Nieves first career HR, a walk-off 2-run shot, gives Nats 5-3 win
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Wil Nieves hit his first career home run at the right time. With one out and one on in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied at 3, he hit a 2-run walk-off HR for the 5-3 win. Nieves, who came in as a defensive replacement in the top of the 7th, said the only thing missing was his wife Yormarie. She just arrived from Puerto Rico today and was at the hotel when he hit the home run. Yormarie didn't come to the ballpark because Wil didn't start the game.
The win gives the Nats a 2-game win streak, their first since starting the season 3-0 and thier record improves to 8-16.
Post Game Notes & Quotes
Wil the Thrill
With tonight's HR, Nieves went 1-2 and is now batting .350. He doubled his RBI total with one swing on the bat. Coming into tonight, he had 1 RBI and now has 3. He threw out Ryan Theriot trying to steal second in the 7th. It was the second runner he's gunned down this season.
After the game he spoke about his first career home run.
"I didn't know I had it, but when it went out, it was a great feeling. I felt like I was running on the clouds. It was unbelievable. I never had that experience having a walk-off. It was great going to home plate and seeing my teammates waiting for me."
Austin Powers
Ok, so it's not the best title for this little blurb, but It's all I could come up with. Kearns, who also was a defensive replacement, got the ninth inning started with a single and scored on the Nieves homer.
Kearns talked about Neives.
"I'm happy for him, I'm happy for everybody. I just heard it was his first big league homer, I didn't know that. That's awesome. He's played well since he's been here and swinging the bat good. A walk-off homer, opposite field, can't say enough about it."
Box score
Cubs 3 8 1
Nats 5 7 0
WP-Rauch (2-0)
LP-Howry(0-2)
Presidents' Race
For those of you who care, and I know there are millions of you out there, Teddy did not win the Presidents' race tonight. He took a shotcut through the grass and was disqualified. Better luck next time, CHEATER!!!!
In Game Notes
Lastings Impressions
Lastings Milledge, who was pulled from the starting line-up before the game yesterday for showing up late, drove in Cristian Guzman with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 6th. Guzman reached on an error by first baseman Derrek Lee, moved to second on a single by Ryan Zimmerman and after Nick Johnson grounded into a double play that moved him to third, scored on the base hit.
Two for One
Perez was replaced by Luis Ayala prior to the Cubs batting in the 7th. After a 1-out single by Ryan Theriot, the Nats got a double play on a strike 'em out, throw 'em out. Derrek Lee was caught looking and Theriot was thrown out by Wil Nieves, who came in as a defensive replacment in the inning.
Caught Stealing
Nationals catchers have thrown out two would-be base stealers tonight, one each by Johnny Estrada and Wil Nieves. Coming into tonight, the Nats have thrown out just 1 of 18. Tonight they are 2-2. Prior to the game, Manny Acta said it was mainly on the pitchers to hold the runners on longer and it seemed like Odalis Perez and Luis Ayala did just that.
Scoring Update
The Cubs tied the game in the 5th on an RBI ground out by Aramis Ramirez. Odalis Perez gave up a lead-off single to Reed Johnson and a walk to Ryan Theriot. After a sac fly by Derrek Lee moved Johnson to third, Ramirez grounded into the 6-4 force out and Johnson scored the tying run.
Pitchers through 7
After giving up a 2-run HR in the 1st, Ryan Dempster has settled down and allowed just three base runners, 2 on walks and one single by Milledge.
Dempster's line: 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K. 108 pitches
Perez has has some tough innings and some easy innings. The only time he retired the side was the second, but he battled through the jams. He was lifted after 6 innings.
Perez's line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K. 91 pitches
Nick the Stick
Nick Johson's third home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the first, gives the Nats the early 2-0 lead. After a 2-out walk to Ryan Zimmerman, Johnson hit Ryan Dempster's 2-2 pitch into the right field seats above the Nationals bullpen.
Odalis Perez gave up a run in the third, when lead-off man Reed Johnson was hit by a pitch and Ryan Theriot followed with a run scoring double. Nats lead 2-1 after 4 innings.
Fukudome Fever
One of the Cubs newest players is Kosuke Fukudome, and he has quite a following. At last count there are at least 6 Japanese media who travel to every city, for every game, just to cover Fukudome's every move. It's not surprising that he gets this much attention. Almost every Japanese player who comes to play for MLB, get coverage like this. Think of Ichiro, Nomo, Matsuzaka, Matsui. All got this kind of attention. So far tonight he's 0-2 with two fly outs to left and he's left left 4 men on base.
Game Preview
Cubs (15-7) vs. Nationals (7-16)
Thursday night the Nationals bats came alive in their 10-5 win over the Mets and Felipe Lopez tied a career high with 6 RBI's. They matched a season high with 13 hits and nearly everone had a hand in the victory, including the pinch-hitters.
Tonight, the first place Cubs come to town for a 3-game series. It's Chicago's only visit to Nationals Park this season. Winners of 2 of their last 3, the Nats send Odalis Perez to face Ryan Dempster.
The Cubs have the second best record in baseball and lead the National League with a .284 team batting average, runs scored (135) and are second in RBI (125) and On-Base Percentage (.368). They've been winning despite not having former Nat Alfonso Soriano in the lineup. He's been on the DL since April 16 with a strained right calf and the Cubs are 7-2 without him. Prior to going on the DL, Soriano was hitting .175 with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
Last season the Cubs won 6 of 7 against the Nationals, 3 of 4 at RFK, and outscored the Nats 29-21. Manager Lou Pinella just notched his 100th career win with the Cubs, becoming the 4th manager to reach that mark with five different ball clubs. The franchise also won its 10,000th game on Wednesday.
Listen to Manny Acta's Pregame Media Session
Throwback Friday
Aaron Boone is trying to start a tradition that he hopes will catch on in the Nationals clubhouse. Every Friday during home games, he brings in a throwback jersey and hangs it next to his locker. I first noticed this two weeks ago, when Tim Redding was wearing a Pat LaFontaine Buffalo Sabres sweater, jersey for you non-hockey aficionados, and didn't think anything of it until I saw a Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagle jersey today. I asked Aaron about this new tradition.
Listen to Aaron Boone's Pregame Talk with Pete McElroy
Ryan Zimmerman caught on to Boone's new tradition and brought in a Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengal jersey. I asked him why Esiason?
Listen to Ryan Zimmerman's Discuss His Throwback Selection
Relax, don't do it
It's amazing what a win can do for a ball club. Prior to taking batting and fielding practice today, the Nats, coming of their 10-5 win last night, were as relaxed as I've seen them all season. Ronnie Belliard, who seems to be the team DJ, was playing "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. Willie Harris was doing the Soulja Boy dance while Lenny Harris and Wily Mo Pena and Belliard were looking on. No I didn't try the dance. Get real people.
About 15 minutes later, Odalis Perez, Cristian Guzman, Elijah Dukes, Wil Nieves, Lastings Milledge and Belliard were laughing so hard at an episode of Malcolm & Eddie that some of us media had to see what was so funny. I had never seen the show before, but it was hilarious. Eddie (Comedian Eddie Griffin), was boxing a man twice the size of him and the fight scene was so bad it was funny. The slo-mo's were worse than the original Rocky. Non of the punches landed, but it is television after all. It had all the players laughing out loud. Let's see if the Nats get the last laugh tonight vs. the Cubs.
Starting Line-Up
Cubs
CF Reed Johnson
SS Ryan Theriot
1B Derrek Lee
3B Aramis Ramirez
RF Kosuke Fukudome
LF Mark DeRosa
C Geovany Soto
2B Ronny Cedeno
P Ryan Dempster
Nationals
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
CF Lastings Milledge
C Johnny Estrada
LF Wily Mo Pena
RF Rob Mackowiak
P Odalis Perez
Pitching Match-Up
Odalis Perez (0-3, 3.38) is still winless and he shouldn't be. In 4 of his 5 starts, he has given up 2 earned runs or fewer. The team is 1-4 in his starts and the offense has scored only 11 runs in 5 games behind him. At Nationals Park this season, in 2 starts, Perez is 0-1, with a 2.53 ERA, giving up 3 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.
In his last start on April 20 at Florida, he gave up 5 hits, one unearned run, 3 walks and struckout 7 in 6 innings and left the game with the score tied 1-1, but the bullpen faltered and the Nats lost 6-1. Perez is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA career against the Cubs, holding the team to a .208 batting average.
Ryan Dempster (3-0, 3.00), who is 6-0, 3.40 ERA in 18 appearances, 10 starts, lifetime against the franchise, looks to remain undefeated. In his 4 starts this season, the Cubs have scored 34 runs and the team is 4-0.
Dempster's last outing was a 13-6 win over Pittsburgh. He gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 5 innings. That was the shortest outing of the year for the starter turned reliever turned back to a starter.
In the Community
On Saturday, the Nats will host the first in a series of youth baseball clinics, from 10a-12p, at Nationals Park. Over 100 children from the DC RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) will participate. Rob Mackowiak and Wil Nivies will talk to the kids following the clinic.
Parking News
If you plan on parking at RFK Saturday, make sure to park in Lot 7. Lot 8 will not be available to Nats fans due to the DC United game. This applies for all home United games when the Nats are also playing.
did teddy win??????????????
I would have paid $$$ to see you try the dance!!!