Rendon homers, Burnett and Sandberg tossed soon after (Nats win 11-0)
By Byron Kerr
Friday night, manager Matt Williams repeated a famous line by actress Susan Sarandon, playing Annie Savoy in the movie "Bull Durham," where she said, 'Hit 'em where they ain't.'
The Nationals had only seven hits in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Phillies, their sixth loss in the past nine games.
On Saturday, the Nationals started the game by listening to Sarandon's character with a pair of base hits in the bottom of the first against Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett. Denard Span singled to open the inning. He stole his 21st base to move to second.
Anthony Rendon perfectly placed a single between first and second base that slowly made its way to right fielder Marlon Byrd. That allowed Span to race home with the first run and the Nationals lead 1-0.
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed two base hits in the first two frames, but the Phillies were unable to score. After 1 1/2 innings, the Nationals are up 1-0.
Update: This game got interesting in the bottom of the second. Bryce Harper walked, Asdrubal Cabrera then reached on a fielder's choice and fielding error by Chase Utley. One out later, Zimmermann walked the base loaded.
Span brought home Harper on a sac fly and it was 2-0 Nationals.
Rendon crushed a three-run shot over the left-center field fence for his 14th homer of the season. He now has 60 RBIs. That increased the Nationals' advantage to 5-0.
Following the first pitch of the at-bat to Jayson Werth, Burnett gestured and said something in the direction of home plate umpire Chris Guccione.
Guccione quickly jumped out from behind home plate and ejected Burnett. Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg came out to argue the ejection and he was also tossed.
Right-hander Phillippe Aumont replaced Burnett.
Rendon's homer was the first homer for the Nationals since July 21.
The Nationals lead 5-0 after two innings.
Update II: The Nationals added another run in the third. Harper provided a run-scoring single to plate Ian Desmond, who walked to start the rally. Cabrera added his first single in a Nationals uniform. Zimmermann drove a ball to deep right-center that was caught on the run by Byrd to end the inning.
The Nationals lead 6-0 after three innings.
Update III: Five runs on seven hits for the Nationals in an incredible fourth inning.
Werth, Adam LaRoche, Cabrera and Wilson Ramos contributed RBI base hits. Desmond also added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Nationals lead 11-0 after four innings.
Update IV: One can talk all night long about Zimmermann having a big lead to work with, but honestly that is one of the best all-around performances I have seen him pitch. He went seven innings, allowed five hits, no runs, no walks and struck out eight batters.
Offensively, Zimmermann recorded a single, two walks, a run scored and a long fly out that Byrd had to track down on the warning track to prevent extra bases. His average is now at .200. That's top-of-the-rotation stuff.
Update V: That's a wrap from Nats Park. The Nationals won 11-0 to earn their first win of the four-game series and improve to 59-49. For now, the Nats are two games ahead of the Braves for first place in the National League East.
Jerry Blevins and Blake Treinen each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the contest. Zimmermann claimed the win, improving to 7-5 on the year and lowering his ERA to 3.00.
Rendon was the key to the rout with three hits and four RBIs. Seven other players drove in one run apiece.
On Saturday, the Nationals started the game by listening to Sarandon's character with a pair of base hits in the bottom of the first against Phillies right-hander A.J. Burnett. Denard Span singled to open the inning. He stole his 21st base to move to second.
Anthony Rendon perfectly placed a single between first and second base that slowly made its way to right fielder Marlon Byrd. That allowed Span to race home with the first run and the Nationals lead 1-0.
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed two base hits in the first two frames, but the Phillies were unable to score. After 1 1/2 innings, the Nationals are up 1-0.
Update: This game got interesting in the bottom of the second. Bryce Harper walked, Asdrubal Cabrera then reached on a fielder's choice and fielding error by Chase Utley. One out later, Zimmermann walked the base loaded.
Span brought home Harper on a sac fly and it was 2-0 Nationals.
Rendon crushed a three-run shot over the left-center field fence for his 14th homer of the season. He now has 60 RBIs. That increased the Nationals' advantage to 5-0.
Following the first pitch of the at-bat to Jayson Werth, Burnett gestured and said something in the direction of home plate umpire Chris Guccione.
Guccione quickly jumped out from behind home plate and ejected Burnett. Phillies Manager Ryne Sandberg came out to argue the ejection and he was also tossed.
Right-hander Phillippe Aumont replaced Burnett.
Rendon's homer was the first homer for the Nationals since July 21.
The Nationals lead 5-0 after two innings.
Update II: The Nationals added another run in the third. Harper provided a run-scoring single to plate Ian Desmond, who walked to start the rally. Cabrera added his first single in a Nationals uniform. Zimmermann drove a ball to deep right-center that was caught on the run by Byrd to end the inning.
The Nationals lead 6-0 after three innings.
Update III: Five runs on seven hits for the Nationals in an incredible fourth inning.
Werth, Adam LaRoche, Cabrera and Wilson Ramos contributed RBI base hits. Desmond also added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Nationals lead 11-0 after four innings.
Update IV: One can talk all night long about Zimmermann having a big lead to work with, but honestly that is one of the best all-around performances I have seen him pitch. He went seven innings, allowed five hits, no runs, no walks and struck out eight batters.
Offensively, Zimmermann recorded a single, two walks, a run scored and a long fly out that Byrd had to track down on the warning track to prevent extra bases. His average is now at .200. That's top-of-the-rotation stuff.
Update V: That's a wrap from Nats Park. The Nationals won 11-0 to earn their first win of the four-game series and improve to 59-49. For now, the Nats are two games ahead of the Braves for first place in the National League East.
Jerry Blevins and Blake Treinen each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the contest. Zimmermann claimed the win, improving to 7-5 on the year and lowering his ERA to 3.00.
Rendon was the key to the rout with three hits and four RBIs. Seven other players drove in one run apiece.
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