Kearns Enjoys Moment in Sun – The Post
Nats’ Kearns’ misery walks off – The Wash. Times
Weak-hitting OF Austin Kearns won Sunday’s game with a single in the 10th inning to defeat the San Diego Padres and claim another series for Washington, the second of the week, though there was a one-off make-up game with St. Louis between the two series wins.
Kearns, batting in the low .200s or worse for the last two seasons, was emotional after the win, as seen in the video below:
This is probably the last D.C. hurrah for Kearns, who came here to a fair amount of fanfare in 2006, but has gotten progressively worse every year. His play has not suffered for a lack of effort, just diminishing skills. I have not heard a bad thing about his preparation or clubhouse manner. In a more perfect world, the Nats could trade him, but his high salary makes it more likely they’ll let him go and eat the remaining contract. He may stick around through the end of the year though.
Mike MacDougal necessitated Kearns heroics after blowing the save in the ninth, costing Lefty starter John Lannan a win. Lannan pitched eight innings of one-run ball, another strong start in his breakout season.
On Saturday night, the Nats won a rain-dealyed game 13-1. DC Sports Bog thinks this may have been the best 18 hours for the Nats this season.
