Angels’ shortstop Erick Aybar drops a one-out single into center for the first hit off DC starter Jason Bergmann in the top of the first, after tonight’s rain-delayed start. Garret Anderson strikes out swinging over a two-strike curve. Vladimir Guerrero flies out to right, where the Washington's "new" right fielder Elijah Dukes makes the grab....Cristian Guzman beats out an infield grounder for a leadoff hit in the DC first. Elijah Dukes’ Discerning Eye takes a walk off LAA starter John Lackey. Lastings Milledge lines out to left. DY grounds into an inning-ending DP.
Jason Bergmann throws a high inside fastball by Torii Hunter, gets a groundout from Casey Kotchman and then hits Howie Kendrick to bring up Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis, who pops out foul of first...John Lackey gets Jesus Flores, Ronnie Belliard and Felipe Lopez in order to end the second....Bergmann comes back and gets the Angels in order in the top of the third. Wee Willie Harris does it again!! Lifting the first pitch of the third inning out to right and over the out-of-town scoreboard for a 1-0 Nationals’ lead. That's two in two days for Willie Harris...
Garret Anderson's down swinging, Vladimir Guerrero grounds out. Torii Hunter grounds to third, inning over. Bergmann's through four scoreless....Jesus Flores lines an 0-2 fastball to center for a two-out single in the DC fourth. Ronnie Belliard grounds to short, where Aybar handles a high hop and throws to first in time to end the fourth. 1-0 Nationals.
Casey Kotchman starts the fifth with a single to left, and Howie Kendrick almost leaves the yard but comes up short of the wall in right for a double. Kotchman to third. Jason Bergmann gives up a sac fly to Jeff Mathis, who gets it deep enough to left to score Kotchman from third and tie it, 1-1. Bergmann gets the opposing pitcher to chase a curve into the dirt. Chone Figgins pops out to left, allowing Bergmann to limit the damage...Felipe Lopez lines to the outstretched glove of Erick Aybar at short. Wee Willie Harris flies out, and John Lackey gets Bergmann flailing to end the fifth.
Ground ball up the middle and Erick Aybar is on to start the sixth. Garret Anderson grounds to short, Guzman to Lopez to DY, double play. Torii Hunter gets hold of a fastball but simply lines out to Milledge in center...DC sixth...The Guzzz starts the inning with a soft liner to center. Elijah Dukes scorches a single through short. Lastings Milledge grounds to short, Aybar takes the force on Dukes at third. DY grounds back to the mound...WWJD? Lackey gets behind Flores 3-1, and walks him in front of Ronnie Belliard. Lackey gets up 0-2 on Belliard and gets a grounder to third and a force at second to end the sixth. Still 1-1.
Casey Kotchman skips a liner by Belliard at third for a leadoff single in the seventh. Howie Kendrick gets rung up swinging over a dramatic curve from Bergmann. Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis can’t handle an 0-2 bender. Lackey grounds out to end the Angels’ seventh. Stand up and stretch...One down and Willie Harris is off to the races as he triples off the wall and rounds the bases in a blinding flash of white and red. Paul Lo Duca comes on to hit for the pitcher, (Bergmann’s done, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 K's. ) Lo Duca lines...back to the mound, Lackey catches it and fires to...NO! FIRES BY THIRD! Harris jumps up and runs home, sliding between the catcher’s legs!! SAFE. 2-1 DC after seven.
Saul “Sa-ool” Rivera takes over on the mound in the eighth. Chone Figgings bunts to the third base side, and it’s not even worth a throw. Figgins safe at first. Figgins steals second, the throw sails to center, and Figgins takes third. Infield in...Erick Aybar grounds to second, Felipe Lopez...has it go under his glove.(B) Figgins scores, Lopez sulks, Aybar takes second. 2-2 ballgame. Garret Anderson rips a low liner to center. Aybar scores. 3-2 Angels. Garret Anderson steals second as Vladimir Guerrero strikes out. Torii Hunter flies out on a 3-0 pitch. Casey Kotchman flies out to center. 3-2 LA after seven and a half...Elijah Dukes hits a hard grounder to third, Figgins fields and throws Dukes out. Lastings Milledge lines out to Garret Anderson in left. Pete Orr’s thrown out at first, after chasing a curve into the dirt for strike three...
Top O’ the ninth, The Tallest PItcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch pitches a quick 1-2-3 ninth, and the Nationals get one more shot...against “K-Rod” Francisco Rodriguez. Jesus Flores goes to a full count, and swings over a ridiculous bender. Ronnie Belliard goes to a full count, and walks on a fastball too inside. Felipe Lopez swings over a slider for strike three. Willie Harris? Belliard steals second. Full count to Willie Harris...slider, strike three! Nasty.
Nationals now 30-48.
(B) = THE BLAME GAME...(A Federalbaseball.com Favorite)...