Washington Nationals' Ace John Lannan Blanks New York Mets. 4-0 Complete Game Shutout.

HEADLINE:

For the first time since August 15, 2006. For the first time in his career. And for the first time in Nationals Park...

The Washington Nationals' left-handed ace, John Lannan, pitched a complete game shutout tonight in DC's 4-0 victory over the visiting New York Mets, who managed 7 hits, all singles, and hit 17 groundouts, 2 for double plays. Lannan throws 106 pitches, 80 for strikes and K's just one batter, walking no one. The Nationals' 24-year-old lefty gets his first career complete game shutout in his 57th major league start, and it's his second straight complete game on the mound against the Mets, having beaten New York back on June 6th in a game in which he allowed 1 unearned run in a 7-1 Washington win. Pedro Astacio was the last pitcher in Nationals' franchise history to throw a complete game shutout, on August 15, 2006, when the big right-hander beat the Braves 5-0 in old RFK. Lannan's is the first CG/SO in the history of Nationals Park...

And It's New Nationals' Manager JIM RIGGLEMAN'S 1st win at the helm... 

Nationals win, 4-0 final. 

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

So Were The Mets Fans...Over at Amazin' Avenue...

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• 17 Groundouts, 9 Flyouts, 0 Errors...

• 4 Hits, 4 Runs, Effective, Economical.

• The First Win Of The Riggleman Era.

For The "Completists" (Get it!) Full Game Report After The Jump!!!

Nationals now 27-66. 

BACKPAGE: (Under Construction)...

• 17 Groundouts, 9 Flyouts, 0 Errors...

John Lannan let runners on in each of the first four innings before retiring the New York Mets in order for the first time in the fifth. A two-out single by Mets' third baseman David Wright in the sixth amounts to nothing and NY goes down in order in the seventh and eighth before Jeff Francoeur hits a two-out single to keep the Mets' hopes alive in the ninth. Fernando Tatis follows Francoeur, and grounds out to second to end the Nationals' 4-0 win.

...Lannan gets a double play grounder after Angel Pagan's leadoff single in the first, saws off Omir Santos with a man on and two outs in the second, has Nyjer Morgan make a leaping catch at the wall in the third to rob Wright, and gets a DP from Tatis after another leadoff single in the fourth. In the fifth, Lannan gets groundouts from the 7-8-9 hitters in the Mets' lineup, and the sixth ends when Francoeur flies out with Wright at first following a single. 4 straight groundouts, a strikeout and a fly ball to right, and Lannan's through the seventh and eighth. With two down in the ninth, Jeff Francoeur sends a line drive to left, but Tatis' ground out ends it...

• 4 Hits, 4 Runs, Effective, Economical.

NY Mets' lefty Oliver Perez held the Nationals scoreless through three, then gave up a bases loaded sac fly to Alberto Gonzalez and a two-out single to Wil Nieves to give DC a 2-0 lead after four. Nyjer Morgan got hit by a pitch and stole second to lead off the fifth and Perez walked Ryan Zimmerman in front of Adam Dunn, who singled in Morgan, and Josh Willingham, whose sac fly scored Zim. 4-0 DC on 2 singles and 2 sac flies.  

• The First Win Of The Riggleman Era.

It took Jim Riggleman 6 games to get his first win as the Nationals' Manager. Washington Post writer Chico Harlan noted in his game recap, which is entitled, simply, "Nats 4, Mets 0", that DC lefty John Lannan gave Mr. Riggleman the game ball after the W. MLB.com's Bill Ladson quotes the Riggleman in his article entitled, "Lannan hurls first career shutout over Mets", calling Lannan a "polished guy",  who pitches like a "real seasoned veteran", and, "...knows the role being the lead guy on our staff." Go ahead, Mr. Riggleman, just call him "Ace".

New York Mets At Washington Nationals. Game 93 Of 162. 

Angel Pagan goes the other way with an opposite field line drive to left to leadoff the second of three for the Mets in DC. Luis Castillo takes the first pitch and grounds out to second, Alberto Gonzalez to Cristian Guzman to Adam Dunn, double play. David Wright flies out to Josh Willingham to end the top of the first...Nyjer Morgan lays down a bunt, but Oliver Perez is all over it, fielding and throwing to first. Cristian Guzman pops out to short, trying to be more like Luis Castillo. Ryan Zimmerman drives a liner over short that falls in for a two-out single. Oliver Perez throws an 0-2 fastball by Adam Dunn to end the first. 

Jeff Francoeur gives Guzman some work with a weak grounder to start the second. Fernando Tatis flies out to Austin Kearns for out No. 2. Daniel Murphy lines a two-out single by a diving Cristian Guzman at short and into left. Lannan breaks Omir Santos’ bat in half and gets a force at second on a groundout to short...Oliver Perez is inside and low with ball four to walk Willingham in the DC second. Austin Kearns can’t hold up on two-strike junk outside, a called strike three on the check swing. Alberto Gonzalez pops out to short. Wil Nieves grounds out to short. 

Cristian Guzman fields Alex Cora’s grounder behind second and throws to Dunn at first to start the third. Oliver Perez chops a single over the pulled-in Zimmerman for a one-out single. Angel Pagan lines out to right. Luis Castillo reaches down and lines a single over Lannan’s head and into center. David Wright pushes Nyjer Morgan back, back, Morgan leaps at the wall and makes the catch. Lannan through three...John Lannan watches strike three all the way in. Nyjer Morgan walks with one down, and gets picked off trying to take second, Perez to Murphy to second where Morgan’s tagged out. Guzman grounds out to second, 0-0 after three. 

Jeff Francoeur starts the fourth with a single to right. Fernando Tatis grounds to Alberto Gonzalez, who steps on second and throws to first, double play. Josh Wilingham tracks Daniel Murphy’s line drive and makes the catch at the track in left...Ryan Zimmerman walks to start the Nationals’ fourth. Zimmerman goes first to third on a single through the shift by Adam Dunn. Josh Willingham pops out unproductively to short. Austin Kearns walks to load the bases for Alberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez lines to right, Francoeur comes in hard looking to throw and drops the liner, Zimmerman scores, Kearns out at second. 1-0 DC. Wil Nieves lines a single through second to score Dunn, 2-0 Nationals. John Lannan’s bunting and out to end the inning.

Omir Santos grounds to third, Zimmerman throws him out. Cristian Guzman throws out Alex Cora on a grounder deep in the hole at short. Oliver Perez tries to bunt his way on and fails...Nyjer Morgan gets hit in the elbow, and he’s running and has to hustle back as Cristian Guzman lines out to right. Morgan steals second on Perez with Zimmerman at bat. Ryan Zimmerman walks to put two on for Adam Dunn. Dunn singles to right to score Morgan, Zimmerman safe at third, 3-0 Nationals. Josh Willingham’s sac fly to center scores Zim, 4-0 Nationals. Austin Kearns grounds to Alex Cora to end the rally.

Angel Pagan grounds to Zimmerman at third, step and throw, one down. Luis Castillo grounds to Guzman at short. David Wright pushes a two-out single through second. Willingham charges in to catch Francoeur’s flyout...Oliver Perez gets a groundout by breaking Alberto Gonzalez’s bat in half. Wil Nieves walks with one down. John Lannan’s sac bunt moves Nieves up, and a wild pitch gives him third. Nyjer Morgan stares strike three all the way in. 

Fernando Tatis grounds out to short on another broken bat’r. Daniel Murphy grounds out to second, and Omir Santos grounds to third...Cristian Guzman grounds out to start the seventh. Mets’ right-hander Brian Stokes gets a grounder to second from Ryan Zimmerman. Adam Dunn pops out behind second, 4-0 Nationals after seven.

John Lannan hangs a curve that’s ground out to second by Alex Cora. Angel Berroa K’s swinging. Angel Pagan flies out to end the top of the eighth...Bobby Parnell gets a fly ball to short center from Willie Harris. Austin Kearns grounds to Cora at short. Alberto Gonzalez flies out to center.

John "Cool Hand" Lannan vs Luis Castillo. Castillo lines to center, Morgan chases, catches up and catches it!!! David Wright flies out to center. Jeff Francoeur singles to left to keep hope alive for NY. Fernando Tatis pops up down the line in right, Nick Johnson, Alberto Gonzalez and Austin Kearns converge, and it bounces off Gonzalez’s glove. Tatis gets a second chance...and grounds out to second. Lannan wins. Nationals win, 4-0 final.

Nationals now 27-66.