Ever since that Sports Illustrated article (First In War, First In Peace, First In The Nl East?) came out last week, the Washington Nationals haven’t won. In fact, they have barely scored. It was not a cover story though and with Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse injured, plus Danny Espinosa being wholly ineffective, we can’t place the blame on a magazine. I finally read it last night too, I had been out of town and I forgot my dead-tree version of SI.
Last night, Jordan Zimmermann was decent, but the Nats could not muster any offense against the Arizona Diamondbacks. An unearned run, a bobble by Ian Desmond that would have been a third out on a stolen base attempt and a bad call on a Bryce Harper throw from left field all added up to a 5-1 loss.
Oh and about that throw:
Close call, but it wouldn’t have mattered.
Harper went 0-3 last night in his Nationals Park debut, his first hitless game.
FURTHER READING
With or without Harper, Nats aren’t scoring – CSN Washington
Bryce Harper’s Nats Park debut does little to jolt lagging offense – The Wash. Times
THOMAS BOSWELL: Bryce Harper might not be ready for Major League Baseball, but don’t bet on it – The Post
RICHARD JUSTICE: Hurdles lurk, but Harper on path to stardom – MLB.com
TOM VERDUCCI: With Harper, future of Nationals — and maybe the game — has arrived – Sports Illustrated