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• [CHOMP!]: "I knew I had a shot all the way," Roger Bernadina said after last night's game-saving catch in Minute Maid Park in Houston. "He's the Shark, he always thinks he's got a shot!" a teammate interjected off-camera. Asked about how hard he'd hit the wall in left-center while robbing Astros' 1B Brett Wallace of a potential game-winning, extra-innings, walk-off hit, the Washington Nationals' 28-year-old outfielder told reporters he hadn't really hit too hard, but even if he did, it didn't matter. "At that moment, you don't think about it," Bernadina said, "You just go for it, and you know, I'm good now." The Nats' outfielder's catch is everywhere right now. Asked about the effort after the game, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson said it was "sensational," adding, "I thought the ball at first was going to go out. I want to watch it on replay. I saw him disappear from my angle and [he] disappeared and came out holding the glove high, and I said, 'This is great. Let's get out of here.'" Most Nats fans were likely thinking, "OMG!! SHARK!! Now I can go to bed." Late nights for Nats fans the last couple days. If you somehow missed Bernadina's catch, here's one more look, then it's on to the LINKS. Shark's catch... RIGHT NOW!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!! [CHOMP!!!]:
• NATS SHARK BEAT:
• "'That’s why otherwise sensible people (on vacation) stay up after midnight to watch pennant race baseball,' Boz tweeted." - "The Nats react to Roger Bernadina’s game-ending catch" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "It was all rocketing toward Roger Bernadina as Tuesday turned to Wednesday on the East Coast and the Nationals’ center fielder sprinted to his right." - "Nationals-Astros: Roger Bernadina lays out, makes sensational grab to save Nats' win in 12th" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "If not for [Roger] Bernadina's dazzling defense, we'd be talking about how [Tyler] Clippard had blown four saves since the All-Star break, including two in as many nights." - "Nationals Pastime: Reliving Bernadina's 12th-inning heroics" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "The ball went up, and when it came down the game would be over. Roger Bernadina crashed into the outfield fence and vanished..." - "Nationals vs. Astros: Danny Espinosa has 3 RBI, Roger Bernadina saves win with spectacular catch in 12th" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "Brett Wallace hit a ball to deep left center field, which is really deep at Minute Maid Park because that wall just goes straight out toward center." - "Nats Win Behind Roger Bernadina’s Catch Of The Year" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog
• "Video of Flying Shark: Roger Bernadina's ridiculous game-saving catch" - Nats Enquirer
• "Roger Bernadina has made some fantastic catches in his career with the Washington Nationals. This one might have topped them all." - "Washington Nationals Game 110 Review: CHOMP!" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "'BERNADINA CRASHES INTO THE WALL. AND. SAVES. THE. GAME,' [Dave] Jageler says, in part." - "Dave Jageler calls Roger Bernadina’s game-winning catch" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "The Washington Nationals aren’t making it easy — with 8:05 starts against the worst team in the league, the Houston Astros, the Nats keep going to extra innings." - "Roger Bernadina’s game saving catch clinches Nats win over Astros in 12th" - William F. Yurasko, William World News
• "THE CATCH OF THE YEAR" - Sharkadina
• "I've never seen anything like that in my life." - Rob Neyer, Hot Corner - Baseball Nation
• NATS BEAT:
• "[Davey] Johnson will use [Drew] Storen as a 'backup' closer, to ensure [Tyler] Clippard stays fresh and does not have to pitch in three consecutive games." - "Davey Johnson sticking by Tyler Clippard as Nationals closer with Drew Storen back in the bullpen" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "While the rest of his teammates have four months of work behind them, [Drew] Storen’s body still is in the middle of April." - "Nationals’ Drew Storen grasping his comfort zone" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Outside of a two-run homer served up to Ben Francisco in the first inning, [Ross] Detwiler has been nearly unhittable, facing just two above the minimum over his last five innings of work." - "Nationals Pastime: Another dandy from Detwiler (Bernadina's ridiculous catch saves the day)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Danny Espinosa hit a two-run homer early, and his RBI single in the 12th inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night." - "Espinosa's RBI single in 12th lifts Nationals over Astros" - Kristie Rieken, WashingtonExaminer.com
• "Their closer has blown three saves and put at least two men on base in eight of his last 13 appearances." - "All they do is win" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "Roger Bernadina glided back toward the fence, trying to make a play on a ball that would decide the game one way or the other." - "Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - August 7, 2012" - Adam Berry, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "[Cesar] Izturis is familiar with several Nationals, having played with Jayson Werth, Edwin Jackson, Michael Gonzalez and Mark DeRosa at various stops along his 12-year career." - "Cesar Izturis arrives in Houston to join the Nationals" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'[Jayson Werth] was really hurting,' Johnson said. 'His legs just aren't under him yet. When he got picked off at first, I could tell they weren't getting the signal from the brain to go.'" - "Johnson cautious with Werth's leg soreness" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News
• "Stephen Strasburg's last outing, 68 of his 91 pitches were fastballs. He excelled over six frames. Gio Gonzalez threw 71 fastballs in 101 pitches his last time out and was able to work eight full innings." - "Nationals Pastime: Focusing on the fastball" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "On Tuesday night in Houston, Ross Detwiler threw his sinker 69 times. Of his 85 pitches, 75 of them were fastballs." - "Ross Detwiler's fastball reliance brings him sustained success" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Tuesday, [Ross] Detwiler burned worms again. He threw the Astros sinker after sinker, the ball diving into the bottom half of the strike zone at 92 or 93 miles per hour." - "Ross Detwiler dominates with his sinker, again" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "[Gio] Gonzalez faces the Astros for the second time of his career after holding them scoreless over seven innings in his third start with Washington earlier this season." - "Washington Nationals at Houston Astros - August 8, 2012" - Steven Miller, MLB.com Preview
• "'I'm excited to come over here and enjoy a good group of people, good talent and a first place team,' [Cesar] Izturis said Tuesday in between getting fitted for all of his new Nationals gear and greeting his new teammates." - "Cesar Izturis joins the Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "As a whole, the Nationals bullpen has pitched 341 1/3 innings this season, second-most in the National League behind the Rockies, who are using a four-man rotation." - "Clippard the closer, but Storen fills in as needed" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Short Season Auburn: "The Auburn Doubledays (29-19) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull ahead of and eventually defeat the Jamestown Jammers (20-28) on Tuesday night, 5-4, in front of 1,542 at Falcon Park." - "Doubledays earn comeback win over Jammers, 5-4" - Eli Pearlstein, Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Short Season Auburn: "In the seventh, Tony Renda singled with the bases loaded to score the tying run before Pleffner's double sealed the win." - "Come-from-behind win: Pleffner blasts two-run double to give Doubledays victory" - Jeremy Houghtaling, The Auburn Citizen
• Class-A Potomac: P-Nats 5, Pelicans 1 - Anthony Rendon - 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 2B; Alex Meyer - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard
• "Anthony Rendon made his first start for high Single-A Potomac since early April, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs in the Nationals' 5-1 victory at Myrtle Beach." - "In minor league updates, Rendon and Meyer deliver, Wang does not" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Chien-Ming Wang made his fifth rehab start for the Senators and allowed all seven runs, six earned, in falling to 1-3 for the Senators." - "Wang Roughed up in 7-2 Sens loss to Richmond" - Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Mark Teahen's two-run triple put the Chiefs ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Syracuse bullpen preserved the win by tossing three scoreless innings." - "Chiefs scrap for close win" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Line of the Day: Eury Perez, LF - 2-for-3, RBI, BB, K. The Perez Dispenser has been rolling through his first 18 games." - "Six Pack Recap: Returning from vacation Chiefs split series with Buffalo" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen
• "In the last three starts, [Yunesky] Maya has shown he can deliver on a consistent basis, allowing just three earned runs in the past 21 2/3 innings." - "Beasley: Maya pitching 'lights out' for Triple-A Syracuse" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Wednesday’s News & Notes" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "August 8, 1933 – The Washington Senators (65-38) snapped a three game losing streak when they beat the New York Yankees (63-40) by a score of 5-1 at Yankee Stadium." - "This Day in D.C. Baseball History – The Beginning of Decisive Winning Streak" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History
• "'You’re telling Strasburg that once you get to 180 innings, go ahead and enjoy October from the bench?' [Jeff] Francoeur continued. 'Just shoot me.'" - "Jake Peavy, Jeff Francoeur on shutting down Stephen Strasburg" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "For some strong words from noted medical experts Jake Peavy and Jeff Francoeur on the Nats possibly shutting Stephen Strasburg down next month, head over to this piece from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale." - "MLB Players: Strasburg Is Weak" - Mr. Irrelevant, a D.C. Sports Blog by the Brothers Mottram
• "The Nats are supposed to be one of the best teams in the league, so the feeling is, non-coincidentally, that they should be playing like one of the best teams in the league." - "A win is a win, but then again it isn't, but it is" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "Like every good Nats story, this one starts back at RFK Stadium, in the summer of 2005." - "Ian Desmond and chicken soup" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "Tyler Clippard is an exceptional pitcher. I know it. You know it. The entirety of Major League Baseball knows it. More importantly, however, Clippard knows it." - "Clippard, closing and confidence" - Positive Mental Natitude
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "But with the batting average at .157, [Jason] Bay admitted Mets manager Terry Collins’ decision to make him a platoon player in left — playing by "matchups" was the proper terminology — provided him little room for debate." - "Mets demote Bay to platoon role; lose to Marlins" - Fred Kerber, NYPOST.com
• Phillies: "When you change 28 percent of your roster in less than a week, patience is required." - "Hamels pitches a shutout as Phillies finally beat Braves" - Matt Gelb, Philly.com
• Marlins: "The last time Marlins All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton took his familiar spot in right field, the Marlins were 41-43 and the team still had three other home-run threats." - "Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton returns from stint on the DL" - Harvey Fialkov, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
• Braves: "Jason Heyward is a threat to score, simply standing on first base." - "Heyward using speed to Braves advantage" - Carroll Rogers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution