 |
Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER
The Nationals need to win today to keep their season alive.
|
"You can't take it for granted at any time, whether you're up or down or whatever, that it's over," Davey Johnson said this morning. "That room over there, the guys I've got, they have that mindset. You take nothing for granted. We don't feel like we are out of this by a long shot, believe me."
Johnson didn't believe it was appropriate to make any changes to his lineup for this do-or-die game, but he admitted he will have a different managing strategy than he's had all year. Ross Detwiler will have a very short leash, and if the left-hander gets into any trouble early, Johnson will turn to a surprising face out of the bullpen: Jordan Zimmermann, who is available four days after throwing 63 pitches at Busch Stadium.
Johnson doesn't plan to hold any team meeting before the game, but veteran Mark DeRosa suggested last night he might have a few words for his teammates, underscoring the need to play with some urgency today. Whether any of that makes a difference on the field remains to be seen.
Either way, it's going to be an eventful late afternoon and early evening at the ballpark. If you can't attend in person, we've got you covered right here with live updates and analysis throughout...
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES - GAME 4
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:07 p.m. EDT
TV: TBS
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), WSPZ (570 AM), XM 186
Weather: Sunny, 61 degrees, Wind 6 mph out to CF
NATIONALS
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
CARDINALS
CF Jon Jay
RF Carlos Beltran
LF Matt Holliday
1B Allen Craig
C Yadier Molina
3B David Freese
2B Daniel Descalso
SS Pete Kozma
RHP Kyle Lohse
UMPIRES
HP Jim Joyce
1B Alfonso Marquez
2B Ed Hickox
3B Paul Emmel
LF Marvin Hudson
RF Joe West (cc)
4:08 p.m. -- And Game 4 is underway with a ball outside from Ross Detwiler to Jon Jay. It's a bit chillier today, 62 degrees at gametime. The energy in the park isn't nearly what it was yesterday, a lot of nervous anticipation I suppose.
4:13 p.m. -- Nothing like a 1-2-3, 11-pitch top of the first to get the crowd going. Solid work from Detwiler there, getting a grounder to short, a popup to short and then a comebacker to end the inning.
4:32 p.m. -- Hey, how about that! A scoreless second inning by a Nats pitcher! Detwiler did surrender a two-out single to David Freese but battled through a long at-bat with Daniel Descalso to induce a groundout to second. He's thrown 30 pitches through two scoreless, the Nats now trying to give him a lead in the bottom of the inning.
4:44 p.m. -- There's reason for the crowd to explode at long last. Adam LaRoche, moments after tattooing a 3-2 pitch from Kyle Lohse just foul down the right-field line, tattoos another 3-2 pitch over the center-field fence. The Nats take a 1-0 lead and this ballpark has come alive.
4:57 p.m. -- And the Cards get the run right back without benefit of a hit. After Pete Kozma drew a leadoff walk and took second on a sac bunt, Ian Desmond booted a slow roller to short, putting runners on the corners with one out. Carlos Beltran then lofted a flyball to right-center, deep enough to score Kozma from third. Bryce Harper, though, airmailed a throw way wide of the plate, never coming close to the cutoff man. That allowed the trailing runner to advance to second and put Detwiler in a real spot. He responded by striking out Holliday looking at a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner, but it's now 1-1 in the middle of the third.
5:05 p.m. -- Let's see, the Nats have LaRoche's solo homer and ... nothing else so far against Lohse through three innings. That's probably not going to cut it. Meanwhile, the Giants just completed a remarkable comeback from down 2 games to 0 in their NLDS to win three straight in Cincinnati and beat the Reds. They'll advance to the NLCS and await the winner of this series.
5:23 p.m. -- Another scoreless inning for Detwiler and another scoreless inning for Lohse, who pitched around Ryan Zimmerman's one-out single in the fourth. Both pitchers have settled into a groove. Looks like this is going to be a nip-and-tuck ballgame today.
5:35 p.m. -- Five innings of one (unearned) run, two-hit ball from Detwiler so far today. The Nats couldn't have hoped for much better than that out of their young lefty. He's due up fourth in the bottom of the fifth, and Craig Stammen is warming in the pen in case his spot comes up.
5:39 p.m. -- Well, the spot never came up because the Nats went down in order. So Detwiler will retake the mound for the sixth, this game still tied 1-1. Meanwhile, I've got to start writing my instant game story, so Chase Hughes is going to take over with updates the rest of the way.
5:53 p.m. -- Chase pinch-hitting for Mark here. Detwiler got out of the top of the sixth after letting two men on. Craig singled with one out and then reached second on a double play attempt where Espinosa left the bag before making the turn to first. Espinosa did get Molina out at first. Freese was then intentionally walked to first to put two men on with two outs. Descalso then grounded out to Espinosa to end the frame. Still 1-1 Nats with Lombardozzi in to pinch-hit for Detwiler. Det went six innings with 0 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 SO. 104 pitches (59 strikes).
6:01 p.m. -- Quick turn for the Nats offense as Lombardozzi flies out to center, Werth strikes out, and Harper pops up to end the inning. Jordan Zimmermann will come in for the first relief appearance of his career. 1-1 still as we begin the 7th here at Nationals Park.
6:07 p.m. -- Wow what an inning by Zimmermann, absolutely dominant. The usual starter came out and struck out the side with fastballs touching 97 miles per hour several times and sliders just as sharp. After getting Jay out to end the inning, the crowd rose to their feet and went crazy. Would think it will pump up the Nats on offense with Zimmerman, LaRoche, and Morse due up.
6:17 p.m. -- LaRoche drew a walk on Lohse with one out, but Michael Morse hit the next pitch right to Kozma at short for the double play. Still 1-1 as Clippard replaces Zimmermann to begin the 8th.
6:26 p.m. -- Clippard struck out Beltran and Holliday on ten total pitches to begin the inning. The Holliday at-bat featured some favorable calls by umpire Jim Joyce. Craig then walked on five pitches before Clippard struck out Molina swinging to end the inning. Clippard let out some screams and at least four fist pumps by my count as he walked off the mound. This is a great baseball game so far. 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th.
6:39 p.m. -- Another inning goes by with the game tied at 1-1 here at Nationals Park. Suzuki got on with two outs by drawing a walk, but pinch-hitter Chad Tracy struck out to end the frame. Strike three came on a pitch so inside it almost hit him. Drew Storen in for the ninth inning to keep this thing knotted up and give the top of the Nats' lineup a chance to take the win.
6:55 p.m. -- Whew, Storen got out of the top of the ninth safely, but it was sure made interesting. After striking out the first two batters, Pete Kozma (who else?) drew a walk. Pinch-hitter Matt Carpenter came in and worked a full count. He hit a floating fly ball to shallow left and Ian Desmond made a leaping catch over his shoulder to save the inning and keep it scoreless. Just an unbelievable play by the shortstop. 1-1 now with the Nats' top of the order up next. Lance Lynn in to pitch for the Cards.
7:03 p.m. -- Jayson Werth hits a walkoff homer! Nats win 2-1, there will be a Game 5 in the NLDS!
195 comments:
Say what you want. I like this lineup. These are the guys who got us here, and these are the guys who (I hope) will get us THERE. Thank you, Davey, Mike Rizzo and all Nats. On my way to see you get a win!!!
"Johnson will turn to a surprising face out of the bullpen" for a moment, I thought I was going to read SS next. LOL
As they say, all hands on deck. At least Jim Joyce is behind the plate.
If Det comes up big and the Nats win, just think how much fun reading this blog will be for the 24 hours from 8 pm tonight until 8 pm tomorrow.
I hope they play with some intensity today, like they have almost all year until the last 2 games.
Just need Det to put up zeroes in the first 3 innings. I will love our chances if that happens
Can't wait to get to the park, Go Nats!!!
Hey Nats:
If the As and Giants can play and win TWO games each with their backs to the wall, you can win ONE.
(Not suggesting anything about to
Or row except that it would, obviously, become winner-take-all for both teams.)
GYFNG!
By the way, JZ pitched on Monday. That is not four days after. Or are we talking about GG from bullpen?
"tomorrow" not "to Or row".
No boat races for the Nats!
Tyler Clippard hasn't pitched in four days. Could he go three innings? I love him, but I'd rather he blew his arm out than Stras did.
just saw video of Nats fans leaving the game early. Unbelievable! this is postseason baseball and a day game at that. Why you leave early?
Ah, [forget] it. I'm telling the boss I'm no good to him for the rest of the day. Nats Park, here I come.
I've watched every game but five this season. Made my wife, who hates baseball, angry. But I will sit this one out.
GYFNG! Go Nats!
On my way, metro, plenty of red here
Detwiler's second-half surge coincided with a sharp increase in his ground ball rate. If he's going to pitch like that today you need your best defensive infield out there, and that means Espinosa. I think it's the right move to start him.
What a joy this season has been. Thanks to the team and to Mark for the coverage and this forum for discussion. I hope it's not over in six hours. But even if it is, it's still been the most enjoyable season of DC baseball in our lifetimes.
My back is killing me. Makes my whole body hurt. I know it makes sense to hand off my ticket to on elf my kids. But instead I'm sitting in the parking lot staying warm, waiting to go in to see Game 4. I predict Det has It today. I really would have put Lombo instead of Espi. But I'm not Davey.
What could Mark DeRosa have to say that they don't already know?
GYFNG! I may nit be jumping up for you today, but my voice is just as loud as ever.
No matter what the outcome is today, I will be totally content with what this team showed this year.
However, today's lineup gives me a sinking feeling like every time I see Danny K Espinosa comes up to bat.
Re Lombo vs. Espinosa.
You can't make that switch today. You played Espinosa over Lombo the entire 2nd half because Espi is better than Lombo. If you go out you go out but you can't go out without the players who got you 98 wins.
Some guys need to show up today. All season long I've been vocal about Espinosa and how he is the weak link on this team; would love nothing more then for him to show up today and prove someone like me wrong.
All starts with Detwiler. This is where he makes his bones into being a trusted member of the rotation vs. a placeholder for guys progressing thru the minors.
To those going, enjoy the game. Hopefully we get to use the game 5 tickets.
NatsLady I can't see Clip going three; by the third I would predict long ball after long ball. Lets hope he just throws the 8th turning it over to Storen for the save.
Mac Guire,
You wait and see; Espi will be next year's Desi. This time last year many of us (including me) were saying that Desi will always be a poor OBP player and an over all below average player; now he is the best SS in the NL.
Detwiler needs to pitch well; it doesn't matter for how long or the pitch count; if he gives us 4 strong innings and keeps us in the game we can have JZIM go 2 or (or even 3 each) and then hand it off to Clippard (maybe for 2) and Storen.
I expect Davie to manage very aggressively today; leave nothing in reserve.
GO BATS! GO DET! GYFNG!
I stayed for the whole game, but I'm sorry, no team that is down 8-0 and hitting the way the Nats have in this series has a right to insist that its fans stay till the last out. If some fans decided yesterday that the benefit of getting a jump on the rush hour traffic outweighed the cost of possibly missing a historic comeback, I'm not going to argue with them.
Do better today and the fans will stay to the bitter end, that's for sure.
Ok Det....pound that 2 seamer on the knees. Yes, the Cards can hit, but a 94-95 runner on the knees is tough. And this is critical....you gotta stay ahead in the count. Go get em big guy!
But with all the talk about the Cards hitting...WE DIDN'T SCORE YESTERDAY!! We would of lost to the Cubbies. Today's a new day. Hitters gotta get a little swagger. Beast goin yard twice today. We win 6-5!!
Just listened to Danny Rouhier on Espinosa/Lombo. I wish he would post here.
Also, unnamed GM and executive of another team bashing the Nats. Really.
@JD
I know the ups and downs Desi went through since he came up to the majors. However, what happened this year to him is basically him putting together his offensive production from 2010 and defense from 2011, which Rizzo envisioned last year.
Would it happend to Espi? I doubt it. I never seen a high-K guy drastically cut down on Ks. How can someone be a great baseball player when he has hard times making contact with the baseball?
Giants up 1-0 in the 5th
Sec 222,
I'm with you. You buy your ticket and you get to leave whenever you want. I am not into lecturing fans on how to react to the game situation (as long as they don't do the wave).
Ghost,
Wow; that would be quite the collapse by the Reds; wouldn't it?
I heard the same thing, Ghost. Incredible. I don't even understand what the Nats did to deserve that kind of venom. Sheessh!
Steve wrote:
Its hard to believe that Edwin didn't see his success inside in the strike zone as he was killed on the outside of the strike zone
Wasn't the homer from their #8 hitter in the second inning off of a called outside pitch that wandered inside a bit?
Who bashed the Nats??
I'm leaving now to the game . . . I hope to be at the 312 tables by 3:30!
GYFNG!
Giants up 2-0 on a Cozart error
I have a good feeling about this game.
But win or lose, its been a fun ride.
Go Nats!
I heard it too, I had to just turn it off...MLB radio was quoting "anon. MLB front office people" saying they didn't care who won the WS as long as it wasn't the Nats...
They say The Shutdown disrespects how hard it is to get to postseason...blah, blah blah
Funny how the Nats are the villains for protecting their young arms...While the Cubs are "loveable" after destroying their phenoms...
Such a tired topic
GYFNG!!!!
Grand Salami for Posey! 6-0
Posey Grand Slam 6-0.
You can't hurry love ...
http://bit.ly/RRFCgF
Bam Bam SMASH!
Just read about it.
Man, some GMs are jealous, it would seem.
I wonder which GMs are quoted? Anyone know, so I can root against their team? :D
Humm baby!
Attaboy Dusty. Wait until all the horses have escaped and then lock the barn.
Hmmm another Series by the bay in the offing? They are also predicting another major earthquake is due. What are the possibilities?
StL has decided to play their outfielders very deep, taking away gaps and forcing the Nats to get 3 singles in the same inning in order to score a run...Hopefully the Nats make the adjustment....Or just hit a few into the Red Porch!
GYFNG!
Sweet, fancy Posey!
Swift, yah, quite the interview. I don't care really. It all has to do with Rizzo's relationship with Boras and that Strasburg is a Boras client.
As long as the Nats aren't cheating, F 'em.
I bet you dollars to doughnuts that the unnamed exec works for a team that's watching the playoffs on TV.
If I was Rizzo I would advise everyone to revisit the discussion several years down the line when Stras is in the process of pitching in the playoffs year after year. Or better still he should tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.
I doubt it. I never seen a high-K guy drastically cut down on Ks. How can someone be a great baseball player when he has hard times making contact with the baseball?
Then you obviously and clearly haven't been watching? Maybe you were watching the O's or the Yankees etc?
See Desmond, Ian last year versus this year. See Desmond, Ian quotes by Frank Robinson and Tony La Russa about Ian.
Bye Bye.
Reds go up 2 in San Fran and all the geniuses proclaimed the Reds the champs.
Dusty wishes he could get Game 3 back.
The keys to a win are still Werth followed by Harper and Detwiler.
JD, it's the Braves I believe. Who cares. They are always whining about something.
It just tells you they are worried.
If some high tech person can't post a link to the 1:45 Ken Rosenthal interview on 106.7 it would be great.
Even 2 games down is doable
GYFNG!
Funny, after all the years of wishing the Nats were relevant enough to be discussed on our local football (er.."Sports") media and a national level, now that they are paying attention, they spew such nonsense that I just turn it off...
I guess irony can be pretty ironic sometimes...
Reds have a chance to get back into it. Dusty left Latos in 2 batters too long.
Ghost,
JZimm isn't a Boras client and Rizzo treated him exactly the same way; he is nothing if not consistent. He sat down Meyer and he will bring Purke,Solis and Giolito back very gradually. That's team philosophy and it makes sense and no one least of all other teams execs should have an opinion we should consider.
The Giants have no chance.
For them to win, they would need to win three straight games on the road. That is impossible, isn't it? I mean home field advantage is all but insurmountable, right?
But assuming they do, what happened to the Reds? Everyone said they were playing great ball in San Fran. Why did the Reds just stop playing great ball? Was it lack of pride? Lack of experience? Lack of pitching? Lack of hitting? Just bad luck?
I have no problem with fans leaving early yesterday. However, if today turns out the same as yesterday no one has any excuse for leaving early. It's an elimination game. Even if your team gets eliminated you should stay til the bitter end out of respect for them giving you the opportunity to be there at all.
Swift, they did the same to Tampa. It's all about Boras and the Nats are the new kids on the block.
Ghost,
Handling starting pitchers isn't Dusty's strongest trait. Ask the Cubs fans.
JD, yah, no doubt on Dusty.
The microphone behind homeplate is picking up all the curse words. A lot of potty mouths in Cincinnati.
haha..it's OK Steve, it's not TV, it's TBS...
What is Bochy doing now? Isn't this a must win game?
Swift, TBS and TNT are Turner=Braves.
Jay Bruce caught stealing 3rd. Are you kidding me
Davey can't wait long with Det if he's a deer in the headlights again.
Bottom of 7. 6-3
My head hurts. Mostly from anxiety.
Does anyone know how long during a game that standing room tix are on sale? Not for today, but I would LOVE to see tomorrow's.
Stay as long as you can. Most likely, this is the last game. Fans should stay until the bottom of the fifth, an official game. After that, you can officially leave. No excuse needed. Good luck Nats!!!
... on leaving early: The year was 1956; I was ten years old and visiting my relations in the Boston States. In those years, I was smack dab in the midst of growing up in "baseball immersion" but, living way up above and beyond Maine, had not yet had the joy of attending a 'real live MLB game'. So when I expressed my interest, my uncle and aunt took me and my sister to a night game at Fenway, centerfield pole and all.
... so anyway, the Sox were playing the vaunted KC Athletics and were losing 10-4 when the top of the seventh began. I had just settled into the action when my uncle stood up and told us all to "get ready, we're leaving". "What d'ya mean? The game's not over yet." I thought maybe he was ticked off that Boston was behind, and wanted to avoid any more 'disgrace'. But that wasn't the reason. It was because my relatives lived down on the cape, and he said "we have to get on the road before the game ends or it'll take us three times as long to get home". We listened to the end of the game on the car radio, driving south.
... next time I was at Fenway, I was twenty six, and I stayed to the bitter end (bitter because the Red Sox won that day, and I had long since seen the light).
Go Nats!! right up to the end of the game!
6-3 and 2 on with 2 outs and Ludwick up.
Interesting piece in SI this afternoon regarding Cardinals loving the Fastball.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/ben_reiter/10/10/nlds-cardinals-nationals-game-3-fastball/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2
Wasn't Detwiler hurling fastballs at an 90-95% clip during his last month of starts?
Does not sound too promising.
I'm tivo'ing the game, anyone know which channel the game will start while the Reds-Giants game finishes up? I'm assuming TNT... thanks in advance.
cn - tnt
gyfng
Strange play. check swing ball goes into the Giants dugout and in Affeldt trying to avoid getting hit falls down the back stairs.
THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! Way to go, Ross!
Way to start, Ross!!! Are the Gisnts going to knock out the Reds???
I am stuck in my classroom doing plans for tomorrow and grading a test. I resisted putting the game on, but I'm listening to the 106.7 feed right now.
Surprising how hard it was today to talk about yesterday's game. I really, really hope the boys manage to get the bat on the ball and move some runners around the bases today. Hard to believe they could not score a single run on Wednesday.
So there seem to be two of us Daves on here. This is Dave-the-German-teacher who sits in 313. By the way, we were all set to get the whole infield rocking yesterday with the N-A-T-S cheer yesterday. Of course, there was not a SINGLE chance to do it in a shutout.
Hope I hear all of you Insiders joining in on that sucker about 8 or 10 times today.
Sorry to hear about your back, JaneB. Stretch your hamstring muscle on both legs (lie flat on ground, raise 1 leg straight and hold for 30-60 seconds. Then do same with the other leg.In a day or two, this might help. Hamstring muscles often pull on the lower back muscles. It's all related.
See you tomorrow, and we'll discuss.
GYFNG!!!
Jayson-- ugh. Watching pitches, then when he is behind? Well, you know. Where is that hot 300 hitter???
One ugly at bat after another. Won't matter a luck what Ross does .
Dave- more of the same, I fear.
The 2nd inning: Our Achilles Heel.
The Legion Of Doom out already.
Ghost - not usually, just frustrated with our offense right now. Will try to be more positive. Crowd is loud!!
Baseballswami, give it time. Outside pitch already iffy with Mr. Non-Perfect Jim Joyce.
Nah, I think they pull it out today, swami! Keep a good thought.
The crowd sounds like about 100,000 people on the radio.
Did you see Detwiler pitching outside with a few inside jams. Early on the Cardinals aren't reaching.
Det doing fine. Hitters need to get their act together.
Laroche hits plus harpers hits = Chris Carpenter's hit. @2
LaRoche has one hit all series. That is just depressing.
Time to rock and roll
Adam. La. Roche.
Thank you, Adam. Now let's hear that cheer!
ALR !!!
ALR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Make that two!!!!!!!!
JD ... I would owe you a coke, but I had more exclamation marks.
The third inning will be big for Det.
Will Danny be an automatic third out?? Some harder contact going on here. BABIP was unkind to Desi.
Baseballswami, as my message at 4:33. Give it time.
Oh, yeah. Just watched it right into the glove.
When is Espi going to cut rhe Ks out it beyond rediculus. For someone with lrss than 40 HR he has at least twice to many Ks and it seems no one is working to fix it.
Ghost- I hear you, I really do,but Danny- oh Danny. He is making it real tough.
BABIP very unkind there to Desi. Freese also in perfect position.
Swami, my thoughts on Danny hasn't changed since Spring Training.
cmon Det,
Pete effen Kosma?
Ghost, mine have. Watching him not learn a thing at the plate for another year downgreades him.
But.... we are in the lead! Positive vibes! Espi will break out today.
Suzuki hurt.
E6 Desi. Man on third-- no help for Det here. Can't catch a break in this series.
What is Det thinking. We need a shut down inning and he walks the number 8 batter then a sac bunt then desmond scrrws up in rge field.
that is why you can never ever give up a walk to a team
It is not rocket science yet to ofyen our pitchers are clueless.
Can't give that run tight back. Two plays of shoddy defense. Help Ross out, please. Cards playing small ball here. Successfully.
Unearned run and Harper makes that same mistake that he is done all season and throw to the wrong base.
If they want to win 3 of the 9 player did plays that would indicate the opposite.
Darn leadoff walks
2 defensive misplays. I know he walked the 8 hitter, but those two plays killed it. You just can't let them answer right back. Offense- please get it together.
We have played so unlike a 98 win team. Too msny fundimental mistakes.
Reds threatening bottom nine.
Giants knocked off the Reds . That really surprised me. Won three in Cincy. Of course, my own team surprised me, too. I really thought they would play better and the games would be closer. You never know once you get to the post season. Anything can happen.
4 strong innings from Det. We gotta start scoring soon !!
JD--so true.
In this series we just don 't seem to be able to move a runner over.
We have no chance if Morse, Espi, Harper et al continue to be automatic outs. Automatic easy outs too.
swami,
That's not our game. The problem is that Harper,Morse,Espinosa and Suzuki are not hitting at all and Werth isn't hitting much.
Detwiler learns nothing. This team isn't playing well enough to win.
Is Kozma really Kemp?
I think moving a runner over should always be a part of your game. Walked the 8 hitter again. Repeat performance. I know Ross thought he wasn't getting calls, but pitch track showed they were balls.
Nice play, Adam!
Way to go, Ross!!!!!!!! Nicely done.
Nice!!
Koczma aside, Detwiler has mixed up his pitches well. But we can't win just on solo homers.
Swami,
We aren't gonna bunt or hit and run with ALR, Morse etc. we haven't done it all year. We just have to hit.
I would watch Det very carefully, it's the 3rd time in the order and we really can't afford to fall behind.
Stammen warming. Every day. Maybe someone else?? Or let Ross continue?? Our hitters looked even worse this inning. So much for seeing the guy a few times and adjusting. Det did well. This is all on the hitters. And I don 't mean Bryce-- the others should know better.
4 pitch inning by Lohse. Way to work him.
This inning scares me.
Ghost-- I know. No discipline at the dish.
JD - me, too.
Do not pitch to Freese !!
Like I said earlier-- no breaks for the Nats, and especially for Ross. 2 errors cost him the lead. This one may cost us the game.
Zim with another shakey throw. Seen the neighborhood play not given this year on a similar play.
What happened Swami?
I can't watch the game (only gameday).
Another bad throw by Zim. THIS DUDE HAS CHUCK KNOUBLACH DISEASE! Seriously, $100m for this??? Either he fixes this, or he moves to first base!!!
… we're into the sixth and still tied at 1; Detwiler still on the mound but signs are that he'll be replaced soon. The game's not over yet but I simply want to say this before it's too late. Thank you to Mark Z and all the folks who make NatsInsider a reality. Sitting up here in the frozen boonies as I do, without another curly W in sight for miles (or kilometres), if NI wasn't here, I'd be lost in a wasteland where baseball means Red Sox and Yankees, and the Expos but a distant memory for even the few who remember.
… NI has made it possible for me to transfer my curly M to a W and to hitch my diamond-studded wagon to one of the best teams in the show, and one of the best bunch of fans anywhere.
Go Nats!! all year long!
Uh, Ks DeScalso and called Ball 1 but luckily Det gets him.
Difference today is moving around pitches and pitch selection. Well exexuted by Det although walking Kozma was frustrating.
Ross D out of the inning. This kid had stepped up in a big way today. He should have a 1-0 lead- 2 defensive miscues in one inning for the unearned run. The Nats offense owes this kid now and they need to step up as well .Bravo, Ross!!!!!
Ok, I haven't posted here throughout the playoffs -- a combination of angst and scheduling. After a solid pitching performance by Mr. Detwiller, now's the time for the Nats hitters to step up and put some pressure on the Cardinals. Assuming Lohse's back on the mound, he should be getting tired (and the Nats have seen his stuff). Let's score some runs! GYFNG!
Dess rotwiler!
Super job by Detwiler.
Well done, Ross!
No adjusting going on by our hitters. Not working the count, swinging for the fences at bad pitches. Making it easy for Lohse to cruise.
Message to offense: Come on, already!
You can't have the same philosophy of hacking at the first pitch in the PLAYOFFS!! THIS IS FREAKING RIDICULOUS. Our hitters can't even work a damn count. Lohse has only thrown about 76 pitches, while Det threw 104. Un Freaking Believeable!!!!!
It was great to see an outstanding pitching performance by one of our starters.
This makes me nervous: JZim's ERA against St L is over 9
Swami @ 6:02 p.m.: Exactly; well said.
Bravo Detwiler !!
Great job.
Where was this Zimm on Monday?!
Better late than never, though.
JZ was absolutely masterful!!! The very definition of a power pitcher- and he did it very short order. That was just awesome!!!! Offense, please respond!
This is a new iteration....
Inspiring!!! At least I hope so.
2 slowest men on the face of the earth....
For #%##@$@ sake. Lohse just struggled to locate 5 pitches to LaRoche, and Morse swings at the first pitch?!?! What are they thinking??
Morse a liability and injury prone
Can you even believe Morse hit into a double play on the first pitch???? That is just not acceptable. This is how the Nsts looked against the Yankees.
Mike oops Michaal Morse seems to be writing his ticket right out of town. If his hand is hurting then sit, if not then a guy who hit for a living is choking big time. Big time.
Why take JZ out?
Good Clip, or bad Clip??? Wishing JZim had kept pitching.
Joyce is calling everything remotely close a strike.
.....Except when we need it.
Why use JZ for one inning? If this goes past 9 this pen will give the game away.
Johnson is smarter then me but he seems to be making some questionable decisions in the post season. I guess losing does that to my opinion.
I've been hating on Morse forever. Hope others now see what I see. Worst approach at the plate un the majors.
Wow, terrible calls all night from Joyce. But I'll take it (right now).
Clip playing with fire.
Whew. Nice job
Wow. Anybody else tired of holding their breath??
6 Ks from last 7 Cardinals plate appearances.
Now let's keep the momentum going!
We need to go ahead here so Drew can be next.
Fly ball, fly ball, fly ball.
Our bats have ED and need baseball Viagra .
SCNatsFan said, "Johnson is smarter then me but he seems to be making some questionable decisions in the post season."
He puts faith in his players and, unfortunately, many of them are letting him down. Not much we can do when he doesn't want think outside the box.
Our batters have gone dorment.
Must have air....
I do believe the fans are sticking around for this game. Just sayin'
Desi!!!!!!! Drew!!!!!!!
If we don't win it in the bottom of the 9th, it could soon be over. We can't go deeper much into our bullpen.
I was just mesmerized by the sight of Nats park, filled with standing, screaming fans at a post season game. My how things have changed in a hurry.
Jayson Werth just looks paralyzed at the plate.
omg
IT AIN'T OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow.
... IT WAS WELL WERTH THE WAIT!!!!!
Go YF Nats!!!
Most epic at bat ever. 13 pitches, 387426 foul balls. Nats win!!!!!
OMG what a win!!!
Holy crap!!!!'nn Nats !!!!!!!! The stars of the game were the pitchers!!!!
Earned his check!!!!
Gyfng
And I take back my evil remark about you Jayson. I will happily eat that one for sure!! Ghost, I could hug you for insisting on being positive.
Thank god Werth came through ... just what the team was looking for when they signed him on ... yep, now he's definitely Werth the pay check ...
Now, if he and Harper can just find a way to gang up on these guys tomorrow we'll be golden. They need both to send the opposing starter scurrying.
rogieshan said...
Koczma aside, Detwiler has mixed up his pitches well. But we can't win just on solo homers
-------
Ya know, I think that maybe we can!
Finally down to close enough to earth to get a wifi signal! Great crowd, great game, historic AB! Until tomorrow, at least.
Great to meet up with Insiders at the game!
Post a Comment