA on the season. The Nats will pinch hit Jonny Gomes for Rick Ankiel.
3:15 p.m. -- Wang back on the mound for the 6th inning, he has thrown 73 pitches, 48 of them strikes so far. Juan Rivera to lead off for Los Angeles.
3:23 p.m. -- Laynce Nix in to hit for Chien-Ming Wang. Wang finishes the day with 7 H, 4 ER, and 3 K's. He threw 80 total pitches, 53 of them strikes, in six innings of work.
UPDATE: Todd Coffey in to pitch.
3:42 p.m. -- Quick 7th inning for both pitchers, now we head to the 8th with Tyler Clippard in for Todd Coffey.
3:52 p.m. -- Bottom of the 8th set to begin with Mike MacDougal taking over as pitcher for the Dodgers. He is their sixth pitcher of the afternoon. MacDougal is 2-1 with a 1.92 ERA in 51.2 IP this season. Still tied at four runs, but the rain is starting to finally come down.
4:05 p.m. -- Ramos strikes out to end the 8th inning. On to the 9th with Drew Storen on his way to the mound to replace Tyler Clippard. Rain looks to have passed, but the game is still knotted up at four runs each.
4:19 p.m. -- Drew Storen gives up a two-out double to Tony Gwynn, Jr. who bats in two runs. The Dodgers now lead the Nats 6-4 in the ninth.
4:21 p.m. -- Dee Gordon strikes again with his career-high fourth hit and Tony Gwynn, Jr. scores to make it 7-4 L.A.
4:30 p.m. -- On to the bottom of the ninth as Balester finishes off for Storen. Storen left the game with 3 H and 3 ER in 0.2 IP. Pitching for the Dodgers is Javy Guerra with Alex Cora in to pinch hit for the Nats.
4:37 p.m. -- Ballgame, Dodgers take the first of a doubleheader 7-4. More to come...