Thursday, August 25, 2005
Nationals Lose 5-3; Church on DL; LHP Matt White starting Saturday? Zimmerman Up on Sunday?
The Reds scored first in the top of the 1st inning. Lopez singled to open the game. Aurilia then walked. Griffey then hits into a FC - Lopez to 3rd and Griffey to 1st. Then Dunn popped out and Casey walked. Then Hernandez walked in the first run of the game - Lopez scores - Kearns walked. And then Hernandez ended the inning by strike-out LaRue.
The Nationals were kept off the board in the bottom of the first, and Hernandez kept the Reds from scoring in the top of the second . . .
Nationals tie the game when Carroll hits a 2-out single and Castilla scores.
The Reds get the lead back in the top of the 5th when Kearns hits a 2-out single and Griffey scores.
Hernandez makes it to the seventh inning, with the score 2-1 Reds. He faces just two batters and gets neither out. The first batter up, Griffey, hits his 30th home-run of the year and the second batter up is hit-by-pitch. Eischen then relieves Hernandez. The scoring is not yet done, though. Eischen gives up a single to the first batter he faces and is in turn relieved by Carrasco. Carrasco strikes out Kearns. Then Carrasco allows a run to score after throwing a wild pitch. LaRue, who had been batting when the wild pitch was thrown, then hits a double which scores Casey. The half of the inning is finally over when Encarnacion and Cruz (pinch hitting for Belisle) pops out. Score: 5-1.
Carrasco is replaced by Blanco who leads off the bottom of the seventh inning. I'm not sure, but I do not think that Blanco has a hit, yet, in the second half.
Travis Hughes makes his first appearance since the recall from AAA New Orleans and pitches to just two batters, Lopez and Aurilla. He gives up a single to Lopez and gets Aurilla to hit a foul ball near Johnson, who obliges by making the catch. Stanton then relieves Hughes and pitches the final 1.2 innings.
Bottom of the ninth. Score 5-1:
Guzman grounds out to open the inning. Schneider then hits for Stanton. And is promptly put on base after getting hit by pitch. Wilkerson then comes up. Wilkerson is 1 for 3 with 1 walk and 1 strike-out when he steps into the batters box. HOME RUN TO CF! 2 RUNS SCORE - Score now: 5-3. Then Vidro singles. Johnson to first after a FC gets Vidro out at 2B. 2 OUT, Johnson on FIRST: Guillen then strikes out to end the inning and the game.
I watched/used the Nationals.com Gamecast or GameDay or whatever their service is called to watch the game.
Here is CBS.com's recap and box score. ESPN.com's recap, box score. Fox recap/box score. SI.com recap.
Church to DL:
At 3:08 pm Bill Ladson's article appeared on Nationals.com: "Notes: Church hits the disabled list: Byrd likely to be recalled from Triple-A; White to start Saturday"
The Nationals placed outfielder Ryan Church on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a fractured right pinkie toe. Church is expected to miss two to three weeks of action.
Church: "I'm frustrated, disappointed," Church said. "There's nothing I could do except let it heal. You can't put a cast on it. ... Hopefully, I'll get back in two weeks, we'll make the playoffs and I'll contribute. [Nationals general manager Jim] Bowden told me to stay positive."
Byrd, 27, batted .243 with 16 RBIs in 51 games for the Nationals before being sent down to New Orleans on July 31.
See my earlier entry on the minors: Byrd "Currently hitting .416 with New Orleans in 20 games, 77 AB. 32 hits, 6 doubles, 5 home-runs, 11 RBI, 9 walks, 7 strike-outs, 4 stolen bases, and 1 caught-stealing."
Starting Saturday: LHP Matt White? (same Ladson article).
According to a club source, left-hander Matt White will get the start against the Cardinals on Saturday. White, who has Major League experience with the Red Sox and Mariners, has compiled an 8-5 record for New Orleans with a 3.23 ERA. White has never started in the big leagues.
If White starts, he will be the first LHP pitcher to start for the Nationals this year, and if he doesn't start, LHP John Halama might start, and he might be . . .. OR:
The Nationals are still hoping that Tony Armas Jr. will be able to make the start on Sunday. Armas is currently nursing a sore right shoulder.
Zimmerman:
Expect the Nationals to make some moves by the end of the week. Don't be surprised if third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is called up to the big leagues on Sunday. (still that Ladson article)
Nationals now in last place in NL East for moment. Hopefully the Marlins and Mets will also lose, allowing the Nationals to return to the third place slot (and be tied with them).
Friday:
Loaiza vs. Suppan
I'll repost here what I wrote earlier today:
First Place St. Louis Cardinals (80-47) at RFK:
Jeff Suppan (12-9, 3.94) vs. Esteban Loaiza (8-9, 3.66)
Scouting Report:
Suppan lost in his last outing despite allowing only one earned run in six innings of work. Despite that setback to the Giants Sunday, he has won five of his last seven decisions. Suppan is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA lifetime against the franchise formerly known as the Expos.
Suppan: In August: 4 GS - 2-2, 2.36 26.2 IP 26 H 7 ER 2 HR 1 HBP 7 BB 18 SO
Started 1 game against the Nationals in May: 1-0, 1.29 7 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 HBP 3 BB 2 SO
Loaiza pitched on short rest in his last start, but he went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits against the Mets. All three runs were scored in the fifth inning, when pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs, making his Major League debut, hit a three-run home run.
Loaiza: In August: 5 GS - 2-3, 4.18 32.1 IP 33 H 15 ER 6 HR 1 HBP 8 BB 23 SOStarted 1 game against the Cardinals: 0-1, 4.50 6 IP 8 H 3 ER 2 HR 1 BB 6 SO
Saturday: Day Game. Mark Mulder (15-6, 3.74) against someone, maybe the batboy.
Fox preview.
The Nationals were kept off the board in the bottom of the first, and Hernandez kept the Reds from scoring in the top of the second . . .
Nationals tie the game when Carroll hits a 2-out single and Castilla scores.
The Reds get the lead back in the top of the 5th when Kearns hits a 2-out single and Griffey scores.
Hernandez makes it to the seventh inning, with the score 2-1 Reds. He faces just two batters and gets neither out. The first batter up, Griffey, hits his 30th home-run of the year and the second batter up is hit-by-pitch. Eischen then relieves Hernandez. The scoring is not yet done, though. Eischen gives up a single to the first batter he faces and is in turn relieved by Carrasco. Carrasco strikes out Kearns. Then Carrasco allows a run to score after throwing a wild pitch. LaRue, who had been batting when the wild pitch was thrown, then hits a double which scores Casey. The half of the inning is finally over when Encarnacion and Cruz (pinch hitting for Belisle) pops out. Score: 5-1.
Carrasco is replaced by Blanco who leads off the bottom of the seventh inning. I'm not sure, but I do not think that Blanco has a hit, yet, in the second half.
Travis Hughes makes his first appearance since the recall from AAA New Orleans and pitches to just two batters, Lopez and Aurilla. He gives up a single to Lopez and gets Aurilla to hit a foul ball near Johnson, who obliges by making the catch. Stanton then relieves Hughes and pitches the final 1.2 innings.
Bottom of the ninth. Score 5-1:
Guzman grounds out to open the inning. Schneider then hits for Stanton. And is promptly put on base after getting hit by pitch. Wilkerson then comes up. Wilkerson is 1 for 3 with 1 walk and 1 strike-out when he steps into the batters box. HOME RUN TO CF! 2 RUNS SCORE - Score now: 5-3. Then Vidro singles. Johnson to first after a FC gets Vidro out at 2B. 2 OUT, Johnson on FIRST: Guillen then strikes out to end the inning and the game.
I watched/used the Nationals.com Gamecast or GameDay or whatever their service is called to watch the game.
Here is CBS.com's recap and box score. ESPN.com's recap, box score. Fox recap/box score. SI.com recap.
Church to DL:
At 3:08 pm Bill Ladson's article appeared on Nationals.com: "Notes: Church hits the disabled list: Byrd likely to be recalled from Triple-A; White to start Saturday"
The Nationals placed outfielder Ryan Church on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a fractured right pinkie toe. Church is expected to miss two to three weeks of action.
Church: "I'm frustrated, disappointed," Church said. "There's nothing I could do except let it heal. You can't put a cast on it. ... Hopefully, I'll get back in two weeks, we'll make the playoffs and I'll contribute. [Nationals general manager Jim] Bowden told me to stay positive."
Byrd, 27, batted .243 with 16 RBIs in 51 games for the Nationals before being sent down to New Orleans on July 31.
See my earlier entry on the minors: Byrd "Currently hitting .416 with New Orleans in 20 games, 77 AB. 32 hits, 6 doubles, 5 home-runs, 11 RBI, 9 walks, 7 strike-outs, 4 stolen bases, and 1 caught-stealing."
Starting Saturday: LHP Matt White? (same Ladson article).
According to a club source, left-hander Matt White will get the start against the Cardinals on Saturday. White, who has Major League experience with the Red Sox and Mariners, has compiled an 8-5 record for New Orleans with a 3.23 ERA. White has never started in the big leagues.
If White starts, he will be the first LHP pitcher to start for the Nationals this year, and if he doesn't start, LHP John Halama might start, and he might be . . .. OR:
The Nationals are still hoping that Tony Armas Jr. will be able to make the start on Sunday. Armas is currently nursing a sore right shoulder.
Zimmerman:
Expect the Nationals to make some moves by the end of the week. Don't be surprised if third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is called up to the big leagues on Sunday. (still that Ladson article)
Nationals now in last place in NL East for moment. Hopefully the Marlins and Mets will also lose, allowing the Nationals to return to the third place slot (and be tied with them).
Friday:
Loaiza vs. Suppan
I'll repost here what I wrote earlier today:
First Place St. Louis Cardinals (80-47) at RFK:
Jeff Suppan (12-9, 3.94) vs. Esteban Loaiza (8-9, 3.66)
Scouting Report:
Suppan lost in his last outing despite allowing only one earned run in six innings of work. Despite that setback to the Giants Sunday, he has won five of his last seven decisions. Suppan is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA lifetime against the franchise formerly known as the Expos.
Suppan: In August: 4 GS - 2-2, 2.36 26.2 IP 26 H 7 ER 2 HR 1 HBP 7 BB 18 SO
Started 1 game against the Nationals in May: 1-0, 1.29 7 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 HBP 3 BB 2 SO
Loaiza pitched on short rest in his last start, but he went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits against the Mets. All three runs were scored in the fifth inning, when pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs, making his Major League debut, hit a three-run home run.
Loaiza: In August: 5 GS - 2-3, 4.18 32.1 IP 33 H 15 ER 6 HR 1 HBP 8 BB 23 SOStarted 1 game against the Cardinals: 0-1, 4.50 6 IP 8 H 3 ER 2 HR 1 BB 6 SO
Saturday: Day Game. Mark Mulder (15-6, 3.74) against someone, maybe the batboy.
Fox preview.
