Lannan was solid, Nats win 8-3, avoid sweep
The line-up Manny Acta put on the field Thursday night probably wouldn't scare many teams, but it worked and the Nats got a much needed win.
John Lannan pitched a solid 6 innings to earn his third win of the season and end the Nationals 2-game losing streak.
Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak, getting starts in left and center field respectively, each hit their first career home runs in Nationals uniforms and they beat the Astros 8-3.
Post Game
Box Score
Nationals 8-12-0
Astros 3-10-1
WP-Lannan (3-3)
LP-Backe (2-4)
Everyone hits
The Nationals pounded out 12 hits and every starter got a hit, except for Ronnie Belliard. Ryan Zimmerman went 3-5, 2 R, Cristian Guzman 2-5, 3 R, Mackowiak 2-4, HR, 2 RBI and Austin Kearns had 2 RBI.
Perfect
I know I keep harping on this, but until it gets better, I'll keep bringing it up. The Astros stole 8 bases in 8 attempts in this series. On the season, National catchers have only thrown out 5 of 37 runners. I think it's a combination of the pitcher not holding the runners close to the bag and the catchers not being accurate enough. Someone needs to work with both the pitchers and catchers in both areas, otherwise, teams are going to run at will and this will put extra pressure on the pitching staff.
In Game Updates
Slump Buster
Ryan Zimmerman appears to have broken out of his early season slump. Prior to heading to Houston, Zimmerman was batting .217. In this series, he went 8-14, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R and he raised his average 37 points to .252
Ayala doesn't like Meat
Luis Ayala must be a vegetarian, because he doesn't like the meat of the Astro order. In this series, the Astros 3-4-5 hitters, Tejada, Berkman and Lee are a combined 5-5, 2B, 3 RBI, BB against Ayala.
Tonight, Ayala gave up 2 runs on 2 hits, a walk and 2 fielders choices'.
My first time too
Rob Mackowiak hit his first home run in a National uniform to break the game wide open. Mackowiak, getting the start in left field, hit reliever Oscar Villarreal's 3-1 pitch over the wall in left to give the Nats a 7-1 lead in the 8th. Willie Harris also hit his first career home run as a Nat tonight.
Ryan Zimmerman, who singled to start the inning, scored on a wild pitch to make it a 5-1 game before Mackowiak's homer
Homer Happy
With 2 more home runs tonight, the Nationals have hit 7 in this series. Prior to the 3-game series, the Nationals hit only 23 on the season, tied for 25th in the majors and 15th in the NL.
Error and Wild Pitch
The Astros gave away a run in the 8th. After Ryan Zimmerman singled, center fielder Michael Bourn inexplicably over-threw both Tejada and Matsui at second base and the ball got past pitcher Oscar Villarreal allowing Zimmerman to go to second. Error on Bourn. Nick Johnson's ground out moved Zimm to third. With Austin Kearns batting, a wild pitch on a 3-2 count got away from catcher JR Towles and Zimm scored to make it 5-1.
Nats scoring
Austin Kearns hit a bases loaded, nobody out, single in the 6th that scored two runs to give the Nats a 4-1 lead. It could have been more, but Brandon Backe settled down and got 2 fly ball outs and a ground out to escape further damage.
Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman hit signles to start the inning and Nick Johnson walked before Kearns hit Backe's 1-1 pitch into center field that plated two.
Starting Pitcher's
John Lannan pitched a solid 6 innings tonight. His fastball was deceptive and his off-speed pitches kept Astro hitters off balance all night. Lannan got out of a 2-on, no one out jam in the 6th with the heart of the Astros line-up coming up. Berkman and Lee led off with singles, but Lannan got Pence to ground into a double play and Wigginton to ground out to end the inning. Here is his line:
6 IP, 7 H, ER, BB, 3 K. 93 pitches, 54 for strikes.
After giving up a run scoring double in the first and a home run in the 3rd, Brandon Backe was striking out Nationals like a Cy Young winner, but he got into trouble in the 6th and his night was over after the inning ended. Here is his line:
6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K. 98 pitches, 61 for strikes. The 9 K's are a career high.
Hitting Pitchers
Opponents pitcher's have gotten a base hit in 3 straight games and 4 of the last 5 against Nationals pitchers.
Pitcher's through 4
John Lannan got into trouble in the 4th after giving up back-to-back singles to Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman. Carlos Lee flew out to deep center to advance the runners. With the infield back and conceeding a run, Cristian Guzman hesitated a split second and Hunter Pence beat out a grounder to short and Tejada scored. Lannan got out of the inning without giving up another run. He's thrown 60 pitches.
Brandon Backe is looking like the second coming of Nolan Ryan. The last 6-outs he's recorded are by strikeout and he has 7 on the night. Backe has thrown 61 pitches.
Astros scoring
The Astros used 3 hits and a deep fly out to score a run in the 4th. Singles by Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman started the inning. Carlos Lee advanced the runners to second and third with a deep fly out to center. The Nationas were giving up a run for an out, but Hunter Pence beat out a grounder to Cristian Guzman at short and Tejada scored.
Lannan got out of the inning with a fly out and ground out and leads 2-1 after 4.
My first time
Willie Harris hit his first home run as a National, in the 3rd, to give the Nats the 2-0 lead. It was the 8th of his career and his first ever hit off Backe. Harris has 4 hits in his last 6 at-bats.
The Nationals have hit 6 home runs in this series.
Something New
Manny Acta did somehitng in the 4th inning he rarely does. With Nick Johnson on first and Rob Mackowiak at the plate, Acta started Johnson on a 3-1 count. It looked to be a hit and run, because Mackowiak swung at the pitch. Regardless, the Nationals don't run often and it was good to see Acta try something different. The Nationals don't try to steal bases either, they are just 7 for 15 on the season.
Pitcher's through 2
John Lannan has given up just one hit, a 2-out double in the 2nd to Ty Wigginton, but left him stranded. He looks good and his off-speed pitches are sharp. He's thrown 34 pitches.
Brandon Backe, gave up a run scoring double in the 1st and a single to Rob Mackowiak in the second, but erased Mackowiak on a double play. He's thrown 25 pitches.
Running Wild
The Astros have done it again. Michael Bourn stole second base in the 1st and the throw by Wil Nieves wasn't close. Bourn is now 14 for 14 on the season. In this series, the Astros are 7 for 7 in stolen base attempts. On the season, the Nats have thrown out only 5 of 36 runners, just 14 percent.
Nationals scoring
Nick Johnson hit an RBI double in the 1st to give the Nats the early 1-0 lead. It was his 18th RBI, matching Ryan Zimmerman for the team lead.
The inning started with Willie Harris, playing in centerfield for Lastings Milledge, drew a 4-pitch walk. Cristian Guzman forced Harris at second, but beat the throw to first. With 2-outs, Johnson drove Brandon Backe's first pitch to the gap in right-center scoring Guzman.
Starting Line-Up's
Nationals
CF Willie Harris
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
RF Austin Kearns
2B Ronnie Belliard
LF Rob Mackowiak
C Wil Nieves
P John Lannan
Astros
CF Michael Bourn
2B Kaz Matsui
SS Miguel Tejada
1B Lance Berkman
LF Carlos Lee
RF Hunter Pence
3B Ty Wigginton
C JR Towles
P Brandon Backe
Injury News
The Nationals are expected to place catchers Paul Lo Duca (fracture of fourth metacarpal in right hand) and Johnny Estrada (ulnar neuritis in right elbow) on the 15-Day Disabled List tomorrow. In doing so, the Nationals are expected to recall catcher Jesus Flores from Columbus of the Triple-A International League, as well as recall from rehab and reinstate outfielder Elijah Dukes from the 15-Day Disabled List.
Game Preview
Nationals (14-20) at Houston (18-16)
After winning 8 of their previous 10 games, the Nationals have lost two straight. In both 1-run losses, the Astros won in their final at-bat and the usually reliable bullpen, has given the game away. In the two losses, the bullpen has issued 9 walks in 6 innings of work, including 5 by Joel Hanrahan last night.
Red hot Ryan Zimmerman, who hit 2 home runs and accounted for all 3 RBI Wednesday night, is 5-9 (.555), 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, since taking Sunday off.
In tonight's series finale, John Lannan faces Brandon Backe. The Nationals return home for a 3-games series with Florida beginning Friday night.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP John Lannan (2-3, 3.74) is coming off his worst outing of the season. He lasted just 3 innings, giving up 6 hits and 6 runs, 5 earned in 3 innings in the Pirates 10-4 win. Nothing was working for Lannan that day. He also hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, walked 2, gave up a HR and was charged with a balk. Oh yeah, Felipe Lopez commited an error behind Lannan.
In his previous three outings, Lannan gave up just 1 earned run in 20 innings, going 2-0 with a no decision. Manny Acta needs Lannan to give him a solid outing and take some pressure of the struggling bullpen.
In his only career start against Houston, on August 23 last year, Lannan gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 5 innings to earn the 7-6 win for the Nationals. He did walk 5 batters and give up a home run to Carlos Lee.
RHP Brandon Backe (2-3, 4.42) gets the start and looks to extend the Astros winning streak to 6 games. Backe got the W in Houston's 6-2 win over Milwaukee last Saturday. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up 2 runs on 5 hits, but matched a season high 5 walks. Backe has had control issues this season, walking 25 batters in 36 2/3 innings.
In his last start vs the Nationals, 2006, Backe gave up 1-run on 3 hits in 6 innings for the win. For his career, 2 starts, Backe is 1-1, 3.75 ERA and holding Washington hitters to a .209 average.
If Backe's numbers hold true, he will be tough to beat tonight. His ERA at home is 2.55 compared to 6.16 on the road and he's better at night than during the day; 2.78 to 7.07.
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