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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The series concludes on a beautiful Mother's Day at Nationals Park. |
Gio Gonzalez is on the mound for the Nationals, trying to build off his outing from one week ago when he served up a leadoff home run and then loaded the bases, only to escape the jam and subsequently shut down the Pirates the rest of the afternoon. He's opposed by right-hander Scott Feldman, formerly of the Rangers.
Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals' lineup after missin g two days while recovering from the procedure to remove an ingrown toenail. He'll be in right field, with a new face in left field: Steve Lombardozzi. Lombo has yet to appear in the outfield this season, but he was out there yesterday morning and again this morning, working with Tony Tarasco on several things.
Updates to come, please check back...
CHICAGO CUBS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 9, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Partly cloudy, 65 degrees, Wind 16 mph LF to RF
NATIONALS (20-16)
CF Denard Span
LF Steve Lombardozzi
RF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Kurt Suzuki
LHP Gio Gonzalez
CUBS (14-22)
SS Starlin Castro
3B Cody Ransom
1B Anthony Rizzo
LF Alfonso Soriano
RF Scott Hairston
CF Ryan Sweeney
C Dioner Navarro
2B Darwin Barney
RHP Scott Feldman
UMPIRES
HP John Tumpane
1B Paul Nauert
2B Angel Hernandez (cc)
3B Doug Eddings
1:37 p.m. — We are underway on a surprisingly chilly and very windy Mother's Day. Gio Gonzalez starts off Starlin Castro with a fastball for strike one.
1:41 p.m. — And a 1-2-3 top of the first for Gio Gonzalez, who retired the side on eight pitches. The last out was a comebacker that required Gio to make an awkward play, possibly tweaking his ankle in the process. He walked kind of gingerly off the mound, but didn't look seriously hurt.
1:59 p.m. — The good news: The Nats jumped on Scott Feldman for a quick run, thanks to Denard Span's double, Bryce Harper's walk and Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double off the wall in right-center. The bad news: They missed a golden opportunity to really take it to Feldman early, stranding two men in scoring position after Adam LaRoche struck out and Danny Espinosa flied out to left. Gotta wonder if that will come back to haunt them later. 1-0 after one.
2:05 p.m. — Nice start to the afternoon for Gio. He's retired all six batters faced and is going right after the Cubs' hitters. Sixteen of 22 pitches for strikes so far. Good stuff.
2:15 p.m. — Hmm, generous strike zone today from plate umpire John Tumpane. Lombardozzi found that out the hard way in the bottom of the second, having strikes called on both edges of the plate and thus stranding Suzuki on third. It's early, but the Nats have already stranded three men in scoring position in two innings. They still lead 1-0.
2:21 p.m. — Make it nine up, nine down for Gio, who is going right after the Cubs hitters. Twenty-three of his 32 pitches for strikes. Impressive.
2:33 p.m. — Yikes, John Tumpane making a name for himself today. And not in a good way. The fill-in ump just rung up Desmond on a pitch over the left-handed batter's box. Desmond was furious, and rightfully so. The Nats are 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position through three innings, but Tumpane has contributed as much to that as anyone. Still 1-0 after three.
2:38 p.m. — Make it 12 up, 12 down for Gio. Absolutely dealing.
2:53 p.m. — Make it 15 up, 15 down for Gio. He's at 56 pitches through five innings, has struck out five. Cruising along with no signs of letting up. Still 1-0 Nats.
2:59 p.m. — Gio may be dealing, but the Nats are barely supporting him at the plate. They've managed only the one run on three hits against Feldman through five innings.
3:12 p.m. — And there goes the perfect game and the no-hitter. Dioner Navarro breaks it up with a perfectly placed grounder to the hole between third and short, and though Desmond got there, he had no chance to make the throw. Gio suffered a hiccup after that, loading the bases with two outs for Anthony Rizzo. But he got the Cubs No. 3 hitter to ground out to first and then skipped off the mound with a loud exclamation, pretty fired up to have preserved the Nats' 1-0 lead.
3:25 p.m. — The Nats aren't exactly giving Gio any room for error today. They're now 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position after Espinosa and Suzuki stranded guys in the bottom of the sixth. It remains a 1-0 game as Gio takes the mound for the seventh.
3:32 p.m. — Gio is now through the seventh, having yet to allow a run. He's really been in complete control all afternoon. Seventh-inning stretch time.
3:40 p.m. — Interesting, Davey decided to have Chad Tracy pinch-hit for Gio in the bottom of the seventh. He was only at 86 pitches and obviously was dealing and certainly looked like he could've kept going. But Davey was looking for offensive insurance. Unfortunately, Tracy struck out and the Nats did nothing else in the inning. So it's still 1-0 heading to the eighth, and now Drew Storen is in to face the bottom of the Cubs' lineup.
3:55 p.m. — And there goes Gio's win. Storen gave up a leadoff single to Navarro, who then was replaced by pinch-runner Travis Wood (a pitcher). That proved important, because Wood advanced to second on Barney's sac bunt, then took third on David DeJesus' foul pop-up down the first-base line. That allowed him to score on Castro's single up the middle. Just like that, it's a 1-1 game and Gio's effort is wasted. Davey's going to have to explain his quick hook of the lefty today.
4:06 p.m. — Wow, a crazy catch by Ryan Sweeney to end the eighth and rob Desmond of a go-ahead double. He crashed into the wall and avoided crashing into Davd DeJesus to make the play, a real dagger. So we go to the ninth and now Rafael Soriano has entered a tie game.
4:20 p.m. — Yikes, disaster in the top of the ninth. Soriano gave up two quick base hits, setting the stage for a double steal. Suzuki's throw, though, was spiked into the ground and bounced way down the left field line. That let Alfonso Soriano score the go-ahead run. The Nats now trail 2-1 and are three outs from a rough loss.
4:26 p.m. — That's it. The Nats lose 2-1, a truly disheartening loss. They also wind up losing the series to the last-place Cubs. Not good.
159 comments:
I don't get it. But, I trust Davey's instincts.
GYFNG!!!
GO GIO! GO LOMBO (wear the shades)! GYFNG!!!
Happy Mother's Day everyone!!
Concern for today: a lot of current Cubs players have very good career OPS against Gio. I'm pretty surprised Schierholtz isn't in the lineup today for them.
I am sure Lombo can live up to the defensive standard of Tyler Moore in left field, and he should strike out at least two times fewer. I am afraid I have joined those who believe Moore should be optioned to Syracuse.
+1/2St.
Hopefully Gio doesn't have a "meltdown" or my fellow posters will be sending him back to Miami or Syracuse, or a psychiatrist. (see the insulting posts about Stras in last Thread).
Go Gio! Go Nats!
One of the many great things about baseball is that there's almost always a game the day after. So we can leave yesterday's disaster behind and win this one, win the series, maybe even be tied for 1st place at the end of the day. Stras will have to wait until Thursday to atone for his meltdown, but Zim can get back on track today. And Gio -- time to be a stopper and not put that burden on JZnn as you've been doing for most of this year.
Pretty impressive attendance this weekend. Today should be even better -- sunny day, Mother's Day, etc. Wish I could be out there.
Go, GIO! Go, NATS!! Go, moms!
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on NI :)
Happy Mother's Day to all. Got stuck in Zoo traffic, might be late to the game. GO NATS!
I love every player on the Nats, but I have to admit I'm going to cringe every time the ball goes to Zim at 3rd.
Not the tough hops, but the routine grounders.
Go Nats!
NatsLady- Do you mean the traffic was like a zoo, or that you went to the Zoo? :)
Welcome back, Harper.
Lombo in the 2-hole is better than Bernie. Too bad Corey Brown is still on the DL. He's the guy who is the best organizational fit for LF, both offensively and defensively.
TyMo is the guy, not Harper, who is having a sophomore slump. He needs to play every day, but he will not be able to do that in DC.
Davey is managing the lineup to give the team its best chance to win. Until Werth comes back, and Ryan starts to hit, Davey is going to have to scrape for runs wherever he can find them.
The bench has had the biggest drop-off from last year of all the team's components, and injuries have depleted the organization's depth.
They still have Rendon's bat, but choose not to use it. You should be able to find a place in the lineup for a guy who can hit like he can, especially when the guys in the bigs are not doing the job.
Thanks for the thoughtful reminder, NL. Happy Mom's Day to all, win or lose. Some things are just more important than the game.
Time to put the Cubs back in their place.
I predict an easy 7-2 win :)
Go Nats!
Rendon is 9 for 15 in his last 4 games in Harrisburg.
BigCat- Made a decent showing of his skills on the big club as well. I'm sure we'll see him again this summer.
I foresee Zim with a good day 3 for 4 with a double. 3 assists on all good throws. Harper 2 for 4 with a BB. Ian will get a triple to complete a 2 day cycle.
Gio 7 IP 2 ER 8 K 3 BB.
Nats 8 Cubs 2.
Giants 4 Braves 2.
I believe we win all tge time.
It is my problem, I expect 162 wins and now 146 is the most they can win now.
Happy Mother's Day everyone. Go Nats!
Happy mother's day to all it applies.
Had my mother been living she would be 90 .
Today will probably be difficult for all hitters because the seams are pink for Mother's Day instead of red. Harder to track the ball.
Rendon is 9 for 15 in his last 4 games in Harrisburg.
The promotion to Syracuse (ostensibly with Rivero going to H'Burg) is when we'll know they think he is just about ready. That could come in June if he keeps improving.
Use the pink bat LaRoche you're still hitting like Larry Biitner with the lowest OBP in the lineup except for Lombo and his likely went up with that triple yesterday. If I were you I'd be trying anything at this point. You're hurting the team with the lack of XBH capability.
Zim plays better angry. All the who gets the blame stuff here doesn't solve anything as both players have there own distinct issues.
Inexperienced HP umpire + pink seams on the ball. This seems like a recipe for weirdness.
If Strasburg is having mental issues, the unbelievable media firestorm that would result from him being sent down to the minors would almost certainly not help with that.
He's not going to the minors. If he does then Davey and Cat ought to be fired on the spot. Its their job to set these players up to be successful.
And again, Zim is the FoF and ostensibly a leader on this team. His bat is potent when its healthy. If he is truly healthy he needs to unlimber that timber and stop acting like Larry Bittner II.
Oh no did Gio just hurt himself catching that ball?
Agreed on Stras, peric. I've just seen some people saying that he needs some time in the minors to get his head right, and I think it would have the opposite effect.
Hope Gio didn't hurt his leg on that play...
Today's starter is a righty, so it will be L, L, L at the top of the order. but if a lefty comes in for Span and Harper in the late inning, Lombo will switch. Good to see Ty-Mo get a day off against the righty. He's been struggling playing every day, and his OPS of .479 is lower than every non-pitcher other than fellow good squaders Tracy and Bernadina and 130 points lower than ALR's. Maybe he's a slow starter.
Peric- Agreed. People are making WAY too much of Strasburg's mentality. All I ask is he continues to mature just as Jordan did several years ago.
Back to the alternating left-right-left with Lombo who had the big hit yesterday. The problem with Lombo again is:
1. He doesn't like to walk.
2. He saves his big hits for PH appearances when he is in the lineup
you don't see the same contact hitter. He tries to be a home run hitter.
3. He's really not the best defensively at any position other than 2nd base. He can be competent. This contrasts sharply with Kobernus.
Peric. U gotta like Span bt now....
My point about Zim. FORGET the damned glove and the errors! HIT the way you can goddamn it!!! And then watch the glove play come back. HIT!! That's why you are there! HIT! HIT! And HIT some more!! Don't you feel bad that your ex-teammate at UVa that everyone derided HAS 11 homers and 8 doubles already? And a great OPS and OBP? And a decent .283 average? And with Cleveland playing mostly first base but also third?
C'mon Zim get going!
He almost got that one.
Peric. U gotta like Span bt now....
I like him better he does look a lot like Curt Flood. Not as good, but then I doubt anyone will ever be that good again. So, I can see why Rizzo felt he fit his model.
I still think he should bat second and not first. Why? Not because he isn't doing the job but because Werth really isn't ... AT ALL. His best spot to help this club offensively and provide a spark is batting FIRST! And Harper should bat 4th behind Zim since 3rd is Zim's favorite slot.
These veteran bats have got to get going! Right now they are boat anchors and albatrosses as the younger ex-prospects try to make up for the dearth of offense coming from them!
And LaRoche is Larry Biitner when he first came up. NO XBH ability. But great savvy and the ability to get on base. I'll take it, BUT NOT batting in the heart of the lineup.
Did I see chad Tracey???!!
For those that prefer facts, LaRoche OBP .296, Espinosa .230.
For THOSE WHO PREFER facts relative their actual REAL ROLES IN THE LINEUP?
LaRoche ISO .113 lower than all starters except for Lombardozzi
and Lombo iS NOT a run producer right?
Espinosa currently has an ISO of .168?
Cubs are taking the smart approach and being extremely cautious with Harper and Desi.
Just a single, Danny. Don't try to do too much.
Very good AB by Desmond. Passed on 2 very tempting curveballs to get the walk
Interesting, Espinosa hitting .297 with runners on base. Well, a little lower now that he just flied out :)
1 run better than none, but they really should've scored about 3 that inning
Well at least Danny didn't "K". But he needs to try to work the walks ... none of these MI they have like to walk? Whatz up with that? Even Tracy doesn't like to walk?
Watching on hame track. Looked like ALR swung at one outside. True or false
Mark mistakenly posted Espi as a SO. Was drive to left.
We've got good Gio today. Hopefully he doesn't implode like Stras yesterday.
Watching on hame track. Looked like ALR swung at one outside. True or false
He's trying to be a run producer and he no longer has the bat speed.
This umpire's strike zone is horrible. I understand hitter needed to protect, but they can't possibly hit balls THAT far off the plate. Jeez.
Amazingly forgiving strike zone today.
That ball was literally in the batter's box and it was a called strike. Wow.
Gio wasn't getting those calls earlier.
Wow, I liked the call for Gio to pull back and swing. He hit it hard. Just bad luck.
Gotta give credit to the Cubs advanced scouts. They've been pretty much playing the Nats perfectly.
http://i.imgur.com/4N16B9R.png What an awful zone.
LaRoche: Strike Outs: 39
Espinosa: Strike Outs 27
Espinosa PA's: 117.
LaRoche PA's: 129.
Next complaint expert?
RIGHT WHEN FP MENTIONED IT
uh oh.. This isn't looking good.
Unlike Stras, Gio gets out of it.
Thank god Rizzo was next and he can't hit lefties...
Watching on game day cartoon figures.
We have to give our guys some run support. It ought to be 4 0. And am really SICK of Ryan Zimm. He doesn't even swing the bat. 1 RBI or not please. He's just not worth his salt.
I will say the ump is terrible today.
Biitner strikes!!!
Wait, this year Rizzo *can* hit lefties, apparently! My mistake. Even more fortunate that worked out.
LaRoche just beat out an infield hit. What.
Secret wasian man - I'd say he'd be worth his weight if he wasn't such a defensive liability.
Gotta have a short leash with GIO.
He doesn't even swing the bat. 1 RBI or not please. He's just not worth his salt.
2 for 3 with a DOUBLE? and the only RBI?
And Harper probably dropping below .300 for the first time ... Desmond may now be the only run producer left with his major league lead in XBH?
Also, glad Desi didn't get ejected. I really thought he did when he was called out on strikes in his last PA.
Loved how Bob started snickering when Desi took his second walk of the day.
Agree Dan Strong
Suzuki and his Surfer music ... FP must love that.
Apologies to NATSJACK in FL. You were right Espi STNKS on ICE
Pitch track had Espi popping out on a 2-0 count after 6 cobsecutive balls. Was the pitch a fast ball down the middle he just missed or one he should have took?
Ah yes foiled again by the CUBS hall of fame pitching staff
Then LaRoche STINKS in a glacier.
Espinosa is simply a waste of a roster spot. Any other argument is blind and foolish.
Was the pitch a fast ball down the middle he just missed or one he should have took?
Both he and Godzilla trying to make something happen. No one else is. Again.
Nats 1 for 9 Risp, cubs 1 for 2
Espinosa is simply a waste of a roster spot. Any other argument is blind and foolish.
The backup gold glove caliber major league shortstop? Young? With superior range and arm? Try that again?
Who couldn't make contact with water if he fell out of a boat.
Notice how when Lord Peric defends Espinosa, he's gone from talking power upside to avoiding any mention of offense. That's because Espinosa is too cocky and stubborn to ever change his approach. We'll be in for a lot of 2-0 pop ups with Espi trying to hit one over the scoreboard walk.
Espinosa still ranked higher at second base than Keppinger, Izturis, Weeks. Solano, Prado,and Rutledge.
He'd look better if he were playing shortstop.
Gio's out now? Really? I would've let him do the eighth.
Why is chad Tracy on this team. Was Matt stairs too busy? Geeeeeesh
That's a real murderers row of second basemen.
We'll be in for a lot of 2-0 pop ups with Espi trying to hit one over the scoreboard walk.
Last I looked he's batting in front of the catcher ... NOT in the #4 spot like LaRoche. Ans offensively HE IS still superior to LaRoche?
LaRoche is ranked 27th out of 31 first baseman? At least he's ahead of Konerko and Dunn ... still? And Espinosa is ranked 18th among 2nd baseman?
Methinks y'all have something against Espinosa and the true facts. Which you seem stubbornly adamant about ignoring.
The Cubs actually have a pretty successful starting pitching staff this year, very good ERAs. It's the bullpen that's been their problem, so it's a little more concerning that the Nats can't him those guys. Hitting the bullpens hasn't been a strength this year.
...well. Neither has hitting in general, really, but still.
Espinosa's salary: $526,250
LaRoche's salary: $10,000,000
Them's the facts.
Uh oh.
But the argument isn't ALR vs. Espi. You use ALR as a stalking horse to defend Espinosa, as if any criticism of Espinosa is made by people who defend ALR. I happen to think both are liabilities, but ALR at least has a track record of being able to adjust to the league. Espinosa does not.
189 Ks in 160 games for Espinosa last year. That's a pretty true fact too, buddy.
Cubs bullpen has been poor, but we can't touch them.
Some one beat me to it. Tracy=Stairs. However Tracy is more of a team positive.
Thank you!
Really hoping that Drew can get out of this.
This is the problem not watching. deJesus foul ball, was it way down the line for Wood to afvance to ,3rd.
And Drew gives up another run..
Speaking of wastes of roster spots, Drew Storen, everyone!
At this point I trust HRod more than Storen.
Wow what a mediocre baseball team. Gonna lose 2 to 1 or worse to the lowly cubs. Lets go caps.
Why was Gio taken out of the game again? For heavens sake Davey, give your starters a chance!
Speaking of wastes of roster spots, Drew Storen, everyone!
Now, Storen does seem like someone who might do well with a tour of AAA working to get back on the major league roster again. IMHO.
davey takes Gio out after 85 pitches for offense (or non offense Tracy), Then Storen cant do his job.
Davey the plan might of seemed good but everyone I was texting with wouldn't have done it. i guess that is why he gets paid the big bucks and we don't.
When Davey gets interviewed after a Storen meltdown, I want someone to ask, "Davey, why the decision to forfeit today?"
Batting third this inning, the real wasted roster spot: Adam LaRoche.
This game should have been like 4 0. After the second inning. Instead we cramp the bed.
I wouldn't trust Storen to hold a 2-3 run lead at this point. Even that last out was murdered off of Rizzo's bat. Lucky that Danny was right there to get out of that inning.
Might consider PH'ing LaRoche.
For who? Just wondering.
All I can say is they had better win this game. Man oh man, I could see that one coming a mile away.
Let the starting pitchers pitch! Gio was absolutely ON today and he gets a no decision. BTW, that is another reason why pitcher W-L records mean nothing.
Or PH for LaRoche. Eury Perez might be a better choice at this point.
When a guy melts on the mound late it is magnified. When Danny grounds out with bases loaded or Lombo Ks with runner on third in the early innings we shrug it off. Bottom line is the hitting is just miserable on this team.
Right now would be a good time for homer #11.
Let me get this. the cubs bullpen is pathetic and we havent come close to scoring on it in 3 games. Ours suppose to be at least above average and they have given up 5 runs. what is the problem Eck?
Bryce is getting junk to hit. It's positive that he's taking his walks and not trying too hard.
Classic Zim.
Drew's been a lot better lately, though. But yeah, I don't understand taking Gio out there at all. Yeah, okay, we needed more offense. But taking a guy mostly pitching like an ace out after 86 pitches for a pinch-hitter not performing well is poor strategy.
Gutless Zimm. Gutless
sgain a 2-0 count popped out. 2-0 counts are driving counts. was that another hitable pitch just missed?
Agree. Once again Davey over manages. You pinch hit GIO with Stevie Wonder
Drew has pitched twice in 11 days. He needed the work or else we'd have a Zach Duke situation. Combine that with wanting more offense and it makes sense.
Looked up and out of the zone to me.
It is, but i don't replace a starter with 85 pitches who is sharp
Well, shucks.
Now, here comes the hot hitter ... last hope probably.
Zimm and ALR are just an embarrassment. Two hitters counts and two weak hits. Ian will get it done here.
It is, but i don't replace a starter with 85 pitches who is sharp
You do if you're Riggleman and you don't think your offense is worth a fiddler's damn.
We have got to get some hitting on this team. Try somebody please.
Yep, we're losing a series to the Cubs at home, guys.
Good try by Desi ... at least. Can't complain about that at bat.
Can't head west losing 2 of. 3 to the cubbies. Ughhhh
Soriano needs to lock it down and pray Suzuki and the top of the order does something.
Welcome to the strike zone, Rafa. We can't figure it out either.
BABIP's turned against us in the last two innings.
Well this one's over. Some lockdown bullpen, Mr. Rizzo.
Ooof.
Looks like no offense for LA and SD. June is coming fast there will have to be some changes made if they want to make this a season ...
This team... Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in.
Bad luck. Hit the bat.
Stick a fork in 2013. It's done.
Tracy had better find a way to improve before June 1st. Otherwise we might see Will Rhymes.
Soriano's been great, most of the time. The run this inning came on a poor throw caused by the ball bouncing off the batter's glove. That's just one of those freak things that happens in baseball sometimes.
This game's still winnable. Our offense just needs to, well, do stuff.
Hope Bernadina's okay.
Lol. Yeah, 2013 is done on May 12. We're 1 game out of first place.
I'm pretty sure we can call this game over.. No confidence that this team can come from behind.
The Shark does his job and his hitting will come with more at bats.
Between 2 games back and tied in the standings with Atlanta in May, depending on how today's games end. Yep, season basically over, you guys.
Another unearned run. This is unexcusable.
We do not hit to committ errors. It doesnt take rocket science to understand that.
Great approach, Espi.
Espinosa: The automatic out when we need him to come through.
The other game's errors were harder to excuse, but. The throw hit the batter's bat. What was supposed to be done about that?
What an absolute joke of a strike zone.
This team has ZERO fight. Zero determination. The offense is just a joke.
The season not over, but when you have control and you remove the pitcher who is control and the others do not do tgeir job. To me it is a give away. i cant stand give aways. Had Gio stayed in and we loss that is not a give away.
Both of these games are anomalies. No doubt. But this place will become toxic so I'm going to sign off for a bit.
That was depressing. I really think it would've been different if Gio had stayed in for the 8th.
Seems oddly appropriate that it ended with an ejection then a "K".
Please Rizzo fire Eck. The team hits patgetically.
To clarify, Manassas: I would call Davey's call the wrong one. But it's still just a loss, not the end of the season as we know it.
Proctor from 4 :17. Ball hitting bat is not bad luck. It's bad baseball.
Wrong. It's bad luck. It's a freak thing that happens sometimes. You practice clearing, you don't practice clearing the bat too.
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