Nats pitchers get pounded, fall 12-2, lose series
Ryan Zimmerman and Dmitri Young had RBI singles in the 7th to cut the deficit to 12-2. In the grand scheme of things, it didn't really matter. Manny Acta has said before, it doesn't matter if you lose by one or ten, a loss is a loss. I beg to differ. This one may have a prolonged affect on the Nationals.
The Nationals first three pitchers, Matt Chico, Jesus Colome and Chris Schroder, weren't good and gave up all 12 runs on 15 hits, 4 of which were home runs and 6 of which were walks in 6 1/3 innings.
The Nationals offense had their chances against Jamie Moyer, but couldn't get a hit when needed. This has been the same story all season. Not producing with runners in scoring position.
Thursday is a much needed off day, before hosting the Brewers for 4 games.
Matt was Flat
Matt Chico was not very effective again tonight, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings. He continues to struggle in his role as a starter. After the game, he talked with Debbi Taylor about his outing.
Nats' thoughts on Moyer
After the game, Dimitri Young and Ryan Zimmerman discussed what made Jamie Moyer so effective tonight. Moyer scattered 7 hits over 6 shutout innings, and was able to pitch out of a couple jams to keep the Nats off the board.
Listen to Dimitri Young's postgame interview
Listen to Ryan Zimmerman's postgame interview
Post Game
Final Line Score
Phillies 12-15-0
Nationals 2-12-1
WP-Moyer (4-3)
LP-Chico (0-6)
Sv-Condrey (1)
HR-Howard (11,12), Victorino (2), Feliz (7)
In Game Updates
Chris Cross
Chris Schroder, recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday, didn't make a good third impression. This is his third time up with the big club this year and he didn't do anything to help himself stay here. He relieved Jesus Colome in the 6th and gave up Ryan Howard's home run and two more hits and a walk in the inning, before getting out of the miserable 6th. He wasn't much better in the 7th, walking the bases loaded with 1-out. He got out unharmed. Here is his line for the night.
IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, HR. 48 pitches, 23 strikes.
Beat Up
Jesus Colome was brought in to stop the bleeding, but he opened the wound even more. After getting the first out of the inning, the next 6 Phillies reached base, and all of them scored. Here is his hideous line for the night.
1/3 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, BB, K, HR. He threw 30 pitches, 17 for strikes.
Phillies scoring, 6th inning
A 1-out single by Jason Werth got things going. Chris Coste followed with a single of his own. Jesus Colome threw a wild pitch to put runners on second and third. Jamie Moyer walked to load the bases. Jimmy Rollins singled home a run. Shane Victorino singled to score a run, but an error by Dmitri Young allowed two more to cross the plate. Phils lead 8-0. Chase Utley doubled home Victorino to make it 9-0. Ryan Howard followed with his 2nd home run of the game for the 11-0 lead. After Pat Burrell flew out, Jason Werth walked, Pedro Feliz singled and Chris Coste singled to bring home Werth. 12-0 Phils.
Chico is not the Man
Matt Chico gave up solo home runs to Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard in the 5th and the Phillies extend their lead to 4-0.
Manny Acta had seen enough of Chico and replaced him with Jesus Colome to start the 6th.
Chico gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk. Three of the hits were solo home runs.
5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K, 3 HR. 79 pitches, 52 strikes
Jamie Houdini
I'm not sure how Jamie Moyer is doing it and I doubt anyone else knows either. Like a magician, Moyer won't reveal his secrets, at least not to the Nationals. Moyer has been in trouble every inning except the first, but has managed to pull the wool over the Nationals eyes and escape harm. Thru 5 innings, the Nats have left 7 on base and 4 of those in scoring position.
Blown Call
Second base umpire Jerry Lane missed a call in the first inning that cost Matt Chico and the Nationals a run. With Shane Victorino on second, Chase utley lined out to Felipe Lopez. Lopez fired to Cristian Guzman for what looked to be an inning-ending double play. Lane called Victorino safe. Ryan Howard doubled home Victorino for the first run of the game. Replays showed that Guzman had the ball before Victorino got back to the bag. If he's called out, the game changes entirely.
Pitchers thru 3 innings
Matt Chico doesn't appear to have his best stuff. Not like his last three outings in relief. He is leaving the ball out over the plate and the Phillies are taking advantage of it. Here are his numbers.
3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 0 K. 50 pitches.
Jamie Moyer is, well, Jamie Moyer. He got out of a first and third, no-out jam, in the 2nd and gave up a lead-off double and a walk in the third and left them stranded. Here are his numbers.
3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K. 64 pitches
Phillies scoring, 2nd inning
After giving up a run, on two doubles in the first, Matt Chico served up a solo home run to Pedro Feliz, his 7th home run of the year, to lead off the second.
Chico has given up 4 hits, all for extra bases, in the first two frames. He has thrown 36 pitches, 23 for strikes.
Phillies scoring, 1st inning
It didn't take long for the Phillies to get on the board tonight. Philadelphia was held without a run in the first 17 innings of this series, before they scored a run in the 9th inning last night.
Ryan Howard doubled home Shane Victorino, who hit a 1-out double to give the Phils the early 1-0 lead.
Matt Chico has looked a bit shakey so far, but only gave up the one run. Jamie Moyer gave up a 2-out single to Ryan Zimmerman, but avoided any damage.
Up Hill Climb
Shawn Hill, who is missing his scheduled start tonight due to a sore right elbow, talked about his progress and said he expects to pitch the next time his turn comes up in the rotation.
Listen to Shawn Hill's pregame interview
One Hell of an Acta
Last night Jesus Flores made a great play at home when he blocked the plate and prevented a run form scoring. Manny Acta spoke about that prior to tonight's game.
Listen to Manny Acta's pregame press conference
Starting Line-Ups
Phillies
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Shane Victorino
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
RF Jason Werth
3B Pedro Feliz
C Chris Coste
P Jamie Moyer
Nationals
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Dmitri Young
CF Lastings Milledge
C Jesus Flores
LF Wily Mo Pena
RF Elijah Dukes
P Matt Chico
Game Preview
Philadelphia (25-22) at Nationals (20-27)
The Nationals go for the series win tonight and it's up to Matt Chico to follow in the footsteps of the other Washington starters. In their last 3 games, Nationals starters are 2-0, 0.43 (20 1/3 IP/ER) ERA. In fact, in the last 10 games, they are a combined 5-3, 3.14 (63 IP/22 ER) ERA.
The offense needs to back up their hurlers, but that's easier said than done, since they are hitting just .234 as a team, the lowest in MLB. When the starters are in the game, the Nationals have only given them 23 runs of support in the last 10 games, an average of 2.3 and they've only scored a total of 33.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Matt Chico (0-5, 6.07) is making his first start since being demoted to the bullpen after four bad outings. In his three relief appearances, Chico gave up 1 run on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Hopefully Chico can follow Jason Bergmann and make the most of his demotion. Since Bergmann's return from Triple-A, all he's done is toss 14 scoreless innings.
Chico started 7 games and only made it past the 5th inning three times. His last 4 starts were miserable, giving up 20 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings, a 10.39 ERA.
This is the second start vs. Philadelphia this season. On March 31, he was touched for 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings in the Nationals 11-6 win. In his short career, Chico is 1-0 in 3 starts against the Phillies, giving up 8 runs on 16 hits in 16 innings.
LHP Jamie Moyer (3-3, 4.89), 45 years old and in his 22nd season, is coming off one of his best outings of the season. He went 6 2/3 innings, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs in a 10-3 victory over Toronto on Friday. The Phils jumped out to an 8-0 lead after 3.
Moyer faced the Nationals earlier this year and got roughed up. He gave up 6 runs in 3 2/3 innings in the Phillies 8-7 win in 10 innings.
In his career, 16 games, 15 starts, against the Nationals, Moyer is 6-4, 3.16 ERA. He is not going to overpower hitters, just 23 strikeouts in 49+ innings, but he will paint the corners and beat you with off-speed pitches. Moyer has three pitches, slow, slower and slowest.
Down on the Farm
Entering today's action, the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League own the 7th-best ERA (2.92) in minor league baseball...Potomac relievers have a 2.68 ERA (49 ER/164.1 IP) while the starters have allowed 70 earned runs in 203.0 IP (3.10 ERA)...the P-Nats lead Washington affiliates in wins (27), ERA, and shutouts (5).
Triple-A Columbus Clippers
International League West Division 25-22, 3rd Place, 5.0 Games Back
INF Yurendell de Caster is 20-for-66 (.303) with 14 runs scored, 4 home runs, 13 RBI and a .413 on-base percentage in 20 May games...de Caster, who signed as a minor league free agent in the off-season, is batting .296 (32-for-108) with 4 homers and 21 RBI in 31 games since being promoted from Double-A Harrisburg April 19...overall, he is hitting a combined .305 with 8 homers, 37 RBI and a .403 OBP in 46 games with Harrisburg and Columbus.
RHP Garret Mock owns a 3.00 ERA (8 ER/24.0 IP) in 4 starting assignments in May...he has struck out 16 and walked just one in that span...the 25-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA and a 3.6 SO/BB ratio (33 K's, 9 walks) in 8 starts...he is scheduled to make his next start Friday vs. Buffalo (Indians)...Mock was acquired from ARI with LHP Matt Chico in exchange for RHP Livan Hernandez, August 7, 2006.
Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Eastern League Southern Division 26-15, T-First Place, 0.0 Games Ahead
LHP Cory VanAllen is a combined 6-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 8 games (7 starts) with Harrisburg and Potomac...among minor league starters, the Baylor University product ranks 3rd with a .161 (23-for-143) batting average against and 7th in ERA...he is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA (4 ER/ 18.2 IP) through his first 3 career starts at the Double-A level... VanAllen, who was selected in the 5th round of the 2006 First-Year-Player Draft, is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Connecticut (Giants).
RHP Jordan Zimmermann earned his first Double-A victory Sunday at Erie (Tigers), holding the SeaWolves to 3 earned runs in 6.2 innings, fanning 8 and walking just one batter...in a combined 7 appearances (6 starts) with Harrisburg and Potomac, he is 4-2 and is 2nd among Washington minor leaguers with 43 strikeouts (47, Tyler Clippard) and a 2.04 ERA (1.17, Cory VanAllen)...Zimmermann, selected in the 2nd round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, has a 3.1/1 SO/BB ratio through 20 games (17 starts) as a professional, fanning 114 against just 30 walks.
After going just 5-for-31 (.161) in April, INF Ofilio Castro is batting .438 (21-for-48) in 16 May contests...Castro, 24, is hitting .329 (26-for-79) since being promoted from Potomac April 19.
Despite missing a week after suffering a concussion, catcher Luke Montz leads the Senators in all 3 triple-crown categories: .330 (29-for-88), 8 home runs, 33 RBI...he has a team-best .659 slugging percentage in 26 games, and his RBI total is good for 4th in the Eastern League...the 24-year-old ranks among Nats farmhands with 8 HR (t-2nd) and 33 RBI (3rd)...selected by the Expos/Nationals in the 17th round of the 2003 Draft, Montz has 67 career homers and 278 RBI in 452 games as a pro.
Single-A Potomac Nationals
Carolina League Northern Division 27-15, First Place, 2.0 Games Ahead
LHP Ross Detwiler allowed just one hit and struck out 9 in 4.0 scoreless innings last night at Wilmington (Royals)...Detwiler, Washington's top pick (6th overall) in the 2007 draft, is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA (8 ER/20.1 IP) with 24 strikeouts in 4 starts this month...overall, the 22-year-old, who became the first player from the 2007 First-Year Player Draft to reach the big leagues, is 3-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 9 starts.
OF Chris Marrero is hitting .286 (18-for-63) with 12 runs, 4 home runs and 11 RBI in 17 May games...after committing 6 errors in April, he has played error-free ball this month...Marrero, Washington's 2006 first round pick (15th overall), leads the club with 19 walks and has hit 6 home runs and 19 RBI in 40 games.
LHP Yunior Novoa is 2-0 with 2 saves and has tossed 12.0 consecutive scoreless innings spanning his last 7 appearances...he has 16 strikeouts and has not issued a walk in that stretch...Novoa, 23, is 2-0 with 3 saves and a 1.17 ERA in 11 games overall...he owns an 11.5 SO/BB ratio (23 K's and 2 walks), and is limiting opponents to a .177 BAA (14-for-79).
Single-A Hagerstown Suns
South Atlantic League Northern Division 23-22, 5th Place, 6.0 Games Back
INF Bill Rhinehart leads the South Atlantic League and is tied for 2nd in minor league baseball with 43 RBI...he ranks among the South Atlantic League leaders in doubles (t-1st, 15), total bases (2nd, 92), slugging (3rd, .536), hits (4th, 54) and batting average (7th, .325)...the 11th round pick in last June's draft is hitting .481 (25-for-52) with 7 doubles, 3 homers and 38 RBI with RISP...the University of Arizona product was a 2007 New York-Penn League mid-season All Star.
OF Michael Burgess paces the SAL and Washington farmhands with 11 home runs...the 19-year-old has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games, going 13-for-38 (.342) with 7 extra-base hits (4 doubles and 3 home runs) and 5 RBI...Burgess entered the season as the No. 4 prospect and 2nd-best hitting prospect (behind only Chris Marrero) in the Washington chain according to Baseball America.
OF Boomer Whiting is batting .364 with 18 runs scored, 11 RBI, 9 steals and a .485 OBP in his first 14 games, after beginning the season at extended spring training in Viera, FL...he is 10-for-24 (.416) with 5 RBI and 5 stolen bases in his last 5 games...Whiting, who led the New York-Penn League with 37 stolen bases last season, was selected in the 28th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville.
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