Washington 2 ATLANTA 0 (ESPN Boxscore)
I turned on the Nats game (which was on MASN 2 for no good reason) around the 2nd inning last night. I was surprised to see there was no score and even more surprised to see Jason Bergmann with several strikeouts. Not surprising, Bergmann’s opposite number, John Smoltz, was having his way with the Nats for the most part. Inning after inning continued and I kept wondering when a fly ball would be dropped or Bergmann would hang one over the plate. I figured Andruw Jones would get a pitch he liked and put it over the wall. When it comes to Jones and the Nats, I can’t help but be reminded of Dick Enberg constantly saying, “you cannot stop him, you can only hope to contain him,” about Emmitt Smith whenever NBC would get a Cowboys game back in the day. Yet, Jones was kept in the park and got fooled by several pitches.
Following his last start, Bergmann was chewed out by GM Jim Bowden for allowing six walks. This time around he allowed four over six innings, but that can be forgiven because Bergmann gave up only one hit and had eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
In the eighth inning, fortune finally favored the Nats. Chris Snelling got hit by a Smoltz pitch (second time in the game). PH D’Angelo Jimenez sacrificed Snelling to second. Felipe Lopez walked and Snelling advanced to third on a wild pitch. I was wondered why Bobby Cox still had Smoltz in there. 2B Ronnie Belliard made Smoltz and Cox pay, singling to right to score Snelling and give the Nats their first lead during a game this season. 3B Ryan Zimmerman singled to knock in Lopez. Smoltz struck out Austin Kearns and Ryan Church to end the inning, but the damage was done. I turned the game off at that point and went to bed, preferring to sleep on a lead for a change.
Jesus Colome and Jon Rauch both got 1-2-3 innings in relief with Colome getting the win. Chad Cordero came in and had a typical save, putting the tying runner on base before getting the third out. I’m sure Charlie Slowes was going nuts.
Nationals Follow Through on Lead – The Post
Finally, Nats get ahead – The Wash. Times
Tonight, the Nats continue their road trip in Flushing Meadows against the Mets. John Patterson, the Nats “ace”, says his recent poor performances are due to rust, not arm problems (The Wash. Times). He’ll face Mike Pelfrey.
Ray King has been sent to the DL (The Post), costing the Nats a lefty in the bullpen. RHP Saul Rivera was called up to take his place.
Yestrday, Frank Robinson stopped by GWU (AP/The Wash. Examiner) to pick up the Jackie Robinson Society Community Recognition Award. He is still keeping tabs on the Nats. Dave Feldman interviewed Robinson for WTTG (Part I, Part II). Roger Kahn, author of The Boys of Summer, was the keynote speaker. Also: GWU press release from earlier this month.
A Balmer columnist dumps on D.C. sports in The Sun, but do any of us care what he thinks? Didn’t think so, no link for him.