NATS 8 FLEAS 7
Nats Pound Out Win on the Road – The Post
If you are wondering just how much of a launch pad Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park is, wonder no more — Carlos Baerga (barely) hit a three run homer in the sixth. It turned out it would be the winning run too.
Ryan Drese walked a lot of Phillies and finally paid for it in the fifth, giving up three runs. In five innings of work he threw 101 pitches. In relief, Joey Eichen gave up two more runs and Luis Alaya gave up one too. Gary Majewski and Chad Cordero pitched three scoreless innings to seal the victory. Cordero naturally made it interesting, nearly giving up a homer to Ryan Howard. Thankfully, it was just a long out and Cordero actually retired the side in order.
The most interesting aspect of both the game and Barry Srvluga’s write-up was C Brian Schneider’s conversation with Phillies C Todd Pratt and how he applied what he learned:
Yet it was Schneider’s exchange with one of those catchers, Todd Pratt, that might have saved the game for the Nationals. When Baerga — who had two hits, scored three runs and drove in the three on the homer — scored the Nationals’ first run in the second, the Phillies looked to have him nailed at the plate. But a relay throw skipped away from Pratt, and Baerga slid home safely.
So when Pratt came to the plate for his next at-bat, he asked Schneider whether, had he fielded the throw cleanly, Baerga would have been out. “Probably,” Schneider said.
Pratt, though, responded that the ball had skipped in front of the plate. “Oh, really,” Schneider thought, and filed it away.
The information was essential when the Nationals took that 8-3 lead into the sixth, and the Phillies kept coming. They got one run on a triple from pinch hitter Endy Chavez — the former National who was hitting just .208 for the Phillies. But Chavez’s hit got the Phillies going again, and by the time Howard — the Phillies’ top prospect who is playing for the injured Jim Thome — came to the plate with two outs, it was 8-6 with runners on first and third.
Howard launched a Luis Ayala pitch to center field, where it glanced off the wall, easily scoring Kenny Lofton from third. Pat Burrell, though, was the man that counted, the tying run. Burrell flew around from first, but Wilkerson fielded the ball cleanly.
“He played it great off the wall,” shortstop Jamey Carroll said, “and got it to me quickly.”
Carroll, in turn, fired home to Schneider. Suddenly, that bit of inside information from Pratt — hey, the ball might skip — entered Schneider’s mind. When the throw bounced low, Schneider stayed down to receive it, and he tagged out Burrell to end the inning, the momentum change the Nationals desperately needed.
This is stuff I just love to read about — good job Schneider and Srvluga.
Also, can you believe that Inning-Endy Chavez actually got a hit for the Phils?
More from The Wash. Times: No romp in Phillies’ ballpark
Boxscore – ESPN.com
Nats Seek to Acquire Rockies’ Wilson – The Post
The big news yesterday afternoon was an apparent trade with the Rockies — P Zach Day (currently rehabbing in AA Harrisburg) and AAA OF J.J. Davis for CF Preston Wilson. It got held up by Wilson’s no trade cause and issues over how much of his contract the Nats would have to pay. The Wash. Times reports that this trade is unlikely, but I fear Bowden will find a way. The Free-Lance Star in Fredericksburg supports my assessment: Nationals close to getting Wilson.
While I understand that Day will never pitch for the Nats again (not a development I am thrilled about, I would like to see him get another shot, but methinks no one else wants to see that), I don’t understand GM Jim Bowden’s insistence on getting another outfielder. Jose Guillen is the rightfielder, period and Brad Wilkerson is not going anywhere either. That leaves the Ryan Church/Marlon Byrd in left, which is pretty solid. Church was rookie of the month in May and should be coming off the DL shortly. The Nats weakness is not the outfield depth, it is the infield depth. They do not need to get another player with Coors Field-inflated numbers.
Phillies’ rally just 1 run shy – The Inky
That headline makes me feel like the copy editor was trying to say, “hey, we almost won, let’s keep trying everybody!” which comes across as way too positive for Philly. Also, the lede includes references to the Expos. You know, the fact they played in Montréal is old news, particularly for a division rival’s paper. Move on folks.
NATIONALS NOTEBOOK – Guillen’s Outburst Is Not an Issue – The Post
Some damage control by Frank Robinson on the latest Guillen issue. Speaking of Robinson…
Strong views on steroids – The Inky
Mike Schmidt said he would have taken steroids if he played during the late 1990s. Frank Robinson said players proven to have used steroids should have their records “wiped out… like they didn’t play.”
Of course, the Phily fans would have still booed Schmidt.
Byrd enjoys view from 1st place – The Inky
Former Phillie Marlon Byrd gets ink in both Philly papers. He wants everyone to know that he has no hard feelings about the Phillies (Philly Daily News).