Nats miss chances, lack defense and relief pitching in 11-2 loss
Washington matched a season high with three errors, left 12 men on base and dropped their second straight game.
Jason Bergmann pitched pretty well, giving up five hits in six innings, but the three errors led to two unearned runs; he suffered the loss and falls to 1-5. Bergmann left the game trailing 3-1.
The Nationals' offense, which had 11 hits, couldn't get a timely hit when the game was within reach. They left multiple runners on in the 1st, 5th, and 6th; and they left the bases loaded in the 7th and nearly hit into a triple play in the 8th.
The bullpen couldn't keep the game close, and in the end it turned into an 11-2 blowout.
Postgame Notes
Final Linescore
Nationals 2-11-3
Twins 11-13-1
WP-Slowey (4-6)
LP-Bergmann (1-5)
HR-Lopez (2)
Offensive Stars
Guzman: 3-4, R
Dukes: 3-5
Boone:2-4
Lopez: 2-4, HR
Knocked Around
The Nationals bullpen was just brutal tonight. Saul Rivera, Jesus Colome and Brian Sanches gave up a combined eight runs on eight hits and four walks in just two innings. With the game 3-1, Rivera gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in just 2/3 of an inning. Colome had the worst outing of the three, giving up five runs on three hits and two walks in an inning and Sanches gave up a run on two hits in 1/3 of an inning. Overall it was bad.
Bergmann improving
After two straight poor outings, Jason Bergmann pitched well enough to keep his team in the game, but yet again, that wasn't good enough for the Nats to pick up the win. Bergmann gave up just 1 ER in 6 innings, but was burned by some defensive miscues, and picks up another loss.
After the game, Bergmann talked about his outing.
Pete McElroy's Live GameBlog
Triple Play!?!?
The Twins nearly turned a triple play in the eighth. The Nationals had runners on first and second and Paul Lo Duca at the plate. Lo Duca hit a one-hopper to third baseman Brian Buscher, who stepped on the bag, threw to second for out number two and fired to first to get Lo Duca by two strides. Fortunately for the Nationals, the throw to second by Buscher pulled second baseman Alexi Casilla off the bag. The replay looked like Casilla had his foot on the base when he received the throw. It was a bang-bang play that could've gone either way. The Twins settled for two outs.
Twins scoring, 7th inning
Saul Rivera came in the game in the seventh and was trying to keep the Nationals deficit to two runs. He couldn't do it and the Twins now lead 5-1. Rivera gave up a bunt hit, got a force out at second for the first out of the inning, then gave up back-to-back 1-out singles to make it 4-1. After a walk and a sac fly that made it 5-1 Rivera walked another batter to load the bases and his night was over. Jesus Colome came in and got the final out to minimize the damage.
Missed opportunity, Pt. 3
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. Washington had a chance to tie the game or even take the lead on the Twins, but didn't get the cluth hit when they needed it.
The Nationals has runners on first and second with nobody out in the seventh and the heart of the order coming to the plate. Elijah Dukes struck out looking. Lastings Milledge struck out swinging. Dmitri young walked to load the bases. Jesus Flores popped out to end the threat and possibly any chance of taking the series finale.
Bergmann thru 6 innings
Jason Bergmann has given up five hits and three walks after six. He's settled down since giving up three runs in the first two innings, but his pitch count his up there. Here is his line thru six innings. It's very possible the sixth was his last.
6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, ER, 3 BB, 2 K. 106 pitches, 61 strikes.
Missed opportunity Pt. 2
The Nationals had another chance to cut into the Twins lead, but once again, they came up short. They had runners on first and second with 1-out. Felipe Lopez grounded into a force out and Paul Lo Duca popped out to end the inning. Washington has seven hits, but they've stranded seven thru six innings.
How Lo can he go
Paul Lo Duca just made the third National error of the night and the game is only in the fourth inning. Lo Duca tried to field the ball on a short-hop and it bounced away allowing the runner to reach first. I'm not sure it was the smartest decision to put him at first, since he hasn't played there all year and he just came off the DL. Fortunately for the Nationals, the runner never advanced past the base and Jason Bergmann got out of the inning.
Nationals scoring, 5th inning
Felipe Lopez hit his second home run of the year to cut the Twins lead to 3-1.
Lopez led off the fifth with an upper deck blast. It was Washington's fourth hit of the night. After two quick outs, Cristian Guzman and Elijah Dukes hit back-to-back singles, but Lastings Milledge left them stranded by grounding out to end the inning.
Bergmann thru 3 innings
Jason Bergmann has been bit by the error bug yet again. He's given up three runs, but only one earned. He had a 1-2-3 third, but the way the Nationals offense is going, they may not be able to overcome the deficit. Here's his line.
3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, ER, 2 BB, K. 61 pitches, 36 strikes.
Twins scoring, second inning
A deflected ground ball. A dropped relay throw. A bobble in the outfield. All three led to two more runs for the Twins.
Paul Lo Duca deflected a grounder to start the inning. One out later, Aaron Boone dropped a throw that would've nailed a runner going from first to third. Instead of two outs, the Twins had runners on the corners. Brendan Harris followed with a double to right-center, scoring one run. Lastings Milledge bobbled the ball for an error, allowing the runner from first to score and Minnesota now leads 3-0 after two.
Rough Start
Aaron Boone and Paul Lo Duca are having a rought first two innings and it doesn't look like they are settled in to their positions. Boone already has a throwing error and Lo Duca deflected a ball into right field on a grounder that he probably should've let Felipe Lopez handle. This is Lo Duca's first game at first base this year, so I'll give him a break on the play.
Boone let a relay throw go off his glove, allowing the runner to slide in safely at third. Luckily for Boone, Jason Bergmann was backing up on the play. Boone hasn't played at third in a bit, but it's a play he should have made.
Twins scoring, 1st inning
Aaron Boone's throwing error allowed the Twins to score a first-inning run.
Boone, starting at third base, made a bad throw to Paul Lo Duca, playing first, on a bunt by lead-off hitter Carlos Gomez and he ended up on second. After a sac bunt and a walk, Gomez scored on Justin Morneau's sac fly.
Missed opportunity
The Nationals had a golden opportunity to get on the board in the first, but came away empty. Cristian Guzman led off the game with a single, and Lastings Milledge was hit by a pitch with 1-out. With the heart of the order up, they were hoping to get at least a run. It didn't happen. Dmitri Young lined out to his brother, Delmon, in left and Jesus Flores grounded out to end the inning. Let's hope this isn't a sign of things to come for the night.
Starting Line-Ups
Nationals
SS Cristian Guzman
RF Elijah Dukes
CF Lastings Milledge
DH Dmitri Young
C Jesus Flores
3B Aaron Boone
2B Felipe Lopez
1B Paul Lo Duca
LF Kory Casto
Twins
CF Carlos Gomez
2B Alexi Casilla
C Joe Mauer
1B Justin Morneau
RF Michael Cuddyer
DH Jason Kubel
LF Delmon Young
3B Brian Buscher
SS Brendan Harris
Paul Lo Duca is getting the start at first base tonight after being activated from the DL yesterday. Now that Jesus Flores has performed so well as the Nats starting catcher, Lo Duca is going to be splitting time behind the plate, at first, and possibly in the outfield. He talked with Debbi Taylor about this transition.
Game Preview
Nationals (29-43) at Minnesota (35-36)
Jason Bergmann, who has struggled in his last two starts, looks to regain the form that saw him toss 21 consecutive scoreless innings earlier this season. Bergmann is winless in his last five starts.
He'll face Twins right-hander Kevin Slowey.
Last night, the Nationals offense managed just five hits and a run against Livan Hernandez and in the process, saw their 3-game winning streak come to an end. Washington had their chances, but grounded into three double plays. John Lannan was solid once again, giving up two runs in seven innings, but was the tough-luck loser.
This is game eight of their 9-game road trip and with a win, the worst the Nationals can finish is 5-4.
Shawn Hill faces Glen Perkins in the last game of the series Thursday afternoon.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Jason Bergmann (1-4, 5.48) has one win and that came more than a month ago. Since then, he is 0-3 with two no-decisions. Since his scoreless inning streak was snapped, Bergmann has given up 18 runs, 13 earned, in his last three outings and he and the Nationals are 0-3 with him on the mound.
Bergmann's last two starts were short lived. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning in either game and gave up 14 runs nine earned, in 7 2/3 innings, and the Nationals defense let him down in both games. In his last start, June 12 at Pittsburgh, a first-inning error by third baseman Ronnie Belliard led to two unearned runs, and Bergmann seemed to come unhinged after that. He gave up seven hits and four runs over the next 3 2/3 innings and threw 87 pitches in less than 5 full innings. The Nationals trailed 6-1 when he left and went on to fall 7-5.
Bergmann is 1-2, 4.68 in four road starts this season.
Bergmann has never faced the Twins in his career. When he toes the rubber, the Nationals are 1-8.
RHP Kevin Slowey (3-6, 4.70) is coming off an outstanding performance, after two sub-par starts, against the Brewers. He tossed eight innings of five hit, two run ball in the Twins 10-2 win over Milwaukee. It was only the third time, in nine starts, that he didn't allow a home run this season.
After four consecutive losses to start the season, Slowey has won three of his last five starts, with all three wins coming on the road. Slowey is making his fourth start at the Metrodome and he hopes this one is better than the previous three. He's given up 10 runs in 15 innings at home this season, a 6.00 ERA and the Twins have lost all three games.
This is the first career appearance against the Nationals for Slowey.
keep up the good work, Pete