Nationals 4, Pirates 2
One of the things that we notice here is that despite the city's lack of success from it's sports franchises there are a lot of amazing things that happen. Well maybe not a lot, but there are a few times in each sport where some great sports moments happen. And because of the lack of success, DC Sports fans seem to miss a lot of those moments.
For example, did you actually watch the game live when Josh Hamilton was hitting 4 homers against the Orioles? Did you watch the next game where the O's led of the game with back to back to back home runs (an American League first)? I know I know, the Orioles don't count. But hopefully you were tuned in to the Nationals game Thursday night to see Stephen Strasburg strike out 13 guys (7 in a row at one point) in just 6 innings of work.
On Thursday night the Nationals defeated the Pirates 4-2 to avoid the sweep behind that great pitching performance by Stephen Strasburg, bombs by Bernadina, LaRoche and Ankiel, and 3 scoreless no-hit innings by the bullpen.
Strasburg's 13 strikeouts was the 2nd best of his career, his best coming in his Major League debut when he struck out 14. (If you weren't at that game, then you really missed out on an amazing DC Sports moment. After giving up the 2 runs his ERA is now 1.64 and, along with his buddy Gio Gonzalez (.172), is in the top 10 in the Majors.
We haven't really talked much about the bullpen lately so it was nice to see them pitch well. Mattheus with the hold the 7th, Clippard for the hold in the 8th, and H-Rod for the save in the 9th. (This hold stat is getting out of control).
It was looking like the Nats offense was going to spoil another great pitching performance when Strasburg gave up two runs in the fourth inning but an Adam LaRoche 2-run shot in the 6th gave both the Nats and Strasburg (3-0) the win.
Next up, the Reds...3 games in Cincinnati
No comments:
Post a Comment