William F. Yurasko

Nats comeback and win, 9-5

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wfyurasko

Nats Go Extras, Exude Drama – The Post
The Nationals came back and defeated the Mets last night. Some highlights:

  • P John Paterson struggled with tightness in his forearm (The Post), giving up 4 runs (2 HR) over 4 innings on ninety pitches.
  • The Nats were held hitless for 5 1/3.
  • 1B Nick Johnson made his first hit of the year count — a 3 run shot to start the rally/rout.
  • ¡Dutch! hit a game tying homer off Billy Wagner in the ninth.
  • 2B LF Alfonso Soriano was beaned in the second and pulled in the sixth after not running out a fly ball (nationals.com)
  • The bullpen, specifically Jon Rauch, Mike Stanton, Gary Majewski and Chad Cordero shut the Mets down, although Cordero did it the hard way, allowing the bases to get loaded. Felix Rodriguez gave up a run in the bottom of the 10th, but it did not matter.
  • RF Jose Guillen hit a 2 run homer in the 10th to win the game. SS Royce Clayton knocked another two in and LF Damian Jackson added one.
  • It was way too cold for baseball at Shea.

    More from The Wash. Times: Homers propel Nats to first win & The Times: The Bullpen Can’t Save Bannister’s Great Start

    Only the Daily News put last night’s game on the back cover.

    Boxscore – ESPN

    New Orleans Is Ready to Play Ball – The Post
    The Nats AAA team is ready to take the field in suburban New Orleans, a stark contrast to the other teams in the Big Easy that have played their games in other cities and may never return again. Whadda you know, the other paper sent a reporter down there too…

    More from The Wash. Times: In search of normalcy

    Team payroll ranks 20th in majors – The Wash. Times
    Despite increasing payroll by $14 million, the Nats are still only 20th in the majors in that department. Sadly, most of the $14 million was spent on a guy who does not run out pop-ups.

    Plenty of Tickets Still Available for Nats’ Home Opener – The Post
    Yikes, 10,000 tickets are still available for the home opener. Ask your boss for the day off so you can go to the game.

    Also, VP Dick Cheney will be throwing out the first pitch, the first VP to do so in D.C. since Hubert Humphrey in ’68. Capitol Punishment said it best “all the inconvience, half the prestige!”

    Frankly, if they are going to have someone from Yale’s class of ’63 throw out the first pitch, it ought to be a guy who graduated, like my old man. Cheney couldn’t hack it and dropped out.

    MARC FISHER – Nats Aim to Build on Home Base – The Post
    Fisher gives us a breakdown of where the ticket buyers are coming from (D.C. and NoVa) and their (limited to MASN) TV ads.

    PRESS RELEASE – Nationals name 2006 medical staff – nationals.com
    The Nats have switched team doctors for 2006. Sounds like a good idea to me.

    Tonight, Ramon Ortiz faces Pedro Martinez in the rubber game of the series.

    ©MMX William F. Yurasko