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Nats Crash Phillies Opener 11-6
Nick Johnson doesn't look like a guy who is trying to work off some rust. In only his second game since September of 2006, Johnson looks to be in mid-season form.
In the top of the 9th and the game tied 6-6, Johnson lined the game winning RBI double, his second double of the game, to right center off Phillies closer Tom "Flash" Gordon, to give the Nats a 7-6 lead. They would add four more runs off Gordon before Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel pulled him.
When the top of the 9th ended, the Nationals sent 9 men to the plate, hit four doubles and scored 5 runs en route to the 11-6 victory.
Just like last season, there is no quit in these Nats. They fell behind 1-0 after the first inning and 2-0 after four. The bats woke up in the top of the 5th. They loaded the bases off Phils starter Brett Myers and last night's hero Ryan Zimmerman hit a sac fly to score Matt Chico, who singled with one out to get the inning going. Two batters later, Austin Kearns hit a 2-run double to give the Nationals the 3-2 lead. They would add one more on an error by SS Jimmy Rollins.
New comer Lastings Milledge showed his power in the 6th , when he hit a 2-run shot to left off reliever Ryan Madson. That gave the Nats a 6-2 lead.
The Phillies would counter with a Chase Utley solo shot in the bottom of the frame, off Chico, to cut the deficit to 6-3. In the 7th, the reigning NL East champs would rally to tie the game off Joel Hanrahan and Ray King. Hanrahan walked Jayson Werth to lead off the inning and give up an RBI double to Carlos Ruiz to make it 6-4 Nats. King spelled Hanrahan and gave up a 2-Run HR to MVP Rollins that tied the game at 6-6. The game stayed that way until the Nationals broke the game wide open in the 9th. They will enjoy the night and off day tomorrow before having to face tough left hander Cole Hamles on Wednesday night.
This was a game of momentum swings. First the Phillies had it, then the Nationals took a strangle hold it, but the Phils wrangled it away. Eventually, the game came down to a battle of bullpens. The starters, Matt Chico for the Nationals and Brett Myers for the Phillies, were long gone when this one was decided.
With the Phils leading 2-0, the Nats bats woke up in the 5th inning. Chico did what a pitcher is supposed to do, help his own cause. After Willie Harris lined out to 2nd baseman Chase Utley, Chico singled to center off Phillies starter Brett Myers. Lead-off man Christian Guzman followed with his own single up the middle. Lastings Milledge was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Last night's hero, Ryan Zimmerman hit a sac fly to center to cut the deficit in half. Clean-up hitter Nick Johnson, who doubled in his first at-bat, walked to load the bases again. Austin Kearns followed with a 2-out, 2-run double to right center to give the Nats the 3-2 lead. One they would never relinquish. The next batter, Paul LoDuca, hit a routine grounded to short that looked like it would end the inning, but Jimmy Rollins couldn't get a handle and Johnson scored the unearned run to make it 4-2.
Game Notes
-Saul Rivera worked a perfect 8th get the victory.
-Nats are 2-0 and leading the NL East
-Matt Chico's pitching line: 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K. 93 pitches, 54 strikes.
-Guzman, Milledge, Johnson & Kearns all had 2 hits.
-Every starter had a hit and a run scored, including Chico, except for Zimmerman and Willie Harris
-Dmitri Young had a pinch-hit double in the 9th, his first hit of the year.
-Nationals Bullpen: 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K
-Tom Gordon's pitching line: 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, BB. His ERA is 135.00. Ouch!!!
-Myers hit both LoDuca and Milledge with pitches.
-The Nationals didn't arrive in Philadelphia until approximately 2:30am this morning, about 12 hours before the first pitch vs. the Phillies.
-Tomorrow is a scheduled off day.
-Wednesday's pitching match-up: RHP Tim Redding vs. LHP Cole Hamles on MASN. Nats Xtra at 6:30
Pete,
Great review on an AWESOME game. Unfortunately, I am a little bummed because I took my young son to the game in Philly (See the little NATS fan in your closing segment holding up the "We Love Our NATS" sign and several disgruntled Phillie's fans not only grabbed and ran off with our sign but also took our bag with all of our gear including personal belongings and 3 balls from Nick Johnson, Paul LoDuca and Christian Guzman. It was so sad to end a great day like this in the so called "City of Brotherly Love". Even though our road trip to Philly ended horribly and set a bad example for my son, we will return to cheer on our Nats with even more gear.
2-0 and we are rocking!
Best Wishes.....Ed