Nats drop second straight game and series to Pirates
Washington had their chances today, but once again fell short. They left 10 men on base and at least one in each inning except for the second and ninth.
The Nationals lose 7-5 dropping their second straight, and the Pirates take the 3-game series. Washington won the season series, four games to three.
Jason Bergmann suffered the loss, his third straight, giving up six runs, four earned, in just 4 2/3 innings. In his last three starts, Bergmann has given up 18 runs, 13 earned in 15 2/3 innings.
Cristian Guzman had three more hits, drove in three runs and Elijah Dukes had two hits and two RBI, to account for all of the Nationals offense.
The Nationals have dropped five straight series and have lost 6 of 7 and 10 of their last 12 games.
Washington heads to Seattle to begin a 3-game series with the Mariners on Friday. The Nationals next five series, 15 games, are against AL teams.
Postgame Notes
Final Linescore
Nationals 5-11-1
Pirates 7-11-0
WP-Gorzelanny (5-5)
LP-Bergmann (1-4)
SV-Marte (1)
HR-Doumit (9)
Offensive Stars
Guzman: 3-5, 3 RBI, R
Dukes: 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI
Pete McElroy's Live GameBlog
Nationals scoring, 8th inning
Cristian Guzman's RBI single in the 8th cut the Pirates lead to 6-5. This is his 10th 3-hit game of the season, tying him with Atlanta's Chipper Jones for most in MLB.
Ryan Langerhans, pinch-hitting for Wil Nieves, hit a 1-out single and moved to third on Dmitri Young's single. Guzman followed with his third hit and third RBI on the day. Washington had two chances to tie the game, but Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge struck out to end the rally.
The Nationals have left 10 men on base and at least one in each inning except for the second.
Nat Killer
This is the last time this season that Nationals pitchers will have to face Ryan Doumit, and they couldn't be happier. In this series, Doumit is 9-11 with 4 HR, 7 RBI in the series. In the 7 games this year, Doumit is 13-25 (.520), 5 HR, 10 RBI. In his career, he's batting .375 with 5 HR, 14 RBI.
On Guz Control
Cristian Guzman continues to swing a hot bat. He has two more hits today and now has 89 on the season, second most in the NL. It's also his 27th multi-hit game, second most in the Majors. Since missing 2006 following a right shoulder surgery, Guzman is batting .311 (146-for-460) with 27 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs and 37 RBI in 112 games.
Early Shower
Jason Bergmann's last two outings lasted a total of 7 2/3 innings, giving up 14 runs, nine earned. He left this afternoon's game trailing 6-1. Here is his line for today.
4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, BB, 2 K, HR. 87 pitches, 55 strikes.
Missed Opportunity Pt. 2
This one is two-fold. Wil Nieves missed hitting a 2-out, 2-run homer by inches, when the ball hit the top of the wall in left. He had to settle for a double. Jason Bergmann came up next with runners on second and third, but struck out to end the fourth.
In the fifth, Elijah Dukes walked and stole second with 1-out; but Lastings Milledge grounded out and Aaron Boone struck out and Dukes was left on third. The Nationals have left six men on base and are 0-6 with RISP, in the first five frames.
Nationals scoring, 3rd inning
Cristian Guzman hit a 1-out single and scored on Elijah Dukes second triple of the season. The Nationals had a chance to get another run, but Dukes didn't try to tag up on a popout to short center. Dukes went down the line, but should have stayed on the base because second baseman Freddy Sanchez had to make an over the shoulder catch and had his back to home plate. I'd call that a mental error.
Pirates scoring, 1st & 2nd innings
Ryan Doumit hit a 2-run homer in the first for the 2-0 lead. Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny drew a bases-loaded walk and Nate McLouth hit a sac fly for the 4-0 lead. Jason Bergmann loaded the bases on three singles to start the inning before walking Gorzelanny to force in the third Pirate run. McLouth followed with a deep fly to right that scored Chris Gomez easily.
Bergmann Struggles
Jason Bergmann can't seem to find a rhythm. He gave up a 2-run homer in the first and two more runs in the second on a bases loaded walk to the pitcher and a sac fly. He's given up four hits and a walk in two innings while throwing 46 pitches.
Another Error
The Nationals, currently tied for 3rd in the NL with a .986 fielding % (36 errors), commited their fourth error of the series. Ronnie Belliard was charged with a throwing error in the first inning that led to two unearned runs.
Missed Opportunity
Just like last night, the Nationals had a chance to get on the board but came up empty. Ronnie Belliard struck out on a 3-2 pitch and left two runners on base. Wednesday night, the Nats left 10 men on base and already have stranded two. In his last three starts, Tom Gorzelanny had given up 11 first inning runs, but Washington let him off the hook.
Starting Line-Ups
Nationals
SS Cristian Guzman
RF Elijah Dukes
CF Lastings Milledge
1B Aaron Boone
3B Ronnie Belliard
LF Wily Mo Pena
2B Felipe Lopez
C Wil Nieves
P Jason Bergmann
Pirates
CF Nate McLouth
2B Freddy Sanchez
LF Jason Bay
C Ryan Doumit
RF Xavier Nady
1B Doug Mientkiewicz
3B Chris Gomez
SS Jack Wilson
P Tom Gorzelanny
Game Preview
Nationals (26-41) at Pittsburgh (32-34)
The last time the Nationals won a series was when they took 3 of 4 from the Mets May 12-15. This afternoon they look to take the rubber match from the Pirates.
Last night, the offense failed to come thru in the clutch. Washington left 10 men on base and scored one run. It was the 14th time this season the Nationals scored one run or less.
Jason Bergmann toes the rubber for the Nationals and the Pirates counter with Tom Gorzelanny.
Washington begins inter-league play on Friday with a 3-game series against the Mariners in Seattle.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Jason Bergmann (1-3, 5.23) is winless in his last four starts. He has two losses and two no-decisions.
His seven starts have been up and down this year. Bergmann gave up 12 runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two outings, forcing the Nationals to move him to the bullpen, before sending him to the minors to work on his mechanics. In the three starts when he returned from the minors, Bergamnn was lights out, tossing 19 2/3 scoreless innings, but he only had one win to show for it. His last two starts have been ugly. He's given up 12 runs, nine earned, in 11 innings.
Bergmann's last outing, June 6 vs. SF, was his shortest of the season. He lasted three innings giving up eight runs, five earned, in the Giants 10-1 thrashing of the Nationals.
Bergmann has one career start against the Pirates at PNC Park and it didn't go well. Last June, Bergmann was touched for six runs on eight hits in four innings as the Buccos beat the Nationals 7-2. This marks the 4th road start for Bergmann. He's 1-1, with a 3.98 ERA outside of D.C.
LHP Tom Gorzelanny (4-5, 6.83) hasn't won since May 22 and has only one win in his last five outings. He got off to a rocky start in his last game, giving up three runs in the first inning, but settled down and allowed no runs through his final six innings, earning a no-decision in the process.
In his lone career start vs. Washington last year Gorzelanny beat the Nationals, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
Gorzelanny has been solid at home this season. He's 3-1 with a 4.91 ERA, compared to 1-4, 9.23 on the road. Pitching during the day hasn't been too kind to the lefty. Gorzelanny has given up 22 runs in 22 1/3 innings, that's an 8.87 ERA.
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