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| Associated Press |
Hitting highlight: Stymied all night by Harvey, the Nationals couldn't wait to get the young ace out of the game and get into the Mets' bullpen. They finally got the chance in the ninth and made it worthwhile. After Anthony Rendon grounded out, Zimmerman worked the count to 3-1 against Hawkins. He then drove the veteran reliever's next pitch over the wall in right-center for a long-awaited, walk-off homer. It was Zimmerman's ninth of his career, but his first since 2011. It couldn't have come at a better time, salvaging a long day of baseball for the Nationals.
Pitching highlight: Here's a statement you never expected to read back on Opening Day: Ross Ohlendorf has been a godsend for the Nationals. A forgotten man in spring training who figured merely to help fill out the Class AAA rotation, he has been phenomenal since joining the big-league staff last month. And he may now get a chance to stay in the rotation. With six innings of one-run ball tonight, Ohlendorf lowered his ERA to 1.87. He has obviously earned the trust of his manager; despite his pitch count sitting at 113 with two outs in the seventh, two on and David Wright at the plate in a 1-1 game, there wasn't a mouse stirring in the Nationals' bullpen. Ohlendorf rewarded Davey Johnson's show of faith by getting Wright to pop out and end his night on a high note. What happens next for the veteran hurler? We'll find out, but he's certainly earned the right to keep starting games for this team.
Key stat: Tyler Clippard has given up one run in 22 appearances dating back to the end of May.
Up next: These two teams are back at it Saturday afternoon. Dan Haren faces Dillon Gee at 3:05 p.m. on Fox.
131 comments:
We had it all the way as I said at tge end of game 1
Z MAN! you cheeky bloke!!!
18 innings, 1 RBI, 1 win. #Natitude
Ross O did great.
As far as I'm concerned, we've won 2/3 and are on pace to finish the year on a .666 winning percentage.
(I'm being tongue-in-cheek before someone snaps at me)
NICE WIN!!!
Love it, David Proctor!
We had walk off 2 days in a row.
However not much hitting still.
Schu has lots of work.
Soriano to the Tigers is what I just heard.
The baseball gods giveth and taketh away.
What great pitching performances by both starters, eh?
In my history they take more than they give.
Zimmerman will probably win player of the game honors (if such a thing exists), but I think Ross Ohlendorf deserves it. What a gutsy performance. It reminds me of John Lannan's last year. Season on the verge of complete and total disaster and a guy like that puts forth that kind of performance. Of course, this may not lead to the things Lannan's did...but the performance was every bit as good.
Well I'll be danged. Funny, funny game, this baseball. Old School Dorf gets it done, and Zimm walks 'em off.
3 of 4 starters today did excellently.
MNF
for prospects, right?
Okay, let’s review the day.
In Game One, the Nats – with their ace on the mound and the Mets starting a guy they just brought up from the minors, get clobbered 11-0.
Then in between the games I post the video of “Let’s All Cheer for the Washington Nats,” starring the Nats Insider Chorus.
In Game Two, facing the putative best pitcher in the league, and with a castoff pitcher on the mound, the RISP-deficient Nats get a 2-1 win in dramatic fashion.
Some people said it was a bad day to debut the song, but I disagree. I know it’s a small sample, but I’m just sayin’…
(Find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJmuEqbvviw )
Ross was player of the game. Matched Harvey.
I knew it WS time for a walk off... Felt it in my bones (as my grandmother would say)....
Still no offense but meh, we won...
*standing ovation for Ross O*. Man, he pitched a heckuva gem....
Ross was great. Span was great in the outfield. Soriano ehhhh. And Ryan gave the fan faithful, who certainly deserve it, something to cheer about. Well done. Now which team will show up tomorrow?
That is tge word.
Ross O has to be in rotation the rest of the way
Ohlendorf was tremendous.
hopefully Tigers will pick up his contract
Ross O. takes Detwiler's spot since he's hurt. Jordan will be shutdown. Now if only we could do something about Haren...
strasburg pitched today?
So yet again... We won a game that Harvey pitched...
Key to the game - Get to the BP.... Which we did, at the end...
Of course we have to win 20 in row to get back in it, so the non hitting winning team will show up.
Mark said it perfectly: "Ross Ohlendorf has been a godsend for the Nationals."
From spring training SYR fodder to No. 4 starter. Congratulations to the Princeton grad. He's deserved it. Richly.
Haren should be mid relief, thats all
What a great day of baseball as the Nats rocket back into 2nd place!
So the Nationals lose the game that Jordan Zimmermann starts and the Mets lose the game that Matt Harvey starts.
Can't predict ball.
Ross O's performances make me ask the question:
Why hasn't he been in the starting rotation all along since Haren went down the first time....
Dont understand these trades where trading team pays contract. If I am paying you, you arent playing for someone else.
Harvey starts 3 times against us, we are 2-1
Where are you guys getting that Raffy Soriano is being traded to the Tigers?
Not hard to understand at all. I can think of a few Nats that we should pay other teams to take. The Yankees were paying a lot of Dave Justice's salary when he was in Oakland.
Rizzo signed him, so not everything he did in the off season has been a bust.
WOOHOO WALK OFF! 10 GAME WINNING STREAK HERE WE COME!
(looks at lineup, bench, haren still in rotation, Storen still in bullpen... *rolls eyes*)
Word on the street
the "Dorf" looked great...happy for him and us, keep running him out there or trade him now!!
if others are correct, am glad Soriano was traded, don't like his attitude, his mound presence or that untucking crap...please tell me its true...have not seen it anywhere else.
Need 20
Word on The street = Nats Insider folks...
MNF
so, Clip assume would be closer and that means Storen probably stays
Drew Storen optioned to AAA.
Tigers asked we havent got what we want yet.
Only if Tigers offer enough.
paul
agreed
never liked him after what he said publicly about Bryce...
not a national
Mom and dad going to tweet they want to talk to Rizzo?
David
where did you see that
So what about winning games when Harvey is pitching. How many teams can say the same thing about Strasburg? It really is not that remarkable, just mildly interesting. When scores are low, either team can win, and the same goes for soccer.
Mathematically, in high scoring years, it is much more difficult to beat an ace than in low scoring years. Bob Gibson lost 9 times in 1968 pitching for a world champion, with a 1.12 ERA. Beating Matt Harvey's team a couple of times is nice but far from noteworthy. It is a win but also means zero with respect to what comes next. We still don't score runs and that is unlikely to change. Enjoy, but obviously we got outscored by 10 runs today.
Davey's presser
I dont have post game on so i have not heard anything
Deal Soriano and give them Span as a freebee....
Storen optioned. The right move, but we do need him to get his stuff together.
Not surprised DP.... Hopefully he embraces his role... He has got the nastiness stuff out of our BP... He just needs to get his confidence back....
Joe S thanks
David Proctor said...
Drew Storen optioned to AAA.
DP, really? hope mom & dad send Drew a blanky, it can get cold in Syracuse in the evening.
Yes but all the negative Nellies were announcibg 4th plae as game 1 was over.
That is my big complaint about tge negative Nellies they enjoy negative predictions.
Well that is where he announced it. Still talking
interesting...if Soriano is traded and with storen optioned, there appears to be a spot in BP...who fills it?
Twitter is a dangerous business....
RZim, 9th career walk-off HR?!! is that right?
that is impressive!!!
No freebie take Tori Hunter who fields as good and can hit like you wanted.
I think the Soriano word on the street is coming from somebody who has been smoking crack.
Old news now. Thanks for tge update though.
Joes I see nothing on line about it either..so i wonder
Bben a few years since 8th
JoeS - I told you word on the street is the Nats Insider folks...
They must be seeing Alfonso Soriano getting traded and getting all excited. There is no Rafael Soriano trade news to report.
Time will tell no reliable sorces yet. Mitch Williams talked yesterday, not yet today.
so then who fills the spot with Storen optioned and if Soriano traded is traded?
Who cares who is paying what! Both teams have money and salary is not important. If we get decent prospects that is the key. I have not seen anything to lead me to believe this is happening but again, the money is not important to the Lerners.
Prediction: Storen won't be back until Davey is safely on Bora Bora.
it sounds like Cliff Lee and peavy are hot items
Actually, we were expected to win this game. Our starter has a better ERA than the Mets' starter....
Again, I look at multiple sites and have not heard one word about a trade with Detroit
agree coach
Alfonso Soriano was traded back to the Yanks and by the time it gets back here, Raffy Soriano has been traded to the Tigers.Poppycock, I say! Just poppycock.
Ohhh sunshine.... I hope not... Storen has got the stuff... He can contribute... Just has got to get his confidence together...
Joe S dont start the poppycock again
lol
humbug i say, lol
I just cannot imagine what was posted after game 1 and thank you, I will not revisit it. Great win here and I do think David Procter is just a bit over the top but we have won 2 of 3.
I have to think Ross O. will start quite a few more games for our lads and right now, who can be upset with that. If Haren can somehow turn it around we will not have to deal with Taylor Jordan's innings limit. Can someone help me with what the group thinks about JZimmnn right now? and I don't need the LOD version thank you.
Oh man, I just finished up the last of the poppycock from last night!! Hopefully NatsJack can get some sent over from Davey in a hurry.
Or maybe he will get it from "susan" since he is so close to both of them
SJM - I said this earlier:
Also, can you imagine the venom on here if it was Haren that gave up 2 HRs to Murphy?
====
Actually, for me, this is a cause for concern.. Jordan's last 2/3 starts make me wonder if the neck injury is really bothering him more than he says... This isn't the Jordan we are used to seeing... I tried to chalk the last game up as a bad game (sorta like how SS had that game before the AS break where he was blown over) ....
With Haren, I expect at least 3 HRs given up per game...
Ray Knight says Storen's problem goes back to game 5.
If that is the case he won't be gone til he pitches for someone else.
5 times he could have ended that game positive, thats a lot of opportunities.
Jordan swears that his neck feels fine, but you never know with the Nationals and injuries. They have a track record of being less than forthcoming. We'll have to see. I thought he was mostly good. He just made a couple of big mistakes. His next start will be telling.
Tom Schad @Tom_Schad 2m
Very emotional stuff from Tyler Clippard on Storen. Said #Nats made a mistake as an organization by bringing in Soriano.
Uh oh...
One thing I wrote after game one was we would no doubtedly win game 2 and Ross O would match Harvey.
I'll be danged... Tampa Bay Rays are in first place.... My off season WS match up was the Nats vs Red Sox... Then after 10 games, I changed it to Red Sox vs Cards...
Adam Kilgore @AdamKilgoreWP 45s
Clippard on Storen: "You send a guy a message this offseason, for one bad game, that he isn't the guy for the job. ..."
Mark Zuckerman @ZuckermanCSN 27s
An emotional Clippard on Storen demotion: "I just think it's been handled very poorly by the organization."
Please tell me you are lying DP... You know I don't know how to work Twitter....
Athletes in general hide injuries
No that is there on Twitter looking for trades.
I'm being serious. I expected Clip to take it hard. He and Storen are best friends and have been for years. And he has a point. But Clippard also (seems) to agree with the decision to send Storen down. Says Storen needs to clear his head.
Tom Schad @Tom_Schad 17s
To be clear: Clippard never mentioned Soriano by name. But it was very clear who and what he was referring to. #Nats
From what I'm gathering of the tweets, Clippard doesn't have a problem with Soriano per se. He just feels like the Nationals made a mistake by punishing Storen for one bad game. He has a point. From Rizzo's perspective, he still sees Storen as the closer of the future. He just thought that an established closer would help solidify the bullpen and it would pay off in the postseason. Whether or not Soriano has worked out is irrelevant.
I understand both sides. It's tough.
Good for Clippard - I mean, they were roommates and very close. I have said many times that I still think Storen is our closer in two years but certainly right now this is the right thing to do. It was right to send Espinosa down and this is also right. They need to fix whatever is wrong in a setting that does not hurt the major league club. This is not the first time. I actually remember Mantle going back down back in 1951. It is not the end of the world for either player and I hope both are back with us when things are fixed.
Still searching for the Soriano trade and not finding it. Also searching for more Poppycock but I think Mick has hoarded it all as he watches Wizard of Oz.
Clippard and Drew are best friends, so I'm very understanding of Tyler's comments. We'll never know if Storen would've recovered from game 5 if Soriano hadn't been signed. I do remember when Davey Johnson came back from his African trip and was told of the Soriano deal he said, and I quote, "I didn't know that we needed a closer."
Storen had he not screwed up sgainst the Cards I would guess Rizzo nevervwould have thought of Soriano. He was in control.
No trade news out there yet.
I think acquiring Soriano was a luxury, not a need. Rizzo thought that an established closer who could handle the postseason would put us over the top. I agree with that. But I also agree that Storen could probably handle it. My opinion was basically: adding Soriano and bumping down Storen just makes our bullpen extremely strong. If Storen could perform, we'd have him in the 7th/8th, Clip in the 7th/8th and Soriano. That's extremely strong. It makes the whole team better.
Unfortunately, that hasn't worked out. On paper, I liked the idea though.
But I totally understand where Clip is coming from. They're best friends. It's not easy. Drew can go to AAA, get right and come back.
Get Storen on a diet of Poppycock and he will be back better than ever!!
Clippard's full quote:
“It’s tough. I mean, he’s done a lot this year as far as, he’s worked hard tried to get out of this funk. It kind of snowballed on him there to get to this point. It’s just unfortunate. I think there’s a lot of things that led to this that could’ve been prevented. You know, you basically send a guy a message this offseason for having one bad game that he’s not the guy for the job. He’s only human. I mean, it’s going to get to anybody. He hasn’t had to deal with a lot of adversity. He’s came up and had unbelievable stuff. He had success right away. Came in last year, coming off of a surgery, and pitched huge games for us in a 98 win season. Picked me up when I was struggling in September. Picked our team up in the playoffs. Had one bad game. You know, eight months later, you get to a point where he’s struggling and you turn the page on him, you send him down. It’s not necessarily turning the page on him because I think he needs to go down and regroup, get out of this environment, take a deep breath and regather himself. So I think it’s going to help him. I just think it’s been handled very poorly. And it could’ve gone either way. I know the same message was sent to me. And I’ve been through adversity over my career, you know? SO I know how to handle it. You know, this is a tough day. He’s going to be part of this organization for a long time, I hope because he’s good. And we need him. But if he goes somewhere else, he’s going to be great for them. It’s one of those things that I think was handled very poorly by the organization but at the same time, that’s the decision that was made and we have to move forward as a team. WE have great guys in this locker room that are going to get it done. We’re going to make a playoff push at the end of the season, I have no doubt about that. But this is a tough day.”
Clippard, who was visibly emotional, was then asked why this move is so emotional for him.
“It’s multiple reasons, yeah. Obviously me and Drew are close. We’re good friends. But at the end of the day, you’d like to think that there’s a human element involved in this whole thing and I think there was on both sides of it. I can understand, you know, after the devastation that happened last year, maybe trying to make a change and say, hey, we’re going to bring in somebody that we think can get it done in that big situation. It’s just the wrong message to send, I think. But at the end of the day, that’s what happened and that’s where we’re at. It’s up to me, it’s up to Drew, it’s up to everyone in this locker room to pick ourselves up and move forward. That’s what we have to do, we have no choice. That’s what this game’s all about. So, this is part of it. There’s definitely human element involved in both sides of it and I can understand that.”
I think that Rizzo is/was under a pressure to win now to bring Ted Lerner a championship and Rizzo was justifiably concerned by Drew Storen's meltdown, and by his elbow surgery last year.I have also wondered how much Boras dealt directly with Mark Lerner on that deal.
Clip was closer most of last year, he has bounced back great.
Second walk off of the night Ryan Raeburn hits a 3 run dinger.
2 for the Ryans
Is Strasburg back to being the ace yet?
DavidP - thank you for that - I know we can find that other places but it was nice to read it here. Clip showed a lot of class with that and did not trash Soriano. I do think these kind of personel moves have to be tough for both player and FO. Hope he is back soon!!
Go Nats!
Manassas - who started the first game after the All Star break??
Something I've noticed: Harper and Zimmerman seem to be very close now. Last year, it was Harper and Werth and I'm sure they're still buds (I've seen them goofing around in the dugout). But I've been seeing a lot of Harper and Zim together lately.
Drew has great stuff. He'll be back, sooner, rather then later.
Amazing stat in that was Ryan's 9th walk-off!
Of some concern: For the month of July: Anthony Rendon is now hitting an even .200 for the month, going 15-75.
ALR is also hitting .200 for the month.
Curiously, Denard Span is hitting .258 for the same period..
Just home from the game. What a fantastic pitchers' duel, and a perfect finish. I love that a guy in a Zim shirsey caught the walkoff!
Our first run can be blamed on Murphy watching too much SportsCenter and QuickPitch. He was imagining himself showing up with a webgem/Capital One PoD and instead lost the game for them. Sweet.
Lots more to say but first I have a few recent posts to recall and a little self-backpatting to enjoy:
I'm going to wake up tomorrow, and the Nats are going to be tied with the New York Mets. In Late July. All the expletives in the english language couldn't do my frustration justice.
July 26, 2013 3:49 PM
Section 222 said...
"I'm going to wake up tomorrow, and the Nats are going to be tied with the New York Mets."
For all those who are absolutely certain that the Nats will lose both games, you do remember that the last time we faced Harvey we won, right? The Mets bullpen is pretty bad. There's hope.
pedro, I really don't get why you feel you need to predict what will happen over the next 7 hours and get frustrated about it as if it's already happened. But I'll tell you what, if you are right and we lose both games of the DH, I won't criticize your incessantly negative and doom predicting posts again this season. But if we pull out this game, or win game 2, you'll stop making those kind of posts. For MNF's sake. Deal?
July 26, 2013 3:58 PM
I wish he had taken the bet. Oh well. But since he didn't, everyone should feel free to remind him of day, the next time he feels compelled to predict doom.
Joe S listen to your wife and stay home, if you have not left yet
July 26, 2013 4:41 PM
Section 222 said...
"Joe S listen to your wife and stay home"
Heck no! Tonight is a reverse lock if there ever was one. And a beautiful night for baseball!
July 26, 2013 4:43 PM
JoeS, I hope you went and thoroughly enjoyed the game tonight.
Drew Storen's mom has chimed in:
Pam Storen @PamStoren 15m
Some guy wants to option me to Syracuse. #whatdidIeverdotoyou
strasburg
Mom needs to remember that Drew got a nice signing bonus and has been paid well to throw a baseball. I have always been a huge supporter but this is not a bad baseball move.
Manassas - you just answered your question about who our ace is!!
Remember all the evil in the hitting moved drom Espi to Span
Deuces, we stayed home, Have to live with it.The only game I missed on our plan this year, but we had a great evening watching it on the tube. I hurt my back this morning, watched the first game, got bummed, saw the traffic nightmares, yada, yada, yada. Decided to stay home, get a decent pizza, drink good beer, not deal with the drive.We missed a good one though.I love pitching duals, and what's better than a walk off?
The Storens need to deal with this like professionals. This twitter stuff is embarrassing. And I'm sorry, if the "demotion" is what did this to Storen, then he wasn't mature enough or tough enough to handle the role anyway. In the off season, Rizzo put together a backend of the bullpen that was second to none in the majors on paper, and the only reason it hasn't worked out perfectly is that Storen isn't as good as we thought or is a head case. Either way, that's on him, not Rizzo.
Straighten up and come back.
Seamhead - you will have other opportunities to enjoy our lads. I am going tomorrow but not to the Nats Fan Appreciation stuff. Looking for us to end the home stand on a positive note!! I prefer to think 3 of 4 if we win. Baby steps
The question was aimed tp those who told me I was crazyif I think he is the ace.
222 - couldn't agree more with both points. I wouldn't know where to start with twitter and also don't need to hear from family about this. This is about Storen learning how to deal with adversity and his craft.
JoeS, glad you had a good evening. Walkoffs are awesome whether you're in the park or on your sofa. Let this be a lesson to all of us though. Two reverse locks came through today -- JZnn was bested by a guy making his first major league start of the year, and Harvey lost to Ross Ohlendorf. You just never know in baseball.
Manassas - you might not be able to spell with those fat fingers and poor eyes but i don't believe you are crazy!! Keep on typing!!
Storen once he gets his game together will be back.
His mother and father are the emarrasenent not Drew.
He just isnt pkaying ball well now.
I am crazy because I think we can win the east, but until we can't, I will believe we will.
"Manassas Nats' Fan said...
The question was aimed tp those who told me I was crazyif I think he is the ace."
It really doesn't matter who is the "ace." It's a rotation, not a depth chart. All five of them need to be pitching up to their full potential for this team to succeed. If you have kids, do you designate one as the "ace" of your family?
From the last thread, responding to my post that the Soriano move was the right one this time:
paul brandt said...
Joe, agree it worked with Soriano but it wasn't like a 1-2-3 inning, he looked awful.
July 26, 2013 10:07 PM
----///-------//-
That seems to be Raffy Soriano's M.O. I find it amazing how many times he bends without breaking, which reminds me of an old bluegrass song, "I ain't broke, but I'm badly bent." I like the guy and would hate to see him go. I think the guy is pretty misunderstood by many of us here.
I don't know whether the Nats FO is making a mistake on Storen. I do know they are making a terrible mistake on the timing of the Storen demotion. Couldn't they let the team bask in the glory of a walkoff win and then announce the Storen demotion tomorrow?
This has trigger-finger Rizzo's fingerprints all over it.
I was both the ace and closer.
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