Nats drop first game of series to Fish, 7-3
The Nationals fell behind Florida early and never got on track. Tim Redding gave up a 1st inning run and two more in the 4th and the Nats were never able to deliver a big hit when they needed it.
Redding gave up 6 runs, 5 earned on 4 hits and 4 walks in 5 1/3 while the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco allowed only 1-run on 4 hits to earn the win.
Post Game
Final Numbers
Marlins 7-9-1
Nationals 3-7-1
WP-Nolasco (2-3)
LP-Redding (4-3)
Wrong direction
With the loss, the Nationals have dropped 3 of their last 4. They have lost 3 straight and 6 of 7 against the Marlins this season.
G-Man
Cristian Guzman collected 2 more hits on Friday night, his 14th multi-hit game of the season. In his last 6 games, Guzman is hitting .428 (12-28), 9 runs, 3 doubles and 8 RBI.
Wil the Thrill
With a hit tonight, Wil Nieves has hit in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .419 (13-31) in that span.
Nick & Lastings
Besides Guzman, Nick Johnson and Lastings Milledge each had two hits on the night.
Clubhouse Sound
Matt Chico talks about his outing and what it's like to pitch out of the bullpen
In Game updates
Stop the Presses
Wil Nieves threw a runner out at second, but it is not what you might think. The official scorer said Cody Ross was trying to advance on what would've been a wild pitch. It goes in the books as a 2-4 put out, but not a caught stealing. At least they got the runner.
Put up your Dukes
Elijah Dukes, making his first appearance in a Nationals uniform since opening day, came in the game as a defensive replacement 7th and got 2 at-bats. He struckout in both. His timing looked a bit off, but I guess that's expected since he hasn't faced major league pitching in nearly a month and a half.
Nationals scoring
The Nationals put together a mini-rally in the 7th off reliever Doug Waechter, but they only scored twice and trail 7-3 entering the 8th.
Wil Nieves led-off with a single and Cristian Guzman drove him home with a 2-out double to right. After a walk to Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson singled to score Guzman. Lastings Milledge walked to load the bases, and Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez replaced Waechter with Justin Miller. Miller got Austin Kearns to pop out to center to end the inning.
Chico's evening
Matt Chico, who was pulled from the starting rotation earlier this week, pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief tonight. He gave up 2 hits, didn't walk or strikeout a batter. Chico threw 35 pitches, 22 for strikes. He looked pretty good in his first outing out of the bullpen.
Nolasco through 6 innings
Ricky Nolasco, staked to a 7-1 lead, is looking sharp through 6 innings. He struckout 2 in the 6th and got out of the only trouble he was in. He loaded the bases in the 4th and walked in a run, but got out of the inning without any further damage. He's given up 4 hits and 1-run and thrown 93 pitches. Nolasco was pulled before the start of the 7th. Here is his line for the night
6 IP, 4H, R, 2 BB, 6 K. 93 pitches, 59 strikes.
Marlins scoring
Tim Redding loaded the bases and got only 1-out in the 6th before he was replaced by Jesus Colome. The Marlins didn't care and scored 4 times to break the game open.
Luis Gonzalez hit a 3-run double off Colome to make it 6-1. All three runs were charged to Redding. Two batters later, Matt Treanor singled Gonzalez home to make it 7-1.
The Nationals have only managed 3 hits off Ricky Nolasco and a bases loaded walk by Wily Mo Pena accounts for their only run.
Redd faced
Tim Redding didn't make it out of the 6th inning before Manny Acta had seen enough. He loaded the bases on a single and two walks and his night was over. Jesus Colome came in to try and keep it a 3-1 game, but he gave up a bases clearing double to Luis Gonzalez . Redding was charged with all 3 runs. His line on the night
5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K. He threw 103 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Pitcher's through 4 innings
Redding has given up 3 hits and 3 runs, 2 earned, in 4 innings, but his pitch count is a bit high. He's thrown 70 pitches.
Ricky Nolasco was cruising through the first 3 innings. He didn't allow a hit, but Hanley Ramirez let an easy grounder get under him and he was charged with an error. No problem for Nolasco, he got out of the inning with no problem. Nolasco gave up back-to-back 2-out singles and walked Austin Kearns to load the bases in the 4th. With the count full, Nolasco walked Wily Mo Pena to force in a run, but Wil Nieves ground out to end the inning. He's thrown 67 pitches.
Nationals scoring
Wily Mo Pena showed some plate discipline when he walked with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Pena worked the count to 3-0 before Ricky Nolasco got it to 3-2. After fouling off a pitch, Pena didn't bite and walked on a breaking ball. Wil Nieves grounded out to end the inning and the Nats now trail 3-1
Nolasco needed 28 pitches to get out of the inning.
Marlins scoring
The Marlins did what every other teams has done to the Nationals this season, steal second base.
Cody Ross led off with a single, stole second and advanced to 3rd on catcher Wil Nieves throwing error. With 1-out, Hanley Ramirez hit a sac fly to left scoring Ross to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Tim Redding threw 22 pitches to get out of the inning.
Leading off
The lead-off hitter has reached base twice in 4 innings against Tim Redding and both times, they have scored. Redding gave up a bloop single to Cody Ross to start the game and he scored on a sac fly. It didn't help that Wil Nieves was charged with an error when Ross stole second and advanced to third on the miscue. In the 4th, Redding walked Jeremy Hermida to start the inning and he score on a single to right. If Redding can keep the lead-off hitter off base, he'll have better success.
Pitcher's through 2 innings
Tim Redding gave up a single and a stolen base to Cody Ross. An error allowed Ross to move to third and Hanley Ramirez's sac fly put the Fish up 1-0. Redding looks decent, but he's thrown 40 pitches.
Ricky Nolasco has retired all 6 Nationals and he's gotten some defensive help from 3rd baseman Jorge Cantu. Cantu snared a bullet by Cristian Guzman in the first that would've gone for extra bases. Nolasco has 3 strikeouts and thrown 26 pitches.
Same old, same old
The Marlins didn't waste any time running on Tim Redding. Cody Ross stole second in the 1st inning. The Nationals catchers have only thrown out 5 of 38 base stealers. I asked manny Acta what he thought the peoblem was with the lack of success the catchers are having and this is what he said.
"Guys don't run on catchers, they run on the pitchers. Obviously we want to throw out a big percentage of the guys, but I don't worry about that so much. I don't think stolen bases had anything to do with us losing the first two games over there (Houston). Stolen bases don't win ball games alone."
Marlins Scoring
The Marlins did what every other teams has done to the Nationals this season, steal second base.
Cody Ross led off with a single, stole second and advanced to 3rd on catcher Wil Nieves throwing error. With 1-out, Hanley Ramirez hit a sac fly to left scoring Ross to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Tim Redding threw 22 pitches to get out of the inning.
Starting Line-Ups
Marlins
CF Cody Ross
RF Jeremy Hermida
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B Jorge Cantu
2B Dan Uggla
LF Luis Gonzalez
1B Wes Helms
C Matt Treanor
P Ricky Nolasco
Nationals
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Austin Kearns
LF Wily Mo Pena
C Wil Nieves
P Tim Redding
Nats Trade
The Washington Nationals today acquired minor-league catcher David Wallace from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named. Wallace will join Triple-A Columbus tonight at Lehigh Valley. Wallace, 28, is a .221 career hitter with 42 home runs and 168 RBI in 443 minor league games. The six-year pro, who has never played at the big league level, was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Cleveland, August 9, 2001.
Game Preview
Florida (20-14) vs. Nationals (15-20)
Last night, the Nationals snapped their 2-game losing streak with an 8-3 win over the Houston Astros.
John Lannan pitched 6 strong innings, gave up 1-run and kept the team in the ball game. The offense cranked out 12 hits and got home runs from bench players Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak.
Tonight, Tim Redding goes for his 5th win and the offense looks to stay hot against Ricky Nolasco.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Tim Redding (4-2, 3.20), who Manny Acta has called a calming influence when he is on the mound, will look to give a repeat performance from his outing last Sunday vs. Pittsburgh. Redding pitched 6 1/3 giving up just 1-run on 6 hits. He struck out 5 and didn't walk a batter. Redding retired the first 9 Pirates he faced and the first to get a hit, Nate McLouth, was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Redding, who has pitched at least 5 innings in 6 of 7 starts, is facing the Marlins for the 3rd time this season. In the last outing vs. the Marlins, at Florida on April 18, Redding had a career high 10 strikeouts and gave up 4 runs on 3 hits in 6 innings for the 6-4 win. With Redding already out of the game and in line for the loss, Nick Johnson hit a 3-run double in the 7th to put the Nationals up for good. In fact Redding had retired all 9 Marlins to begin the game.
This season, Redding is 1-1, 4.50 ERA against the Marlins.
RHP Ricky Nolasco (1-3, 6.10), who began the season in the bullpen, is coming off a 7-2 loss to the Padres last Saturday in Florida. He gave up 6 runs on 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. Nolasco hasn't won since April 11 when the Marlins beat the Astros 10-6, but he gave up 6 runs, 5 earned in 5 innings. In his last 4 starts, 3 losses and a no decision, he hasn't gotten much run support.. The Marlins scored a total of 7 runs in those games.
In his career vs. Washington, 6 games, 4 starts, Nolasco is 3-1, 4.37 ERA. Last year, Nolasco faced the Nationals once and pitched 4 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1-run but didn't factor in the decision.
Roster Moves
It is now official. The Nationals have placed catchers Paul LoDuca (fracture of fourth metacarpal in right hand) and Johnny Estrada (ulnar neuritis in right elbow) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Elijah Dukes as well as recalled from Triple-A Columbus catcher Jesus Flores.
Dukes went a combined 8-for-38 (.211) with two doubles, one triple, five RBI, seven walks and two stolen bases during a 13-game rehab stint with Columbus (seven games) and Potomac (six) of the Single-A Carolina League. He was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List (right hamstring) on March 31. Dukes, who went 0-for-2 in the Nationals' season opener on March 30, has hit 10 home runs in 53 career big league contests with Washington and Tampa Bay.
Flores, 23, went 4-for-11 (.364) with two doubles, one homer and three RBI in four games with Washington earlier this season. In a 17-game stint with Columbus, he went 9-for-59 (.153) with nine RBI. Last season, as a Rule 5 selection from New York (NL), Flores hit .244 with four home runs and 25 RBI in 79 games with the Nationals, who went 21-21 with Flores as their starting catcher.
Throwback Friday
It's Friday and you know what that means. It's time for your weekly Throwback Jersey update. Well, this week is the biggest turnout yet. Ring leader Aaron Boone brought in a Dave Winfield San Diego Padres uniform. Very classy. Ryan Zimmerman paid tribute to Larry Bird and brought in a Bird Indiana State jersey. Light blue in color and no he didn't have the short shorts to match. Johnny Estrada kept it in the baseball family with a 1950 Philadelphia Athletics jersey. It's made of wool and very heavy, but a classic. Chad Cordero was keeping it real by keeping it close to home. Cordero, who is from the Oakland area, brought in a Jack Tatum Oakland Raiders jersey. I like his thinking. Finally, my favorite today, Tim Redding had a Jack O'Callahan 1980 USA Olympic Hockey sweater. I love the fact Boone is trying to do something different and his teammates are going with the flow. Boone and some of the others who participated talked about today's turnout.
Listen to Pete McElroy's interviews with the Nats about their throwback jerseys
Dukes is back
Elijah Dukes is back with the team, after a rehab assignment, and he is ready to go and feeling no ill effects of his hamstring injury.
Listen to Elijah Dukes' pregame interview
Inside the Numbers
Home, Sweet Home
The Nationals have won 10 of thier 15 games at Nationals Park this season. They have the third highest home/road win percentage in the majors this season, behind only Atlanta and Minnesota. Washington is 10-8 at home and 5-12 on the road, that's a .262 difference.
Guzman is RISPY
Cristian Guzman is batting .400 with runners in scoring position so far this season and his average has increased each year since his first in a National uniform. Have a look:
2008- .400 (8-20)
2007- .333 (10-30)
2005- .174 (19-109)
Extra, Extra, read all about it
The Marlins Mike Jacobs and Dan Uggla and the Nationals Nick Johnson are more likely to get an extra base hit than a single. They are the top 3 in MLB, minimum 3.1 plate appearances a game. Check out these numbers:
Jacobs 18 XBH, 29 Hits .621%
Johnson 13 XBH, 21 Hits .619%
Uggla 20 XBH, 33 Hits .606%
How low can you go
Only 5 teams in MLB have bullpen's with an ERA under 3.00 and the Marlins are one of them. Here are the top 5.
Phillies 2.70
D-Backs 2.70
Athletics 2.78
Dodgers 2.82
Marlins 2.99
Power Ball
The Marlins are 2nd in the Majors with 47 home runs, behind the Phillies 51, but no team has scored a higher percentage of it's runs off homers.
Marlins: 77 of their 158 runs come from HR, .487%
Phillies: 74 of thier 173 runs come from HR, .428%
White Sox: 64 of thier 153 runs come from HR, .418
Forever Young
The Nationals and Marlins have 2 of the youngest teams in the majors. As of 5/9/08, he is the average age of actice rosters.
Rays 27 yrs, 299 days
Marlins 27 yrs, 305 days
D-Backs 28 yrs, 41 days
Athletics 28 yrs, 87 days
Nationals 28 yrs, 124 days
In the Community
Baseball Clinic
The Washington Nationals will host the second youth baseball clinic on Saturday, May 10 at 10am at Nationals Park. Over one hundred children from Prince George's County will participate in fielding, batting, running and catching drills with Nationals coaches. The kids will be provided with a hot dog and beverage as well as an equipment bag and youth jersey.
Breat Cancer Awareness
Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals have partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to celebrate moms and increase awareness for breast cancer research on Sunday, May 11, 2008, when the team takes on the Florida Marlins at 1:35pm. This marks the fourth year MLB has partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer Program. All players, umpires, coaches, and on-field personnel will wear pink wristbands and pink ribbon decals on their uniforms. The pink ribbon logo will appear on all bases and the official dugout lineup cards will be pink. The field will feature a commemorative home plate that will be autographed after the game by the entire team. As part of the MLB initiative, 10 Nationals players, both active and on the disabled list, will utilize pink bats; including Ronnie Belliard, Aaron Boone, Johnny Estrada, Cristian Guzman, Willie Harris, Nick Johnson, Lastings Milledge, Wily Mo Peña, Dmitri Young and Ryan Zimmerman. Following the game the bats will be autographed and auctioned, along with the commemorative home plate, on MLB.com to raise additional funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
All fans are invited to participate in the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer Program by visiting www.komen.org/mlb through May 19th. Fans may make donations in the name of the Nationals or their favorite team. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and their mission-related activities, including grants and programs related to breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Additionally, fans may purchase specially marked pink bats and special pink Major League Baseball women's caps and T-shirts featuring the Nationals logo and pink ribbon logo on MLB.com. A portion of the sales of each item will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure by Major League Baseball.
Parking changes
Washington Nationals fans choosing to park for free at RFK Stadium and take the Nats Express to Nationals Park may park in Lot 7 on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Due to the U.S. Women's National soccer team's exhibition game against Canada, RFK Stadium Lot 8 will not be available to Nationals fans. Lot 7 may be accessed off the Whitney Young Bridge (East Capitol Street) or off of Oklahoma Avenue. The Nats Express begins ninety minutes prior to Nationals home games.
Metro Delay's
The Metrorail Green Line will undergo temporary track work on Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11 that will delay fans' post-game ride from the ballpark. Metro will provide complimentary bus service from Nationals Park to Federal Center Metrorail Station (Blue/Orange Line), Eastern Market Metrorail Station (Blue/Orange Line) and Union Station (Red Line). Fans may drive to Nationals Park and purchase single game parking at Nationals Park Lots or park free at RFK Stadium and take the free Nats Express to the ballpark.
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