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Associated Press photo Ian Desmond tags out Hunter Pence on a stolen-base attempt. |
Hitting lowlight: Tough to find highlights when you're completely shut down by the opposition. The Nationals did squat against Hamels for five innings, managing only three walks and no hits against the lefty. And even once they did get something going in the sixth, they found a way to not score. Danny Espinosa's leadoff double broke up the no-hitter, and Bryce Harper's single to right kept things going. But Espinosa (with third-base coach Bo Porter waving him around) tried to score and was nailed at the plate by Hunter Pence. Moments later, Ryan Zimmerman also singled to right, which would have scored Espinosa ... had he not just been thrown out at the plate.
Pitching highlight: Jackson was not sharp early on, putting seven men on base (five hits, two walks) in the first three innings alone. But credit to the veteran right-hander for battling back and churning out a quality start in the end. Jackson was much more efficient over his final three innings, and in the process managed to make it through the seventh on only 79 pitches. Had the Nationals not been trailing at the time, Davey Johnson might have even left his starter in.
Key stat: It took until the ninth inning of the Phillies' sixth game against the Nationals this season before Papelbon made his first appearance.
Up next: After a day of rest Thursday, the Nationals' nine-game tour of the NL East continues in Atlanta for a showdown with a Braves team that has been battling them for the top spot in the division for several weeks. Ross Detwiler meets Tim Hudson in Friday's 7:35 p.m. series opener at Turner Field.
22 comments:
Moot point obviously, but it looked like Ruiz never tagged Espi at the plate. The ump was not in the right position to judge the tag, but the ESPN announcers didn't go after the camera angles.
Day of rest. Take the series from the Braves. That's the new plan.
I don't think I've ever seen someone play as hard as the Kid does, every play, every base running opportunity. It is still early, but I really can't recall someone who was going at 125% all the time. And it isn't even playoffs yet,
Barves lost, the Reds are on a tear. We have a day off tomorrow, they don't. Worst case we will be in a "virtual tie" for first when we get to ATL.
Rox somehow beat the Fish. Still waiting for the Mets to be the division doormat, as projected.
Rest up, boys, especially ALR and RZ.
Hitting lowlight: failing to get Flores in from third with NOBODY OUT.
Pence and Hamels are really good -- no shame in that.
The Nats are 26-18 and 3-3 in this tough stretch with 27 games to play.
A guy on the radio is asking what kind of impact bat the Nats might add. Um, Michael Morse?
Now for the good news: Stras and Gio will go in Atlanta.
In Hagerstown tonight Skole clubbed his 10th homer and Alex Meyer gave up one earned over five, striking out eight.
Just looked at Ryan Zimmerman's hit chart...only 5 outfield hits to LF this entire year (and only a handful of outs). Everything is to RF and CF. They are not going to get the production they need from him if this continues. Maybe they should hit him 2nd when Morse gets back. That would give them a 2-3-4-5-6 of Zimmerman, Harper, Morse, LaRoche, Desmond and provide him with a little protection so maybe he gets challenged on the inner half a little more. I think pitchers are willing to let him single to right vs. the alternative...at least until he starts to get driven in from the basepaths.
I had thought of batting Zim in front of harper, and wasn't sure it was not a good plan.
I see Eck won the battle with Davey over aggressive or passive approach tonight. With hamels just like Halliday the aggressive approach is always better. Howmany times did we not swing at strikes (especially third strikes).? Too many.
Against wild pitcher Patience is workable, against pitchers around the plate not so good.
The 9th inning, Zim take strike 1 swings at strike two and takes strike 3, Desi with 3 balls swings at ball 4 to cause strike 2 and lets strike 3 just go on by.
You got to be aggresive against good pitchers.
Jrod what can I say. best part about his performance was Popplebon lost his save opportunity.
I don't think I've ever seen someone play as hard as the Kid does, every play, every base running opportunity. It is still early, but I really can't recall someone who was going at 125% all the time. And it isn't even playoffs yet.
I totally agree. As Charlie Manuel said after seeing him for the first time, he makes other players look bad. It's amazing what you can make happen if you play 125%, or even 100%, all the time. Tagging up on two fly balls on which others would have trotted back to the base was just the latest example. He runs out every ground ball full tilt. Since when has the Face of the Franchise done that? Even Espi, who worked just about as hard during his first September call up, only kind of runs out his grounders now. Flores wouldn't have had the wind knocked out of him if he hadn't watched his fly ball go into the corner before starting to really run.
Harper is showing everyone how the game is supposed to be played. Guess that's called "old school."
I have lost count of the number of times RZim looks at fastball strikes right down the middle. He did it twice tonight. What's he looking for? Is he guessing -- & guessing wrong?
Doc, I believe Ruiz got Danny on the elbow, from the replays on MASN.
Just looked at Ryan Zimmerman's hit chart...only 5 outfield hits to LF this entire year (and only a handful of outs). Everything is to RF and CF. They are not going to get the production they need from him if this continues
Zimmerman is a right-handed power hitter. You want him hitting to right and center, not pulling the ball to left. Harper even has a word for it - oppo boppo.
Does Papelbon get a save because after the ALR homer it was a 3 run game?
As much as I would have loved to have swept the Phillies, I would rather win 2 of 3 all season long (winning percentage .666) than sweep half the series and be swept the other half (winning percentage .500) And, no, I'm not saying that the Nats are going to win 2 of every 3 games (they've already ruled that out)....but I am saying that the lack of series sweeps is not nearly as dispiriting this year as it would have been 3 years ago!!
GYFNG!!! Take'em in Atlanta!
We are spoiled by our 3 Aces so when EJax and Detwiler look "normal" it becomes frustrating. Still was a quality start by definition.
If the Nats score 5 runs, Nats win the game. At some point this year the Nats batters have to pick up their pitchers when they aren't throwing Aces.
Section 222 said...
Does Papelbon get a save because after the ALR homer it was a 3 run game?
May 23, 2012 11:14 PM
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To answer you in great detail, NO
You know who else runs every groundball out?
Desi. Always has.
Sue Dominus said...
Just looked at Ryan Zimmerman's hit chart...only 5 outfield hits to LF this entire year (and only a handful of outs). Everything is to RF and CF. They are not going to get the production they need from him if this continues
Zimmerman is a right-handed power hitter. You want him hitting to right and center, not pulling the ball to left. Harper even has a word for it - oppo boppo.
May 23, 2012 11:07 PM
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That isn't true at all. The good hitters hit the ball where its pitched. Zim hits his RF balls on pitches on the outer part of the plate and the balls down the middle to CF and the inside pitches are the ones you pull to LF.
If you have been watching, they aren't pitching Zim inside much this season. Its called scouting.
That Grand Slam walk-off against the Phillies last year was an inside pitch that Zim pulled. That is vintage Zim when they come inside on him.
Sunshine, thanks for noting Ian's natitude on grounders. He may make some almost inconceivably boneheaded decisions (on the basepaths and at the plate), but everything he does is motivated by solid hustle.
Since Papelbon came in at the begginning of the inning with a 4 run lead nothing could occur where he got the save. Now had someone come in and got the last out after he gave up the home, that person would get the save.
Detweiler, Stras, and Gio coming up! Let's take the series from the Braves!
GYFNG!!!
TheNatsMovement said...
Davey Johnson ran the catcher, so Harper could lead off the next inning, because harper was having a bad at bat. That is quick and smart thinking.
I don't like to call names, but that is ... not well thought-out.
With 2 outs, what's the worst Harper could do? Make an out and end the inning. So making an out and ending the inning gets you...Harper batting with an even count, but no one on base ahead of him. Net loss.
You only get 27 outs. They are precious.
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