Early miscues hurt Nats (Nats win 3-2)
By Josh Land
Well, things are off to an interesting start this afternoon at Nationals Park.
With one out in the top of the first, Grady Sizemore singled to center fielder Denard Span.
With two outs, Marlon Byrd singled on a line drive to Span, which scored Sizemore. Byrd was able to advance to third following throwing errors by Span and third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The Phillies lead the Nationals 1-0 at the end of one inning.
The run was charged as an earned run to Gio Gonzalez, who threw 19 pitches in the first inning.
Update: Adam LaRoche led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run to right. His blast knotted the game at 1-1.
LaRoche has hit three home runs in his last four games while battling multiple injuries.
Update II: The sun monster is back.
There have been several times already this game where the sun has caused Span to misplay a couple of balls in center field, including in the fourth inning.
Carlos Ruiz doubled to lead off the inning. Span may have been able to make a play, but he lost track of the ball in the sun.
Byrd then followed with a single, which allowed Ruiz to advance to third. Ruiz then scored on the next play as Darin Ruf hit a sacrifice fly.
LaRoche then lead off the bottom of the fourth with his second game-tying home run of the game. His solo blast tied the score at 2-2.
Update III: In the bottom of the sixth, LaRoche was finally retired. Ian Desmond, however, was not. Desmond doubled with one out in the sixth and then moved to third on a balk by Cole Hamels.
Desmond then scored on Scott Hairston's sacrifice fly.
The Nats now lead 3-2 at the end of six innings.
Update IV: Bryce Harper replaced Hairston in left field in the seventh inning.
Gonzalez lasted six plus innings after he allowed a leadoff single to Ruf. Manager Matt Williams brought in Aaron Barrett to replace Gonzalez. Barrett then retired the Phillies in order.
Gonzalez pitched six innings, allowed five hits, two runs, one earned, walked none and struck out three. He threw 105 pitches, 67 were strikes.
Update V: The Nats hung on for their 80th win of the season.
Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless eighth and Drew Storen came in and pitched a perfect ninth for his second of the season.
The Nationals improve to 80-61 and their magic number has dropped to 14.
With two outs, Marlon Byrd singled on a line drive to Span, which scored Sizemore. Byrd was able to advance to third following throwing errors by Span and third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The Phillies lead the Nationals 1-0 at the end of one inning.
The run was charged as an earned run to Gio Gonzalez, who threw 19 pitches in the first inning.
Update: Adam LaRoche led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run to right. His blast knotted the game at 1-1.
LaRoche has hit three home runs in his last four games while battling multiple injuries.
Update II: The sun monster is back.
There have been several times already this game where the sun has caused Span to misplay a couple of balls in center field, including in the fourth inning.
Carlos Ruiz doubled to lead off the inning. Span may have been able to make a play, but he lost track of the ball in the sun.
Byrd then followed with a single, which allowed Ruiz to advance to third. Ruiz then scored on the next play as Darin Ruf hit a sacrifice fly.
LaRoche then lead off the bottom of the fourth with his second game-tying home run of the game. His solo blast tied the score at 2-2.
Update III: In the bottom of the sixth, LaRoche was finally retired. Ian Desmond, however, was not. Desmond doubled with one out in the sixth and then moved to third on a balk by Cole Hamels.
Desmond then scored on Scott Hairston's sacrifice fly.
The Nats now lead 3-2 at the end of six innings.
Update IV: Bryce Harper replaced Hairston in left field in the seventh inning.
Gonzalez lasted six plus innings after he allowed a leadoff single to Ruf. Manager Matt Williams brought in Aaron Barrett to replace Gonzalez. Barrett then retired the Phillies in order.
Gonzalez pitched six innings, allowed five hits, two runs, one earned, walked none and struck out three. He threw 105 pitches, 67 were strikes.
Update V: The Nats hung on for their 80th win of the season.
Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless eighth and Drew Storen came in and pitched a perfect ninth for his second of the season.
The Nationals improve to 80-61 and their magic number has dropped to 14.
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