Cabrera, Werth and Fister following 2-1 setback to Phillies
By Byron Kerr
New second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera went 0-for-4 in his Nationals debut, but was able to hit three balls hard and made an impressive sliding play to prevent a base hit and record the out on defense in the third inning against Jimmy Rollins.
Cabrera was not able to record a hit despite three line outs.
"That's baseball, man," Cabrera said. "I got to keep doing what I'm doing. Tomorrow is another day."
His debut was the first time he had started at second base since 2009 and he admitted it felt a bit different early in the game.
"The first inning I feel like a little weird," Cabrera said. "But after that, I feel (good) for the game.
"I mean, I think if you play shortstop you can play any position in the infield."
In the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two men on and down one run, Cabrera faced Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. He struck out to end the game.
"I faced him a lot with Boston," Cabrera said. "I know what kind of pitches he can throw me."
Despite the loss, Cabrera enjoyed being on the field with his new teammates and hearing the roar of 28,410 at Nationals Park.
"I felt really good. I love it," he said. "I love being in that situation, helping the team to (try to) win."
Starter Doug Fister suffered his first loss at home this season, even though he allowed only two runs in seven innings.
Fister gave up a solo homer to Marlon Byrd in the sixth that proved to be the go-ahead run.
"(I kept) attacking the zone," Fister said. "Didn't quite make a pitch to Byrd. I got a little wild with the second inning. I got a little wild and they executed and I didn't. I got to be better than that and that's what it comes down to.
Fister felt he gave Byrd too much of a look at his fastball in allowing the game-changing hit.
"I left it over the plate too much," Fister said. "I was kind of surprised he took it the other way, but it's definitely one of those pitches I need to make sure is in. I was trying to go off the plate, left it over the plate a little bit. That's what he does. He hits fastballs well. It's one of those things I got to make sure that pitch is down and in.
The Nationals continually gave Fister a chance to stay in the game, from Jayson Werth's outfield assist to Cabrera's sliding pick and throw that robbed Rollins of a base hit.
"That's what we're known for," Fister said. "That's what our guys do. We play great baseball as far as defense. Those guys are selling out, making great plays and sacrificing, again, for whatever they have to do. That's what our team does and that's why we have a team. That's why we are a team. Guys play for each other. That's what we have here and unfortunately tonight, not being successful, but that's what makes us good is playing together."
Fister allowed a run in the second on two hits. But from the third through the fifth inning, he gave up just two hits. He believed he had diagnosed what was going wrong early on.
"It was a matter of me floating too far forward and not staying back making the pitch," Fister said. 'I was trying to get too quick and it's a matter of executing. I got to get that ball down and make my pitches when I need to."
Fister was aware his team was hitting the ball hard too. The Nationals only had seven hits on the night, but that doesn't mean they weren't making good contact.
"It is baseball. Those guys hit the ball hard," Fister said. "It's what, three of four at least that were right at guys. One right at the pitcher. Those balls are hit right on the screws and you can't really do a whole lot about those. Yeah, it's frustrating, but you hit a ball hard and it doesn't fall, that's the way things roll. We just got to come back tomorrow ready to play and ready to win."
Werth made several very good defensive plays in the game, but grounded out to start the ninth.
"I play right field, so just playing and doing my job," he said. "They stick me out there and I try to do my best. I knew the runner and the ball was hit hard enough."
Werth threw out the Phillies Cody Asche at home plate, which was considered one of the plays of the night.
"I knew it was going to be close," Werth said. "I knew it was going to take a good throw. It felt good coming out of my hand and when I let it fly I felt like I had him."
He said it is never easy losing one run games and credited the pitching of Roberto Hernandez, who didn't allow an earned run over eight innings.
"It was a tough one. Got some things going a couple times," Werth said. "Yeah, really just couldn't find a whole lot there. He pitched a good game, he had good stuff all night. He sunk the ball pretty good and kept us off-balance. We had our chances, just didn't come through. It's too bad. Anytime Doug's pitching you know he's going to give you his best. He's the type of guy you want to play good defense for and score runs for and give him a W because he's out there busting his butt."
Despite his groundout in the ninth, after the Nationals got two men on Werth thought the Nats might have a shot.
"I liked our chances. We had (closer Jonathan Paplebon) on the ropes a little bit, but he's a veteran closer," Werth said. "He's been doing this a long time. He knows what he's doing. We just came up a little short tonight. We still have a chance to split the series and get the next two. We'll be all right."
Werth got to watch Cabrera play right in front of him and saw why the Nationals went out to get the two-time All-Star.
"Pretty solid. He's been playing shortstop," Werth said. "If you can play short you can pretty much play anywhere. He's a good addition to the team. It looks good going forward."
A few of the Nationals' long fly outs almost reached the stands. But the Nationals have not been able to connect on a home run since July 21.
"It's one of those things," Werth said. "Been winning games and scoring runs - that's the main thing. You try to hit home runs, you don't. It's not something you can think about."
The Nats have been without Ryan Zimmerman for nine games. How much does it hurt not having Zimmerman in the lineup?
"You just can't replace a guy like Ryan Zimmerman," Werth said. "We're going to miss him, but we're going to have to pick up. We're going to have to make due, we're going to have to win games without him. That's just what good teams do they make adjustments, pick each other up."
The Nationals continually gave Fister a chance to stay in the game, from Jayson Werth's outfield assist to Cabrera's sliding pick and throw that robbed Rollins of a base hit.
"That's what we're known for," Fister said. "That's what our guys do. We play great baseball as far as defense. Those guys are selling out, making great plays and sacrificing, again, for whatever they have to do. That's what our team does and that's why we have a team. That's why we are a team. Guys play for each other. That's what we have here and unfortunately tonight, not being successful, but that's what makes us good is playing together."
Fister allowed a run in the second on two hits. But from the third through the fifth inning, he gave up just two hits. He believed he had diagnosed what was going wrong early on.
"It was a matter of me floating too far forward and not staying back making the pitch," Fister said. 'I was trying to get too quick and it's a matter of executing. I got to get that ball down and make my pitches when I need to."
Fister was aware his team was hitting the ball hard too. The Nationals only had seven hits on the night, but that doesn't mean they weren't making good contact.
"It is baseball. Those guys hit the ball hard," Fister said. "It's what, three of four at least that were right at guys. One right at the pitcher. Those balls are hit right on the screws and you can't really do a whole lot about those. Yeah, it's frustrating, but you hit a ball hard and it doesn't fall, that's the way things roll. We just got to come back tomorrow ready to play and ready to win."
Werth made several very good defensive plays in the game, but grounded out to start the ninth.
"I play right field, so just playing and doing my job," he said. "They stick me out there and I try to do my best. I knew the runner and the ball was hit hard enough."
Werth threw out the Phillies Cody Asche at home plate, which was considered one of the plays of the night.
"I knew it was going to be close," Werth said. "I knew it was going to take a good throw. It felt good coming out of my hand and when I let it fly I felt like I had him."
He said it is never easy losing one run games and credited the pitching of Roberto Hernandez, who didn't allow an earned run over eight innings.
"It was a tough one. Got some things going a couple times," Werth said. "Yeah, really just couldn't find a whole lot there. He pitched a good game, he had good stuff all night. He sunk the ball pretty good and kept us off-balance. We had our chances, just didn't come through. It's too bad. Anytime Doug's pitching you know he's going to give you his best. He's the type of guy you want to play good defense for and score runs for and give him a W because he's out there busting his butt."
Despite his groundout in the ninth, after the Nationals got two men on Werth thought the Nats might have a shot.
"I liked our chances. We had (closer Jonathan Paplebon) on the ropes a little bit, but he's a veteran closer," Werth said. "He's been doing this a long time. He knows what he's doing. We just came up a little short tonight. We still have a chance to split the series and get the next two. We'll be all right."
Werth got to watch Cabrera play right in front of him and saw why the Nationals went out to get the two-time All-Star.
"Pretty solid. He's been playing shortstop," Werth said. "If you can play short you can pretty much play anywhere. He's a good addition to the team. It looks good going forward."
A few of the Nationals' long fly outs almost reached the stands. But the Nationals have not been able to connect on a home run since July 21.
"It's one of those things," Werth said. "Been winning games and scoring runs - that's the main thing. You try to hit home runs, you don't. It's not something you can think about."
The Nats have been without Ryan Zimmerman for nine games. How much does it hurt not having Zimmerman in the lineup?
"You just can't replace a guy like Ryan Zimmerman," Werth said. "We're going to miss him, but we're going to have to pick up. We're going to have to make due, we're going to have to win games without him. That's just what good teams do they make adjustments, pick each other up."
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