9th inning rally falls short; Nats drop 7th in a row
Odalis Perez gave Manny Acta what he wanted, a solid outing by a starting pitcher. It wasn't quite enough though as Marlins starter Mark Hendrickson was better and the Nats losing streak has reached 7-games with the 4-3 set back.
With the Nats trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the 9th, Lastings Milledge doubled to lead-off the inning. One out later, Nick Johnson looked like he just tied the game with a 2-run HR, but left fielder Josh Willingham reached over the 8-foot wall and pulled it back into play. He didn't make the catch, but it did keep the tying run from scoring. After Austin Kearns was hit by a pitch, to put runners on first and second, Paul LoDuca grounded into the 4-6-3 game ending double play, the 3rd of the night for the Nats and they lose for the seventh straight time, 4-3.
Here are the final totals
R H E
Marlins 4 13 0
Nationals 3 7 1
WP-Hendrickson (2-1)
LP-Perez (0-2)
SV-Gregg (2)
Acta on his bullpen.
"I didn't go into the 8th thinking Ayala was going to give up a run and I didn't go into the 9th thinking Rauch was going to give up a run either, when you're going bad, you're going bad."
Acta on Perez
"Odalis gave us a great start, a great chance and we couldn't score many runs."
Perez on his outing
"It was good, 5 2/3 innings, 2 runs, I'd say I did what I was asked to do and I did it. I made one mistake in the 6th, but that was it... I felt good all night long and unfortunately I lost with a good effort, but that's part of the game."
Lastings Milledge on the losing streak
"We're not going to put pressure on ourselves, we've got a lot of time to fight back... We have to keep clawing and scratching and come out every day and try to turn it around."
LoDuca on not coming through in the 9th
"I just didn't get it done, didn't get it done. He made a good pitch. I hope I'm in that spot tomorrow.. someone needs to get a hit with guys in scoring position and I did't get it done bottom line, a very dissapointing loss."
Lead-off hitter Hanley Ramirez hit a double to right center to start the inning and two batters later the Marlins tied the game on Jeremy Hermida's 1-out single to center. Odalis Perez struckout Josh Willingham for the second out, but Manny Acta lifted him for reliever Saul Rivera. After Mike Jacobs singled, Jorge Cantu doubled to give Florida the 2-1 lead. Rivera loaded the bases but out of trouble when Matt Treanor grounded out to end the inning.
Did you notice?
After Johnny Estrada singled home Paul LoDuca to bring the Nats to within 3-2, Manny Acta pinch-ran for Estrada. His replacement? Pitcher Tim Redding. Interesting choice since Redding is not know for his speed. Acta did this to save his bench.
Perez was solid
Odalis Perez left the game with the score tied 1-1, but was responsible for the two runners on base. Saul Rivera gave up a run scoring double and Perez can only get the loss. His line for the night, 5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. He threw 93 pitches, 65 for strikes. This is the outing Manny Acta needed from his starter, but with the offense only able to manage 3 hits and a run, Perez is still looking for his first win in a Nationals uniform.
Hendrickson just as strong
Marlin pitcher Mark Hendrickson matched Perez pitch for pitch, in fact he was even better. Hendrickson's line: 7 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 2 K. He threw a measly 80 pitches, 52 for strikes. Only one runner made it past second and that was Belliard on his HR.
Sixth Sense
It seems like Nats opponents have it. The Marlins scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the 6th inning tonight. This was the 10th & 11th given up by the Nats in 6th this season, the most in any inning this year. The Nationals have been outscored 11-3 in the frame.
Lopez vs the Fans
In the top of the 5th, after Matt Treanor's double down the left field line, the fans appeared to get on Lopez. It looked liked he wasn't running his hardest after the ball, but it was an easy double for Treanor. As Lopez was moving into position for the next batter, he was making hand gestures towards the fans in the left field seats. I'll see if I can find out what was being said. Let's remember, Lopez had never played the position prior to this season.
Game Preview: Marlins (5-3) vs. Nationals (3-6)
Odalis Perez takes the mound today in hopes of snapping the Nationals 6-game losing streak and avoid being swept by the Florida Marlins. Perez, coming off a sub-par outing, gave up 5 earned runs on 8 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings at St.Louis last Friday night in the Cards 5-4 win.
Starting Line-Ups
Marlins
SS Hanley Ramirez .414/2/6
2B Dan Uggla .188/2/6
RF Jeremy Hermida .400/0/2
LF Josh Willingham .219/2/4
1B Mike Jacobs .212/4/9
3B Jorge Cantu .242/1/1
CF Cody Ross .125/0/0
C Matt Treanor .273/0/1
P Mark Hendrickson .000/0/0
Nationals
SS Cristian Guzman .326/2/6
CF Lastings Milledge .316/1/5
3B Ryan Zimmerman .231/2/3
1B Nick Johnson .267/1/4
RF Austin Kearns .233/0/4
C Paul LoDuca .231/0/4
2B Ronnie Belliard .219/0/5
LF Felipe Lopez .227/0/1
P Odalis Perez .000/0/0
And Down the Stretch They Come
So I'm in the clubhouse prior to the Nationals taking batting practice and the entire team is in there. I fully expect everyone to be watching the Masters on the many plasmas, but one person in particular couldn't be bothered, Paul LoDuca. His locker faces one of the HD screens and it was tuned to the horse racing channel. I asked him why he was watching the horses and he told me he had a horse, Guts Game, racing in the 8th at Aquaduct in NY. He was glued to the TV as the race began, she went off at 7-1. Not a favorite by any means because LoDuca said she hadn't run in nearly six months. When the race ended, Guts Game, finished in 7th place, next to last. As LoDuca was walking out to go stretch, he said "That's why I play baseball," which drew laughs from the media and his teammates. One other interesting tid-bit, NLF QB Tom Brady and Rap superstar Jay-Z are part owners of the horse with LoDuca.
Pep Talk
As the Nats were stretching before taking batting and fielding practice, team President Stan Kasten and Sr. VP & GM Jim Bowden were talking to the position players, giving words of encouragement.
Speaking of Bowden, he spoke to the media, behind the batting cages and offered the following information.
Bowden on Wily Mo Pena's injury
"He will play left field tomorrow (extended spring training), then he will play in the outfield, Saturday for Columbus(Triple-A), then he will DH on Sunday for Columbus and then we'll take it day-by-day. I'm hoping by maybe next weekend he's playing, but we'll know more and we are very, very pleased with his progress."
On How Much Pena and Dukes are missed
"Pena and Elijah are missed because every time they come to the plate, they have a chance to hit the ball out of the park and whether they do or don't, it allows better pitches for the people around you."
As always, Bowden held court and made talking to the Sr. VP & GM easy to talk to.
Cordero Update
As I stated earlier, Cordero pitched well last night for Single-A Potomac, pitching one scoreless inning and earning the win. He will pitch for Potomac again tomorrow night and he status will be determind at that point. He could be activated as early as Sunday depending on Friday night.
Sutton & Hutton
As the Nats were taking BP, two former players and current broadcasters were chatting eachother up. Don Sutton, who calls the game on MASN for the Nationals and Tommy Hutton, who calls the game on FSN Florida for the Marlins. Good to see old foes friendly with one another. Also on the field with Sutton was his daughter Jackie, who I'm told is the unofficial team mascot.
Nats in the Community
Tomorrow, outfielder Lastings Milledge, will visit Ron Brown Middle School from 11a-12:30p and speak to students and help motivate them to do well on their upcoming District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System tests.
Saturday the Nationals Dream Foundation will announce their partners for the Neighborhood Initiative, the third of the Dream Foundation's cornerstone programs and unveil the nationals Park "Wall of Dreams" It will take place at 11am in the center Field Plaza.
Aside from poor pitching, the Nats offense has been pretty dormant, during the current winless run.
A Look Inside the Numbers
Here are some interesting offensive stats during the 6-game skid.
BA: .256
w/ RISP .270
Runs: 26 (4.3/GM)
LOB: 51 (8.5/GM)
The Nats will need to hit better with runners on base. They are leaving too many guys on.
Pitching Match-Up
Hendrickson (1-1, 4.41) vs. Perez (0-1,6.10)
Perez has looked like two different pitchers in his two starts this season. In the season opener, he looked solid, giving up an earned run in 5 innings. In the game Friday night, he was touched for a 2-run HR in the first and gave up two more runs in the fourth. He lasted just 4 innings giving up five earned.
One thing that stood out to me was, Perez isn't getting any offensive help. In his two starts, the Nats have managed just six hits and three runs in the 9 innings he's on the hill. Not many starters will earn wins this way. In his career against the Marlins, Perez is 2-1, 4.41 in 9 games (6 starts).
The Marlins counter with 6'9'' LHP Mark Hendrickson. This is the third lefty in three games vs. the Marlins that the Nats will face. Hendrickson, making his third start, was solid in his previous outing, going 5 1/3, giving up three runs, one earned in the 7-3 win vs. the Pirates. In three career starts vs. the Nationals/Expos, he is 0-1, 4.96.
The last one coming, as a Dodger, on 5/31/07, when he gave up five earned and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in the 11-4 loss. Hendrickson, drafted in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, didn't play pro baseball until 1998. He played four years in the NBA with four different teams.
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