Nats two errors lead to four unearned runs in 6-1 loss to Padres
Four unearned runs and the opposing pitcher hits a home run; that sums up the Nationals 6-1 loss to the Padres on Saturday night at Nationals Park.
Washington's defense let down John Lannan and the offense didn't help as they only managed four hits, just two off San Diego's start Chris Young, who picked up his sixth win of the season.
The Padres scored three unearned runs in the fifth and never looked back. With two-outs and a runner on second, Will Venable hit a routine grounder to Emilio Bonifacio that he let go under his glove. Venable raced all the way around from second to score the first run of the game.
Edgar Gonzalez followed with a two-run blast to left and the Padres built a 3-0 lead when the inning should have been over. All three runs were unearned, but it didn't matter, Washington was behind by three in the game.
If that wasn't bad enough for Lannan, San Diego starter Chris Young was shutting down the Nationals' offense. Young allowed just two hits walked four and struck out five in seven shutout innings.
Young helped his own cause in the seventh when he hit his first career home run, to left field, on the first pitch he saw and the Padres led 4-0.
After Young's tater, Willie Harris lost a ball in the lights that fell in for a triple. It wasn't the first time that has happened to him in left field this season. The runner didn't score but it's something that has bothered Harris.
San Diego built on their lead in the eighth when Adrian Gonzalez singled home Brian Giles, who tripled to lead-off the inning. Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error, on the next play, led to another unearned run. Zimmerman threw the ball away trying to get a double play started. Instead of getting an out, it put runners on the corners. Chase Headley's single scored Gonzalez to make it 6-0.
The Nationals' got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Aaron Boone's ground-rule double. Bonifacio, who led off with a single, scored on the play to make it 6-1, but that's as close as Washington would get.
Postgame Notes
The Nationals have lost three straight games and they fall to 2-4 on the current nine-game homestand.
Wil Nieves, with a 1-3 night, is batting .295 with five RBI in 13 games since September 2nd.
Cristian Guzman is hitting .419 with six doubles, two triples, four homers, 19 RBI and 15 runs scored in his last 22 game.
Final Linescore
Padres 6-7-0
Nationals 1-4-2
WP-Young (6-6)
LP-Lannan (9-14)
HR- E. Gonzalez (7), Young (1)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Padres scoring, 8th inning
Willie Harris lost a liner in the lights and the Padres added to their 4-0 lead in the eighth inning.
Adrian Gonzalez singled home Brian Giles to make it 5-0. After an error by Ryan Zimmerman put runners on the corners, Chase Headley singled home the sixth run of the game.
Clubhouse Audio: Willie Harris talks about his defensive struggles in the Nats 6-1 loss
Padres scoring, 7th inning
Padres' starter Chris Young guessed and he guessed right on the first pitch he saw from John Lannan with two-outs in the seventh.
Young jumped on the 88 MHP fastball and hit it into the San Diego bullpen in left for the 4-0 lead. It was Young's first Major League homer
Clubhouse Audio: John Lannan discusses his outing in the Nats 6-1 loss
Young thru 6 innings
Chris Young is tossing a one hit gem thru six innings and the Nationals' can't get anything going off the 6'10'' right-hander. He's retired 10 of the last 11 and the only hit he allowed was a one-out double in the first. Young has 11 fly ball outs, compared to three ground ball outs.
6 IP, H, 4 BB, 4 K, HB. 101 pitches, 59 strikes
Lannan thru 6 innings
If it wasn't for Emilio Bonifacio's error, Lannan would be tossing a one-hitter thru six innings. Instead, he finds himself on the wrong side of a 3-0 game. John has only given up two hits, but the big blow was a two-run homer. He would probably be around 70 pitches if he hadn't thrown 30 in the second and 20 in the fifth.
6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. 89 pitches.
Padres scoring, 5th inning
With a runner on second and two outs, Emilio Bonifacio booted a routine ground ball that opened the flood gates for a three-run inning, all of which were unearned
Will Venable grounded to Bonifacio and the ball skirted under his glove allowing Nick Hundley to score from second. Edgar Gonzalez followed with his seventh home run, a two-run shot to left, for the 3-0 lead.
Lannan thru 3 innings
John cruised thru the first and third innings, tossing 10 pitches in each frame, but needed a whopping 30 pitches to get out of the second. A single sandwiched around two walks loaded the bases for the Padres. Lannan got pitcher Chris Young to pop out to second to end the inning.
3 IP, H, 2 BB, K. 50 pitches, 30 strikes.
Starting Line-Ups
Padres
CF Will Venable
2B Edgar Gonzalez
RF Brian Giles
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
LF Chase Headley
C Nick Hundley
SS Sean Kazmar
P Chris Young
Nationals
2B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Elijah Dukes
1B Aaron Boone
LF Willie Harris
C Wil Nieves
CF Rober Bernadina
P John Lannan
Game Preview
San Diego (59-95) at Nationals (58-96)
Last night, it took the Padres 14 innings to knock-off the Nationals', 11-6. The two teams combined to throw 526 pitches and Washington matched a franchise record by using nine pitchers.
San Diego, who issued 12 walks, the most since they allowed 13 on April 26, 2003, banged out 20 hits in the 5 hour marathon.
The Nationals look to end their three-game losing streak and even the best-of-three series. John Lannan aims for his 10th win of the year while the Padres counter with Chris Young.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP John Lannan (9-13, 3.97) had arguably the best game of his career against the Mets last Monday night. He gave up one run on one hit in seven solid innings in the Nationals' 7-2 win.
Taking the advice from teammate Odalis Perez, Lannan threw more changeups to left-handed batters and he had great success, striking out seven Mets, four of which were lefties.
Lannan is making his second start against the Padres this season. He faced San Diego on May 29th and gave up two runs on five hits and three walks in six innings but received a no-decision in the Padres 5-2 win. Edgar Gonzalez's two runs single, in the fourth was the only runs Lannan would allow.
This will be Lannan's 14th start at Nationals Park and he's hoping for better success. He is 4-8 with a 5.22 ERA compared to 5-5 with a 3.08 on road.
Nine times this season Lannan has allowed one run or less and he's 7-0 in those games.
RHP Chris Young (5-6, 4.43) is coming off a quality start, but the Padres offense was shutout and he took the loss in the Giants 7-0 win. Young allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked one. The Giants got a two-run homer in the first, but he settled down the rest of the way.
In his start on September 7th, young came within four outs of throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history. Gabe Kapler's solo homer with two-outs in the eight broke up the no-no and shutout all at once. Young would give up a double in the ninth for the only other hits he allowed.
Young, who hasn't faced the Nationals since July 8, 2006, is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts. In that game back in 2006, Young gave up two runs on seven hits in six strong innings. He stuck out nine and didn't walk a batter in the Padres 5-2 win.
Young is another pitcher who has trouble pitching outside of Petco Park. He's 3-3 with a 6.02 ERA, in nine starts on the road compared to 2-3 with a 2.48 at home.
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