Game Thread: Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals - 2008 Game 140 of 162. "Rubber Match..."

The season series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals stands at 5-9 in favor of Philly after fourteen with one more today and three more to end the season in Citizens Bank Park from September 26-28th. A sweep of the rest and DC can tie the season series, and it might just keep Philly out of the postseason, and the only thing better than that would be helping to knock out the Mets, so really, either way, we DC faithful win, especially if we end up with STRASBURG!!!...

On The Hill...

"Opening Night" Odalis Perez is (6-3) in 9 starts and 5 relief appearances against the Phillies in his 10-year MLB career, but he's somehow managed to avoid facing Philadelphia so far this season, last pitching against the Phils in June of '06 when he threw a scoreless inning inning in relief for the Dodgers, and before that two starts in 2005, a shutout win on the road in Pennsylvania, and a 5-1 win in Los Angeles, California in which he allowed just the one run in eight innings on the mound...

In '08, Odalis is (6-10) in 25 starts with a 4.14 ERA in 134.2 innings pitched, over which he's allowed 70 runs, 20 HR's and 50 walks with 90 K's on the season, 21 of which Perez collected in six August starts...4 of "Opening Night's" 6 wins have come after the All-Star Break, with the 31-year-old lefty Perez posting a (4-3) record, and a 5.00 ERA in 45.0 innings since the "mid-summer" classic, with a 1.60 WHIP and .299 BAA. In his last ten, Perez is (4-5) with the Nationals 4-6...

Philly counters with right-handed Joe Blanton, 27, acquired from Oakland in exchange for three prospects back on July 17th and (1-0) in 8 starts so far as a Phillie, with the Phillies 5-2 in Blanton's NL outings. Blanton has 2 career starts against DC, with Philadelphia on August 19th in a 5-4 Phils win in which he received no decision, and with Oakland in 2005, when he beat the Nationals in Interleague Play in RFK 4-3, pitching 6.0 and giving up 7 hits and 4 runs...And Joe Blanton's also got his own blog...(Though he hasn't updated it recenlty...")...Big Joe's Bluegrass Blog!

Nationals' vs Big Joe...

Ronnie Belliard - 3 for 8, .375 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI. 

Aaron Boone - 2 for 4, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's. 

Elijah Dukes - 1 for 4, .250 AVG. 

Jesus Flor...(Oh, man, that's depressing, right?)...

Willie Harris - 2 for 3, .667 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

Ryan Zimmerman - 1 for 3, .333 AVG, 1 3B, 1 RBI. 

"Opening Night" vs The Phils...

Pat Burrell - 4 for 21, .190 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Pedro Feliz - 4 for 27, .148 AVG, 1 2B, 2 RBI's. 

Jimmy Rollins - 6 for 27, .222 AVG. 

Chase Utley - 2 for 7, .286 AVG, 1 3B. 

After September: Nationals' Prospect Watch...(with MiLB.com Stat Links.)

Keep an eye out for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League where three Nationals' pitching prospects, righty Adam Carr, lefty Corey VanAllen and right-hander Zech Zinicola will be playing alongside infielders Ian Desmond and Bill Rhinehart, as well as outfielder Leonard Davis, with Carr, Van Allen, Desmond and Rhinehart coming from Double-A Harrisburg, and Zinicola and Davis from the Triple-A Columbus. The Nationals prospects will also have the chance to work under RIck Eckstein, who was Columbus Clippers' Hitting Coach until DC called him up on 8/27 after he returned from a stint with the US Olympic team. 

The BaseballAmerica.com Staff Report entitled, "Arizona Fall League Rosters: A guide to prospects you'll want to keep tabs on in Arizona", singles out 24-year old Leonard Davis, an 8th Round Expos' selection, 234th overall in 2004, who is, "Listed as an outfielder...," but:

"...has played third base, left field and second base since a promotion to Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old started this year in high Class A and has hit .311/.369/.561 with 23 homers between three stops."

The MLB.com AFL Preview entitled, "AFL rosters starting to take shape", by Lisa Winston, points to Zech Zinicola from amongst the Nationals' pitchers who'll appear in Arizona, taking note of the Nationals' 23-year old right-hander, a 6th Round pick, 181st overall in 2006, writing:

"Washington sends relief prospect Zech Zinicola, who comes off a season that has seen him pitch at three levels, including Triple-A Columbus. The sixth-rounder out of Arizona State in 2006 has nine saves and a 4.01 ERA."

Calling Luke Montz? 

Selected by the Montreal Expos in the 17th Round, with the 507th overall pick of the '03 Draft, Luke Montz, a 6'3'' 200+ lb catcher out of Lafayette, Louisiana, who hits and throws from the right side, spent 6 seasons in the Expos' and Nationals' system before Jesus Flores' injury last night (courtesy of the diving Chase Utley) resulted in the call that will bring him to DC and suit him up as a National tomorrow night in the finale of the next to last '08 series with the Phils...As it stands at the moment, it looks like Montz is gonna get the chance to finish out the season with DC...unless someone still has Johnny Estrada's number, he left on good terms, right? Oh, that's right, he did kinda threaten the Nationals on the way out...Montz it is!...

Montz caught 111 games combined between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Columbus, putting up a .282 AVG with 14 doubles, 14 HR's and 53 RBI's in 63 games as a Senator, and a .256 AVG, with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR's and 18 RBI's in 48 games with the Clippers...In his last ten games, from August 21st through September 1st, Montz hit .344, with 11 hits, 1 HR and 1 RBI in 32 at bats....

Nats' Blogs Roundup...

Steven at Fire Jim Bowden: A Washington Nationals Blog has some helpful advice for Chase Utley next time he tries to slide into home. (ed. note - "Fire Jim Bowden is also keeping an eye out for Strasburg!")

Dave At Bottomfeeder Baseball...has been on vacation, but he's still consistently providing "Your voice of doom and gloom", (in his own words), whenever he stops by or posts over at Bottomfeeder Baseball...

The good folks at Nats320: A Nationals Blog, had pretty much the same reaction I did to Jesus Flores' injury in a post by Screech's Best Friend entitled, "Deflating", which has ridiculously complete photographic coverage of last night's game/night at Nationals Park.

For A Phillies' Fans' Perspective On The Current Series, Check the SBN's Phillies' Blog:

The Good Phight

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

One more with Philly tomorrow at 7:10 pm EST, and then it's four with Atlanta in Atlanta to end the season series with the Braves. "Opening Night" vs "Big Joe" Blanton...Who's Watching The Nationals???...