For Armas and Nats, Latest Loss Is the Status Woe – The Post
Tony Armas, Jr. started last night by giving up 2 runs and throwing around 40 pitches in the opening frame. By the 4th he was gassed and wound up being pulled after 3 1/3 innings having given up 5 runs. The bullpen faired no better. Final score Fleas 10 Nats 6.
Two highlights for Nats fans — Alfonso Soriano’s 42 homer and Ryan Zimmerman’s 2-run triple.
In the seventh, I said “if Saul Rivera can’t get Abraham Núñez (batting a Guzman esque .198) out, I’m leaving” and sure enough Nunez was safe on a Jose Vidro error. Fritz and I walked out right there.
1B Ryan Howard hit another homer, which is apparently a big deal (The Inky) for all those people cheering the visitors. By the way, there were a lot of Phightins fans there last night. They were incrediblely well behaved though, maybe it was because Santa Claus was not around to boo. The win put Philly 1/2 game back in the wild card and more importantly tied up the season series. The Nats now have five chances to win three games to clinch my cheesesteak.
The game was not a total loss — I learned the correct pronounciation of dl004d; I had previously thought it was “dee el double-o four dee,” but it turns out it is “dee el zero zero four dee.”
One other thing that I would like to learn is the name of the song that played when there was a conference at the mound in the 6th when Chase Utley was up. It’s jazzy piece that easily becomes an earworm, but I have no idea what it is called. Anybody know the song?
More from The Wash. Times: Nats’ Armas fails to deliver
Boxscore – ESPN
Nationals Set To Kick Off At RFK in ’07 – The Post
Sweet! The Nats get to start the 2007 season at home, restoring for at least one year the tradition of a Washington opener. They better get the president this time.
Also, the team took infield practice yesterday. It did not seem to help Vidro.
Johnson enjoys career season – The Wash. Times
1B Nick Johnson is having a career season just by staying in the lineup and off the DL.
Jim Bowden: Breakdown of National (League) importance – The Wash. Examiner
Obligatory link to the Bowden column that I refuse to read.