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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Historic Wrigley Field hosts the Nationals for the first game of the season. |
There may not be anyone in attendance today happier to know that than Stephen Strasburg, who gets to take advantage of the weather -- not to mention a less-than-daunting Cubs lineup -- in his 2012 debut. It'll be interesting to see how far Davey Johnson lets his ace go. Strasburg threw as many as 84 pitches this spring, so he should be good to surpass 90 and maybe even approach 100.
Veteran Ryan Dempster will be on the mound for Chicago, facing a Nationals lineup that is without cleanup hitter Michael Morse and center fielder Rick Ankiel (both are set to begin rehab assignments with Class AA Harrisburg tonight in Bowie) but still boasts a red-hot Ryan Zimmerman (who looked fantastic this spring).
It's the greatest day of the year, and if you can't be here watching the game live, rest assured I'll have plenty of updates throughout right here...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 2:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 50, WGN (outside DC area), MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Sunny, 51 degrees, Wind 16 mph in from CF
NATIONALS (0-0)2:25 p.m. -- Ian Desmond comes out hacking and lines Ryan Dempster's very first pitch of the season to right field for a base hit. Baseball season is underway!
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
RF Jayson Werth
LF Mark DeRosa
CF Roger Bernadina
C Wilson Ramos
P Stephen Strasburg
CUBS (0-0)
RF David DeJesus
2B Darwin Barney
SS Starlin Castro
LF Alfonso Soriano
3B Ian Stewart
1B Jeff Baker
CF Marlon Byrd
C Geovany Soto
P Ryan Dempster
UMPIRES
HP Dana DeMuth
1B Kerwin Danley
2B Doug Eddings
3B Paul Nauert
2:35 p.m. -- The good news: Desmond and Danny Espinosa did their job, singling and drawing a walk to set the table for the big boys. The bad news: The big boys couldn't get the job done. Ryan Zimmerman sent a deep fly ball to center that might have been a three-run homer on June 5. But on April 5 at Wrigley, that's a flyout. It did advance the runners, but Adam LaRoche struck out at a wicked changeup from Dempster, and Jayson Werth then sent a soft flyball to right to end the inning. The Nats are already 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
2:41 p.m. -- That didn't take long. Stephen Strasburg needed all of seven pitches (five strikes) to get through the bottom of the first. There was a little goof-up when he pointed at Starlin Castro's pop-up and got out of the way, only to watch the ball fall in for a single. Strasburg needed to just make that play himself. No one else had a chance to get there in time. But he used the wind to his advantage and got Alfonso Soriano to hit a long flyball to center to end the inning. Scoreless after one.
2:52 p.m. -- You know, Davey Johnson said earlier today that Strasburg can go 80-100 pitches. At this rate, he could start both ends of a doubleheader. Two innings in the books, and he's only thrown 14 pitches. Fourteen! That's seven batters faced, an average of two per hitter. Fastball has been sharp, 95-96 mph. Curveball totally fooled Marlon Byrd twice on a second-inning strikeout. It's early, but man he looks good.
3:06 p.m. -- Wait, was that the top of the third or a replay of the top of the first? Desmond and Espinosa both reach, then Zimmerman draws a walk to load the bases for the heart of the lineup. At which point LaRoche strikes out on a changeup and Werth flies out to right. Exact same thing that happened two innings earlier. The Nats are 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position already. Scoreless in the middle of the third.
3:13 p.m. -- Boy, Strasburg really had to labor there in the bottom of the third. I mean, it took him a whole 12 pitches to finish the inning. He's at 26 total (18 strikes) through three. Doesn't look like there's going to be much offense here today.
3:27 p.m. -- And just like that, the Cubs are on the board first, thanks to a wobbly bottom of the fourth from the Nats' perspective. Strasburg's command was a bit off, especially as he issued a two-out walk to Baker. Wilson Ramos also made a very poor decision to try to gun down Soriano at second on a little dribbler in front of the mound. Fortunately, Soriano then ran himself into an out trying to steal third. But Byrd's soft liner to left produced the first run of the day, putting the Cubs ahead 1-0 after four.
3:42 p.m. -- A quick, 1-2-3 fifth for Strasburg, but it's not going to matter if the Nats can't score.
3:46 p.m. -- Zimmerman should have two homers today. Instead, he's got two long flyouts. The wind is just brutal here. So is the Nats' lineup. One hit through six innings. LaRoche is 0-for-3 with three Ks. Nobody from the 4-through-9 spots has reached safely. Still 1-0 Cubs in the middle of the sixth.
3:53 p.m. -- Strasburg getting stronger as this game progresses. He's struck out four of the last six batters he's faced, and he's through the sixth inning at only 70 pitches. However, he's due up fourth in the top of the seventh. Henry Rodriguez is starting to warm in the pen. What do you do?
4:01 p.m. -- Well, Steve Lombardozzi was in the on-deck circle to hit for Strasburg, but his spot never came up. So as Bill Murray gets the crowd going during the seventh-inning stretch, Strasburg is back on the mound for the bottom of the inning. Still trails 1-0.
4:07 p.m. -- Can't ask for much more out of Strasburg than what he gave the Nats: 7 ip, 5 h, 1 er, 1 bb, 5 k, 82 pitches. But he's in line to take the loss right now. Nats down to their last six outs.
4:32 p.m. -- Wow, high drama in the top of the eighth. The Nats had two on and two out with LaRoche at the plate and Kerry Wood on the mound. LaRoche battled his way to a full count and then drew the walk, loading the bases for Werth. Werth fell behind 0-2 and then battled his way back, taking a very close 3-2 fastball for ball four and forcing in the tying run. With a chance to deliver against his former team, though, Mark DeRosa sent a soft grounder up the middle and couldn't quite beat the throw to first. So it's a new ballgame, tied 1-1, as Tyler Clippard enters for the bottom of the eighth. Pretty entertaining Opening Day, huh?
4:42 p.m. -- Clippard works his way around an Espinosa error to close out the eighth. It remains 1-1 going to the ninth as Carlos Marmol enters for the Cubs. Bernadina, Ramos and Tracy due up for the Nats.
4:51 p.m. -- Chad Tracy and Ian Desmond to the rescue! Tracy sends a two-out double off the wall in right-center. Then Desmond delivers his third hit of the day, a single to right that scored pinch-runner Brett Carroll. The Nats lead 2-1 and Brad Lidge is warming in the pen.
5:00 p.m. -- It's over. The Nats win a thriller, 2-1, as Lidge earns his first save, overcoming a one-out triple by Ian Stewart. What a way to start the season.
411 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 411 Newer› Newest»So, now against Dempster, if you add our stellar 1 for 17 performance against him through 5.
The Nats are batting a cool .122 against Dempster the last 3 years.
Awful.
Adding our 1 for 17 day today, the Nats are now batting a cool .122 over the last 3 years against Dempster.
Wow, the 6th Inning of Game 1 and here we are, already over 200 comments.
Carpenter and FP should wear cheer leader uniforms. Bring back Dibble. At least he was balanced.
ugh
Ugh! Zim's second homer of the day robbed by the wind.
So close! Stupid wind... I could've sworn that was a home run. Ugh.
Oh, that wind, that is just painful...
Zim crushed that. Can't believe it stayed in the park.
And there goes LaRoche again...
Is LaRoche this year's Werth at the plate?
Or is this just the first game, and is any such statement sheer BS?
Wnd aside, it's great to see Zim swinging the bat so well. This could be a big year for him
Good to see the Nats not satisfied with last year's performance - this year, the K crown will be ours!
8 Ks for Dempster. Yuck.
I bet Dempster wishes he could face LaRoche and Werth everyday.
Ryan Z should have 2 HR's, LaDOUCHE simply SUCKS, and Jayson is WerthLESS. Same old fing Nats
On a bright note LaRoche's foot looks good on his repeated walks back to the dugout.
@Dave -
It's possible that Werth is this year's Werth at the plate.
But yes, it is just the first game.
Note to self - breathe, breathe...
I love Zim but he needs to stop trying to muscle it out of the park. It's not going out today.
When they said ALR was a slow starter, they weren't kidding were they?!
Shooting for the Golden Sombrero the 8th!
Chad Tracy can play first AND hit- yay!
Also, let's not forget, Ryan Dempster is a pretty good pitcher and he owns us.
I know we jinxed our hitters by making fun of the Marlins getting no hit for seven innings last night.
Werthless, love his new stance. He looks much better striking out this year.
Chad Tracy can hit the ball & play first.
What pitcher doesn't own us Michele?
Werth's really not looking bad at the plate, despite the results. LaRoche just looks lost.
Mick.. Remember that Espi owns Cliff Lee.
Well, Werth actually contacted the ball with the bat once today. LaRoche, not so much.
11 straight outs with two LaR strike outs. Nats in mid-season form. DJ playing for big innings early just like Weaver. Maybe he should play smallball with SS pitching.
Another dominant inning from Stras. 2 Ks and a pop fly.
Unfortunately, also one dominant inning after another by Dempster...
Every Nats player should apologize to Strasburg for the lack of support today.
Time to watch the Masters. I will be happy with a 1-5 record heading into the home opener. At least that means they can't go 0-21. 1 bloop hit in 7 innings and people think we're going to the playoffs. Now the question is who will have more: Hole in Ones at Augusta or runs this weekend for the Nationals. My money is on Hole in Ones. Maybe I should make that hits instead of runs.
LaRoche - could be a slow start but strikeouts have always been an issue. 28 percent strikeout rate with the Dbacks in '10, over 22 percent in his ML career.
@Dixiemag
They've needed to do for a lot of games.
On the other hand, am remembering that Davey's '86 Mets opened 2-3. There was a sense of crisis. Not for long.
This is Strasburg's last inning.
Thanks to no run support, Davy's got to pinch hit for him to lead off the 8th.
And I don't get it. We are struggling against Dempster and we Ramos is swinging at the first pitch? Let's take some so we can get him out of there.
Ugly.
Is that Desmond's first throwing error of the year?
"Look at that gun," says Bob C of Desmond. Uh, rihgt. Ready, fire, aim...
NatsInsider is well represented at Duffy's today. Sofa, Sunderland, RPrecup, units, Natsnut, 1a, Khera and a bunch of Anons of course. Cheers everyone. BTFGN!
Desi rushed the throw. But looks like the homer scorers are giving Baker a hit.
Scorekeeper's generous to both Desmond and Baker. Base hit, no error.
If Desi's throw is on line, Baker's out by a step and a half. Go figure.
And the nice 5-4-3 DP to empty the bases.
Are the Nats going to let Stras take a loss on the first game of the year? Really?
Dempster's at 92 pitches. How much longer for him?
Shark almost had DeRosa for lunch
Lets go get Strasburg a win (or a least a run, so he can't loss).
Hey, Stephen! Welcome to Jordan Zimmermann's world!
The anons have started already. Go Louis CK - ah I mean Chad Tracy!
And Baker pays Desmond back by letting that ball go through.
Desi is on first!
I cant decide if a game like this reflects why the W-L stat is useless, or if it reflects why it is the ultimate statistic clearly identifying who did more to help their team win? SS did 7 IP, 1R, but Dempster did just a little better at 0R and his 1-0 record will be that much better than SS's 0-1 record.
flagship sinks. can't get game on am or fm websites, or phone app. grrrr.
gotta settle for sunshine bob
Dang! They're making Dempster look good.
Let's play all 9 innings before we decide what the W-L record is (however worthless for pitchers it may be).
Bottom line; LaRoche is no cleanuo hitter.
I dont need two more innings to learn the outcome of this game ...
Arrrrgggg - this is embarassing. Unfortunately , it's just more of the same - good pitching, no offense.
Dempster's done. I guess those two almost homers by Zimmerman put the fear into Sveum.
hmmmm... you can only get games via MLB Radio on the internet.
LaRoche up with runners on first and second, two outs.
I'm feeling pretty good about this.
Not.
Desi steals second. Zim walks. Here's LaRoche with 2 out.
Wow, ALR has a chance to really stink it up today.
You said it, SweetBlues
LaRoche walks!
ALR opts for OBP. Good on him.
Wow. LaRoche gets on base with a walk.
Putting the fate of the inning in the hands of...
...Jayson Werth. (Do I feel pretty good about this, or not?)
He tried to strike out.....
LaRoche walked. Pretty sad I was hoping for a walk from our cleanup hitter. I though that was best case...
When you wrote LaRoche walks, it would have been AWESOME if the music from the Natural could have played. Just like in the movie, except replace mammoth HR that blacks out the stadium, with BB.
Time to step up Jason.
We shouldnt expect too much from Werth in this situation. That would have required a $127M contract, and we only ponied up $126M.
Come Werth earn thatr money. I'll take a hit, but would settle for a walk or wild pitch!
Ball four! RBI for Werth
Damn! I'll take it!
Okay. Werth walks in his first RBI. Strassy's record is safe for now.
OK, about that Win stat - Dempster just lost his. Fair measure of his performance?
Yes - Tied up, now I like our chance. Bases still filled and we have the better pen!
OH MAN - huge ABs by two guys who were goats early. Gotta love baseball.
Unbelievable.
BASES LOADED WALK BURN YOUR PANTS 1-1
OMG
Not sure I can take 161 more versions of 1-1 in the eighth, let's hope our bullpen is better than theirs.
Yikes. Should LaRosa have been sliding there? He's out at first, stranding three on base.
DeRosa just basely out at first. Man, that was close.
MILLIONS OF PEACHES, PEACHES FOR FREE
So we have been given many, many base runners and gifts wrapped up as walks and we can't hit any of them in? That is just pathetic. Kerry Wood was terrible. But I do think neither pitcher can get a win now. Is that right?
I feel like I am going to throw up.
@Alan_A: "OK, about that Win stat - Dempster just lost his. Fair measure of his performance?"
+1. It's a meaningless statistic. Dempster dominated the game until he came out. Now some relief pitcher will get the "win," because of what the other team's offense does.
Heck of a way to finally score a run.
Vulture a win, Tyler!
Love DeRosa's hustle. Good sign of things to come
Yes, our favorite All-Star vulture is on the mound. I'm feeling better about this now. (Really.)
Heck of a way to score a run!
1-1 but we are pathetic at the plate. LaDouche and Werth cant hit if their lives depended on it
Oopsie. Let's see what the official scorer does with that. Espi bobbles a grounder right to him.
Dixiemag said...
Looks like Strasburg is going to lose this game 1-0. Just like last year, the Nat's hitters can't support a well-pitched game. LaRoche looks lost at the plate.
Can I help you wipe that egg off your face?
If we are struggling against what may be the worse pitching in MLB, what does that bode for the season?
Looks like the scorer did it right this time. Switched an "H" to an "E." So Espinosa has his first error of the year.
Mick.. this isn't the worst pitching, That belongs to Houston
Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood cant be the worst pitchers in baseball, can they? Or am I stuck in 2002?
Desi had a very good game - I am not going to pick at that. I might go so far as to say he was the next best player on the field for us today ( after SS).
OK, second worse
BTW.. Larry Bowa is not drinking the Nats koolaid anymore.
Sure wish we had Morse in the line-up
Mick, give it a rest man. Zimm should be 2 for 2 with 4 RBI today and Werth tagged one pretty well earlier in the game. The top of the order has been on A LOT. The Cubs are also nowhere near the level of worst pitching considering they have Dempster and Matt Garza. That would go to the Astros, Orioles and Pirates way before the Cubs.
dempster 112/116 4.41 career may be worst in mlb?
ryan z struggling against the worst wind in MLB?
let's calm down.
second worst wind. lot of hot air blowing around here today too
Man..I can't believe we are going to lose game seven of the World Series this way....this team is really pathet....
wait.....
This is just the FIRST game of the season?
Nevermind...
Really people. It is opening day, the wind is blowing in and, even if we lose today (GASP), there are 161 more to go...
Just thought I'd point out that there were two 1-0 finals in the NL already today, Philadelphia over Pittsburgh and the Mets over Atlanta.
So we've already met or exceeded the run totals of at least four other teams.
Tracy with another ball that should have been a home run...off the wall.
Chad Tracy.. WOOO HOOO!
Oh my. Tracy with a double against the ivy in RF. Just a single by Desi will do the job now.
Hah!
Base hit Desi!
Yes sir IAN!!!!
OK, so we start Tracy at first and let Desi do his thing...
What say you Desi naysayers?
Holy Crap IAN!!!! I am building the bomb shelter as we chat! There is no way the world isn't going to end!
My keyboard to Desmond's ears. Ian drives in Carroll (pinch running) with a single to right. 2-1 Nats.
GYPFBNG!
Yes Nats up 2-1, I knew we could win the pen game!
I am not a Lidge fan, please prove me wrong
Let's go Lidge!!
Erik- What game are you watching? Strasburg pitched extremely well. He was 95-98 with incredible movement. Hardly "meatballs" :-)
Defense let him down.
But Nats are up 2-1 in the 9th! Lidge coming in to close.
Go NATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay. Brad Lidge won the World Series three and a half years ago, right?
Shut this one down, Brad.
Lidge to lock it down
How abut Ian Today? WOW
In the words of Ian Desmond.......TAKE THAT PERIC!!!!
Breaking out the bourbon and Maalox for the first time this season!
Bourbon and Maalox for my friends, Barkeep!
Go get 'em, Brad Lidge!
Let's see...if Lidge can save this one, our favorite vulture begins the year in proper form, yes?
I love our bullpen.
Well if that wasn't the Tyler Clippard vulture effect at its finest I don't know what is!
Nats showing a lot of heart out there. Just need Lidge to hold em now.
This ump is sharp.
Perhaps Adam LaRoche should have been doing more than getting minor league at bats..... Maybe Chad Tracy can play some first? Maybe as much as I wanted the season to open, I kind of forgot how crazy it is to be a Nats fan. 161 more - need to breathe.
Lidge completely had Reed Johnson fooled
Lidge has looked amazing this spring.
Aaaaaaaaaaaw.
On the other hand, Ian Stewart wasn't fooled at all.
Pitter-pat goes my little old middle-aged heart. Too much drama for my liking.
Wind gives us a favor after it's robbed us 3 times. That ball should have been long gone.
Z-man and Ramo!
One more Lidge!
OMG Zimmerman!
Great play Zim!
JUST FYI.. That was a tough play for Werth, that part of the park is hard to judge (I should know I spent my childhood watching guys do that).
And yes RZ is your gold glove winner!
question... could Clip have pitched the 9th and if he could WHY NOT?
What were they thinking..
Holy crap, batman!
Just think...we get to watch Zim do that for a long time.
Dear Rizzo / Lerners: THANK YOU for that extension.
Wow.
Just wow.
Maybe Lady Luck is with us this year. We sure are due.
Hooooo Ray!
It could not have happened any better.
Way to go Desi!
Maybe a few more neganons will leave to cut grass
instead of bringing clouds to a sunny day.
Way to go Nats.
What's the record for the most comments for a game thread? I think we break it today!!
And there's your ballgame.
Wowie,Zowie!!!
Well that was quite a first game. This could be a really wild season!!
That's what I'm talkin about !
a curly WWWWWWWWWWW
is it OVER? did we WIN? i cant LOOK.
Wowie. Lidge takes it all the way to 3-2 with 2 outs, but gets Byrd looking with a pitch on the corner.
Perfect pitch on the pitch track. Right on the low outside corner of the zone.
PFB, I must say.
PFB
Way to go, Lidge!
For all the Desmond supporters YES!!!!
In the immortal words of MichelleS: "WOO-HOO."
First in war, first in peace,
first in the National League East.
WOO-HOO!!!!!
Clippard in mid-season form, vulturing wins already!
can someone break down that last double play? Third to Home for the tag and then to First???
Wow. Is Kristina Akra real short, or is Lidge real tall? Or some combination of the two? She looks like she's looking up at the Sears Tower.
Okay, I am going to be a complete mess by the home opener. This was a great game! Way to Go IAN!!!!
That Win stat, on the other hand, counts. I'll take it.
That was an epic game. No other way to say it.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
You gotta give Davey a lot of credit with his late game managing! We stole that one!
@Alan_A, LOL.
I'll take that "win" too, since no save was blown. But let's not forget the immortal "blown save / win."
Zimmerman saved Werth's butt...Nice first win and pretty darn good pitching!
Keep it up Boys of (brrrrr) Summer!
GYFNG!!!
Lidge looks a foot and a half taller than Kristina.
Other than being Smurf-tall, she seems pretty good. The nice part is that when she speaks, it doesn't ruin the effect.
Good call, MASN.
This will be a story of the year folks.
Many many 2-1 wins.
Offense is weak, but pitching is amazing.
Offensive reinforcements will arrive soon.
Go Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Dave -
Lidge is 6'5".
Kristina, on the other hand, isn't....
It wasn't a double play, anon @ 5:03. There was one out when Cubbie hit a triple off the wall. Then a sharp grounder to Zim...third to home for 2 outs. Then a K for out 3.
Wow! Tons of drama on opening day! So glad the Nats got the curly W and also really glad that Stras didn't have to take an "L" after pitching so well.
Great job Ian Desmond! I'm not a Desi hater, but I'm not exactly a big supporter either. He certainly showed his bat today.
Let's go Nats 1-0!!!
I believe the phrase "vulture win" applies to relievers who gave up the lead and then got a win.
A scoreless inning in a tie game is a "real" win for Clippard :-)
I don't think a 2-1 9 inning game at the very beginning of the season counts as epic, or are you using the word epic to mean "cool?"
Thanks SF! the gamecast I was watching called it a double play, out at home. I was scratching my head there for a minute. Going home to watch the highlights now!
Take that, that, that, and that (3 hits/1 ribbie)--you Desi haters!!!!!!!!!!!
My man is now leading the NL in hits, and average!
Goooooooooooooooooooooo Desi!!!!!
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Cwj, true enough. But don't we like to think of Tyler as our own Vulture? Even when he just keeps the other team from going ahead?
Hey Anon who hates Desi. God, you are right, he's terrible, made an error. Oh wait, he was the whole Nat's offense essentially winning the game for them. Of course, kudos to Tracy who helped the cause.
Might have to give some credit to the pitchers too.
Ahh, victory. And the top spot in the NL East. I hope this is somehting we get accustomed to.
Chad Tracy is quite an upgrade over Matt Stairs, no?
One down, 88 or so to go for playoffs?
Take that, that, that, & that (3 hits and 1 ribbie) you Desi haters!!!
Goooooooooooo Desi!
Goooooooooooooooooooooo Nats!!!!!
Oh my Gosh! What a great comeback win.
Nice turnout and crowd and excellent free wings today @ Duffy's. I will post pictures of the autographed baseball later.
You know, that win was really quite a Houdini act. How frustrated do you think the Cubs fans are with Kerry Wood?
Nice - wish I could have been at Duffy's. But got to see the last 4 innings live. Will watch the others tonite.
87 more wins, and we take the division. Just sayin...
GYFNG!
397th
This crazy game was like deja vu all over again. Just last July 4th, the Cubbies were in DC, the Nats were trailing and tied the game after three consecutive walks by Kerry Wood, then eventually won the game against Marmol (that one was a walk-off wild pitch with Werth on third).
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=310704120
Mick,
You gotta take it easy. If you look around the league there are 1-0 scores all over the place. It's hard to hit when it's cold and windy and you just arrived from Florida.
Say what you want but the walks by LaRoche and Werth in the 8th were as good as hits and Wood is not a bum. he is a good pitcher.
Nice game Desi; it's one game but the approach is the same as the end of last year. I think he gets it.
Oh and JayB. How's that bench so far?
Great game by Desi. Great game by Stras. Great game by Zim. And lights out by the bullpen.
And I wouldn't give up on LaRoche just yet. Dempster obviously stymied him with the sinker. But he looked good against Wood.
Only 12 wins to go...to pass the Wizards.
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