Nats Complete Sweep Of Mets With Shutout

Nationals 2, Mets 0

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Nationals	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0		2	7	1
Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	8	0

Read the full box score at MLB

With Strasburg now shut down, John Lannan (3-0) took the rubber at Citi Field in NY
Wednesday for his third start going 5 2/3 innings with 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K. The offensively-
challenged Mets were held scoreless by the bullpen to get the win for Lannan. Drew
Storen stepped on with 2 on and 2 out in the ninth to save the 2-0 victory.

Ryan Zimmerman extended his hit streak to 16 games with a solo shot in the 4th, his 22nd
of the year. All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond added another solo shot in the eighth, his
23rd of the year.

One discouraging thing for the Nationals was the team could not plate runners when they had big opportunities.  In the 6th innings the Nats had the bases loaded with 0 outs and they couldn't get a run.  Then in the 7th inning there was a bases loaded 1 out situation where Adam LaRoche grounded into a double play.

The Nats have been depending an awful lot on the long ball and have been stranding a lot of runners on 3rd base with less than 2 outs.

The Nats head to Atlanta for a 3 game series with the Braves starting on Friday...

Vampire Ryan Mattheus & The Nats Stake Marlins

Nationals 7, Marlins 4

A huge day from Adam LaRoche, a few bases loaded walks, and a decent outing by John Lannan helped the Nationals defeat the Marlins 7-4 in the first game of the doubleheader on Friday at Nats Park.

John Lannan started out slow with the bases loaded and 0 outs in the first.  But after a double play by the Nats, Lannan escaped only giving up one run.

After the first, Lannan calmed down and settled into the ballgame.  But in the 7th inning, Lannan allowed two runners and went down 2-0 to the next batter getting the heave in the middle of the at bat.  The crowd gave John a standing ovation to thank him for the spot start.

Lannan only gave up 4 hits on the day, but he walked 5 batters through 6 innings.  John will return to the minors again, where he will wait for his next opportunity.

Ryan Mattheus has developed a new odd pitching stance where he kind of hides his face with his glove before he goes into his move.  FP Santangelo said it looked like a vampire type move, so of course we now have Count Matthues:

LaRoche hit a homer for the 2nd day in the row (and a foul ball that was SMASHED into the upper upper deck).  Adam was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs.  Zimmerman had 2 doubles on a 2 for 3 day and Jayson Werth drew three walks to go along with a single.  Mark DeRosa had 3 RBI on a hit and a bases loaded walk.

LaRoche also had a big defensive play in the game, a schoolyard kickball play.  With the infield fly rule rubbed out on a bunt attempt, LaRoche dropped a ball on purpose to get a double play.

Every starter had a hit except for former starting catcher Jesus Flores.

Late in the game, Davey removed Drew Storen in the middle of an at bat (1-0) in the 8th inning.  Two pitchers removed mid-batter in one game is a very odd thing.

Somehow, after Mike Gonzalez allowing the tying run to be in the on deck circle, Tyler Clippard had to be used in a save situation.  He picked up his 22nd save, but not before the Marlins scored another run.

Game 2 next...

Shark Attack, Nats Bite Braves

Nationals 5, Braves 2

After being shutout in the day session of a doubleheader, the Washington Nationals rallied in 3 consecutive innings to take the night game from the Braves 5-2.  Two unlikely heroes helped the Nats go back up 2.5 games in the division, John Lannan and Roger Bernadina.  FP dubbed it "Shark Week"

Lannan came out slow in the first inning, allowing 2 runs, but settled in, receiving a standing ovation when he left after pitching 7 innings.  The lefty made a case for being the guy to replace Strasburg at the end of the season while picking up his first win of the season.

The story of the offense, and of the entire day was Roger Bernadina.  The "Shark" went 2 for 3 in the early game and then exploded with 3 more hits and the game winning RBI at night.  That is 5 for 7 on the day with an RBI a run scored and a stolen base.  Not bad for one day's work.


Trailing 2-0, after the Nationals scored on a wild pitch in the 5th, Ian Desmond plated the game tying run in the 6th on a bases loaded fielder's choice and then left the game, appearing to be having some more oblique trouble.  Desmond has been avoiding the DL and trying to contribute to the team, but it may be time to give him a longer break.

Then, after Bernadina's clutch hit tied the game in the 7th inning, Espinosa drove in an insurance run in the 8th.  Bryce Harper kept his iron man streak alive, making a pinch hit appearance after missing most of the first game after fouling off a bunt that hit him in the ankle.

Harper got a standing ovation from the crowd and then went on to steal 2nd where his "limp" magically disappeared.  Danny Espinosa came in and hit a double to score Harper who limped into the dugout.  Bryce took the field in the 9th in right.

The Nats picked up another run on a booted grounder by the Braves later in the 8th and Clippard came on in the 9th to pick up his 16th save of the season.  Clippards 8th appearance in a row where he allowed a base runner.

The Nats try to salvage a tie in the series on Sunday afternoon.  Desmond, Harper, and Flores could be game time decisions.

Double Header Preview (7/21)

Braves vs Nationals

1:05 PM / 7:05 PM Nationals Park

MASN-1

Story Lines:

• After dropping a heart breaker last night, the Nats need to take at least one of these two games.
• John Lannan will make his first start of the season in the night game.

Pitching Match Ups:

• Ben Sheets
• 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
• Making his second start of the season.

• Randell Delgado
• 4-9 with a 4.52 ERA.
• Easily the worst member of the Braves rotation.

• Edwin Jackson
• 5-5 with a 3.89 ERA.
• After a great start of the season, Jackson has struggled his last few times out.

• John Lannan
• 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA.
• First start of the season.  Called up from AAA.

Who to Watch:

• Michael Bourn
• After an extra inning affair last night and two games today, it will be up to the table setters to get on base and make scoring a few runs easy.
• Went 1-5 last night with 2 RBIs.

• Steve Lombardozzi
• See above.  It's all about the table setters today.
• Went 3-5 last night with 2 RBIs.

Keys to the Games:

1. Get Men on Base.  Make things easier on yourself by getting lead off guys on the bases.
2. Run Support.  Braves need to give it to Sheets, Nats to Lannan.  Build those guys' confidence.
3. E-Jax Time.  Jackson needs to eat up a healthy amount of innings tonight to save the bullpen.

Some Early Injury Concerns For The Nats

The regular season is fast approaching and some key Nationals players are having some injury problems.

Chien-Ming Wang (Hamstring):  Could miss up to a month (Adam Kilgore)

Michael Morse (Shoulder/Lat):  Could miss opening day (Adam Kilgore)

Drew Storen (Left Arm):  Could miss some games (Adam Kilgore-same)

Adam LaRoche (Ankle):  Should be ready to go (Dan Kolko)

Bryce Harper (Not Chosen Enough):  Yeah, not injured, but will be in minors on opening day

John Lannan (Odd Man Out):  Could he be traded?  Rizzo says no, other teams say they want him.

As my high school football coach would say, "Just Put Some Goldbond On It!"...

Chien-Ming Wang Injured

Chien-Ming Wang left Thursday's Spring Training game with a strained hamstring after his leg almost snapped in half when he was running to first base.  I've walked down the street and my ankle has given out and I've fallen on the ground, so I can't really talk, but I'm not sure how you fall down like Wang did when simply running.  (Video)

There were some reports on Twitter the other day that the Nats were "shopping" John Lannan (which Mike Rizzo denied).  Now, Lannan may have to step in as the 5th man in the rotation if Wang's injury is bad, and it looked pretty bad.  When you can hear everyone in the crowd groaning at the same time, it isn't good.

Will Wang every play for the Nats?  The guy can not stay on the field and even gets hurt when he is running.