Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...
DC Starting Lineup... (courtesy of MLB.com's Bill Ladson)...
- Anderson Hernandez - 2B
- Nick NICK Johnson JOHNSON!! - 1B
- THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! - 3B
- Adam K. Dunn - LF
- Elijah "Super" Dukes - CF
- The Bard - C
- AK -RF
- Alberto "The General" Gonzalez - SS
- Scott "The Former Fish" Olsen - SP
Josh Johnson vs The Washington Nationals...
Florida Marlins' starter Josh Johnson is (2-0) in 2 '09 starts with a 0.57 ERA and 15 K's in 15.1 IP over which he's allowed just 12 hits, 1 ER and 1 walk. In Johnson's first start of the season, against the Washington Nationals, the 6'7'', right-hander allowed 7 hits over 6.1 scoreless and watched as the Marlins' bullpen held on for an 8-3 win.
In 5 starts and 1 relief appearance, Johnson's (4-0) against DC in the fifth year of his MLB career, with 25 hits, 9 ER, 1 HR and 10 walks allowed, and 29 K's collected in 32.2 IP.
The Nationals vs Josh Johnson...
Elijah Dukes - 2 for 6, .333 AVG, 1 2B, 2 RBI's.
Nick Johnson - 3 for 7, .429 AVG, 1 RBI.
Austin Kearns - 1 for 7, .143 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Ryan Zimmerman - 2 for 9, .222 AVG, 1 RBI, 3 BB.
Olsen's 3rd Start...
DC Lefty Scott Olsen didn't fare so well in his first start for the Nationals against the Florida Marlins, giving up 8 hits, 8 runs, 3 HR's and 3 walks in 3.0 IP against his former teammates, and he didn't fare so well against Atlanta the second time out either, surrendering 6 hits and 5 runs in 5.0 IP in an 8-5 loss to the Braves. Olsen's third start of '09 is his first at his new home in Nationals Park.
Dukes' 6-Game Hitting Streak...
Elijah Dukes took advantage of the extra at bat Joel Hanrahan's blown save provided last night to extend his hit-streak to six-straight games in which he's now collected 10 hits, 3 2B, 2 HR's and 6 RBI's.
Zimmerman Unaware He's About To Become Sign A Deal?
There were rumors swirling yesterday that the Washington Nationals and their 2005 1st Round Pick Ryan Zimmerman were on the verge of signing a 5-Year/$45M dollar deal that would keep Zimmerman in a curly-W through 2013, but that's news to Zimmerman if it is, in fact, the case. In Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman's article entitled, "Zimmerman out of contract talks loop", the Face of the Franchise© tells Mr. Zuckerman:
"'I haven't heard anything,' he said. 'Unless they're talking or doing something, I don't know. I'm just worried about playing.'"
Last I remember, when the talks broke down before Opening Day, Zimmerman said he didn't want to be negotiating during the season, and the 24-year-old Zimmerman reiterates his stance to Mr. Zuckerman, stating, "'As far as I'm concerned, it's over with until next offseason.'" Maybe locking Zimmerman up long-term is the kind of good news the team thinks everyone needs to help forget for a moment that the Nationals have only won of the first nine...
Guzman To DL, Cintron To DC...
According to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Guzman Placed On 15-Day DL", the Nationals have placed injured shortstop Cristian Guzman on the DL and made the call to bring IF Alex Cintron to DC.
1:05 pm EST start from Nationals Park. Johnson vs Lannan. Florida vs DC.
Zimmerman(n) Is Coming...2 days and Counting...
(ed. note - "I'll be following along on the radio from work, so if anyone wants to get a quick post game note up in the FanPosts, you could have yourself some front page status until I get home from work and wrap things up...Anyone want to take the Post Game Challenge?")
Who's Watching The Nationals?
