The Washington Nationals were able to move their record back to .500 today as they were able to win 7-6. The Washington offense was very productive, as they were able to get 15 hits. Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman each provided three hits, while Roger Bernadina got two hits. Nyjer Morgan, Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Adam Kennedy, Craig Stammen, Alberto Gonzalez and Mike Morse each provided a hit as well. Stammen hit a double and that was his second on the year and Bernadina got a triple, making it his first triple on the season.
The Nationals were able to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Josh Willingham came up to the plate and hit a two run home run to left center that brought in Ryan Zimmerman. That gave Willingham 25 RBI’s on the season and it tied the game up 2-2. Then in the bottom of the fourth, Guzman hit a single to center that brought in Stammen and made Washington down by one run. That was Guzman’s 16 RBI of the year. Then the Nationals were able to get four runs in the bottom of the sixth, that would give them the lead and victory. It started with Bernadina’s triple to right that drove in Kennedy and tied the score up 4-4. That gave Bernadina’s nine RBI’s in the 2010 season. Then, Gonzalez was able to single to center that drove in Bernadina and that gave Washington the 5-4 lead. That was Gonzalez’s first RBI this season. Finally, Dunn hit a single to center that brought in Gonzalez and Guzman and it gave Dunn number 21 for RBI’s this year. Those two runs gave Washington the 7-6 lead and their 22 win on the season.
Craig Stammen was the starter for Washington today and got the no decision. Stammen pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up nine hits and six runs. Only four of those runs were earned. Also, Stammen gave up two home runs, one to Adam Jones and the other to Ty Wigginton. The one to Jones was an inside the park home run but it was on an error from Morgan.
In the top of the fourth, Jones hit a deep fly to center field. Morgan chased down the ball and leaped on the wall to making a great catch. The ball bobbled out of Morgan’s glove and when Morgan looked at his glove, he didn’t see the ball in his glove. Morgan thought the ball had cleared the wall and was a home run but the ball landed in the field of play. Morgan then threw his hat and slammed his glove to the ground but soon realized the ball was still in play when Willingham went on to run and get the ball and try and throw out Jones at the plate. The throw was too late and Jones got the inside the park homer.
After Stammen’s outing, Tyler Walker came into the game and finished out the sixth inning. Walker allowed one hit but didn’t allow a run. Walker would go on to get the win and is 1-0 on the season. Sean Burnett pitched the seventh and didn’t allow a hit and had two strikeouts. Burnett earned his sixth hold of the season. Then in the eighth, Tyler Clippard earned his ninth hold of the year, by pitching a scoreless inning and getting one strikeout.
Matt Capps came in to close the game and was able to do so. Capps didn’t allow a hit and was able to get two strikeouts to help close the game. Capps earned his 16 save of the year and still remains perfect in save opportunities. Capps ERA stands now at an astonishing 2.01.
Some quick hits on some Nationals news. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez left in the third inning due to a lower back injury. Nationals starter Scott Olsen was placed on the 15-Day DL due to shoulder tightness and he will likely not be back until the middle of June. Also, yesterday the Nationals release outfielder Willy Taveras after they designated him for assignment on May 16.
The Nationals now sit at a record of 22-22 and are tied for third in the National League East. The Nationals are now five games back of the Philadelphia Phillies, as the Phillies lost to the Boston Red Sox today, 5-0.
The Nationals play tomorrow in an afternoon game against the Orioles at 1:35 p.m. John Lannan (1-2, 6.02 ERA) will face off against Kevin Millwood (0-4, 3.65 ERA).
