Lopez's bases loaded single gives Nats 3-2 win in 12
The Nats won their first extra inning game this season, 3-2 in 12 innings, over the Braves and match their longest win streak of the season, 3-games. They have now won 5 of 6 and 6 of thier last 8 improve to 11-17.
This was the first 2-game sweep of the Braves since May of 2005 and the first in Nationals Park.
Post game
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
Washington won for the 4th time in its last at-bat and recorded its 5th come-from-behind win.
The Nationals bench went 3-3, 2 walks and a run scored and Manny Acta spoke about them after the win.
Listen to Manny Acta's Postgame Press Conference
King of the Hill
Shawn Hill matched his career high in innings, 8, but feels he not exactly where he wants to be.
"I still have a ways to go, but I felt more comfortable today and I felt like I pitched more, as opposed to the last couple of games, trying to throw."
Designated Driver
Felipe Lopez had a chance to end the game in the 10th. He came up with the bases loaded and 1-out, but hit into the 1-2-3 double play. When the chance came again in the 12th, he wasn't letting this chance slip away.
"I was saying to myself, I got to get it done this time and I did"
Listen to Felipe Lopez's Postgame Interview
Missed Signal
Wil Nieves laid down a bunt with 2-on and 2 strikes in the 12th, but he wasn't supposed to be bunting. He missed a signal, but it worked out when braves pitcher Manny Acosta mis-handled the ball and every one was safe.
"I thought I saw bunt again. I was just trying to make the perfect bunt. I bunted to the worst fielder, sometimes that works."
Game Update
12th Inning Update
What a bizarre inning for the Nationals. Bottom 12, down 2-1. Austin Kearns, down 0-2, draws a walk. Next batter, Willie Harris hits a hard liner that goes off the glove of Martin Prado, in as a defensive replacement for Mark Teixeira, at first. Both runners are safe. Should've been a double play.
Wil Nieves lays down a bunt that goes through the legs of pitcher Manny Acosta and all runners are safe. Bases are now loaded. Pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard draws a walk to force in the tying run. With the infield and outfield in, Felipe Lopez hits a deep fly to score the winning run. Nats win streak now at 3 games.
11th Inning Update The Braves got a lead-off double from Mark Teixeira in the top of the 12th. Brian McCann grounded out to first and Teixeira moved to third. With the infield in, Jeff Francoeur grounded out to second, but Teixeira had to hold at third. Mark Kotsay drove him home with a single to right-center.
10th Inning Update
Felipe Lopez came to the plate in the bottom of the 10th, 1-out, bases loaded and the score tied 1-1. The infield and outfield were playing in. All he had to do was not hit the ball directly at some one and the game is over.
Lopez hit the ball back to Brave pitcher Manny Acosta and he started the 1-2-3 double play. The Nats head to the 11th still tied 1-1.
The Braves got a 1-out single from Ruben Gotay. Next batter, pinch-hitter Brayan Pena hit a fly to left and Gotay went too far towards second and was doubled off first to end the inning. If you're scoring at home, 7-4-3.
9th Inning Update
The Braves looked like they were headed to extra innings when Blaine Boyer retired Felipe Lopez and Cristian Guzman to begin the bottom of the 9th.
With Ryan Zimmerman batting, Boyer hit him in the back. Royce Ring relieved Boyer and hit Nick Johnson. Jeff Bennett spelled Ring and he got Lastings Milledge to ground off his glove, to the second baseman, for the final out.
8th Inning Update
Shawn Hill, in his last inning of work, got out of a jam and kept the score tied at 1-1. Mark Kotsay led-off with a single and was sacrified to second by Ruben Gotay. Pinch-hitter Matt Diaz grounded out to third and Kotsay advanced to third.
Hill got in front of Gregor Blanco 0-2 and looked to throw strikes on the next two pitches, but didn't get the call and Blanco walked. Hill settled down and got Yunel Escobar to ground out to end the inning.
6th Inning Update
The Nationals and Braves got on the board in the 6th. In the top of the inning, Gregor Blanco doubled with 2-out and scored on a soft single to right by Yunel Escobar.
In the bottom of the inning, Rob Mackowiak led-off with a double to center, was sacrificed to third on Shawn Hill's bunt and scored when Mark Teixeira threw home on Felipe Lopez's grounder. Mackowiak easily beat the throw to tie the game. After Cristian Guzman flew out, Lopez stole second but was stranded when Ryan Zimmerman grounded out.
Pitcher's Duel
Final Line Score
Hill: 8 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, K. 93 pitches, 58 strikes. Today matches the longest outing of his career.
Jurrjens: 7 IP, 2 H, ER, 3 K. 84 pitches, 60 strikes.
Update through 7
Shawn Hill has given up 3 hits, a run, walked 1 and struckout 1. He's thrown 76 pitches.
Jair Jurrjens gave up 2 hits, a run, and struckout 3. He's thrown 84 pitches
Update through 5
Shawn Hill and Jair Jurrjens are tossing an old fashion pitchers duel. Both have given up just one hit and both have faced 16 batters, one over the minimum through 5 innings.
Hill has thrown 52 pitches, 33 for strikes and Jurrjens 57 piitches, 39 strikes. Each team has left one man on base.
Update through 3
Shawn Hill has faced just 9 batters through 3 innings and Jair Jurrjens has retired all 9 Nats in order.
Hill got a bit of help from the Braves at the plate. After Mark Kotsay doubled and advanced to third on a fly out, Braves manager Bobby Cox put the squeeze play on with Atlanta pitcher Jair Jurrjens batting. Jurrjens failed to get the bat on the ball and Kotsay was hung out to dry.
Cordero out 4-6 Weeks
Pitcher Chad Cordero will miss 4-6 weeks with a tear of the Latissmus Dorsi muscle. No operation is needed, just rehab, according to team Dr. Benjamin Schaeffer. Cordero left last night's game in the 9th after experiencing pain in the muscle. He said the tendinitis in his right shoulder is fine.
Starting Line-Up's
Braves
LF Gregor Blanco
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Chipper Jones
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brian McCann
RF Jeff Francoeur
CF Mark Kotsay
2B Ruben Gotay
P Jair Jurrjens
Nationals
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Austin Kearns
C Johnny Estrada
LF Rob Mackowiak
P Shawn Hill
Game Preview:
Braves (12-14) vs. Nationals (10-17)
The Nationals look to keep the momentum going against the Braves. The Nats are going for their third consecutive win, something they haven't done since winning the first three to begin the season.
Last night's offensive star, Ryan Zimmerman, went 3-4, HR (3) and drove in three runs, the most RBI he's had in a game this season.
This afternoon, Shawn Hill, in search of his first win, faces Jair Jurrjens. The Braves are looking to snap a 3-game losing streak.
Minor League Notes
The Potomac Nationals became the first Carolina League team in 30 years to win a game in which it was no-hit...in Game 2 of their doubleheader, the P-Nats rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to defeat Winston-Salem (White Sox), 3-2...trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the 6th, the first 3 Potomac hitters reached base via an error and 2 walks...after a passed ball scored one run and an intentional walk was issued, Warthog pitching walked in the tying run...OF Dee Brown beat out a groundball, allowing INF Jemel Spearman to score the winning run for the P-Nats...RHP Zech Zinicola pitched a perfect 7th inning to earn the save...per minor league guidelines for a doubleheader, the game was only scheduled for 7.0 innings.
Triple-A
Columbus Clippers 12-14, 4th Place, 5.5 GB
RHP Jason Bergmann earned his first win, allowing one unearned run and 4 hits in 8.0 innings of work last night at Indianapolis (Pirates)...he struck out 6 and walked 2...Bergmann, who began the season as a member of Washington's starting rotation, is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 3 Triple-A starts...the 26-year-old was optioned to Columbus April 12.
RHP Chris Schroder is 2-0 with one save and a 1.08 ERA (1 ER/8.1 IP) in 5 games...he has struck out 14 and walked 3...he has worked 2 innings in 3 of his appearances...Schroder, 29, was optioned to Columbus, April 16.
Double-A
Harrisburg Senators 15-9, 1st Place
OF Justin Maxwell (27 walks) trails only Albert Pujols (29) for the most walks in professional baseball...he is tied for 3rd in the Eastern League with 8 stolen bases and ranks 8th with a .422 on-base percentage... Maxwell, Washington's reigning Minor League Player of the Year, hit .269 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI in 15 September contests with Washington in 2007.
C Luke Montz leads the league in slugging percentage (.677) and OPS (1.098)...his .371 batting average and 24 RBI both rank 2nd in the EL...Montz, selected in the 17th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with 4 home runs and 22 RBI with RISP.
Single-A
Carolina League Northern Division
Potomac Nationals 16-7, 1st Place
LHP Cory VanAllen tossed 7.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in Game 1 of a doubleheader yesterday vs. Winston Salem...he struck out 4 and did not walk a batter in the no-decision...the 23-year-old has allowed just one unearned run in his last 3 starts (18.0 innings)...VanAllen, a 2007 South Atlantic League All-Star, is 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA (2 ER/27.1 IP) in 5 appearances (4 starts). VanAllen was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday.
RHP Adrian Alaniz has earned the win in his last 2 starts, tossing 12.0 shutout innings in those contests...he is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA (6 ER/20.0 IP) in 4 starting assignments...the 23-year-old, who was a 2007 NY-Penn League mid-season All-Star, is scheduled to make his next start Thursday vs. Frederick (Orioles).
RHP Zech Zinicola picked up his 2nd consecutive save, and extended his scoreless innings streak to 11.1 after tossing a perfect inning last night vs. Winston Salem...he has posted a .059 (2-for-34) batting average against...Zinicola, Washington's 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, is 2-0 with 2 saves, 13 strikeouts and 3 walks in 7 appearances.
Single-A
South Atlantic League Northern Division
Hagerstown Suns 12-12, T-4th Place, 5 GB
OF Michael Burgess is tied for 3rd in minor league baseball with 8 home runs...Burgess, Washington's 3rd selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .372 (16-for-43) with 6 home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games...overall, 12 of his 23 hits have gone for extra bases (3 doubles, a triple and 8 homers)...the 19-year-old, who entered the season rated as the No. 4 prospect in the Washington chain according to Baseball America, is batting .264 with 18 RBI in 23 games.
RHP Colton Willems earned his 2nd win, allowing one run and 3 hits in 6.0 innings last night vs. West Virginia (Brewers)...Willems, who began the season rated as the No. 9 prospect in the Nationals' system according to BA, is 2-2 with a 2.07 ERA (5 ER/21.2 IP) in his last 4 starts...the 19-year-old was selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
INF Bill Rhinehart is hitting a team-leading .330 with 2 home runs and 18 RBI in 24 games...the 23-year-old is 10-for-21 (.476) with 8 RBI in his last 5 games...he has recorded an RBI in each of those 5 contests...Rhinehart, a 2007 NY-Penn League mid-season All-Star, is batting .520 (13-for-25) with 15 RBI with RISP.
Nats in the Community
On Saturday May 3, the Nationals Dream Foundation hosts the third annual Dream Gala. The event will begin at 7p with a cocktail reception and silent auction; with a dinner program, live auction and dancing to follow at 8pm. All of the proceeds from the gala will benefit the initiatives of the Foundation. For more information, visit nationals.com or washingtonnationalsdreamfoundation.org
Pitching Match-Up
Shawn Hill (0-0, 5.40), making his third start of the season, is looking for his first win since September 10 last year. He said after his last start that the pain in his right forearm is almost gone and he's progressing the way he wants, but he knows he still working himself into pitching shape.
In his last outing, against the Mets on April 24, Hill pitched 5 innings, gave up 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), walked 3 and struckout 5 in the Nats 10-5 win. After that game, Hill said "I just let the guys who shouldn't beat me, beat me. I left bad pitches over the middle of the plate. I missed location more than anything."
In his last start against the Braves, September 15, 2007, Hill gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits and 4 walks and lost 3-0. In his career vs. Atlanta, 2 starts, he is 0-2, 4.91 ERA.
Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 3.45) is on the mound for the Braves. He has won his last two starts, giving up 5 hits, 4 earned runs and striking out 12 in 13 innings. Even though he's pitched into the 5th inning in every start this season, Jurrjens has had trouble on the road. He's 1-2, 4.26 ERA, compared to 2-0, 2.19 at home.
Jurrjens, who turned 22 in January, is making his first career start vs. the Nationals. As a rookie last season, pitching for the Detroit Tigers, he was 3-1, 4.70 in 7 starts. He was in the trade that sent SS Edgar Renteria to the Tigers. Jurrjens has a 4-seam fastball that has been clocked between 92-96 with good movement, a 90-95 2-seam sinker and a good change-up. His sinker and slider are his best weapons.
He is the first player from Curacao to ever pitch in the big leagues.
Inside the Numbers
The Nationals 3-5 hitters went 6-12, 2 HR, 6 RBI and 3 runs last night.
The Nationals bullpen gave up 1 run in 3 innings last night, earned the win, Rivera (2-1)and the save, Rauch (5).
Last season, the Nats didn't get their 10th win until May 11.
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