Perez helps own cause in 10-4 win
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Odalis Perez wasn't perfect. He wasn't even sharp, but he did enough to get his first win of the season. Perez also helped himself by going 3-3 with 2 RBI at the plate.
Perez pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up 4 runs on 11 hits and 2 walks. Two of the runs came off solo home runs, by Damon Easley and David Wright. Perez pitched out of jams in the first 3 innings and allowed only 1-run in each frame. He stranded 5 runners in those innings to give himself a chance.
The Nationals offense, 0-8 with runners in scoring position in the first 4 innings, broke a 3-3 tie with 3 runs in the 5th and 4 more in the 6th and went 5-10 with RISP from the 5th inning on. They only had 10 hits, but were aided by 7 walks and 2 errors.
Post Game
Line score
Nationals 10-10-0
Mets 4-12-2
WP-Perez (1-3)
LP-Figueroa (2-3)
Streak Buster
Odalis Perez ended his 8-game winless streak with his first win of the season and the Nationals end thier 3-game losing streak.
Offensive Stars
Perez: 3-3, 2 RBI, R
Flores: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Milledge: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB
Johnson: 1-3, RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Mackowiak: 0-2, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Closing the Door
Chris Schroder and Saul Rivera threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. They surrendered 1 hit and 2 walks. Rivera entered the game in the 8th with 2-on and 2-out and walked a batter to load the bases. With David Wright at the plate and a chance to cut into the Nationals 10-4 lead. Wright grounded out to third to end the inning.
Mets lone bright spot
The only good that came from Mets pitching tonight was from the last three pitchers. Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith and Billy Wagner retired the last 7 Nationals by strikeouts. Sanchez got Milledge looking to end the 7th. Smith struckout Kearns, Mackowiak and Flores in the 8th and Wagner got pinch-hitter Elijah Dukes, Lopez and Zimmerman in the 9th.
In Game Update's
What a relief
The Nationals bullpen made things a bit interesting in the 8th. After Chris Schroder gave up a 1-out single and a 2-out walk, Saul Rivera came in a walked Ryan Church to load the bases for David Wright. Wright, who homered earlier in the game, grounded out to end the inning. The way the bullpen has been pitching of late, I'm sure the Nationals, more specifically Odalis Perez, were wondering how the inning was going to end. It ended without any damage.
Mets Scoring, 7th inning
After giving up a 1-out, solo home run to David Wright and a single to Carlos Beltran, Manny Acta pulled Perez and brought in Chris Schroder, who was just called up from Triple-A Columbus. Schroder got out of the inning with 2 fly ball outs.
Perez gave up 4 runs on 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He went 3-3, 2 RBI at the plate.
Nationals Scoring, 6th inning
Odalis Perez added his second RBI single of the game, in a 4-run 6th inning. Perez is now 3-3 with 2 RBI and a sac bunt.
With Jorge Sosa pitching, Ryan Zimmerman got the inning started with a double to left. Nick Johnson followed with a walk and Lastings Milledge hit a 2-run double, that hit the top of the wall in left, giving the Nationals a 8-3 lead. After two outs, Sosa intentionally walked Jesus Flores to get to Perez. Perez got the last laugh and singled to center to score Milledge. Felipe Lopez scored Flores on a bloop single to left and the Nats now lead 10-3 after 6.
Perez thru 6 innings
Odalis Perez hasn't been completey sharp, but he's gotten timely outs. Perez has only retired the side in order once. He did have an inning, the 4th, where he only faced 3 batters, thanks to Jesus Flores throwing out Jose Reyes trying to steal second. Perez has given up 9 hits, but he's stranded 7 runners. Here is his line.
6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. He's thrown 93 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Nationals Scoring, 5th inning
The Nationals finally got a hit with runners in scoring position. They started the night 0-8, but it all changed in the 5th.
Nick Johnson singled to lead-off the inning. 2-outs later Rob Mackowiak walked. Jesus Flores doubled down the left field line, on an 0-1 pitch, scoring both runners and giving the Nats the 5-3 advantage. Odalis Perez helped himself by singling to right to score Flores and the Nationals lead 6-3.
Go Figuer-oa
Nelson Figueroa was 2-0, 3.32 ERA at home coming into tonight's game. He also held the Nationals to 3 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings on April 17. This was not the same guy who took the mound this evening. The only time he retired the side in order was the first. After that, he was a mess and he was pulled after 5 innings. Here is his line.
5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 Hit batters and an error. He threw 108 pitches, 62 for strikes.
Nationals scoring, 4th inning
The Mets are doing everything they can to keep the Nationals in the game.
Rob Mackowiak walked to lead-off the 4th and Jesus Flores was hit by a pitch. After Odalis Perez sacrificed them to second and third, Felipe Lopez hit a grounder back to Nelson Figeuroa, who had plenty of time to get Mackowiak at the plate, but Figueroa threw wide of Brian Schneider at home and the Nats tied the game 3-3.
With a chance to add more, Cristian Guzman flew out and Ryan Zimmerman forced Lopez at second to end the inning.
O-fer
The Nationals are not helping themselves at the plate. So far tonight, thru 4 innings, the Nats are 0-8 with runners in scoring position. If they lose this game, they can look back at missed opportunities.
Thank you Jesus
Jesus Flores did what no other National has been able to do. At least thats what it seems like. Flores threw out speedy Jose Reyes trying to steal second. A great tag on the top of the head by Cristian Guzman nailed Reyes. The Nationals are now 6-40 trying to throw out runners.
Pitcher's thru 3 innings
Odalis Perez has given up at least 2 hits in each inning, but has gotten away with minimal damage. The Mets have 3-runs but could have more. They have left 5 men on base.
Nelson Figueroa has struggled since the 1st, but he too has gotten away with only given up 2-runs.
Here are their lines
Perez: 3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K, HR. 49 pitches, 35 strikes.
Figueroa: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HB. 59 pitches.
Mets Scoring, 3rd inning
Damon Easley has struck again. His bloop single to right scored Moises Alou, who doubled with 1-out, to give the Mets the 3-2 lead after 3 innings.
Both Alou and Easley's hits fell into shallow right and the Nationals had Austin Kearns playing well off the line and shaded towards right center.
Nationals Scoring, 3rd inning
The Nationals had a chance to break the game open, but were only able to tie it.
Nick Johnson's bases loaded walk, with 1-out, forced in a run to tie the game 2-2. Lastings Milledge worked the count full, but struckout for the second out and Austin Kearns hit a fly ball to center that got caught up in the wind and Carlos Beltran made the easy catch to end the inning and the Nationals left the bases loaded.
Mets Scoring, 2nd inning
Damon Easley got the run back that the Mets gave away in the top of the inning. Easley hit his 1st home run of the season over the wall in center field and the Mets retook the lead after 2 innings.
The Mets looked like they may add more, but didn't. After Jose Reyes bunted for a hit and Ryan Church singled to right, David Wright hit a sharp grounder that went off Ryan Zimmerman and right to Cristian Guzman. Guzman threw Wright out to end the inning.
Nationals Scoring, 2nd inning
The Mets gave the Nationals and early gift and they are more than happy to take it. Nick Johnson hit a routine grounder to Carlos Delgado at first, but Delgado juggled it and his throw to Nelson Figueroa, who was covering the bag, pulled the pitcher off the base and Johnson was safe on the error. After a walk to Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns hit a slow grounder to second, allowing both runners to advance. Rob Mackowiak hit a sac fly to deep center to tie the game 1-1 on the unearned run.
Mets Scoring, 1st inning
Odalis Perez got two quick outs before the Mets got things going. David Wright got a 2-out walk and stole second. Carlos Beltran singled past Ryan Zimmerman and New York is on the board, 1-0 in the 1st. Wright's stolen base didn't even get a throw from Jesus Flores because Wright got such a huge jump off Perez.
A bit odd
Mets pitcher Nelson Figueroa is doing something I've never seen before. He is pitching from the stretch to start the game. Starting pitchers typically use the wind-up with nobody on base, but Figueroa is pitching from the stretch. I don't believe he did this in his previous start against the Nationals, but if he feels comfortable doing it, who is to say he shouldn't? Let's keep an eye on this and see if Figueroa is successful with it.
Game Preview
Nationals (15-23) at New York (19-16)
Weather permitting, the Nationals look to end thier 3-game losing streak tonight as they take on the Mets at Shea Stadium.
Coming off a sweep at the hands of the Marlins, where they were outscored 23-7, the Nationals must get off on the right foot and get solid starting pitching.
Odalis Perez, who can't seem to get a win, faces Nelson Figueroa.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Odalis Perez (0-3, 3.43) is still looking for his first win of the season and it's not because of his pitching. In his last four starts, all no decisions, Perez has given up 7 earned runs in 24 innings. While Perez is in the game, the Nationals have given him just 8 runs of support. If the Nationals could've scored more in Perez's games, he would have a .500 or better record.
Perez has made 8 starts this year and he's pitched at least 5 innings and given up 3 earned runs or less in 7 of them. The only game where he didn't go 5 was April 4 where he gave up 5 earned in 4 innings in a 5-4 loss at St.Louis.
This is Perez's second time facing the Mets this year. In the first meeting, a 6-0 loss, he gave up 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings. The runs came on a David Wright 2-run home run in the first inning. In his career vs. New York, Perez is 4-6, 3.93 in 17 games.
RHP Nelson Figueroa (2-2, 4.81) is coming off a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers. He gave up 5 earned runs on 8 hits, 4 walks and a home run in 5 innings. Figueroa, who hasn't won since April 27, is facing the Nationals for the second time this season. On April 17, Figueroa held the Nationals to 3 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings in the Mets 3-2 win in 14. The runs came on a Nick Johnson 2-run homer.
In his career vs. Washington, Figueroa is 1-1, 2.76 in 5 starts. The win was back in 2002 when the team was in Montreal. Figueroa is much better at Shea Stadium this season than on the road. At home he's 2-0, 3.32 vs 0-2, 7.50 on the road.
Roster Moves
After Sunday's game, the Nationals optioned reliever Mike O'Connor to Triple-A Columbus of the International League and recalled reliever Chris Schroder.
This is Schroder's second stint with the Nationals this season. He appeared in two games with the club between March 31 and April 16. He pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up 1-run on 2 hits and a walk and struckout 1. In 10 games with Columbus, Schroder went 2-1 with three saves and a 1.26 ERA. He had 24 strikeouts and just six walks in 14 1/3 innings.
O'Connor, was 1-1 with a 13.00 ERA in five games (one start) with the Nationals this season. He began the season with Columbus, going 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts, before his contract was selected by the Nationals on April 24.
Inside the Numbers
Road Warriors
Since 2003, the Nationals are among the top teams with a winning record at Shea Stadium.
Brewers 13-8 .619
Marlins 28-19 .596
Phillies 28-22 .560
Nationals 27-22 .551
Late Inning Lead = Wins
The Mets are pretty much unbeatable when they are leading or tied at the end of the 7th inning. Here the best records in baseball this season.
Tigers 14-0
Mets 18-1
Royals 16-1
Reds 14-1
Angels 22-2
Top of the order to ya
The Nationals 1 & 2 spots rank in the Top 3 in the majors in batting average. Check out these numbers.
Dodgers .324 (97-299)
Rangers .307 (100-326)
Nationals .300 (95-317)
Taking a bite out of the Big Apple
Cristian Guzman loves to face Met pitching almost more than anyone else in baseball. Based on 100 at-bats, here are the Top 5 highest career batting averages against the Mets for active players.
Derek Jeter .381
Todd Helton .355
Guzman .350
Mark DeRosa .333
Alex Rodriguez .333
Delivery Man
Former National Ryan Church is driving in runs for his new team. Only a handful of players who switched teams in the offseason have more RBI than Church this year.
Josh Hamilton, Texas 39 (Reds)
Emil Brown, Oak 33 (Royals)
Carlos Quentin, CWS 29 (D-Backs)
Miguel Tejada, Hou 28 (Orioles)
Church 26
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