Phillies @ Nationals: Game Preview (8/1)

Phillies vs Nationals

7:05 PM Nationals Park

MASN-1

#1: Will FP Santangelo Wear His Shark Hat?

That Guy On The Bottom Interfered With A Nationals Out, But Was For Some Reason Still Happy

#2 Will The Game Get Rained Out

Story Lines:

• Nationals look to rebound after a humiliating loss last night.
• Edwin Jackson looks to move his record above .500 tonight.
• With Cole Hamels on the mound tomorrow, tonight's game is crucial for avoiding a sweep possibility.
• Still no Zimmerman, though he says he will play tomorrow for sure.

Pitching Match Up:

• Vance Worley
• 5-6 with a 3.88 ERA.
• Has given up 41 hits over his last ~27 innings of work.
• Give up double digit hits 3 times this season, including a game against the Nats.

• Edwin Jackson
• 6-6 with a 3.52 ERA.
• Pitched 7 innings of shutout baseball his last time out.
• Has not given up double digit hits at all this season.

Who to Watch:

• Juan Pierre
• Apparently he is a Nats killer?  Batting ..375 lifetime against Jackson.
• Went 3-5 last night with 2 runs scored.
• Also had 2 stolen bases last night.

• Danny Espinosa
• Batting .222 against Worley with 1 homerun and 2 RBIs lifetime.
• Went 0-4 last night with 2 strikeouts.
• Also stranded 3 men on base.

Keys to the Game:

1. Get Runners In.  Nats had 12 men left of base last night.  Middle of the lineup was particularly bad in this area.
2. Stop Runners.  The Nats also allowed 3 stolen bases.  Got to stop giving away bases to guys like Pierre.
3. Work the Count.  The Nats only drew 1 walk the entire game last night.