Game Thread: Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies - 2008 Game 128 of 162. "Will The Nationals Ever Win Again?"

The Historical Perspective, Subtitled, "You're Embarrasing The Expos."

The Washington Nationals have had long losing streaks before, like the 9-straight the Nationals dropped from April 3rd-12th earlier this year, or the 9 they lost in July this season, from the 22nd-31st, but the 12-straight DC's lost, from August 8th-20th(last night), constitutes the longest losing streak the franchise has suffered through since 1991, when the Larry Walker, Tim Wallach and Ivan Calderon-led Expos' dropped 11-in-a-row from June 23-July4th. That Montreal team finished the '91 season 71-90. The 1975 Expos also dropped 12 straight, from August 13th-27th, which leaves that '75 Expos team tied with the '08 Nationals for second behind only the 1969 O-riginal Expos, who dropped a franchise record 20-straight games from May 13th-June 7th...

The last DC-based franchise to lose more than 12-straight? The 1962 Senators, who dropped 13 consecutive games from April 14th to the 29th...When, in the 8th inning of a 1-1 game between Boston and Washington, Senators' pinch runner Chuck Hinton took over at second for Senators' center fielder Jim Piersall, who had just doubled off Boston pitcher Gene Conley. Hinton immediately took third on a passed ball Conley threw by Sox catcher Jim "Pags" Pagliaroni, and then a sac fly from Senators' left fielder Jim King allowed Hinton to tag and score for a 2-1 DC lead over the Boston Red Sox, a lead which a scoreless ninth from Senators' starter Pete Burnside preserved, stopping the Sens' slide at thirteen-straight losses...

On The Hill...

DC righty Tim Redding (8-8, 4.66 ERA) takes the mound for the 27th time this season, looking to stop a personal two-game losing streak, against a Philadelphia team he's already faced 3 times this season, with a (2-1) record and a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched against the '08 Phillies. Over his 7-year MLB career, the 30-year-old Redding's (4-3) 9 starts with a 3.33 ERA in 54.0 innings pitched against Philadephia, but the ninth start wasn't a good one, as the Phillies connected for 10 hits and 7 runs in 4.0 innings back on July 30th in Nationals Park. (1-1) in 2 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Redding also pitched once in Veterans Stadium, receiving no decision for 6.0 innings of work in a 5-3 Astros' loss which Redding started for Houston...

vs

"Old Man Jamey Moyer and His Bag of Slow Tricks" will be on display tonight in Philadelphia. The 45-year old left-handed junk-baller tosses soft pitches towards DC batters for the 19th time in his 22-year career. Moyer enters his 18th start against the DC/Montreal franchise with an (8-4) record and a 3.05 ERA in 100.1 innings pitched opposite the Expos/Nationals. On the '08 season, Moyer's (11-7) with a 3.64 ERA and 95 K's in 151.0 innings overall, and two of Moyer's 11 wins come in 3 starts against the Nationals, against whom he's allowed 22 hits and 6 ER in 15.2 IP both at home and away, with a win in his last start against DC in which he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 6 hits and 3 ER's in an 8-5 Philly win. 

Nationals' #'s Against Jamie Moyer...

Cristian Guzman - 9 for 34, .265 AVG, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Ronnie Belliard - 8 for 27, .296 AVG, 5 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI's.

Aaron Boone - 2 for 14, .143 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's. 

Lastings Milledge - 5 for 14, .357 AVG, 1 2B. 

Willie Harris - 3 for 13, .231 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

Austin Kearns - 5 for 12, .417 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI's. 

Jesus Flores - 6 for 12, .500 AVG, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's. 

Tim Redding - 0 for 1, .000 AVG.

Phils' #'s Against Tim Redding...

Pat Burrell - 5 for 23, .217 AVG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI's. 

Geoff Jenkins - 12 for 21, .571 AVG, 5 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

Chase...Utley! - 7 for 14, .500 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI's. 

Ryan Howard - 2 for 15, .133 AVG. 

Shane Victorino - 5 for 12, .417 AVG, 2 RBI's. 

Jayson Werth - 2 for 6, .333 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

The Nationals haven't won a game since the second game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on August 7th...In 12 straight against Brewers, Mets, Rockies and Phillies, the Nationals are 0-12, and if they lose today, they'll have been swept in three-straight series on the way to their 84th '08 loss...C'mon now Redding? 7:05 pm EST from Philly, game three of three. Redding vs Moyer. Can Washington end the slide? Can Redding win #9? Who's Watching The Nationals?