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| Photo by USA Today |
Hitting highlight: The Nats jumped out with an early lead in the win, scoring two runs in the second and two more in the third, all on home runs. The first two came on back-to-back solo shots by Ian Desmond and Denard Span. The third homer was a two-run smash by Harper in the third inning to score Haren who had reached with a double.
Pitching highlight: Haren hasn't been the man the Nats thought he was this season, but on Saturday he looked every bit the superstar pitcher he used to be. The veteran started the day off with three hitless innings and finished with seven frames of one-run ball. He allowed three hits and a walk, striking out six on 103 total pitches. Today was just the third time in 19 starts this season he's lasted more than six innings.
Key stat: Span's homer was his first of the season and in turn the first he's hit as a Nationals player. It also marked the seventh time this season the Nats have hit back-to-back home runs.
Up next: The Nats and Mets finish off their four-game series with a Sunday afternoon (1:35 p.m.) game. Rookie Taylor Jordan (0-3, 3.68 ERA) will look for his first MLB win against Carlos Torres (1-1, 0.94).
3/4. .750 winning percentage!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like weeks since Ive untucked.
ReplyDeleteThe Nats ended 2 dreadful streaks today.
ReplyDeleteThe Haren 11 game team losing streak is over and the Nats won there 1st game of the season when scoring 4 runs.
Heased for high school's 40th reunion. Took some to the park.left at rain delay so we could make reunion on time.
ReplyDeleteHow about Span and Haren?
Jordan has about 3 more starts. By then Storen should be ready to come back, and Orndorf take 5th starter spot.
Don't forget Span breaking his homerless streak. Even for him, it had been a long time coming.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to see a shot of Span smiling after he hit the dinger.
ReplyDelete(Dropped my punctuation mark there. That's an E1a.))
ReplyDeleteAtta way, Danny! Atta way, Denard! Atta way, Nats!
And an "atta fan" for any of y'all who were out there all day what with the STH event, rain delay, and game. (MNF gets one, too, because he had a good excuse for leaving early. :-))
(But I added a parenthesis, so there's that.)
ReplyDeleteIs it me, or are those throwback A's unis kinda, well, ugly?
Damn a streak! Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI think the A's uniforms are very ugly, too, natfan1a.
ReplyDeleteI had a real problem seeing the ball off the batwith the Fox cameras today. Fox really sux, IMHO.
agreed, especially in that summer sun.
ReplyDeleteJust got home!!
ReplyDeleteHave to admit, I left early.
Big Thanks to 106 (he knows why!)
From 308 there we could actually see a huge difference between Haren's 89 and Gee' 89 mph. Both looked hittable and several Mets did hit shots but they were right at our guys which was nice for a change. Haren does have some wicked movement when he is on.
We now have 3 of 4 and I just hope we can end this home streak on a positive note and get Mr. Jordan his first Major League Win.
Off to my Mom's 89th birthday party. Can only hope she has had just 3 Irish Coffees by now.
Go Nats!!!
natsfan1a said...
ReplyDelete(But I added a parenthesis, so there's that.)
Is it me, or are those throwback A's unis kinda, well, ugly?
you are late to the party...see last post (late) for the discussion...they were 1969 throwback jerseys and I for one thought they were awesome.
Happy birthday to your mom, sjm. That's a good excuse for leaving early, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't do game threads, Paul, but thanks for the background.
ReplyDeleteGosh 1a, I like the throwback A's unis. Very colorful.
ReplyDelete1a, understood...good win for the Nats, would love to see us run off like 8 in a row.
ReplyDeleteand nice job by Haren with the double prior to Harper's 2 run HR to make it 4-0...that was a huge hit by Haren.
Amazing stat of the game: We only had three strike outs against us! Is that a season low?
ReplyDeletenope, 1 is season low against Baltimore in the only win this season.
ReplyDeleteanother game with 2 Ks against Reds in April.
ReplyDeleteDown here where the Redskins are all over the place, local Fox showed an episode of "Coach" instead of the end of the Nats game. So I cannot get away from RGIII in Richmond, but the local TV guys cannot wait out a rain delay for the Nationals. Just another nail in the coffin of why I cannot stand the Fox broadcasts...freaking unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteDan Kolko @masnKolko 2m
ReplyDeleteBryce Harper joked he didn't want Denard Span getting cocky after his 1st HR. Too late. "I might hit 30 the rest of the year," Span cracked
LOL
Think maybe getting some of this stuff out in the open the last couple of days relieved a little pressure?
ReplyDeletebaseballswami said...
ReplyDeleteThink maybe getting some of this stuff out in the open the last couple of days relieved a little pressure?
July 27, 2013 7:27 PM
I don't know swami, but getting pressure relieved is paramount imo.
If we can continue to get performances out of Haren and Ohlendorff like their last ones, we may be able to put together a serious winning streak. Man would that make me feel better.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great game for the Danimal. Lets just hope he can keep it up.
ReplyDeleteMule On Defense:
ReplyDeleteMark's nutshell analysis was excellent, but overlooked the slick, smooth All-Star level defense turned in by the Nats. Aside from one Little League-type error from Rendon on a routine ground ball, the defensive brilliance which we so took for granted in 2012 was once again apparent.
Wall-crawler Span robs a double; Harper's pinpoint throw to second holds Murphy to a single on a hit guaranteed 2 bases against most other left fielders; Desmond's stellar range, sure glove and cannon arm; and LaRoche diving to his right to rob a hit, cannily throwing FROM HIS KNEES to second to start a 3-6-3 double play.
Mule has not seen this level of sustained defensive excellence over 9 innings with any frequency in 2013.
Pray it may continue.
+1
ReplyDeleteNatsJack in Florida said...
I'm really getting tired of these people that don't know to read the bylines and address Mark when Chase is the writer. Especially those that write in 3rd person.
Anyone else on here go to season plan holder appreciation night? How much more a #$@*&$ could a lot of the players have been? Gio and DJ spend a few hours posing and the likes of Harper and Werth the obligatory wave and walk and are gone in minutes. Morse trade changed the chemistry and is a big part of this slide. # Will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletelots of positives today, Span, finally a homer pigs do fly, lol
ReplyDeleteits one game at a time, one series at a time...that has to be the mind set of all 25 guys, plain and simple
ReplyDeleteIf they can keep the defense tight, and pick up the offense adding hits w/ RISP, they aren't out of the equation yet. They are at 51-54, and the Braves are at 59-45. It looks like a long shot but if the Nats can go 34-23(.597), and the Braves go 25-33 (.431) the rest, they can win the division.
ReplyDeleteThe Nats could do that with A DC Wonk's formula by winning 2/3 from the big 3 and 1/2 of the #4,5 spots. If Ohlendorf pitches like he has and Haren like he did post-DL, we could have a winning streak to help push it further.
The Phillies are getting absolutely demolished by the Tigers. 8-0 in the 2nd.
ReplyDeleteLuv the enthusiasm BW. I' just want good baseball played
ReplyDeleteJoe S
ReplyDeleteabout A's uniforms...when I was a kid, I thought they were cool in 1969...now that i am a geezer, I see your point
Last year Nats were slipping towards second place. J Lannen came in and pitched a gem in the second game of double header against Barves. Lets hope what Ohlen and Haren did is a big spark like that.
ReplyDeleteand we finally beat Kenny G, I meant Dillion Gee
ReplyDeletehee hee
Wasian
ReplyDeletegood point and agreed
Mick my man. Still gotta meet at a game.
ReplyDeleteyou know it my man!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you guys. All that matters is that they play good baseball one day at a time. I like looking at the numbers because it's nice to see that despite the numerous obstacles and shortcomings, they haven't completely imploded off the face of the map.
ReplyDeletecoach sjm
ReplyDeleteGod bless your mom, thats awesome!!!
NatsJack in Florida said...
ReplyDeleteAnd another post by a neophyte.
And another post by the cranky old jerk in Del Boca Vista. Isn't it past your bedtime?
everybody left?
ReplyDeleteoh well
I stick around reading posts alot Mick, but thats because I'm out on the West Coast and I'm usually awake longer.
ReplyDeleteLong day with the fan appreciation early. SJM, great meeting you-we'll have to get together for a game in a homestand or two. Also happy B-day to your mother.
ReplyDeleteSaw comments about the fan appreciation. Like anything else, it is what you make of it. Clearly ownership directs players to not sign autographs and not pose for pictures, which I think is wrong. Signs made it very clear. Some players flat out disregarded that, signing autographs and posing for pictures. My hat is off to guys like Ramos, Rendon, Clippard, T Jordan, Tracy, Matheus and especially LaRoche. I'm sure there were others who posed with fans, but I noticed them since they were right around me.
My daughter and her friend got a great shot with LaRoche, Jordan and Clippard.
While I have been hyper critical of Johnson's management, he is a class act and knows what fans want. He was the first one out and signed autotgraphs until he had to go in. Overall, I think it could have been handled a little more like an autograph session or just pictures, but hey, it was still a good day.
Haren looked sharp and a rain delay forced us home. I got no complaints. I was at the ballpark for 7 hours. And for me, that's a great day.
Just to reiterate from the game thread: we LOVED the A's uniforms in 1969; we became A's fans just for the laundry. I still love them.
ReplyDeleteAnd nobody wore those colors better than Rickey.
ReplyDeleteI thought Davey blew off the STH event today. So he was there after all?
ReplyDeleteYes, he was there. He blew off the press conference with the fans. Rizzo and I think Doug Harris (Player Development) were answering fan questions.
ReplyDeleteHe was definitely signing on the field-I think he might have made it to 1/3 of the crowd before he had to go prep for the game. He was out there for over an hour.