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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Ross Detwiler faces Cole Hamels in the opener of a big series at Citizens Bank Park. |
Whether that strategy pays off in the end remains to be seen, but Johnson certainly has to like the chances of Detwiler turning in a solid performance tonight. He's already 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts this month, the last two coming against playoff contenders (the Braves and Dodgers). Also, in two starts against the Phillies the last two seasons, Detwiler is 2-0 having tossed 14 1/3 scoreless innings while surrendering only three hits.
Cole Hamels is on the mound for the Phillies, and he's had plenty of success against the Nationals this year (2-1, 1.17 ERA in three starts) in spite of one particular incident with Bryce Harper back in May.
Updates to come...
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 188
Weather: Clear, 68 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to CF
NATIONALS (93-60)
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
LF Michael Morse
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
LHP Ross Detwiler
PHILLIES (77-76)
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF John Mayberry
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
C Carlos Ruiz
RF Domonic Brown
LF Darin Ruf
3B Kevin Frandsen
LHP Cole Hamels
UMPIRES
HP Andy Fletcher
1B Joe West (cc)
2B Mike Muchlinski
3B Rob Drake
7:07 p.m. -- We are underway on a 71 degree night in the City of Brotherly Love. Whole lotta empty seats here, certainly more than I remember seeing in several years in this ballpark.
7:16 p.m. -- Not much happening for the Nats in the top of the first. Bryce Harper did continue his mastery of Cole Hamels with a one-out single up the middle, but he was quickly erased on Ryan Zimmerman's fielder's choice. Hamels struck out both Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche, so here's Ross Detwiler taking the mound for the bottom of the first.
7:24 p.m. -- Good stuff from Detwiler in the bottom of the inning. As he's done so well over the last few months, the lefty pounded the strike zone dialing his fastball up to 94. He got a couple of flyball outs and surrendered a bloop single to Chase Utley but finished strong by getting Ryan Howard to whiff at a 94 mph heater. Scoreless through one.
7:34 p.m. -- And the Nats take a 1-0 lead thanks to Danny Espinosa's legs. After drawing a two-out walk, he got a great jump and stole second, then got another great jump and was halfway down the line to third just as Kurt Suzuki roped a base hit up the middle. Espinosa scored without a throw as the Nats take an early lead here. And down in Atlanta, Kris Medlen just gave up the first career home run hit by the Marlins' Donovan Solano. Yep, Jhonaton's brother. So The Onion's brother just made the Braves cry. They trail 1-0.
7:48 p.m. -- And Detwiler gives the run right back, to a somewhat familiar face: Darin Ruf, the Phillies' 26-year-old rookie slugger who just blasted his first career homer (and notched his first career hit on top of it) on a 3-2 high fastball. Ruf and Detwiler go back a ways; they faced each other in college at rival Missouri Valley Conference schools, Detwiler at Missouri State, Ruf at Creighton. This round went to Ruf and the Phillies, who have tied the game 1-1 after two.
8:09 p.m. -- Uh-oh, things really fell apart for Detwiler in the bottom of the third, a nightmare of an inning. He issued two straight walks to open the frame, then allowed an RBI single to Ryan Howard, then served up a three-run bomb to Carlos Ruiz. Here's Detwiler's results over an eight-batter span, starting with Ruf's homer in the second: Home run, Double, Walk, Popout, Walk, Walk, Single, Home run. Not a good outing at all for the left-hander. And now the Nats trail 5-1.
8:26 p.m. -- Detwiler needed that: a 1-2-3 fourth. He's retired six straight since the Ruiz homer, a nice recovery. Though it might be too late to overcome the damage that's already been done. Still 5-1 as we move to the fifth.
8:45 p.m. -- Don't count the Nats out quite yet. They just put together a spirited rally in the top of the fifth, getting base hits from Suzuki, Harper, Zimmerman and LaRoche to trim the lead to 5-3. If they've accomplished one thing tonight, they've managed to make Hamels work. He's already at 99 pitches through five innings, so he may not have much left in the tank. In not-as-good news, the Braves have taken a 2-1 lead on the Marlins in the sixth.
8:57 p.m. -- Wait, don't count the Marlins out quite yet, either. Donovan Solano just homered AGAIN, putting Miami up 3-2 on Atlanta. The Onion's brother delivering big-time. Back here, Hamels is indeed out of the game, with Josh Lindblom in from the Phillies bullpen for the sixth.
9:03 p.m. -- Detwiler is done after six innings. Not his best start by any means, but he took what looked like a disaster and righted his ship, giving the Nats a chance to win. Still 5-3 in the middle of the sixth as Craig Stammen enters.
9:20 p.m. -- And Stammen's very first pitch of the night winds up in the right field bleachers, courtesy Domonic Brown. Stammen then got into an even bigger jam, loading the bases with two outs. All of a sudden, Michael Gonzalez had to trot in from the bullpen to face Chase Utley in a big spot. Gonzalez got the job done -- with some help from LaRoche's glove -- but it's now 6-3 Phillies after six.
9:32 p.m. -- The Nats knocked Hamels out of this game after five innings, but they haven't been able to do squat against the Phillies bullpen. They're now 0-for-6 against Josh Lindblom, Justin De Fratus and Antonio Bastardo. Thus they still trail 6-3 and are now down to their final three outs.
9:36 p.m. -- Oh dear, Freddie Freeman just blasted a two-run, walk-off homer off Mike Dunn to give the Braves a stunning, 4-3 victory over the Marlins. They clinched a playoff berth and dropped the Nats' lead in the NL East to 4 1/2 for the moment. If they can't rally late, they'll see that lead drop to 4 very shortly.
9:47 p.m. -- Three more up, three more down for the Nats against the Phillies bullpen. Phillipe Aumont retires the side in the eighth, so now they're down to their last three outs, still trailing 6-3.
9:53 p.m. -- OK, last chance. It's Desmond, Espinosa and Suzuki in the ninth inning against Jonathan Papelbon. They trail by three.
10:03 p.m. -- That's it. The Nats lose the opener of this series 6-3. Coupled with the Braves' win, their lead in the NL East is now down to 4 games with 8 to play. The magic number remains at 5. And now the earliest they could clinch the division is Friday night in St. Louis.
205 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 205 Newer› Newest»GO DET!! GYFNG! Step on the Phillies throats boys!
I would almost say, put a fork in the Phillies.
The Phillies had forks sticking out of them quite some time ago. It was only a matter of time. But it will be extra sweet if the actual coup de grace is administered by the Nats.
showComment=1347289445954#c1504510092699282769
Yes, fork the Phillies.
(sorry)
Now that the Philthies are down and on the ground, we need to stomp on them until the Division Title is ours!!!!!
Morse is back - good news.
I seem to recall Mr Werth making a comment after his injury concerning the Phillies. Something along the lines of 'making sure they never celebrate another Championship".
Now's a good time to start making that happen.
Here's Werth's comment, and the context, as reported by a Phillies blog. I think he later apologized for what he said, though I hope he takes great satisfaction from driving a nail or two in their coffin over the next few days.
Several commenters said things like: "Who cares about Werth, we upgraded to Pence."
Yeah, how'd that work out for ya?
Slight correction, Mark: Hamels is NOT 3-0 against us this year.
See at http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_02_phimlb_wasmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=was (sorry for my minimal HTML skills), the box score for the August 2 game reads: Nats 3, Phillies 0, W:Detwiler (6-4)L:Hamels (11-6).
I have no problem with that, whatsa. As someone once said, when you come to a fork in the road, take it. (What, what?) ;-)
Indeed, 222, I think he mentioned having been in pain and a medication-induced haze at the time of the comments. Also, I believe that the comments were directed at the phans' reaction to his injury rather than at the team (cough...bulletin board material). :-)
Go, DET! Go, NATS BATS!!
No reason why the better team should not win. The Nats are clearly the better team.
Upon further research, Hamels is 2-1 against us this year. His two wins came as the only Phils wins in each of the two May series; his loss came on August 2 as abovel; he didn't pitch against us in the late August series.
9 games left!
I'd sure love to see Harper hit his 20th dinger against Colbert tonight.
Braves clinch Wild Card with 1 win or Losses both the Brewers and the Dodgers
I'd like to see him steal home. It would be so old school and prestigious. :-)
Steady Eddie, I'm not sure, but you might actually owe yourself a coke!
Detwiler did indeed get the win over Hamels. I'm sure Hamels will plunk him for it today. In fact, there is a decent chance the Philthies will try to start something this series, especially if they are eliminated. I say that because they are cowards and because they know the Nats can't afford any suspensions.
GYFNG!!
And yes, GYFFG!! as well. (Need to wash my hands after typing that one.)
ehay2k -- I'll may sure to collect on that transaction!
After the Braves and Brewers series, I can hardly wait to see who's umping this one. Have we been blessed with Angel Hernandez lately?
Personally, I'd like to see Bryce bunt up the first base line, laying it down so as only Colbert can field it, but also in such a way that Bryce can run Colbert's butt over. I have always contended that was why the Kid bunted in his next at bat after Hamels plucked him. He just didn't get it down close enough to the baseline.
MLB Network has Cliff Lee, who they just showed throwing, starting tonight. Has there been a change, or are they confused?
he can't possibly be starting. He started sunday I believe.
Yes, I just realized that, so they must be confused.
1a -- they're definitely confused. Lee started and lost 2-1 to the Braves on Sunday. That's why we don't face him this series.
This may be a stupid question, but what was the thinking behind using BOTH Clip and Storen in yesterday's laugher?
slidell2 said...
This may be a stupid question, but what was the thinking behind using BOTH Clip and Storen in yesterday's laugher?
Both of them needed the work. Clippard hadn't pitched since Friday, Storen since Wednesday.
slidell2, the thinking was probably to not let them get too rusty since Clip hadn't pitched since his meltdown on Friday and Storen hadn't pitched since his save on Thursday.
It's been a particularly busy 10-12 days for me, so I haven't been posting much (perhaps to everyone's relief). But I have managed to watch all of the Nats' games (mostly in replay, and -- naturally -- fast-forwarding at times). In any event, a few pre-game thoughts:
-- Obviously, the Nats have suffered some hiccups over the past 10 games. They've been hurt by a couple of bad calls, a few too many bad pitches, and some failures to score against a couple of pitchers who appeared hittable. But no team (with the possible exception of the Yankees) is playing anything like flawless baseball these past 10-15 days; there's simply no juggernaut team (and that includes the Yankees) out there as baseball heads into the playoffs.
-- I'm satisfied that the Nats can and will win (on average) at least one game in each of the last three series, and that the Braves will lose at least two of their final nine games; in other words, I'm not worried about the division championship.
-- But the more I've thought about it, the more I would almost prefer the Nats entering the NL playoffs as the second seed. Having the 'best record in baseball' is a nice honorific, but it doesn't get you anything except having to play your first two playoff games on the road. The whole 'wild card winner = initial home field advantage' just spooks me. I would much rather see the Nats play San Francisco in a traditional 2-2-1 series, than have to face either the Braves or the Cardinals (or the Brewers or the Dodgers) in their home parks immediately after they've just won the play-in game. I know this scenario gives up home field advantage for the NLCS (assuming Cincinnati wins the NLDS), but that's a seven-game series and I'm much more comfortable with the Nats' odds in that scenario.
-- Having said that, the Nats who are on the field should (and, I'm sure, will) play to win all of their remaining games. I can't imagine them doing otherwise. But if Davey Johnson opts to rest his starting position players in those last couple of games, he'll get no grief from me. Once the division is wrapped up, start getting ready for the season to reset and, for all intents and purposes, start all over again.
GYFNG!
Well Feel, I'd owe you a beer/coke, except Storen pitched on Thursday. :-)
Great analysis, Eugene, except that both NLDS series are 2-3, rather than 2-2-1. So if the Nats are the the No. 2 seed, they'll head to SF for the first two games.
I'm still pulling for the No. 1 seed so we would start the NLCS, and play more games, in Nats Park rather than than bandbox they call a Ball Park in Cincinnati. But there's not doubt there are some disadvantages, like not knowing who your opponent will be on Sunday until late Friday night.
Eugene in Oregon said...
"I would much rather see the Nats play San Francisco in a traditional 2-2-1 series"
Both division series follow the 2-3 format this year.
There are quite a few teams who think our 5 game lead looks like a walk in the park. I heard someone say about the dreaded Yankees today that it was better for them to be battling all the way because it was good to be in playoff mode all the way instead of letting down. I tend to think that is true of the nats - I want them to clinch because I want the relief of it being over. But we clearly don't want them ramping down too much. Look at Storen yesterday - he seemed to have difficulty getting going without the huge jolt of adrenaline. I certainly hope they have a post-season mind set tonight. I just don't want to see another sloppy game.
I can't believe there are only 9 regular season games left.
True, Michellle. And this is game 154 tonight. That used to be all the games.
For the dozen or so posters who are hoping the Nats fall apart and lose the division I look forward to this team dissappointing you. If you are a "Nats Fan" and aren't enjoying this right now, worried about the team not winning the division, then I feel sorry for you. I was an Expos fan. I paid my dues. I supported years of terrible teams and triple AAA reject players. I'm going to enjoy this and remember how bad things were in what seems like yesterday.
JaneB...
Here is a link to twitter pics. Trying to figure out how to get all of them up there, but I put two up to start
Livo with Nats
Livo is a big boy
I was at the game yesterday. Drew does not do his best work in a non-save situation. He needs the "rush".
On another note, I got a foul ball yesterday. One more item off the bucket list. :)
Did anyone notice that the official that gave the Seahawks a TD is named Marvin Hudson?
Just a reminder.. NATS50 on PapaJohns.com
LoveDa..
So JEALOUS about the foul ball. My family hates sitting with me, they believe I have a foul ball shield that makes sure they don't come within 20 feet of me..
Someday I will get a foul ball or better a HR.
I heard that Nats-SF would be 2/3 also, and agree with every opinion I've heard expressed that they don't want to start a series w/ Cain and Baumgardner (sp?) in Games 1-2 in PacBell Park.
If Braves are going to start Medlen in the play-in game, the Nats can squash anyone else in their rotation. And if the Cards somehow beat Medlen, they haven't anybody the Nats wouldn't tag for less than four runs.
SCNF -- All of us have horrible memories of a favorite team that stunk like a decomposing fish. Tigers for a dozen years, Oreos since '97, etc. It's just no one wants to see the present yanked from under the Christmas tree.
Fun photos, MichelleS! Thank you!
I hope Det is a cold hearted killer tonight, and that Colbert gives a few meatballs to the Kid, so # 20 leaves the ballpark tonight.
GYFNG!
There is no such thing as a juggernaut in baseball, period. Perhaps three of the five best teams in baseball history based upon regular season play failed to win the world series, while several teams that failed to even win their divisions or 90 games won the world series. Baseball is a crapshoot and in the post-season, baseball is a crapshoot in the dark.
William O., I agree with you. St. Louis just got into last years playoffs and won it all.
A player few had every heard of named David Freese stepped up in the biggest spots. Freese only had played in 90+ games last season and homered in 1:33 ABs and then in the postseason was hitting HRs in 1:12 ABs.
Postseason baseball always has someone who steps up in a big way.
Thanks to several of you for correcting me on the 2-3 vs. 2-2-1 series set-up. I clearly missed a memo somewhere along the line. If that's the case -- and I don't doubt you -- then maybe it is better to start against the Braves or Cardinals (for the reasons a couple of you have suggested). I guess I'm still flabbergasted that MLB couldn't have come up with a playoff scenario that actually awarded the higher seeded teams with initial home-field advantage.
NJ.. Is this Bell's play to get shipped out of Miami?
crud.. Joe West is at 1b
How come Ozzie is always involved in controversy.
Gonat.. cause he can't keep his mouth shut.
Neighborhood play by Utley on Zim grounder. Utley wasn't close to the bag.
MicheleS, that's true. Some players like him like Mark Buehrle who played for him in Chicago.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Word down here is either Bienfest or Ozzie or maybe both are gone after the season.
You'd have to be vitually unemployable to accept a job with Loria.
September 25, 2012 7:15 PM
_________________________________
I used to think that about Angelos and he keeps getting idiots to take jobs there.
There's only 30 GMs and 30 Manager positions in the world if you want to do it in the Majors.
Maybe Bobby Valentine can head for Miami when he gets dumped by Boston. The clubhouse won't notice the difference much.
Miami up by one so far. That's a happy surprise.
The Onion's brother just took Medlen deep.. Fish 1-0
I wish Det could hit like Zimm does. But, I guess, so does he.
Danny! Zuke! Hurrah!
Uggla just got a hit and Chipper scored. 1-1
Nice to be watching a night game. No sun monsters.
Unreal. You get this callup with no hits and he clubs a HR.
I didn't see that. 4 straight balls to the opposing pitcher. Come on Det.
And Det needs to pull himself together.
Det needs to stay focused gets first 2 then loses focus for 10 pitched
The problem with no scouting on Ruf is what his strengths are.
We looked weak in top of 3rd
Interesting that Det faced Ruf in college.
Detwiler doing his thing where he lets a homerun affect him and he starts pitching bad.
No free passes. This stadium in Band box.
Did Carp just say that Det doesn't usually get unnerved by things like that HR he gave up?
Altho it's been less true this season, that's been one of the long-time knocks on Det, iirc.
Something ain't right with Detwiler. He has totally lost his release point and confidence.
Totally lost focus and still it is lost.
wheels are coming off
Time to get someone warming fast in the Bullpen.
All those accolades Ross got this morning. I hope he didn't read all that stuff.
Whst is that all about. 0-2 right down the middle. Focus still not there.
Yikes.
Gonat said...
Time to get someone warming fast in the Bullpen.
September 25, 2012 8:04 PM
_______________________________
Like I said...........
And Ruiz just smashed one...
5-1 and fugly
What the hell the walks kill you. I said when he walked the first batter. Total non concentration.
Yeah, Detwiler seemed to lose it a bit after the first HR. Also throwing almost all fastballs. Where's the change and curve tonight? This is second time through the order (and it will very soon be the third!)
Looks like Det is finding the zone again but the bats are going to have to get hot.
Obviously throwing so many fast ball over the middles is a request to lose.
Now iur hitters have to take hitting as serious as THE Phillies did.
Det pitches great to the last 3 hitters. What on earth had him pitching so terrible before that this inning.
Well, now, Ross, that was some serious damnage.
I almost wrote the other day that I feel most confident they can win when Detwiler is on the mound these days but then he does that. Good old Detwiler.
4 days rest normal rest. Just sayin'
Our batters need to bail Detwiler out
Amazing how good the Phillies always look v the Nats..Of course walking the pitcher and grooving 0-2 fastballs can make anyone look pretty good...
Going to be very tough now, Hamels is excellent with the lead...unlikely he'll help the offense out...
Its still only 5-1 let's see how they do in the band box now that the bats have come around and everyone has a role.
I hope FP is right that Hamels' pitching style means he will give up some 'taters. Start now, please.
Come on guys start playing like you want to win more than they do. This a pitiful effort so far.
Hamels uses his full arsenal. Nats pitchers seem to like to throw a lot of challenge fastballs these days like relief pitchers.
I don't get it because good hitters can guess right sometimes. Pitching is the art of deception.
There's no problem with effort...The Phillies are just playing better...
Det's back! (Let's hope.)
Why the hell didnt he pitch like that all of last season.Put us behind the 8 ball.
Now hitters if you want to win start acting like you want to. 3 little singles
Swift Eagle said...
There's no problem with effort...The Phillies are just playing better...
agreed, Det's issues are all mental, he needs to focus more when he is ahead 0-2 in count. he will be fine
Yes, NJ, but not in a Braves pitcher. Not till next year.
On the other hand, Colebert's pitch count is rising. We need to get him into the dugout so we can make some hay.
One at a time...
Two out rally!!!
May Michael's shot have done major good, fast!
Thankfully ALR got that hit.. I was afraid he was going to need a cortisone shot too.
Hope Ross is noticing that even when he struggles, Hamels doesn't walk guys...The Nats are having to hit their way on base...As everyone keeps saying, it's the walks that just kill you
Maybe it's the camera angle, but Morse's batting stance looks different. His feet don't look as parallel as usual.
Michele!! ALR in Sept is hitting .329 with 9 HRs and 17 RBI...
GYFNG!
This reliever named Detwiler is doing a heck of a good job!
Swift.. I know.. he just look off yesterday. I worry when they have 1 bad day. (See Espinosa, Danny - bumb shoulder, goes 0-fer Atlanta)
AND Now really Det.. What is going on? You nibble in 1 inning get crushed and now you are on. Keep it up and you teammates might get off the hook
Having a drink for the severe jammage!
Oops, just downgraded now to serious jammage. I'll take a smaller sip next time.
Shorter FP
Det only threw 2 bad pitches, if you don't count all the balls that led to walks.
He does seem to be back on his game now, thankfully.
I'm hyperventilating watching these guys! Not the Phillies. Not in CBP. Come on, Nats. Get it together!!!
Home run by Solano!
When I left to take dear daughter to figure skating and it was 1-0, Nats. Returned and it was 5-1 Phillies. Geez. Got to see the two runs in the last inning; no reason they can't score two more against Mr. Hamels before he's pulled. GYFNG!
Onion's Brother Just took MEDLIN deep again! 3-2 FISH!
Solano is an honorary Nat!
I guess the Marlins are actually trying to win. So many on here claimed they were indifferent.
WODL.. Solano is family, so we will take him tonight.
Okay, so he's already been pulled. Even better.
Phillies bullpen was lights out the last time the Nats were in Phi, hopefully they've come down to Earth by now...
Figure skating? Come on Eugene, get that girl a softball mitt! Lol
OY! Should have kept Det in
Nats need to get a few of those longballs tonight.
Daggone it.
Stammen gets the bottom of the order. Whoops.
I'd still rather see guys giving up the solo HRs than when they come in and walk people...Have to make guys earn it, of course sometimes, they will...That was a shot by Brown, not a cheap CBP HR...
detwiler, now stammen, whats going on?
Medlin is done for the night losing 3-2
Stammen and Detwiler both started walking guys after giving up HRs...The combination of a good lineup and a small ballpark seems to be in their heads...
Big strikeout by Stammen.
apart from Storen whats going on with the bullpen. Are they tired or just playoff pressure?
Mike G with some serious stones there...Kept the Nats in it...
Nice job by Michael Gonzalez.
Did anyone tell Morse the cordisone rule?
Needed to hit 3 run dinger to pay for the shot.
Lumberg is going to ask Ross and Craig about their T.F.S. reports.
Ugh..Best play I've ever seen Howard make...Can;t believe I'm sitting here relying on Heath Bell to hold a lead! Rough Night
Jason Heward swinging away on 3-0 and grounds out. Wow!!!
Haha..Gonat, did some mean Little League coach always force you to take 3-0 pitches? I feel like that's your pet peeve..Lol
Swift Eagle said...
Ugh..Best play I've ever seen Howard make...
______________________________________________
Thinking the same.
Also ticked that JWerth is in suckitude tonight which is a big difference in this game.
Braves have Kimbrel pitching the 9th down by 1...Seems odd to me
Freddi Gonzalez wants it so bad that losing 3-2 he still brings in his closer Kimbrel which was something he said he wouldn't do.
Swift, I owe you a drink! Good minds think alike!
Into the bottom of the 9th in Atl...Chipper, Freeman, Uggla due up
We used to own Bastard-O. What happened?
Chipper F. Jones
Lead off double
Braves walkoff. Darn!
And a WP gets him to 3rd with no outs...Awesome
They are going crazy in ATL, but not because they think they have a chance to catch the Nats. They just clinched a WC berth.
Not looking to be a good night for the Nats... need to find some that late game magic the team had early n the season.
I knew we had had it when Dunn came in for the Fish. He is terrible and is the reliever we clobbered in that 6 run 8th inning where Danny hit the 3 run bomb and Harp went back-to-back.
Why he's on any MLB team is beyond me.
Mike Dunn, and I mean this sincerely, your goatee is about the stupidest looking thing that I have ever seen.
Irony, Heath Bell gets them 1-2-3 in the 8th and the closer melts down and gets no outs in walkoff.
Surprise, surprise. Mike Dunn is an ex-Brave.
Bad feeling. That clinch number is not going down fast enough. We need this game.
I guess the manager was mad at Heath Bell for dissing him in the paper. I will say that the Nats are walking a fine line between not getting stressed and closing this thing out. Detweiler's performance tonight was not good and it is dopey for the announcers to keep harping on his good beginning and good end. It doesn't matter when you walk everybody in between.
Braves are partying like it's 1999. Squirting champagne and everything. Goggles needed. Quite a contrast to the Nats' subdued celebration. Announcers talking about the ghosts of 2011 being gone.
Jason and a few others at bats tonight could have been a lot better. Not very good focus tonight at the plate. We are looking at 4 up with 8 to play.
Mike Dunn comes in and gives up a double, a wild pitch and a home run. The Marlins were definitely trying to win this game, but Dunn apparently was the wrong man at the wrong time.
yesterday's win over Brewers is looking bigger by the moment
pretty pathetic when people are complaining about Marlins pitcher because he didnt help us. So who do you think will pitch the wilcard game for the Nats?
William O. Douglas Loeffler... let's be honest, Dunn is a zero and am glad he does not pitch for us
The Braves most likely have to win one more game than all the announcers are saying because they would have to win a tiebreaker game.
Strasburg will pitch in the wild card game. It will be the greatest story every. Boras and Strasburg overrule Rizzo and he comes back and pitches a no-hitter.
Secret wasian man come on don't say that. Nats will win East. i will say if they do not not that would be very disappointing and would soil the playoffs, that is why it will not happen and why yesterday's win was huge.
Soil, or spoil? Or both?
William O. Douglas Loeffler said...
Soil, or spoil? Or both? lol
both, but it won't happen
Duke looks good
I'm trying to decide how dissappointed about the season I would be if they lose the division, a growing likelihood now. I know that the chances of winning the play-in would be a crap shoot at best, given the swoon we are potentially entering here. On the other hand, I didn't expect more than 88 wins this year, so they did exceed expectations.
A 4 game lead with 8 to play is still pretty large...Nats about to be 13-10 in Sept, Braves are 15-7...The Nats have shown they can bounce back
A Nats 4 run 9th would be very nice!
Now we will hear from all the stupid reporters that the Braves won another Medlin start, as people in the media love stringing together meaningless statistical garbage.
We get 7 hits against Hamels. We dont bother to get 1 against the bullpen. Tell me what is that all about.
Then Braves needs hits in the 9th they do it.
The cirdisone shot didnt work. Give Morse another.
Detwiler's melt down in the third and Morse not equalizing Ruiz's 3 run homer 2 biggest factors
9Th innings do like the Braves score eniugh win.Proove you want it as much as Phils
Basically, every time the Nats go out there, they have a 60 percent chance of winning. Against an equal team with a tough pitcher, it may fall to 40 percent, but this isn't football. In 1991, nobody could beat the Redskins essentially and you knew that. But an equally dominant baseball team has a fifty percent chance, more or less, of losing any game or series.
Im Sorry. But I see our best shot of reducing the magic number lies with the Marlins. Maybe the Phils will be mathematically eliminated for the final series and play backups. I want nothing more than to be wrong. But the Phils and Cards are better than the Nats right now.
DJB it would very frustrating and disappointing to have been in first 99% of the season to lose out at the end. I am not sure if a young team like Nats could recover from that and in fact, tha is something that could affect them in 2013. If we win the East (I think we will) and lose in first round, that is fine. But to lose the division after leading the whole season would be very tough to rebound from and of course all the stupid Strass controversies would be around all off season and into next.
How many pessimists end up desiring the things they fear, in order to prove that they are right.
Robert Mallet
At least the Pirates won tonight.
of course, if Nats lost the East and got to the NLCS or WS, then nobody will care that they lost the East
Bottom of the order coming up....
Palpabon gave up 5 in the 9th against Braves about a month ago. Time for Nats to do the same.
Mike Dunn with a 1.66 Whip. Why is he even in the major leagues?
I just can't see us beating the Phillies in these last two series. They're now about to win 6 out of the last seven. They've figured something out, or we don't match up. Being swept in Atlanta looming very large now.
Papelbon pitches you like a starter. Has a few pitches he can pull out and his fastball with tail is a great pitch for him when it has movement.
When was the last time that the Nats had a great comeback and actually won the game? They seem to always come back and tie and then lose anyway....
I will give it to Charlie Manuel, he has this team in it til the end
oh my
Espinosa flails like a little girl at strike three....
Danny's little hot streak since his cortisone shot ended abruptly with 3 K's.
Go to bed SWIFT
I bet Davey will privately have a nice chat with the boys tonight
The Nats starting to remindof the Caps and it is pissing me off
All these teams are in it to the end. Do you think managers want to get fired? Losing five games in a row at the end of the season can make the difference in being employed or not....
I do think the Nats are coasting too much Putting Wang out there to start was ridiculous.
Szuki 3 hits Harper 2 hits. anyone else interested
Manassas Nats' Fan said...
The Nats starting to remindof the Caps and it is pissing me off
please, let's not go that far,lol
Help us Ozzie Guillen, your are only hope.
Chad just went through the motions on that at bat
I can't say that I have much faith that the Nats would win a game tied 6-6. I have lost more faith in the bullpen than in any other part of the team. Even tonight, when we needed to keep it at 5-3, the bullpen delivers a shipwreck of an inning that somehow only resulted in one run but which made the difference in needing one guy on base to tie versus two.
We do not have a single reliever who has been impressive since the all star break. Not one.
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