HOUSTON 3 Washington 2 (CBS Sportsline Boxscore)
In Houston, Back to Basics for Bacsik – The Post
Nats fall short against Astros – The Wash. Times
Mike Bacsik gave up three runs over six innings last night. Manny Acta said, “Three runs in six innings in this park — I’ll take that anytime.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as Woody Williams had his way with the Nats batters for 6 1/3. If not for a Dmitri Young double that Austin Kearns followed with a homer off of the train set, the Nats wouldn’t have scored. Kearns thought he had walked on the pitch before his homer.
Ryan Zimmerman had a tough night, striking out three times. Nook Logan, one night removed from a 5-hit game (The Wash. Times), made tough catch on that stupid hill in centerfield as well.
Brian Schneider is unsatisfied with his perfromance at the plate this season (The Post), even though he is being credited for excellent work behind it. He is also aware that at 30, he’s not a young player anymore.
Ryan Langerhans has cleared waivers — see you in September!
Mike Hume of the Falls Church News-Press says that signing Jack McGeary and Josh Smoker will save the Nats from oblivion.
Marc Fisher of The Post, a ballpark proponent, notes that new ballparks did not stimulate the growth of retail areas in Cleveland, Cincinatti, and Detroit and expresses concern that declining Nats attendance could undue the plans to develop the area. He urges the developers to “provide amenities to make the new neighborhood worth visiting” and the “team owners do their part to make going to a game an experience worth repeating.”
Ed Shamy, a Burlington Free Press columnist says “I forward to the day when those of us in the Montreal metro area can rebuff the team’s overtures to come home” because of declining Nationals attendance. He sites the Expos attendance in 1987 as being higher than the Nats this year which is not relevant. Also, does anyone in Montréal (a marvelous city that deserved better from MLB; I’d send the Marlins up there as compensation) consider Burlington, Vt. to be part of le métropole?
I couldn’t find the Jim Bowden column, so I will look at lunch.