Game Thread: Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals - 2008 Game 49 of 162. "Apparently The Brewers Have Something Called A Sausage Race, Clearly Modeled Upon DC's Racing Presidents...!"

Hello to any Brewers' fans*...

On the Hill...

Last season, the Washington Nationals dropped three straight to the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconson's Miller Park on May 7-9, but here at home in DC, the Nationals took two of three from the Brew Crew in the first week of July. Tonight is the first of four between the NL Central's third and the NL East's fifth place teams. 

Jeff Suppan started one of the three games the Brewers played in RFK Stadium last July, taking a loss to opposing starter Jason Simontacchi, (no longer with the Nationals), in a start which saw Suppan allow 6 hits, and 4 ER's, with 5 walks in 5.0 innings. In his 14-year MLB career, Suppan's faced the Expos/Nationals 9 times, going (3-3) with a 3.49 ERA in 56.2 innings...(2-3) with a 4.78 ERA in 9 starts and 52.2 IP in '08, Suppan's (1-3) in his last four starts, and (1-3) in 6 starts on the road this year, with the Brewers winning three of those six games. 

Washington throws "Opening Night" Odalis Perez, who is (1-4) in 10 starts, posting a 4.34 ERA with 41 K's and 22 walks in 56.0 IP since joining the Nationals late this Spring and almost immediately being named the first Nationals' starter in Nationals Park's history. The 6'0'' lefty soft-tosser is (3-0) in six career starts against the Brewers, allowing 36 hits, 13 runs and 4 HR's with 8 walks and 24 K's in 38.1 innings on the hill opposite Milwaukee batters. In 4 starts at home, Odalis Perez has yet to record a decision in Nationals Park...

Nationals' #'s Against Jeff Suppan...

Ryan Zimmerman - 3 for 9, .333 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Rob Mackowiak - 6 for 22, .273 AVG, 2 RBI's, 5 K's.

If Paul Lo Duca were playing - 7 for 19, .368 AVG, 2 2B, 4 RBI's.

Felipe Lopez - 4 for 16, .250 AVG, 1 2B, 2 RBI's.

Dave at Bottomfeeder Baseball checked in this afternoon with a FANPOST about the Nationals' roster movements entitled, "Langerhans Back, Chico to Columbus", which cites the Nationals Farm Authority's Brian Oliver's post on the moves, from this morning, which in turn cites the original source of the news at the Columbus Clippers' official website. Isn't the internet fun...I think I've completed the link pyramid...

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...

Tonight's Washington Nationals' starting lineup...

Felipe 2B

The Guzzzzz SS

Zim!! 3B

DY 1B

Lasto CF

Flores C

WMP LF

Elijah Dukes RF

"Opening Night" on the mound against Milwaukee. 

7:35 pm EST start in the DC tonight. Rumors of an Invading army of over-sized racing Sausages, the Presidents had better worr...Actually, I'd advise Mr.'s Bratt Wurst, Stosh, Guido, Frankie Furter and Cinco the Chorizo to steer clear of Big Head Teddy, who would rather chow down than finally win a race...

(ed. note - * = Yes I know the Brewers were first with the Big Head races.)