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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Jordan Zimmermann tries to lead the Nats to a second straight win over the Reds. |
So Steve Lombardozzi stays at third base, and Danny Espinosa (who homered and doubled on his birthday) stays at second base. That leaves Rendon on the bench for the second straight night, not an ideal scenario for the top prospect.
Jordan Zimmermann gets the start, hoping to take a cue from Gio Gonzalez last night and attack this potent Cincinnati lineup, record some quick outs and pitch deep into the night. He'll be opposed by fellow right-hander Homer Bailey, who shut out the Nationals over six innings three weeks ago.
Updates to come...
CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Partly cloudy, 63 degrees, Wind 6 mph in from LF
NATIONALS (11-11)
CF Denard Span
3B Steve Lombardozzi
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
REDS (13-10)
CF Shin-Soo Choo
SS Cesar Izturis
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Jay Bruce
3B Todd Frazier
LF Xavier Paul
C Corky Miller
RHP Homer Bailey
UMPIRES
HP Andy Fletcher
1B Rob Drake
2B Sam Holbrook (cc)
3B Paul Nauert
7:05 p.m. — We are underway. Gorgeous Friday night for baseball in the District as Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound.
7:08 p.m. — That was quick. Zimmermann needed a whopping seven pitches to retire the side in the top of the first. A big assist (literally) goes to Danny Espinosa, who made a nifty, barehand grab of Shin-Soo Choo's chopper that deflected off Zimmermann's glove. That right there is why Espinosa remains in the lineup even when he's slumping at the plate.
7:14 p.m. — And now Homer Bailey retires the side on nine pitches, recording three groundball outs. Quite an efficient first inning for both right-handers.
7:20 p.m. — Zimmermann continues the trend with a 1-2-3 top of the second. He is dealing right now, retiring all six batters faced on only 18 pitches. He blew away Jay Bruce with a 94 mph high fastball for his first strikeout of the evening. Scoreless as we move to the bottom of the second.
7:29 p.m. — Adam LaRoche stepped to the plate to a new tune ("Pour Some Sugar on Me") but that didn't help him snap out of his funk. LaRoche is now 0 for his last 16 after popping out to short. Danny Espinosa, meanwhile, had a couple of long, loopy swing-and-misses against Bailey fastballs to end the second inning, stranding Ian Desmond (who doubled) on second base.
7:46 p.m. — The Nats just don't seem to have an answer for Bailey. He's struck out four straight batters and is through three scoreless innings, meaning the Nats have yet to score against him in nine innings this season. Still 0-0 after three pitching-dominant innings here.
7:53 p.m. — Jordan Zimmermann = filthy tonight. He struck out Joey Votto on a 96 mph fastball on the inside corner. He's through four scoreless on 41 pitches (28 strikes). Just dealing tonight. Now, if his teammates could only score a run off Bailey...
8:02 p.m. — When it doubt, count on Bryce Harper to deliver. Despite falling behind in the count 0-2 after one of those silly fake-bunt attempts, he battled back to a full count and then roped Bailey's 3-2 pitch into the right-field corner for a triple. That's his 14th extra-base hit in 21-plus games this season, a fairly impressive rate. With one out in a scoreless game in the fourth inning, Dusty Baker surprisingly brought his infield in against Jayson Werth. At which point Werth poked an RBI single past the drawn-in Brandon Phillips at second base, scoring Harper. So the Nats have taken a 1-0 lead. Not as impressive, Adam LaRoche struck out again, this time on an 0-2 fastball at his eyelids. He's now 0 for his last 17 and is pressing big-time.
8:15 p.m. — Make it five scoreless innings for Zimmermann on only 50 pitches. Just cruising along so far tonight. Bailey has been nearly as dominant, his only mistake really the Harper triple. The Nats still lead 1-0 as we move to the sixth already.
8:21 p.m. — Zimmermann maintains that ridiculous, 10-pitch-an-inning pace. He's at 60 through six scoreless. Dominant and efficient, that's a tough combination to beat. Still 1-0 in the middle of the sixth.
8:33 p.m. — A great chance for the Nats to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, with Span on third and one out. But Harper tapped a nubber to the mound and Bailey flipped home to get Span, who collided pretty hard with Corky Miller. Denard appears to be OK, but making matters worse, Harper got picked off first base. Squandered opportunity there for the Nats.
8:39 p.m. — Ouch, Zimmermann takes a comebacker off his left hand. Of course, this is a guy who once pitched in college with a broken jaw, so you wouldn't expect that to knock him out. And he didn't. He merely finished off a 6-pitch inning, leaving him at 66 through seven scoreless. FYI: Nats pitching has now surrendered two hits to the Reds in 16 innings this series. Still 1-0 at the stretch.
8:50 p.m. — Jordan Zimmermann, ladies and gentlemen. Just when it looks like he's gotten into trouble (he issued his first walk of the night with two outs in the eighth) he reaches back and strikes out Jack Hannahan on an 86 mph slider to end the eighth. He's still allowed only one hit, and he's through eight on 86 pitches. Still 1-0 Nats.
9:09 p.m. — We go to the ninth, and there is no movement in the bullpen. This is Zimmermann's game to finish.
9:13 p.m. — That's it. Zimmermann does it: a complete-game, 1-hit shutout. Nats win 1-0 behind a brilliant pitching performance against a tough lineup.
108 comments:
GO JORDAN! GYFNG!!!
I will be there in person tonight (and thus in Cell Phone Purgatory).. soo WHEN something good happens, umm.. you know what to do.
Is there a LHP coming up soon with the Reds? If so, that might be when Rendon drops back in? (Just guessing...)
You certainly can understand how Davey would want to continue to play the lineup that scored 8 runs. I realize Lombo did not contribute to that but he did nothing in the field to be benched. If the win 2 in a row I think Rendon continues to sit no matter who is pitching.
Wasn't planning to go tonight but there is a power outage at my studio. So I'll get in line for a walk-up or get a tic from a one of the guys on Half Street. I take my little wifi hotspot with me. It works, but honestly, I get too wrapped up in the game to post very much.
Cingrani (Sunday) is a lefty and a rookie. Hate to think Rendon sits on the bench until then.
I might not have time to write him up as I have a busy schedule this weekend.
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=571561#gameType='R'§ionType=career&statType=2&season=2013&level='ALL'
Getting ready to leave for the game now. GYFNG!!!
Wonk -- Well, Leake is a righty but Cingrani on Sunday is a southpaw. So I hope that Tyler Moore gets a start, er, ALR gets a much-needed rest for his back.
After last night on top of everything before, would have been nice to see TMo at first tonight.
Yeah, Eddie -- it'd be nice to see both Rendon and TyMo starting on Sunday.
Izturis batting second for the Reds? Weird. No strong track record against Zimm, worse against right-handed starters than lefties. Reds fans must be displeased.
And my apologies to DC Wonk, LD and others who I argued with regarding the value of Danny Espinosa. I was too quick to judgement. It seems like the rotator cuff is not bothering him. However, I would still consider platooning him with Lombo, and sitting him more against RHP who have had his number.
Hey NatsLady. Can you really trust those guys on Half Street to sell you a legit ticket? I've heard a lot of bad stuff about those guys, and with all the police presence on Half Street, maybe the cops know more about those guys than we do. Just saying.
Hey, Rendon may not be on the bench for long. I look at last nights win as a fluke, just like last season. Come on Nats. Prove me wrong!!!!
And for LaRoche,
He's a .200 hitter in April but jumps to .300 by July...so I think he will come around real soon.
I would be surprised if Rendon is not headed back to the minors in the next few days. At the latest he returns on May 3rd when Zim comes back.
I like Peric's idea of sending him to AAA instead of AA because this will give him a chance to face veteran pitching. I think that the next time Rendon comes up it will be for good.
Try stubhub for tix too.
Looking forward to seeing the offense support Jordan tonight. I would not at all mind seeing another 6-8 runs scored tonight.
GYFNG!
NatsJack,
You may be right but I don't think it's good for Rendon's development to play once every 3 or 4 days and to face leftys only.
I love the sections at 300 level behind or near home plate.
Some good tix to be had on fore-mentioned site
It would also be good to give Bernie a few starts here and there.
Oh no, I guess they're just gonna bunt to Lombo all night just like last night, oh wait...
Thanks, Jeff. I agree with you about 300 level seats. My season tickets are in 310 and have been there for years. I just don't trust those guys hawking tix on Half Street. And if the Nats want to host an All Star game, they will have to clean up Half Street, first, and get rid of all the cops and scalpers, methinks! Bad for the "scenery."
NatsNutty, I've only bought a ticket from them twice (and sold to them once), but never had a problem. It's more than you would pay at the box office, of course, but convenient.
Izturis in the starting lineup for any team, against anybody, is a mystery. Xavier Paul? Corky Miller? Looks like Baker handed in one of his ST lineup cards by mistake.
I've never bought from Stubhub and am not familiar with how to do that. I'll take my chances at the box office.
Thanks, NatsLady. I think I'll stick with the box office, too.
NatsLady, are you still gong for 16 & 11 for April.
Bit of a stretch, but I am!
Doc, sure why not. 5 more games, win 'em all.
Mark DeRose is on TV talkingabout the Jays' struggles.
Gotta run. Later, peeps.
Eh, Miller and Paul I understand - the former's a back-up catcher, and Paul's a left-hander and hitting pretty well this season so far (in an extremely small sample size). Both are probably partly DL-related moves. But Izturis...confusing.
Of course, since I'm saying this it'll probably work.
stubhub is easy and sanctioned...certainly less likely to get ripped off going that route than buying from street dudes. Of course, I've only been burned by scalpers at GD shows, so...
JD, have we heard for sure that Zim will be back May 3, or is that just the first day he's eligible to return? Anyone have any intell on that?
I'm guessing Rendon gets a few more shots, but we'll see. Remember that TyMo was lousy in his first callup last year(he came up around the same time as Harper), then went back down, and when he returned, the switch had flipped.
I used to sell my unused tickets to the street guys (before StubHub). You see the same faces out there all the time. I think the vast majority are honest. They wouldn't last long if they were selling counterfeit tix. But StubHub has some great deals. Seats in the Infield Gallery are available for the next 15 minutes for $15. Worth setting up an account if you don't have one.
Go, Jordan! Go, NATS!!
Sec222,
1st day eligible. I'm just optimistic I guess. I read that he started running and is only a few days behind Ramos who is catching 3 innings in Harrisburg tonight and should join the Nats in Atlanta on Monday.
From your lips to the baseball gods ears JD. I don't think the Nats have a chance to do what we hope their going to do this year without a healthy Zim.
Will be hard to beat my excellent prediction of yesterday, but after reviewing the crystal ball here is tonight's prediction.
Nats 5 Reds 2.
Jordan Zimmerman 7 IP 2 ER 6 hits 3 BB and 4 K.
Harper an RBI
(only RBI that appeared in the crystal ball, though I am sure others are there).
"I don't bring a young guy up to sit him on the bench."
-Davey "people think I am a great manager because of Bill Buckner" Johnson
I used StubHub for a p-po-[deep breath]postseason [exhale]game and had no problems - well, other than a case of sticker shock, but that's probably not an issue in the regular season.
Got a bloc of tickets (7) along the RF foul line thru Stub-Hub in Sept. last year for under list price. I think someone was sitting on a bloc of ten or so tickets and was thankful for any kind of return. Maybe that's the message: Buy in bulk.
Rabbit34 said...
I look at last nights win as a fluke, just like last season
100 flukes last season?
Zimm won't need a lot of runs. BUT HE WILL NEED RUNS! Come on you Nats. Try to get some semblance of a team together!
Re: stubhub -- an awesome service. In fact, it's the only way I purchase Nats tix now, and I always get the tix below face value, and I always get tix in the 300 section behind home plate. Sometimes I purchase only two tix (usually four). One can search on tix section by section by simply holding the mouse over the section -- a much better system than nationals.com
My best score (albeit in the 400 section, but it was behind home plate -- was the morning of Game 4 last year. We had gone to Game 3 (and paid way too much). On the way into work the next morning, we heard on WTOP that there were some cheap tix on StubHub for Game 4. So, I got on-line ASAP, and got two tix, around $23 each (including all fees!). (Anybody remember how much 400-level-infield tix were in playoffs? At least two or three times that, no?)
Anyway, NatsLady (and everybody else), I heartily recommend StubHub for your future games!
Davey "people think I am a great manager because of Bill Buckner" Johnson
Nahh, it's more like, Davey "people think I'm a great manager because I've finished in 1st or 2nd almost every year, with five different teams, and won manager of the year twice, and learned from Earl Weaver, etc etc etc." Johnson.
But, probably "Mr. Davey soon-to-be-Hall-of-Famer Johnson" to you.
(You do know that the '86 Mets won 108 games, plus a playoffs, plus 2 WS games before that Buckner play, right?)
There you go again, Wonk, bringing context and reason to a perfectly good Internet discussion.
Last year I used RCR points to get a couple of tix in the Diamond Club for the "throwback" game against the Giants. Loved the luxury of the Diamond Club.
We chatted with a guy at the bar who mentioned that he got his $175.00 tickets through StubHub for about $120. So this year I tried that. I picked a midweek, low-demand game (Thursday versus the Rockies) and got two great Diamond Club seats for $99.50 each. List price is, I think, $170.00. (After I eat all that buffet food, I'm probably getting a home-plate field-level seat for about $45-50.)
So I'm now a big fan of StubHub. The nice thing from a buyer's point of view is that all fees are included, as Wonk mentioned. No add-ons at all: the price you see is the price you pay.
Manassas, I like your prediction. If you nail it tonight, then you will be a quasi-official oracle.
I found SeatGeeks.com a couple of weeks ago, and when Cunegonde called me this am to suggest we go tonight (I've done stupid things in my life, but marrying her wasn't one of them...), I went there to find our tix. SeatGeek is kinda like the kayak.com for tickets - it scans a whole bunch of different vendors, including Stubhub, and rates the offerings from "amazing" to "awful." I found a good deal for two seats in 116 for $86 total, including all the extra fees. Strongly recommended.
Dave last night's prediction even scared me how close it was to the actual score.
Of course I go for a 162-0 recored every year.
Fun article looking at the players who disproportionately kill the pitching of certain teams - for the Nationals they took into account the old Expos days, so the only current players on the list are Vernon Wells and Adam Jones.
got here so early, no line at the box office. am now eating cincinnati chili.
Could we call it Nats chili this series please?
They only serve it when the Reds are in town, no idea how authentic it is. I had it last year and we did OK against them. Eat their food, devour their team. Is it me, or are there two ex-Nats in the line-up?
Sec. 3, My Rocking Fire Sofa said...
There you go again, Wonk, bringing context and reason to a perfectly good Internet discussion.
Yeah . . . hard-to-break habit of mine.
(Thus, the name ;-) )
Heading over to SEC 307 if anyine wants to say hello.
Everyone relax. Great manager, great talent. It's gonna work out. Relax. Cheer! It's gonna be a fun 162 game ride. Be fans! Wish for sweep. But in the end, have fun. You're a fan. Relax.
So far this game's being played like everyone's got a train to catch.
espi SO. I hope last night wasn't just a fluke.... (it was his birthday after all)
He wasn't even close.
Oh my, Corky Miller's mustache. Dear god.
I still like Espi's defense and approve of him playing tonight (I know, people totally care about my approval!), but the danger of him having a sensational outing is that he goes for the big swing in the next game, I think.
I would still consider platooning him with Lombo, and sitting him more against RHP who have had his number.
Nope, like Lombo he is a switch hitter and Danny believes left handed is his best side. You'll just have to be patient with the young players.
Now, declining 33 year olds who don't hit until July because of their back is a different story. Or 4th outfielders-to-be who are about to turn 34.
Pittsburgh series is when LaRoche will start hitting, I bet.
.154 25 Strike outs. You know Lombo can also play first base Davey?
Kind of interesting ... everyone except for Harper is hitting well under .300. Kind of another rationale for seeing what the other top hitting prospect Rendon can do instead of giving up on him right Davey?
If anyone not LaRoche is going to play first base, I'd bet it'll be Tyler Moore. I know you're in favor of that, of course. *g* If he's not starting Sunday, though, I'd be very surprised.
Oh, Lombo. There's the arm I was worried about. He's getting better on the scoop, though.
Sorry, LaRoche isn't right physically to bend and extend to that ball. He has to catch that. When you can't hit, you better catch the ball.
I don't agree with FP and Carp. Lousy throw but catchable by a GOLD GLOVE guy.
Yes, if he wants to play Lombo its either in left field, second base or at first base. Lombo is clearly not an infield UTL in the major leagues.
Yeah, it was off for both of them - Lombo's throw was weak and inaccurate (and with a runner who I don't think is terribly fast), and LaRoche should've been faster to get to it.
Sorry, LaRoche isn't right physically to bend and extend to that ball.
Maybe his back will be better in July? If you're lucky. But by then of course, thanks to Davey, the Braves might have a 20 game lead.
I'm convinced its time for Davey to retire.
EmDash, LaRoche just isn't right. I watched fatty Prince Fielder show agility this week come off the bag and make a tag play with a higher degree of difficulty!
Gonat -- While I agree it was catchable, he had to leave the base to get it, so it didn't really matter that he didn't catch it.
But of course, thankfully, JZimm is totally unfazed.
peric said...
I'm convinced its time for Davey to retire.
April 26, 2013 8:12 PM
________________________________
I can't see it as Davey's fault if these players have to be honest.
It was obvious RZ was hobbled with the shoulder + the leg and he waited to come clean before the inevitable DL.
LaRoche just isn't extending well away from his body. Again, I'm not a Doctor and we all know ALR isn't the most athletic but if he's hurting, do the noble thing and speak up.
LaRoche has made a number of good plays, too. His back may be a major hindrance for him, but I don't know if that's for sure.
JZimm is freakin' unreal tonight. Competing big-time with Gio.
Now let's see what the fee-nom can do next.
Baseball is fun again!
Steady Eddie said...
Gonat -- While I agree it was catchable, he had to leave the base to get it, so it didn't really matter that he didn't catch it.
April 26, 2013 8:15 PM
________________________________
It was a really bad throw but was thrown soft enough to give enough reaction time.
The blame is ultimately on Lombo but LaRoche is here as the "Gold Glove" first and foremost or they would have retained Michael Morse IMHO.
This is a 4 game series. Nats need to work Homer Bailey better and get quickly into their bullpen.
Span gets onleadoff --- AND the Tigers are up on the Barves 5-0 in the 5th on Majolm!
Lombo OBP now at .297.
It was obvious RZ was hobbled with the shoulder + the leg and he waited to come clean before the inevitable DL.
LaRoche just isn't extending well away from his body. Again, I'm not a Doctor and we all know ALR isn't the most athletic but if he's hurting, do the noble thing and speak up..
And this is precisely why you play Rendon until he adjusts just like he did with Harper. Otherwise, if you don't want him send Rendon to Syracuse. It will be better for him to be with a manager who will play him every day as instructed by the GM. IN FACT they should do that with Tyler Moore (T-Mo peeps not TyMo).
But, if that happens? Davey won't be asked back next season as the Nats manager and you can take that to the bank.
I don't know if I can blame them for not working Homer Bailey - he's throwing a lot of strikes and not missing very much, like Jordan. Very sharp. Getting in long counts on someone working that sharp isn't necessarily productive. Usually I'm all for patience, but this case it may not be the best idea.
Running was probably a mistake, there. Not sure if it was Span's call or Jewett's.
...I think Davey's already been not asked back, no? And I don't think it's necessarily his call whether Rendon's kept up or not; nothing Rizzo's said indicates he's pushing to keep him here.
JZ is at 66 pitches through 7 innings. Holy cow.
EmDash, 2 innings ago it was a 6 pitch inning with Danny, Zuk and JZ swinging early.
Just saying in 4 game series it helps to wear them down.
I have to jump in the car. I was at Bowie to watch Wilson Ramos! A few Nats fans there.
Adam LaRoche is a liability.
Start Moore.
I think Adam needs a mental health day.
Werth with the leadoff hit and erased on the twin killing. I won't mention the batter. There goes that potential rally.
There's more to LaRoche than just a slump. He's been abysmal now for a week. When was the last time he hit the ball out of the infield.
Between all those strikeouts and grounders, he's giving the team absolutely no chance. I wish Davey was a bit more inclined to give the youngsters more chances.
Are they taking JZimm out? That's a shame. I'd really like to see him get the shutout.
Will, he did have that 3 run homer in NY but it also wasn't crushed and in the old CitiField configuration would have been a flyout.
Oh, nevermind. They confused me showing Stammen. Looks like Zimm will be batting for himself.
Suzuki's BA is on a nosedive. .239 Over use?
Could be. He's taken a bit of a beating back there lately.
Back there = behind the plate, I mean...
Laroche is killing us.
OH MY G! That was perfection! Jordan Zimmermann!
I have to say that was the best pitching performance in Nationals history!
That was spectacular. Love Jordan.
Per the request of MicheleS: WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was I supposed to untuck? Because I was so enthralled by the game that I neglected to do so. Also, I would have posted sooner, but I was trapped in the basement baseball viewing lair with a snuggly kitty in my lap.
It was real. And it was spectacular. What?
EmDash said...
That was spectacular. Love Jordan.
April 26, 2013 9:16 PM
Also, his, er, avoirdupois. I was telling my husband that if he was still in the game when Broxton took the mound, you'd have the "roll out the barrel" battery.
EmDash said...
Oh my, Corky Miller's mustache. Dear god.
April 26, 2013 7:33 PM
Oh, and nice moniker, sec3. :-)
Mighty nice of the Braves to forget their wakeup call today. Maholm got torched by the Tigers tonight and Medlen has been hittable at times. They did a lot on the offensive side of the ball last off season, but I'm convinced that starting pitching is going to be their downfall this year. I wondering how many collars are getting a little tighter now that they've lost 5 of 6 and are slipping back to the pack?
wonder*
Great win but no offense again. TyMo for laroche for a spell. Let Rendon play and platoon who's hot between espi and Lombo at 2nd.
I'd be very very happy with that. even Peric could live with that...
And this LRLR stuff is a myth too many factors come into play to get into the actual statistics.
May the Braves collars keep getting tighter and tighter while our pitchers rock fire. Or whatever.
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