WASHINGTON, D.C. — Game 1 of the Washington Nationals split doubleheader was a disappointment as the Nats fell behind with Dan HaRen giving up two home runs — one to Giancarlo Stanton (with a man on) and another Christian Yelich. Ryan Zimmerman brought the Nats within one with a 2 run homer to centerfield, but the Nats would get no more, falling to the Miami Marlins 4-2 in game 1.
Prior to the game, Davey Johnson was honored for his career with the Nationals and in general. A montage played on the video board, players hugged him, ownership (minus Mark Lerner) shook hands and they gave him a trophy.
The video is now available and it has way too many Baltimore Orioles in it:
Didn’t one of those guys help run Davey out of Camden Yards?
Teddy won the President’s Race — Bully the Moose tackled Abe.
GAME 2
The night game worked out better for that Nats, though Johnson says that Stephen Strasburg was “awful.” Strasburg gave up 3 runs over six innings in his final home start. Tyler Clippard nearly vultured a win by allowing hte tying run in the 4th, but the Nats scored in the bottom of the ninth when a Wilson Ramos grounder to third was booted.
Yesterday afternoon’s attendance was a healthy 35,501.
Nats draw 2,652,422 in 2013, most at Nats Park. But they drew 2,731,993 in 2005 at RFK. (Senators' final season here, 1971? 655,156.)
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) September 23, 2013
Videos of the Johnson ceremony should be making their way to youtube over the next day or two, there were a lot of people with their phones out recording the HD screen.
Six more games remain in the regular season, all on the road. It starts tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals and nextg weekend with a season finale in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. Six games to make up five for the second play-in game spot.