What was Jayson Werth thinking? Why try to take an extra base with a 6-0 lead? And then to get injured on the play? With that big a lead? What was Werth thinking?
Was it a great decision to run on Giancarlo Stanton's arm when the play was right in front of him as he rounded first? Maybe not. Should he have been trying to take another base even though the Nationals were up? Considering they ended up losing 7-6, maybe trying to add a few runs wasn't such a bad idea.
Unfortunately, Werth was also injured on the play when he tried to avoid the tag at second and ended up catching a spike and turning his ankle.
Nats' skipper Matt Williams said after the game it wasn't that bad an injury.
"He's okay," Williams told reporters. "He tried to avoid the tag and twisted his ankle a little bit. I anticipate he should be good tomorrow, but we'll see how he is when he shows up."
Monster home run power and a cannon for an arm? That's not fair, @Giancarlo818: http://t.co/m0ocZPjqfJ
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 29, 2014
Williams was asked after the loss about another missed opportunity to add a run.
Bryce Harper doubled to start the Nationals' eighth, in what was then a 6-2 game in the Nats' favor.
Harper took third on a groundout by Wilson Ramos, but when Danny Espinosa grounded to short in the next at bat, Harper stayed put as Marlins' shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who was drawn in, made a sliding play, looking Harper back as he did, and a spinning throw to get the second out of the inning at first base. Should Harper have scored there? Should he have been running on contact?
"The contact play is not on there," Williams explained. "We've got a couple of options. If the ball is a high chopper he can read it. If it takes either of the middle infielders to the middle of the diamond, he can read that.
"It's tough when you're standing at third base and the ball is in-between third and short because you don't know if the third baseman will be able to get to it and once there's hesitation there then you don't want to go because you're dead at home plate. We've got a couple of shots at it. So, we're seeing the ball through in that regard, unless it's a high chopper to the middle of the diamond then you can read that one and go."
There were plenty of missed opportunities, but as Williams also noted, two of the Nationals' six runs came on what could have been a bases-loaded double play if not for a bad hop.
After the game, as usual, Williams was ready to move on and look toward tonight's game with the Fish. Stephen Strasburg vs Henderson Alvarez at 7:10 PM. Until then, links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "Span has been on fire at the plate for several weeks now, entering Monday night’s game against the Marlins with a .375 batting average, .457 on-base percentage and .882 OPS in July." - "Span once again getting hot in second half" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• NATS BEAT:
• "While the Nationals have yet to reveal a timetable for Zimmerman’s return, it is fair to assume Zimmerman will be out for a while, perhaps the majority of the rest of the regular season." - "Still no updates on Ryan Zimmerman, who may be out for a while" - Adam Kilgore and James Wagner, Washington Post
• "Zimmerman was scheduled to see the team doctor on Monday. Williams did say that all Zimmerman has done is rest the hamstring." - "Zimmerman continues to rest ailing hamstring" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
RT @MLBsocial: Have you been following #WerthGoesGnome? You can right here: http://t.co/SLPGyIykX6 via @Nationals pic.twitter.com/Q05nN13tQf
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
• "'I won't know until I wake up tomorrow,' Werth said. 'It'll probably be a little sore. I think I'm going to try to play.'" - "Nationals Pastime: Werth day-to-day after spraining right ankle" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "After the game, Werth said the ankle was sore. Both he and Williams weren’t overly concerned about the injury, though." - "Jayson Werth leaves game with sprained right ankle" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "He remained hunched over for a few seconds, then walked gingerly off the field and back to the Nationals dugout, where he conferred with head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz and manager Matt Williams." - "Jayson Werth hopes to play Tuesday after spraining right ankle" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "After Werth slid awkwardly into second base, he was seen limping back into the dugout. He was replaced by Nate McLouth in right field to open the bottom of the inning." - "Werth day to day with sprained right ankle" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "With the loss and Atlanta's win earlier in the day yesterday, the Nats' lead in the National League East is back down to a half-game." - "Nationals Pastime: Ready to put last night in the rear view mirror" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Yet as the shock began to wear off and the larger picture began to come back into focus, players in every corner of that clubhouse insisted this team won’t let this loss, staggering as it was, carry over in any way." - "Nationals will try to recover from blown 6-run lead to Marlins" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
ICYMI: Jeff Baker hit the #walkoff winner to cap a six-run comeback win: http://t.co/j2Z8oQ6F5J
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 29, 2014
• "In his second start since returning from a right bicep strain, the right-hander pitched more like himself." - "Jordan Zimmermann returns to form" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "Strasburg will be looking to record his first win since July 1 and his first quality start since July 7." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - July 29, 2014" - Daniel Popper, MLB.com Preview
• "Williams wouldn’t say if Espinosa would receive the bulk of the playing time at second. He said he wants to take advantage of a matchup or stick with whichever player is playing well." - "Matt Williams mixing and matching at second base" - James Wagner, Washington Post
• "Espinosa received the start against the Marlins on Monday night because Williams liked the way Espinosa looked at the plate against the Reds the previous day." - "With Rendon at 3B, trio to share time at 2B" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "It seemed like Rafael Soriano was due. Recently, a few of his best pitches have been up in the zone. He actually lives on the edge in that regard..." - "Learning from a tough loss in July can pay deeper dividends in September" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "The Nationals had a 6-3 lead going into the ninth inning, but Soriano, looking for his 26th save of the season, had nothing in the tank." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - July 28, 2014" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "For six innings, the Nationals were all business, getting a vintage pitching performance from Jordan Zimmermann and an opportunistic rally off the Marlins pitching staff to take a commanding, 6-0 lead..." - "Instant analysis: Marlins 7, Nats 6" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
The line on Jordan Zimmermann tonight: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K pic.twitter.com/CLcrNVy4pM
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
• "Soriano’s ninth-inning meltdown — his worst outing in stellar season — squandered Zimmermann’s seven strong innings." - "Miami Marlins erase six-run deficit, score four in ninth to stun Washington Nationals" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "Let’s start with Jayson Werth getting thrown out needlessly challenging Giancarlo Stanton’s arm on a leadoff single in the seventh -- again, with his team up 6-0 -- and getting injured on the play." - "Nationals' multiple mistakes prove costly" - Christina Kahrl, SweetSpot Blog - ESPN
• "Former U-W Stevens Point star Jordan Zimmermann escaped with a no-decision last night, after his Washington Nationals lost at Miami 7-to-6." - "WISCONSIN SPORTS ROUNDUP: Former Brewer prospect shuts down old club as Tampa Bay wins 2-1" - Pierce County Herald
Rally the troops! @Marlins score 4 in the 9th and go home #walkoff winners: http://t.co/WPK7PtizuH pic.twitter.com/mz7iJwbLuS
— MLB (@MLB) July 29, 2014
• "The list of top pitchers by sales increase for all home starts since 2012 reads like an All-Star Game roster..." - "The Pitchers Who Drive Ticket Sales the Most" - Brian Costa, WSJ
• "Craig Stammen got a taste of home this past weekend with numerous friends and family visiting, but they didn’t get to see him pitch." - "Stammen skipped over in Cincinnati Versailles grad sees lots of friends, family but doesn’t pitch in return to Ohio" - Kyle Shaner, Daily Advocate - dailyadvocate.com
• "What else is there to say to a club down by six runs to the division leader during a pivotal stretch leading up to the trade deadline?" - "Miami Marlins show early-season spirit in comeback win over Washington Nationals" - Christina De Nicola,FOX Sports
• "The Miami Marlins did not get a good performance from Nathan Eovaldi, who only struck out three batters while walking two and giving up five runs in the process." - "MLB Scores: Miami Marlins 7, Washington Nationals 6" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes
• "Are they buyers? Are they sellers? Are the Miami Marlins ready and able to make a statement that they will be a factor in the playoff race?" - "Jeff Baker's walk-off hit caps unlikely comeback over Nationals" - Craig Davis, Sun Sentinel
• "Coming off the most successful weeklong trip in team history, Mike Hill said Monday the Marlins weren’t planning on being sellers at Thursday’s trade deadline." - ="Miami Marlins’ stunning rally in ninth tops Nationals" - Manny Navarro, MiamiHerald.com
• "For a team that needed to make up ground in the National League East, the Marlins' ninth-inning rally gave them the chance to do just that against the division-leading Nationals." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - July 28, 2014" - Maria Torres, MLB.com MIA Recap
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Auburn: "Monday's scheduled game between the Auburn Doubledays and Jamestown Jammers at Falcon Park has been postponed due to rain." - "Doubledays and Jammers postponed on Monday night" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Low-A Hagerstown: "Starting RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-1), who was making his return to the Suns rotation after spending the last month and a half with short season Auburn, struck out nine batters over six innings to earn the win." - "Suns blank Drive 4-0" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
• Low-A Hagerstown: "The South Atlantic League announced today that Suns RHP Lucas Giolito was named the league's Pitcher of the Week for the week spanning from July 21 - 27." - "Giolito named SAL Pitcher of the Week again" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
• High-Potomac: "The Potomac Nationals (58-47, 20-16) had their four game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (64-43, 20-19) with an 11-2 loss on Monday night." - "Pelicans Blast P-Nats 11-2" - Potomac Nationals News
• High-A Potomac: "Nationals' infielder Oscar Tejeda was awarded the Carolina League Hitter of the Week for the week of July 21-27." - "Tejeda Wins CL Player Of The Week" - Potomac Nationals News
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Brian Dupra fired six innings while allowing just two runs to Richmond on Monday, but the Senators' offense was neutralized in a 2-1 loss at The Diamond in Richmond." - "Pitcher's Battle Doesn't Go Senators Way" - Perry Mattern, Harrisburg Senators News
.@HbgSenators' Austin Voth, making AA debut, featured in pitchers' duel tonight in Richmond http://t.co/bPJ8vkmX75 pic.twitter.com/uqaGdyxbfG
— Geoff Morrow (@RageAgainstGMo) July 29, 2014
• Triple-A Syracuse: "After an off day, the Chiefs begin a three-game series at the Pawtucket Red Sox on Wednesday at 7:05PM Right-hander A.J. Cole is scheduled to start for Syracuse." - "Chiefs, Braves cancelled due to rain" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• NATSTOWN:
• "Throwing behind the baserunner from left field after a routine single? Sure, why not." - "This Is Why It’s So Fun To Watch Bryce Harper" - Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant, a D.C. Sports Blog by the Brothers Mottram
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly = @NationalsDSP + FBB on the #Nationals' 7-6 walk-off loss to Jeff Baker & the #Marlins in MIA: http://t.co/tnJvi0egZr
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) July 29, 2014
• "The Nats Should Trade for Half a Player" - The Nationals Review
• "But the Marlins didn’t get the script, getting eight hits in the last three innings to overcome the six-run deficit, capped by Jeff Baker’s walkoff double to lift Miami to a stunning, come-from-way-behind 7-6 win." - "Washington Nationals Game 103 Review: Soriano implodes; Marlins score four in ninth to complete comeback" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "Trade deadline: Nats need a bullpen upgrade" - Nats Noodles
• "The Washington Nationals (57-46) led 6-0 in the sixth inning, but the Miami Marlins (52-53) scored seven runs in the game’s final three innings, including four off of Rafael Soriano, and grabbed the win, 7-6." - "Soriano Melts Down, Nats Blow Six-Run Lead" - Andrew Flax, The Nats Blog
• "Lucas Giolito is the Nats’ top-ranked prospect by FanGraphs, MLB.com and Baseball America. He also likes dogs. And monkeys. And dogs and monkeys in combination." - "Nats top prospect plays with a monkey from the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo" - Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "The most likely moves the Braves could make before Thursday's 4 p.m. ET deadline will involve either a left-handed reliever or an experienced pinch-hitter." - "Braves need to be thrifty as Trade Deadline approaches" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News
• Phillies: "Howard has been the poster child for platoon splits for as long as he’s been a major league regular." - "The Strangest Ryan Howard Development Yet" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley
Congrats to Daniel Murphy for winning the @MLBPAA's 2014 #HeartandHustle Award. #ImWith28 pic.twitter.com/qFykGyQuAI
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 29, 2014
• Mets: "There has been no shortage of conversation and speculation about what the Rockies could do with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez..." - "MLB Trade Rumors: Are Mets more interested in Carlos Gonzalez than Troy Tulowitzki?" - Mike Vorkunov,NJ.com