Last night Washington Nationals righthander¡LIVAN! threw his 50,000th career pitch. His opposite number on the Atlanta Braves, Jair Jurrjens, grounded out on that pitch, the 34th ¡LIVAN! threw of the night. He would throw 71 more over 7 innings, giving up 2 runs. He also made a difference at the plate (from Nationals vs. Braves: Livan Hernandez’s 50,000th pitch, four home runs spark 9-2 victory, The Post:
Hernandez also hit a double in the fifth inning off Jurrjens, against whom he is 4 for 7 in his career. The pace of Hernandez’s jaunt to second would have protracted the wait in a senior citizen movie ticket line.
“I think I made it [to] second base in 18 seconds,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez ambled to third base when Ian Desmond singled, which is where he stood when Zimmerman blasted a deep fly ball to right-center field. Third base coach Bo Porter told Hernandez, “Tag up.”
“No,” Hernandez replied. “I’m just gonna jog home.”
When Zimmerman’s drive landed two rows deep, Porter could only shake his head and laugh.
“I’m a pitcher,” Hernandez said. “So I know when the ball is a home run.”
Later in the story it came out that ¡LIVAN! wants to return to the Nats and was realistic about the situation, indicating a willingness to pitch out of the bullpen.
“I’d love to stay here and pitch,” Hernandez said. “I know a lot of young guys are coming up. I can be a long reliever next year, I think. We’ve talked a little bit. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully something good.”
This is where the sentimental fan boy in me gets excited — I like having ¡LIVAN! around because he’s entertaining and he loves being here. I am intrigued by the thought of him as a long man and spot starter. Given the way things go with pitchers in D.C., he’d probably get a fair share of starts. If money really isn’t an issue, GM Mike Rizzo has to sign him, right? I can’t think of any reason not too, except well, this.
PREVIOUS FANBOY LOVE LETTERS TO ¡LIVAN!
Boswell and I are hopeless ¡LIVAN! fanboys 02.21.2011
Livan makes it fun to be a Nats fanboy 07.22.2011
The Nats hit 4 home runs last night (Laynce Nix, Michael Morse, Ryan Zimmerman, Danny Espinosa) in the rout. The challenge is whether than can win in this series again — the have a tendency to win game 1 and then lose the next 2 or 3.