Monday, August 28, 2006
While I was “Away”, Weekend in Review: Nationals lost twice and won once
The Nationals actually picked up a win on Friday, August 25th, 2006, breaking a five game losing skid. Ramon Ortiz pitched just 5 innings and gave up 4 runs off of 6 hits and 3 walks, and also struck-out 6. Ryan Wagner picked up his first win of the year by being the pitcher of record when the Nationals pulled ahead. He pitched the sixth and seventh innings, giving up zero runs off of 1 hit and struck out 3. His ERA dropped to 5.84. Rauch pitched the 8th and got a hold, and Rivera picked up his first major league save by pitching the ninth. Rivera did give up 2 runs off of 3 hits and 1 walk in that effort. Kearns hit his 20th home-run of the year and drove in 3 runs (and stole 1 base). Escobar went 3 for 3 with 1 RBI. Soriano picked up 2 more stolen bases, and went 2 for 4. Odd as it might seem, the Nationals committed zero errors in the game. Oh, and Damian Jackson was released by the team on Friday, and Robert Fick was reactivated.
Nationals won 7-6
Box score
Well, that was the win. Nationals then lost the series and two games in a row to the Braves.
Pedro Astacio lasted just 2.2 innings, again, on Saturday. After his complete game effort on August the 15th, Astacio has had back-to-back games of at most 2.2 innings pitched (2.0 on August 20th). On Saturday, Astacio gave up 6 runs off of 8 hits and 5 walks (and struck out 1). Schroder gave up an unearned run in relief, and Wagner pitched another scoreless inning. Gryboski returned and gave up 3 runs (1 earned) in his 2 innings of work. Johnson had two errors and Mateo had 1. Braves won 10-1.
box score
And then there was 1 game - Sunday: Nationals lost 6-13. Billy Traber had done will in his short time as a major league starter, but on Sunday he lasted just 2.2 innings. Traber gave up 8 runs off of 8 hits (1 home-run) and 2 walks while striking out 3. He now has a record of 3-3, and an ERA of 7.14. Rivera pitched the next 2.1 innings and gave up 3 runs off of 4 hits (1 HR) and 0 walks. Bergmann was called upon to return to relief work and pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He gave up 1 run off of 3 hits and also struck out 4. Cordero finished the game, and also gave up 1 run.
The Nationals jumped out to a 3 run lead in the top of the first inning, but this didn’t help Traber. Traber gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the first. Trying to help, the Nationals offense added 1 more run in the top of the 3rd inning to move the game to a 4-2 lead for the Nationals. Unfortunately, the Braves would then tie the game, and then add another 4 runs to take a 6-4 lead. They would add 3 more runs in the bottom of the 4th, while the Nationals tried to come back by scoring 2 runs in the top of th 5th. Score after 5: 6-11. The Nationals were done offensively, and the Braves would add two more runs, 1 in the 7th, and 1 in the 8th, to win 13-6.
Highlights: Soriano went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles (35), and 2 more stolen bases (34). Castro started, hit second, and played second - he went 1 for 5. Ward hit fourth and started at firstbase, he went 2 for 5 (1 double). Kearns went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI.
Box score
Tonight: Off day
Nationals end August with three games at home hosting the Phillies, Tuesday-Thursday.
Nationals won 7-6
Box score
Well, that was the win. Nationals then lost the series and two games in a row to the Braves.
Pedro Astacio lasted just 2.2 innings, again, on Saturday. After his complete game effort on August the 15th, Astacio has had back-to-back games of at most 2.2 innings pitched (2.0 on August 20th). On Saturday, Astacio gave up 6 runs off of 8 hits and 5 walks (and struck out 1). Schroder gave up an unearned run in relief, and Wagner pitched another scoreless inning. Gryboski returned and gave up 3 runs (1 earned) in his 2 innings of work. Johnson had two errors and Mateo had 1. Braves won 10-1.
box score
And then there was 1 game - Sunday: Nationals lost 6-13. Billy Traber had done will in his short time as a major league starter, but on Sunday he lasted just 2.2 innings. Traber gave up 8 runs off of 8 hits (1 home-run) and 2 walks while striking out 3. He now has a record of 3-3, and an ERA of 7.14. Rivera pitched the next 2.1 innings and gave up 3 runs off of 4 hits (1 HR) and 0 walks. Bergmann was called upon to return to relief work and pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He gave up 1 run off of 3 hits and also struck out 4. Cordero finished the game, and also gave up 1 run.
The Nationals jumped out to a 3 run lead in the top of the first inning, but this didn’t help Traber. Traber gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the first. Trying to help, the Nationals offense added 1 more run in the top of the 3rd inning to move the game to a 4-2 lead for the Nationals. Unfortunately, the Braves would then tie the game, and then add another 4 runs to take a 6-4 lead. They would add 3 more runs in the bottom of the 4th, while the Nationals tried to come back by scoring 2 runs in the top of th 5th. Score after 5: 6-11. The Nationals were done offensively, and the Braves would add two more runs, 1 in the 7th, and 1 in the 8th, to win 13-6.
Highlights: Soriano went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles (35), and 2 more stolen bases (34). Castro started, hit second, and played second - he went 1 for 5. Ward hit fourth and started at firstbase, he went 2 for 5 (1 double). Kearns went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI.
Box score
Tonight: Off day
Nationals end August with three games at home hosting the Phillies, Tuesday-Thursday.
