Washington Nationals Blow 8-0 Lead, Lose 10-9 To Chicago Cubs In D.C.
by Patrick Reddington on Jul 7, 2011 11:26 PM EDT
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• Tonight's Top 5:
5. ROY ASG?: Danny Espinosa got endorsements from Ryan Zimmerman, Jerry Hairston and FP Santangelo today as a potential All-Star replacement should a spot become available on the NL roster. Zimmerman was on the MLB Network's Inside Pitch with JIm Bowden and Casey Stern this afternoon when he told the hosts Espinosa should get consideration. "[Espinosa's] on pace to hit 30 homers," Zimmerman said, "he's got, it's either 14 or 15 right now, with 50 RBI's, and if you ask me, I think he should be in the All-Star game. I think if you look at the position of second base and you have a guy that's on pace to hit 30 and drive in a hundred, any time you talk about 30 and 100 anywhere in the big leagues, especially second base, it's something special." Jerry Hairston, according to the beat writers present in the clubhouse before tonight's game including Washington Times' Amanda Comak (@acomak), "...walked through the #Nats clubhouse promoting Espinosa for [Jose] Reyes' All-Star spot. '16 and 50. That's an All-Star.'" During tonight's MASN broadcast, FP Santangelo, who worked in San Francisco before this season, said he'd sent texts to coaches he knew with the Giants promoting the Nats' infielder. Espinosa started tonight's game with a one-out line drive single to right in the first, then he stole his eleventh base of the year before he was stranded at second when the first inning ended...
4. THE BIG INNING YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...
After he finishes the Cubs off in order in the top of the third, Livan Hernandez starts the bottom of the frame with a leadoff single to center off Chicago right-hander Matt Garza. The floodgates open. Hernandez goes first-to-third™ on a broken-bat line drive double over first by Roger Bernadina. Danny Espinosa drives both runners in with a single, 2-0, and Espinosa goes first-to-third on a swinging bunt by Ryan Zimmerman that Matt Garza throws by first. Michael Morse drives Espinosa and Zim in with another two-run single, 4-0 Nats. Jayson Werth goes the other way with a 1-2 fastball inside fighting it off for an RBI single to right, 5-0 Nats. Rick Ankiel reaches first safely on a grounder that eats up Carlos Pena, and Wilson Ramos drives two more in with a long fly to right that makes it 7-0 Nationals. Eight hits, seven runs before it ends.
3. Don't Run on Rick Ankiel's Arm: Ryan Zimmerman reached first on a throwing error by Matt Garza in the third, and he's on again in the fourth after the Cubs' right fielder Kosuke Fukudome and second baseman Darwin Barney fail to communicate and let a pop to right drop in for a hit. Zimmerman takes second running out of the box, and scores on a Rick Ankiel RBI double to right. Fukudome chases it down as the Nats go up 8-0. Ankiel's back out in center in the top of the fifth when Cubs' pinch hitter Jeff Baker tries to stretch a single into a double, and it's a bad idea. Ankiel's throw beats him to bag and Danny Espinosa just waits to apply the tag. "You're out." 8-0 Nationals after five innings in Nats Park.
2. Livan's Done: A one-out single by Aramis Ramirez and back-to-back two-out hits to center by Geovany Soto and Marlon Byrd off Livan Hernandez in the sixth and the bases are loaded with Alfonso Soriano at the plate. Soriano singles to left to drive Ramirez in and keep the bases loaded so a Darwin Barney double drives two in to make it 8-3 Nats. Pinch hitter Blake DeWitt comes up and makes it 8-6 with one swing, launching a 1-2 sinker to right where it bounces off the foul pole and falls back onto the field. 3-run HR, Livan's done. 5.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's, 1 HR, 92 pitches, 65 strikes. Six of the ten hits Livan allows come in the sixth as the Cubs bat around, but Todd Coffey gets the third out and it's still 8-6 Nats.
1. 8-8? Really?: Todd Coffey issues a one-out walk to Aramis Ramirez in the seventh and Davey Johnson turns to left-hander Sean Burnett for a Lefty vs Lefty battle with Cubs' first baseman Carlos Pena. Pena's 19th HR of the year sails out to right as he crushes a first-pitch slider from Burnett. Jayson Werth turns back and dejectedly sighs with his hands on his knees as it clears the high wall in right. Two-run HR, Pena's second in two games and it's a an 8-8 tie after seven innings in Nats Park. Henry Rodriguez is on to work the eighth after the Nats go down in order in the bottom of the seventh, and Rodriguez has two quick outs before Starlin Castro doubles to center field. Rodriguez vs Aramis Ramirez. RBI single to right, just over Espinosa's glove, 9-8 Cubs when Castro crosses.
0. SHARK: Roger Bernadina's leadoff single in the Nats' eighth is the Nationals' first since the fifth and only the third hit since the Nats scored seven runs on eight hits in the third. Bernadina steals second with Ryan Zimmerman up after a Danny Espinosa K, and the Shark takes third on a groundout by Zimmerman before scoring on a two-out RBI single to center by Michael Morse that ties it at 9-9 after eight. Unbelieveable. Henry Rodriguez comes back out for a second inning of work, and he gives up a leadoff single to Geovany Soto. Marlon Byrd bunts into a force at second when Rodriguez cuts down the lead runner, but Byrd's pinch runner, Tony Campana, steals second and scores on a two-out double by Darwin Barney that puts the Cubs up 10-9 after eight-and-a-half.
-1. Officially Blown: Carlos Marmol's on to close it out for the Cubbies, and he hits the first batter he faces. Rick Ankiel's on. Wilson Ramos bunts Ankiel over to second and a wild pitch with Matt Stairs up allows Ankiel to take third. Stairs? Pops out to the infield. Two down. Marmol walks Laynce Nix and there are runners on first and third with two down. Roger Bernadina flies out to right to end it. The Cubs battle back and somehow win. 10-9 final
• Miss The Game? This One Hurt...But The DC Faithful Were Watching...
| Num | Name - Comments |
|---|---|
| 1 | FanSince05 - 202 |
| 2 | hscer - 89 |
| 3 | Jorgath - 82 |
| 4 | rachel216 - 77 |
| 5 | Dan Shields - 63 |
| 6 | MissB - 52 |
| 7 | G8RB8 - 35 |
| 8 | Potomac Fan - 28 |
| 9 | kingfishfarms - 26 |
| 10 | natexpo - 21 |
• Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 89: No laughers for Davey...":
- This is what you do with run support? Livan Hernandez (+1.3%) gets an 8-run lead, then gives most of it back, surrendering 6 ER while trying to get out of the 6th.
- BAAAAAAA: Sean Burnett (-23.5%) gives up a game-tying, two-run homer on his first pitch (-28.2%). Henry Rodriguez (-51.6%) gives up go-behind RBI hits in both the 8th (-25.7%) and 9th (-36.6%).
- Hero mode: Michael Morse (+27.1%) htis a game-tying RBI single in the aeyeth (+28.2%).
- More g04+s: Matt Stairs pops up with the game-tying run on third in the bottom of the 9th (-24.8%). Roger Bernadina (+2.1%) flies outs to end the game with runners 2nd/3rd (-23.6%).
Nationals now 45-44.
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I read the word “dominant” when reading about. CMWangs start today. 43 pitches through 5 innings and never got to more than 2 balls on a hitter.
Good stuff.
You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!
not to mention AJ Cole
Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
A J Cole 6.0 3 0 0 0 7 0 2.87
(tuff loss tonight, but still a fun night at the yard.
great plays by Bernadina and Espinosa.)
That Bernadina catch was fantastic.
He really seems to be taking it up another notch under Davey. Fun to see what he can do on an everyday basis, both the good and bad.
And that Espinosa play and throw on the right field grass still has me shaking my head.
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Jul 8, 2011 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
FP was talking about how he's out in the field practicing his reads during BP now.
Yeah, Danny’s play from his knees on the grass was teh aw3s0m3. Dunno how he put anything on the throw.
"I don't believe in luck, but it was just one of those things where it wasn't really skill, either." --Jerry, jr.
I still can't believe that throw...
he was actually falling backwards as he threw it. From shallow center to first! The late innings was the Danny and Bernie show! Too bad nobody else joined the fun.
SOoooooooooooo...Livo can't pitch with a lead or cushion.
Burnett is broken..either physically or mentally.
Lightening has been used too much recently and for too long.
Stairs is TOTALLY useless.
And now we hear that Pudge is going on the DL. Could Flores get called up? Has he hit above his weight this season?
But it’s good to hear that Wang is progressing well.
Well, it's a glass half full/half empty sort of thing
On the half empty side, Burnett is broken and the entire bullpen needs a rest – thank goodness for the ASG. Selfishly, I hope that Clip doesn’t get into the game (although I’d be happy for him if he does). Stairs is useless. The ASG is also a good time to put Pudge on the 15 day DL – because he hasn’t played since Wednesday, with the break he would only miss ten games.
On the half full side, the young guns are still playing well (Morse, Espinosa, Ramos, Zimmermann, even Lannan), Bernadina has steadied and there is some talent waiting in the wings in Milone (IL pitcher of the week BEFORE his seven shutout innings last night) Wang (five 2H 0BB shutout innings last night at AA), Peacock and possibly even some guy named Strasburg. At the plate it seems likely that Lombardozzi is at least going to get a September callup this year, along with Chris Marrerro and possibly Michael Aubrey and Matt Antonelli. The Nationals did take 3/4 from the Cubs and are 5/3 on the home stand with three to play and JZim going on Sunday. Farther off Solis, Cole (6IP, 3H, 7K, 0BB 0R last night) and of course Harper. The trend lines are still up, MissB :-)
Activating Wang and Strasburg and calling up Lombardozzi, Aubrey or Antonelli would require adjustments to the 40 man roster. The first four moves are pretty obvious – candidates to go are LaRoche (a move onto the 60 day DL is inevitable), Mock, Gaudin and Stairs. After that it would depend on who gets dealt.
If the Nats were playing horrible ball coming into this game, I think it would seem way worse. Since they’re on a hot streak, I hope this will be nothing but a bump in the road and a learning experience.
Remember in the Hanrahan closer days when this kept happening daily? I was always so mad. Of course, if this becomes a habit, I will turn green and go Hulk on the pitchers and manager.
Dumb managerial decisions
DJ let Livo stay in too long based on his last few performances. Sending in Burnett was bad enough, but letting Rodriguez pitch the 9th with a fresh Clippard in the pen was tantamount to saying I don’t want to win this game; I’ll give up one in the hand vs a Rockies game in the bush. All dumb managerial decisions, and damn disappointing.
Both Livo and Marquis appear to be tailing off so we got to hope Detwiler can finally get it together. As for Burnett, get rid of him. That’s three out of four games he’s blown with gopher balls.
"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver
Davey admitted he should have taken Livo out earlier. But if he had done so, based on the results of those that followed him, who’s to say the results would not have been the same?
Sending Burnett out turned out to be bad, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad move at the time. You got to go with what you have.
I don’t think letting Rodriguez pitch the 9th was tantamount to saying I don’t want to win this game,
I think it was saying I think I can win this game with Rodriguez. It was a tie game with a 50/50 chance that it might go extra innings.
Rodriguez has been pitching great lately, he was throwing hard (I was at the game so I can’t speak to his command), plus he had not been through the Cubs order. When he came out to pitch the 9th I doubt many people were thinking Davey had thrown in the towel.
At the time, I thought the Nats were going to win the game.
At the time, I thought the Nats were going to win the game.
I had my doubts. Rodriguez was already getting hit hard, and had given up the lead, in the previous inning. He had already thrown a lot of pitches and ended up throwing a bunch more before he gave up the lead a second time. It was obvious to me anyway that he was spent.
Rob
-- In baseball we trust.
Burnett wasn't the best what Devey had, and damn sure not all what Davey had - which is my point.
And clearly, Rodriguez was done after the 8th. Recent illness, whatever – dunno, but he was toast, and it was obvious.
"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver
Well, there's the odd report of the Yankees being interested in Sean Burnett
Yankees scouting Nationals’ Burnett
I have no idea if this is just another flawed report of the Internet era or there’s something to this. I hope there is. The Nats should definitely look to trade Burnett if they can find a taker. I don’t think the Yankees would give up too much for him, but it may still be worth it. He’s really not doing well at all this year.
Of course, the bullpen is already low on left-handers. Detwiler is there now but no one else. At this point, would the bullpen be worse for having just Detwiler as a lefty? Burnett hasn’t been getting the job done.
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"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!
Severino has a 5.11 ERA (and a 2.270 WHIP) out of the bullpen ... in AAA
It’s just possible that he’d be worse than Burnett. Romero is the more intriguing possibility, but only slightly – he’s just picked up the baseball (3 appearances at Syracuse) after being cut a month ago by the Phillies. He’s also 35, and hasn’t had a WHIP under 1.5 since 2008, and walks too many people (varies between 5.2 and 7.1 BB/9 since 2004).
Burnett was very effective in 2009 and 2010; trading him now is the very definition of selling low. I’d rather send him to Syracuse then just dump him. I don’t know what his option status is though.
Almost all of that came from one start
And hes out of options, or I would certaintly send him to Syracuse, but you cant, and this team isnt good enough to have a black hole on the team. I think the best soultion is to say hes hurt, DL him, and he can rehab in Syracuse, get his feel back, and get back to being a MLB player. I also think Burnett is overated, I have seen him go 0-2 to start and AB, and walk the guy, or give up a HR WAY to many times.
Was this a reply fail?
Not sure which pitcher you’re talking about when you say “almost all of that came from one start.” I do like the Syracuse plan for Burnett if we can get him there somehow.
Severino, has been good minus one appearence, where he gave up like 5ER in .1IP
so that was more wording fail.
Burnett has been too good at times to trade him now unless it’s for a good return.
Remember Hanrahan? He went through an awful period and look what he’s doing now.
Something is obviously wrong right now but that does not mean he can’t turn it around.
I think the chances are better that he turns it around then they are for the Nats bringing someone up from the minors that will be better.
I also I think that making Detwiler a late inning reliever at this point would be boneheaded.
I honestly think that Hanrahan needed a change to be good
I feel that he would have never been good here, he lost the faith of the fans, and himself it appeared. Sometimes a guy needs a fresh start, which sucks for the team that has him, but thats life
Forgot to add
I agree on Detwiler 100%, give him at least the rest of the year as a starter at the MLB
Pudge on his oblique injury
“I’ve never experienced this kind of injury,” he said. “It never happens to me. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Day-to-day. If tomorrow’s not better, we need a catcher. But let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
That’s a long career there without an oblique injury..
Also, who takes his place if he goes on the DL? Flores or Solano?
Flores IMO
Flores has been better in the najors than the minors, so why not see what he has, and give Soloano a look in Spetmeber, Soloano can also play 2nd or 1st
Things are still looking good, despite last night
The Nats won 3 of 4. After the brief hiccup during the changeover from McLaren to Johnson, the team seems to be back on track. I’ll take 3 out of 4 any time.
There are a few holes in the roster. Maybe Rizzo can pull off a trade and fix a problem or two. Or find the right guy in the minors. Overall, it’s still been a very good 6 or 7 weeks.
Zimm talked about Espinosa’s HR and RBI numbers but he didn’t mention his average. Espinosa had the slow start in April, which is to be expected for a rookie. Then in May, his power numbers took off. In June and July, his batting average has taken off too. He is simply not the hitter he was in April. He is now hitting for power AND average. He continues to be clutch, with a .361 average with runners on-base. FP noticed that he is more quiet in the batter’s box, meaning that he isn’t making unnecessary movements that can distract him from seeing the ball.
By September, we could be talking about his great batting avg. and OBP, as well as those great HR and RBI totals.
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"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!
Agree on most stuff there
Some moves I woukd make by the deadline would be
Trade Burnett ASAP, replace with JC Romero
Trade Coffey is you can get good return- replace with Balester, Wilkie, or someone like that in AAA
Trade MArquis if you can get a god return- call up Milone, or replace with Det, and have Severino take Dets place in the pen
DFA Stairs and call up Antonelli
and see what that gets you and go from there
Sounds reasonable, especially if Marquis continues to be inconsistent
CMW seems to be back in top form, or close to it. He could be a very welcome surprise. Even if Detwiler replaces Marquis, someone will have to take over Zimmermann’s spot soon. He’s on a strict innings count this year so he probably won’t be pitching in September.
CMW could take over a spot after the All-Star Break. Detwiler could stay in the bullpen. Then take over Zimmermann’s spot in late August or September.
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"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!
Getting a good return on Burnett or Marquis is unlikely
With Burnett, you’re selling low on a reliever who has had a couple of bad months after posting a couple of good years. I don’t recommend that, especially on a guy who is only 28. Marquis needs to post a couple of good starts before he gets much of anything – not only does he have a high ERA (4.11) and WHIP (1.450) but his trend is in the wrong direction. He has given up 16 hits, 4 walks, 11 runs (9 earned) in only 6 1/3 innings in his last two starts. That’s a WHIP of over 3, ladies and gentlemen. Blech. Given his career pattern of a strong first half/lousy second half, good luck getting much for him at this point. He’s would be more valuable to the Nationals as a marginal innings eater – if he can figure out how to stay in games longer.
Coffey, OTOH, might be able to bring a B-/C+ prospect in return. If I were Rizzo I would do that deal, although it would require more roster juggling.
In my computer game, I flipped Coffey at the deadline for Logan Morrison!
Joke was on me, though, as the Marlins ended up winning the NLCS. Somehow I think real GMs will not make the same trades that computer GMs make (I got Carlos Santana for Bryce Harper—who is languishing in AA as of the 2012 AS break…. I suspected the computer roster designers were H8RZ and sold high.)
"I don't believe in luck, but it was just one of those things where it wasn't really skill, either." --Jerry, jr.
Burnett I just want off the team ATM, but I dont want to jsut cut him
Thats why I hope he is injured, so he can go on the DL and rehab in Syracuse and get his head back in the game. I think Marquis could get us a decent prospects, because Guzman got us one legit prospect, and Marquis>Guzman. I think now is the time to find out what we have in our prospects at AAA, so we know what we need going foward.
Coffey for Logan Morrison, make it happen Rizzo!
Yup, the time to unload a player (especially relief pitcher) is when he's a hot property
Shudda traded Burnett during ST. If there exist any plans, however vague, to deal Clip, they need to do it soon.
"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers." - Earl Weaver
We could be looking at some nasty weather this afternoon and evening
There could be some very heavy rainfall. We might not see a full 9 innings tonight.
Then again, there could be the anti-jinx effect of Bob’s Bootleg Weather. If there’s a flash flooding alert, then the skies will miraculously clear up at 7 pm.
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"Save it. I'm goin' for a smoothie."
The Washington Nationals, the team of the 2010s!
I don't know about Nationals Park
But I know it will monsoon at W.T. Woodon High School at about 8:02pm tonight. I know this because I have a game there at 8pm ;-)
how long do the nats go with stairs? the worst part of his 2 RBI’s and 10 total bases is that as a pinch hitter he is coming up in clutch situation with men on base. if you need to make contact to move a runner you have a better chance with marqius or levan. first i thought it was riggleman, then i thought johnson, but now it must be rizzo that stairs has the incriminating pictures of. weird as i watched harper in harrisburg the other night, realizing it was 20 years ago that stairs was here. the title to that story could be “the future and the past.” the past can’t come too soon for nats fans and the future will hopefully be great and long for bryce harper with the nats probably starting next year.
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