Thursday, July 28, 2005
Nationals Swept, Fall to 3 Games back.
Nationals lost their third game in Atlanta today, and are just 2.5 games ahead of the Mets now.
Neither pitcher, Drese or Sosa, pitched particularly well, but the Braves were able to score one more run for the win. The Braves jumped out to a 4 run lead by the fourth inning (1 run in the third (FC), and 3 runs in the 4th (HR, Double). The Nationals made it somewhat interesting by picking up 2 unanswered runs, but then the Braves pushed their lead to 5-2 with another run in the bottom of the 6th (their last run scored, and the winning run - a home-run by Francoeur, his second of the game). The Nationals answered with another 2 runs in the top of the seventh, bringing the game to within 1 run but were not able to score in the 8th or 9th. Nationals lose another 1-run game.
Vidro and Johnson had multi-hit games (2 hits each), while 6 more hits were achieved by six other Nationals batters (including Drese going 1 for 1). Drese is now 3-4 after going only 4 innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 walks, 1 HR, and 4 runs (3 earned) off of 83 pitches. Sunny Kim came in for the 5th and 6th and gave up 1 run. Carrasco and Majewski pitched the last two innings, neither giving up a run.
Nationals.com recap, ESPN box score.
NOTE: "Robinson stands by Guzman":
Nationals.com article notes that "Robinson stands by Guzman" and that "[s]truggling shortstop not in danger of losing starting role -- yet." Guzman is now hitting .181 for the second half, and .180 overall.
Now off to face the Marlins, the wonderful Marlins (sorry, Wizard of Oz suddenly started in my head). Probables are in prior post, including stat pack and preview.
Neither pitcher, Drese or Sosa, pitched particularly well, but the Braves were able to score one more run for the win. The Braves jumped out to a 4 run lead by the fourth inning (1 run in the third (FC), and 3 runs in the 4th (HR, Double). The Nationals made it somewhat interesting by picking up 2 unanswered runs, but then the Braves pushed their lead to 5-2 with another run in the bottom of the 6th (their last run scored, and the winning run - a home-run by Francoeur, his second of the game). The Nationals answered with another 2 runs in the top of the seventh, bringing the game to within 1 run but were not able to score in the 8th or 9th. Nationals lose another 1-run game.
Vidro and Johnson had multi-hit games (2 hits each), while 6 more hits were achieved by six other Nationals batters (including Drese going 1 for 1). Drese is now 3-4 after going only 4 innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 walks, 1 HR, and 4 runs (3 earned) off of 83 pitches. Sunny Kim came in for the 5th and 6th and gave up 1 run. Carrasco and Majewski pitched the last two innings, neither giving up a run.
Nationals.com recap, ESPN box score.
NOTE: "Robinson stands by Guzman":
Nationals.com article notes that "Robinson stands by Guzman" and that "[s]truggling shortstop not in danger of losing starting role -- yet." Guzman is now hitting .181 for the second half, and .180 overall.
Now off to face the Marlins, the wonderful Marlins (sorry, Wizard of Oz suddenly started in my head). Probables are in prior post, including stat pack and preview.
