Sunday, August 14, 2005
Nationals Win 8-0!
As the Washington Post put it: "Six Nationals drove in runs and right-hander Tony Armas Jr. allowed a stampede of Rockies to reach base, but none of them to score, in six shaky but effective innings." Armas is now 7-5.
Well, Robinson got his wish, the team won two out of three, now tonight they might actually win that third win, especially with Patterson on the mound. As the Nationals.com recap puts it: "The Nationals assured themselves of their first series win on the road since a sweep of the Cubbies back on July 1-3."
Wilkerson did not play for the second straight day. As the Nationals.com article quoted Wilkerson: "I feel the same. I'm ready to go. It's the manager's decision, if he wants to keep me out. They didn't ask me yesterday, so they didn't know. Today they came and asked me, and I said I'm the same as yesterday." Wilkerson still has that shouldar injury and that kept him out on Friday (to give him some rest), so when he was asked how he felt on Saturday, and responded that he felt the same, the bench coach and manager thought that he could not play, and Wilkerson thought that he was noting that he could play, like he could have played on Friday. As the article further notes: "Ironically, Wilkerson may disagree with Robinson's optimistic prognosis for playing on Sunday, noting that the limited preparation before the Sunday's afternoon starting time would lower his chances of feeling like his shoulder was up to speed. "
Nationals.com recap (by Owen Perkins). ESPN.com recap, box score (computer problems, lost the links).
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NL East:
Team
Braves 67-50
Phillies 62-55 .530 5.0 GB
Nationals 61-55 5.5 GB
Marlins 60-56 .517 6.5 GB
Mets 59-57 7.5 GB
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Wild Card:
Astros 63-53 (Lost to Pirates 1-0)
Phillies 62-55 1.5 GB (Won)
Nationals 61-55 2.0 GB (WON)
Marlins 60-56 3.0 GB (Won, Beat Giants 2-1)
Mets 59-57 4.0 GB (Won, beat Dodgers 5-1)
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Tonight:
Patterson (6-3, 2.52) vs. Acevedo (2-2, 5.85)
Pitcher's notes from Nationals.com:
"Scouting Report:
Patterson will face the Rockies for the second time this season. On July 20, Patterson pitched eight shutout innings and gave up three hits in a 4-0 victory at RFK Stadium. Patterson struck out eight and walked two, relying mostly on his fastball. His right hand was so moist that he had a tough time throwing the curveball, so he stopped throwing it after a couple of innings.
Acevedo suffered a rough first inning and gave up 12 hits and nine runs in 3 1/3 innings of his last start, the Rockies' 12-4 loss to Pittsburgh."
Nationals.com preview. ESPN Stat pack (computer problems, lost the ESPN links).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Colorado:
Next Four:
The Nationals immediately head to Philadelphia for a four game series. Philies are currently one half game ahead of the Nationals in the NL East and in the wild card race.
Monday:
Hernandez (13-5, 3.51) vs. Brett Myers (10-5, 3.46)
Notes on the pitchers from Nationals.com:
"Scouting Report:
After a run in which he gave up three earned runs or less in 18 of 19 starts, Hernandez has struggled in August, yielding four and five earned runs in his two starts this month and lasting less than seven innings in each for the first time since June 14. He has won only once in his seven starts since July 6.
After going 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in July, Myers has stumbled in August. The righty has allowed nine in his previous two starts, spanning 13 1/3 innings."
Tuesday:
Ryan Drese (7-12, 5.67) vs. Cory Lidle (9-10, 4.61)
"Scouting Report:
Drese brings a five-game losing streak to his start against the Phillies. In fact, he has not won since a July 8 start against the Phillies, when he allowed four earned runs in five innings. His control has improved slightly since joining the Nationals, taking a 23-18 walks-to-strikeout ratio with the Rangers and turning it around to 22-26 with the Nationals.
Lidle allowed four runs -- three earned -- in five innings against the Dodgers in his previous outing. He was more upset with issuing six walks, his highest total since 2001."
Wednesday:
not yet known
Thursday:
not yet known
After Philies:
The Nationals, whatever they do in Philadelphia, immediately head off to New York City to face the cellar dwelling Mets for three games. The Nationals, currently, are only 2 games above the Mets in the two races.
After that, the Nationals take a day off on August 22nd, and then play in Cincinnati and then in St. Louis.
Well, Robinson got his wish, the team won two out of three, now tonight they might actually win that third win, especially with Patterson on the mound. As the Nationals.com recap puts it: "The Nationals assured themselves of their first series win on the road since a sweep of the Cubbies back on July 1-3."
Wilkerson did not play for the second straight day. As the Nationals.com article quoted Wilkerson: "I feel the same. I'm ready to go. It's the manager's decision, if he wants to keep me out. They didn't ask me yesterday, so they didn't know. Today they came and asked me, and I said I'm the same as yesterday." Wilkerson still has that shouldar injury and that kept him out on Friday (to give him some rest), so when he was asked how he felt on Saturday, and responded that he felt the same, the bench coach and manager thought that he could not play, and Wilkerson thought that he was noting that he could play, like he could have played on Friday. As the article further notes: "Ironically, Wilkerson may disagree with Robinson's optimistic prognosis for playing on Sunday, noting that the limited preparation before the Sunday's afternoon starting time would lower his chances of feeling like his shoulder was up to speed. "
Nationals.com recap (by Owen Perkins). ESPN.com recap, box score (computer problems, lost the links).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NL East:
Team
Braves 67-50
Phillies 62-55 .530 5.0 GB
Nationals 61-55 5.5 GB
Marlins 60-56 .517 6.5 GB
Mets 59-57 7.5 GB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wild Card:
Astros 63-53 (Lost to Pirates 1-0)
Phillies 62-55 1.5 GB (Won)
Nationals 61-55 2.0 GB (WON)
Marlins 60-56 3.0 GB (Won, Beat Giants 2-1)
Mets 59-57 4.0 GB (Won, beat Dodgers 5-1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight:
Patterson (6-3, 2.52) vs. Acevedo (2-2, 5.85)
Pitcher's notes from Nationals.com:
"Scouting Report:
Patterson will face the Rockies for the second time this season. On July 20, Patterson pitched eight shutout innings and gave up three hits in a 4-0 victory at RFK Stadium. Patterson struck out eight and walked two, relying mostly on his fastball. His right hand was so moist that he had a tough time throwing the curveball, so he stopped throwing it after a couple of innings.
Acevedo suffered a rough first inning and gave up 12 hits and nine runs in 3 1/3 innings of his last start, the Rockies' 12-4 loss to Pittsburgh."
Nationals.com preview. ESPN Stat pack (computer problems, lost the ESPN links).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Colorado:
Next Four:
The Nationals immediately head to Philadelphia for a four game series. Philies are currently one half game ahead of the Nationals in the NL East and in the wild card race.
Monday:
Hernandez (13-5, 3.51) vs. Brett Myers (10-5, 3.46)
Notes on the pitchers from Nationals.com:
"Scouting Report:
After a run in which he gave up three earned runs or less in 18 of 19 starts, Hernandez has struggled in August, yielding four and five earned runs in his two starts this month and lasting less than seven innings in each for the first time since June 14. He has won only once in his seven starts since July 6.
After going 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in July, Myers has stumbled in August. The righty has allowed nine in his previous two starts, spanning 13 1/3 innings."
Tuesday:
Ryan Drese (7-12, 5.67) vs. Cory Lidle (9-10, 4.61)
"Scouting Report:
Drese brings a five-game losing streak to his start against the Phillies. In fact, he has not won since a July 8 start against the Phillies, when he allowed four earned runs in five innings. His control has improved slightly since joining the Nationals, taking a 23-18 walks-to-strikeout ratio with the Rangers and turning it around to 22-26 with the Nationals.
Lidle allowed four runs -- three earned -- in five innings against the Dodgers in his previous outing. He was more upset with issuing six walks, his highest total since 2001."
Wednesday:
not yet known
Thursday:
not yet known
After Philies:
The Nationals, whatever they do in Philadelphia, immediately head off to New York City to face the cellar dwelling Mets for three games. The Nationals, currently, are only 2 games above the Mets in the two races.
After that, the Nationals take a day off on August 22nd, and then play in Cincinnati and then in St. Louis.
