Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers: GameThread 20 Of 162.

by Patrick Reddington on Apr 27, 2012 9:40 PM EDT

Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers, Apr 27, 2012 10:10 PM EDT

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Next Game

Washington Nationals
@ Los Angeles Dodgers

Friday, Apr 27, 2012, 10:10 PM EDT
Dodger Stadium

Ross Detwiler vs Clayton Kershaw

Clear. Winds blowing out to right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65.

' D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. Ian "+Range, +Arm" Desmond - SS

2. Steve "#LomboLobby" Lombardozzi - 3B

3. The WereWerth - CF

4. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

5. Mark DeRosa - RF

6. Danny "Glover" Espinosa - 2B

7. Xavier Nady - LF

8. Teh Jesus (aka Jesus Flores) - C

9. Ross Detwiler - LHP

' LINKS:

Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Take Two Of Three In San Diego, Head To LA To Take On Dodgers.

posted by Patrick Reddington 16 minutes ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Lose Lead In Eighth, Drop 2-1 Decision To San Diego Padres In Series Finale.

posted by Patrick Reddington about 12 hours ago

26 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Stat Shot: Will 2012 be Jayson Werth's breakout year?

posted by Doghouse about 22 hours ago

10 comments | 1 rec

Complete Coverage >

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' For A Los Angeles Dodgers Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Dodgers Site: True Blue LA.

' Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now:

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Clayton Kershaw

#22 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-3

Weight: 215

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Mar 19, 1988

' 2011 Stats - (21-5), 33 G, 33 GS, 233.1 IP, 2.28 ERA, 2.47 FIP, ERA+ = 163, 54 BB (2.08 BB/9), 248 K's (9.57 K/9), 0.98 WHIP.

' 2012 Stats - (1-0), 4 G, 4 GS, 22.1 IP, 1.61 ERA, 1.73 FIP, ERA+ = 219, 6 BB (2.42 BB/9), 22 K's (8.87 K/9), 1.03 WHIP.

vs D.C. - (2-2), 6 G, 5 GS, 27.1 IP, 28 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB (4.28 BB/9), 31 K's (10.20 K/9), 4.61 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .267 BAA.

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Ross Detwiler

#48 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-5

Weight: 185

Bats: R

Throws: L

Born: Mar 06, 1986

' 2011 Stats - (4-5), 15 G, 10 GS, 66.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4.21 FIP, ERA+ = 128, 20 BB (2.73 BB/9), 41 K's (5.59 K/9), 1.26 WHIP.

' 2012 Stats - (2-0), 3 G, 3 GS, 16.0 IP, 0.56 ERA, 2.58 FIP, ERA+ = 651, 4 BB (2.25 BB/9), 15 K's (8.44 K/9), 0.94 WHIP.

vs LAD - (0-0), 2 G, 1 GS, 8.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K's, 1.32 WHIP, .233 BAA.

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' Kershaw vs The Nats:

' Det vs The Dodgers:

' Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

' Who's Watching The Nationals?

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Read More: Jayson Werth (RF - WAS), Ross Detwiler (P - WAS), Clayton Kershaw (P - LOS), Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres, Apr 26, 2012 10:05 PM EDT, Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers, Apr 27, 2012 10:10 PM EDT

Comments

heh

on top of all the Nats news, and Caps playoff stuff, and Redskins draft, and me having to be in atlanta today for work (home now, thankfully), it's been quite the day.

Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at www.DistrictSportsPage.com

"Nobody's got a monopoly on good writing, or the facts. If you can come up with one or the other or (ideally) both, you're in the club." --Rob Neyer, Feb. 2, 2011

by Dave at District Sports Page on Apr 27, 2012 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

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Washington Nationals Drop 3-2 Decision To The Los Angeles Dodgers And Clayton Kershaw.

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• Countdown To 9:00 PM EDT Tomorrow Begins: Saturday night in Dodgers Stadium it's going to be all about Bryce Harper and the 2010 no.1 overall pick's MLB debut, which Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson has already announced will see the 19-year-old outfielder in left field and batting seventh in support of Stephen Strasburg as the Nats take on the Dodgers and LA right-hander Chad Billingsley. Tonight, it was a battle of left-handers with 24-year-old '06 Dodgers' 1st Round pick and 2011 Cy Young Award-winner Clayton Kershaw on the mound for Los Angeles against 26-year-old '07 Nats' 1st Rounder Ross Detwiler. Kershaw started the night up 0-2 on Nationals' leadoff man Ian Desmond, and the LA lefty recorded his first strikeout of the game with a slider in the dirt that got the Nats' shortstop swinging. An error on Juan Uribe put Steve Lombardozzi on with one down, but Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche both K'd looking at two-strike benders in what ended up being a 16-pitch, 11-strike inning by the Dodgers' left-hander.

• Kemp Can't Be Stopped Or Contained: Ross Detwiler got LA's leadoff man Dee Gordon to chase an 0-2 pitch into the dirt too, throwing a 93 mph sinker outside by the left-handed hitting shortstop. A 3-2 fastball to Mark Ellis got a fly to left for out no.2, but red-hot Matt Kemp singled by a diving Lombardozzi at third with two down to lift his average to a ridiculous .457 (32 for 70) in his 20th game of 2012. Two pitches later, it was a 2-0 game, after Andre Ethier jumped all over an 1-0 slider inside from Detwiler and launched it to right for a two-run blast, Ethier's fifth of the season and his first off a left-hander. 16 pitches, 10 strikes for Detwiler after one.

• Right Side: Danny Espinosa, who was dropped from the two spot to sixth in the order tonight, doubled to center in his first at bat, lining a 94 mph 1-2 fastball to center and sliding in safely ahead of Matt Kemp's throw in to second, but two quick outs later, Clayton Kershaw was through his second scoreless inning on 29 pitches total. A 13-pitch 1-2-3 second had Detwiler at 29 pitches too, but down 2-0 after two innings in Dodger Stadium.

• Cy Kershaw: Clayton Kershaw retired the Nats in order on four pitches in the top of the third, then battled Ross Detwiler for eight pitches at the plate before grounding out to start the bottom of the frame. Two outs later, the Nats' left-hander was through a quick 14-pitch 1-2-3 frame of his own and at 43 pitches total after three innings in LA, having retired seven straight batters after Ethier's two-out blast in the first. Adam LaRoche's one-out single to right in the fourth was the Nats' second hit off the Dodgers' left-hander. Mark DeRosa grounded into a force at second for out no.2 of the fourth, and Danny Espinosa, who doubled in his first at bat, took a 3-1 fastball inside for a strike he didn't like before chasing a full-count slider for an inning-ending swinging K. 5 K's for Kershaw through four.

• 2-out RBI: Matt Kemp singled through short again to start the Dodgers' fourth, (33 for 71) reaching down for an ankle high four-seamer inside and sending it to left for another hit off an astonished Ross Detwiler. Desmond broke for second when Kemp started from first with Andre Ethier up in the next at bat, and Ethier, who homered in the first, singled in the fourth, sneaking a grounder through the hole in back of Desmond to put two on with no one out in the home half of the frame. Jerry Hairston advanced both runners with a sac bunt back to the mound and James Loney grounded weakly to Adam LaRoche at first for out no. 2, but Detwiler gave up a two-out infield single by Juan Uribe that brought Kemp home from third for a 3-0 LA lead after four.

• Dee And James: Dodgers' shortstop Dee Gordon bounced a throw to first that James Loney couldn't handle, putting Jesus Flores on with one down in the Nats' fifth, and Loney returned the favor on the throw to second as the LA first baseman tried to get the force on a bunt attempt by Ross Detwiler but threw one that Gordon couldn't handle for back-to-back E's. Two errors for Los Angeles, but Clayton Kershaw got a fly to right from Ian Desmond and a pop to first by Steve Lombardozzi to end a 14-pitch fifth at 68 pitches total. Ross Detwiler threw a seven-pitch, 1-2-3 fifth in Dodger Stadium, retiring Matt Kemp for the first time in three AB's tonight. But Detwiler and the Nats trailed 3-0 in LA after 5.0.

• Graceful, Effortless, Gone: "Jayson [Werth] always looks like the star of a Passion play," Dodgers' announcer Vin Scully said as Werth walked to start the Nats' sixth. The free pass was the first issued by Clayton Kershaw tonight, and the home run Adam LaRoche hit on an 0-2 slider in the next at bat was the first HR the LA lefty surrendered through 27.1 IP this year. LaRoche's third home run of 2012 made it a 3-2 game in the sixth. Ross Detwiler walked Jerry Hairston, Jr. with one down in the Dodgers' half of the inning, but struck James Loney out and got a force at second on a grounder to short by Juan Uribe to end a 15-pitch sixth. 91 pitches, 58 strikes for the Nats' left-hander, who's done for the night.

• Detwiler's Line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's, 1 HR, 91 pitches, 58 strikes, 10/2 GO/FO.

• Yeah My Cap's Titled, What?: After a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 seventh for Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' lefty was up to 97 pitches and up 3-2 over the Nationals, but he still came up to bat after Nats' lefty Sean Burnett issued a leadoff walk to LA backstop A.J. Ellis. Burnett was aggressive on the sac bunt attempt by the opposing pitcher, however, throwing to second and "just" getting the force to take the lead runner off the basepaths. A second walk to Mark Ellis put two on for Matt Kemp though, and forced Davey Johnson to go to the pen for Ryan Mattheus. 2 on, 2 out. 3-2 game. A wild pitch/passed ball on a curve in the dirt advanced both runners, but a groundout to short kept it close through seven in LA.

• Enough With The Kershaw Already: An infield pop by Lombardozzi. A weak fly to left by Werth. And Clayton Kershaw had two down in the eighth and Adam LaRoche pushed Dodgers' left fielder Jerry Hairston, Jr. back to the track on an inning-ending opposite field flyout. Kershaw was at 113 pitches, 71 strikes after 8.0 IP in which he gave up 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB while recording 6 K's and inducing 11 ground ball outs. 3-2 LA after seven and a half. Ryan Mattheus returned in the bottom of the eighth, giving up a one-out single by Jerry Hairston, Jr., who's replaced on the basepaths by Tony Gwynn, Jr. One out later, Gwynn, Jr. tries to score from first on a Juan Uribe double to right, but the relay throw comes in from Mark DeRosa to Danny Espinosa to Jesus Flores, who blocks the plate and applies the tag. "You're out," yells home plate ump Angel Hernandez. (ed. note - "At least he got this right, but nice strike zone, Angle!") 3-2 game after eight.

• No Luck: Eleven-straight Nationals in a row were set down after LaRoche's HR when LA right-hander Kenley Jansen retired Danny Espinosa on a fly to center for the second out of the Nats' 9th, one pitch after Espinosa came within inches of tying the game on a line drive to right that landed just one seat outside of the RF foul pole. The Nats were down to their last strike when Jansen hit Chad Tracy with a 96 mph 2-2 fastball. Tracy looked hurt. Edwin Jackson came on to run with Jesus Flores at the plate, but Flores K'd swinging through a 96 mph fastball. Ballgame. 3-2 Dodgers win.

• Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Tonight's Top 5 Commenters:

1. dc Roach - 169
2. Doghouse - 85
3. d_c_guy - 72
4. RobBobS - 53
5. cat daddy3000 - 50

• Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 20: Can't win ALL the one-run games.":

Via FanGraphs

• Disaster start (for this year): Ross Detwiler (-11.5%) gives up 3 ER over 6 IP, with 4 Ks and 2BBs... a quality start, but not enough to win.
• Slightly better than league average: Adam LaRoche (+15.0%) sneaks out a two-run dinger to get the Nats within one (+16.6%).
• Particularly ineffectual: Mark DeRosa's 0-4 collects the most negative WPA (-15.6%), although Ian Desmond (-9.7%) and Steve Lombardozzi (-8.0%) are 0-8 in the 1 and 2 spots.

• Bonus Graph Does Angel Hernandez need LASIK?

Again, the green shapes are called balls, the red are called strikes. The boxes are the rule book strike zones, the dashed boxes are the typical "as-called" zones to LH and RH hitters..

via www.brooksbaseball.net

The zone is supposed to be a rectangle, Angel, not, uh, whatever it was you were doing.

Nationals now 14-6.

Game 20: Can't win ALL the one-run games.

Ministry of Plenty

Doghouse

Dave at District Sports Page

bluelineswinger

d_c_guy

jeff550

Game 19: Sweep remains elusive

Ministry of Plenty

Doghouse

Dave at District Sports Page

bluelineswinger

d_c_guy

jeff550

Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres: GameThread 19 Of 162.

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 09, 1983

' 2011 Stats - (12-9), 32 G, 31 GS, 1 CG, 1 SO, 199.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 3.55 FIP, ERA+ = 106, 62 BB (2.79 BB/9), 148 K's (6.67 K/9), 1.43 WHIP.

' 2012 Stats - (1-1), 3 G, 3 GS, 1 CG, 4.26 ERA, 2.11 FIP, ERA+ = 85, 3 BB (1.42 BB/9), 20 K's (9.47 K/9), 0.84 WHIP.

vs SDP - (0-3), 7 G, 5 GS, 26.2 IP, 32 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 4 HR, 13 BB (4.39 BB/9), 20 K's (6.75 K/9), 5.40 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, .299 BAA.

Washington Nationals Lose Lead In Eighth, Drop 2-1 Decision To San Diego Padres In Series Finale.

' "Up There To Rock N Roll": Ian Desmond took a first pitch fastball for a ride on a line drive that sailed right into San Diego center fielder Cameron Maybin's glove on the first pitch Padres' right-hander Edwin Volquez threw tonight in Petco Park. One pitch, one out for the former Cincinnati Red. San Diego infielder Orlando Hudson made a backhand stab on a short-hop line drive to second by Danny Espinosa before throwing to first for out no.2, and Chase Headley settled in under a pop to third by Chad Tracy and made the catch to end a quick nine-pitch 1-2-3 top of the first in the series finale of the three-game set with the visiting Washington Nationals. Nats' right-hander Edwin Jackson needed 14 pitches to retire the Padres in order in the bottom of the frame...

' LaRoche's 6th: Adam LaRoche K'd looking at a 2-2 fastball inside. One down in the second. Jayson Werth thought the full-count change down and away from Volquez had missed, but Werth was punched out and had to head back to the dugout instead of going to first, for two pitches at least, before Rick Ankiel flew to center to end a 14-pitch 1-2-3 second by the Padres' starter. Edwin Jackson gave up a one-out ground-rule double to left-center on a 95 mph first pitch four-seamer to San Diego slugger Yonder Alonso, but got a groundout back to the mound out of Orlando Hudson for the second out of the Padres' second before issuing a two-out walk to Cameron Maybin. With two on and two out, the Nats' right-hander got a ground ball to second from Jason Bartlett that Espinosa gobbled up before throwing to first for out no.3 of E-Jax' 17-pitch scoreless second.

' Edinson v Edwin: Nats' catcher Wilson Ramos singled to left with one down in the third for the Nationals' first hit of Edinson Volquez, but the 24-year-old catcher was stranded at second after a sac bunt by Edwin Jackson and a pop to first by Ian Desmond ended a 11-pitch third that had the Padres' right-hander at 34 pitches after three scoreless innings on the mound. Edwin Jackson recorded his second K and issued his first walk, putting Chris Denorfia on before striking Chase Headley out with a filthy full-count slider for K and out no.3 of the night. A 22-pitch fourth had Jackson at 53 pitches after 3.0 scoreless in Petco Park.

' Blasted Chicken!!: Adam LaRoche crushed a 2-1 change from Volquez, lining off the right field wall for a two-out double, (LaRoche's 6th of 2012), in the top of the fourth, but Jayson Werth's groundout to short ended a fourth scoreless frame by the Padres' right-hander who was up to 51 pitches total after a 17-pitch inning. The San Diego Chicken suddenly appeared atop the first base dugout in the bottom of the fourth and back-to-back hits by Nick Hundley and Yonder Alonso followed with the Padres' catcher lining to center for a leadoff single and then going first-to-third on Alonso's second double of the game. A filthy 0-2 slider got Orlando Hudson swinging for the first out of the inning. Edwin Jackson walked Cameron Maybin to load the bases and bring Jason Bartlett up with the bases loaded and then struck Bartlett out with another 0-2 bender before retiring the opposing pitcher to escape a two-on, no-out jam in spite of that blasted Chicken's taunts.

' Dool: Wilson Ramos walked with one down in the Nationals' fifth, but the first walk of the night by Edinson Volquez, who's walked 15 (5.38 BB/9) in 23.0 IP this season before tonight, didn't lead to any offense in the Nats' half of the frame. Still 0-0 after four and a half. Edwin Jackson's 12-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth ended with K no. 6 of the night for the Nats' right-hander, who threw a 1-2 slider by a swinging Chase Headley to end E-Jax' own scoreless frame. 82 pitches total, 48 of them strikes for Edwin Jackson through five. Volquez needed just 12 pitches to retire the top of the Nats' order in order in a 1-2-3 sixth, after which the Padres' right-hander was at 84 pitches total.

' #AROOOOOOOOOOO!!!! No.2: Edwin Jackson got the first two outs of San Diego's sixth with five pitches, but left a first-pitch fastball up for Orlando Hudson on pitch no.6, and the O-Dog just missed his second home run in two games, settling for a two-out triple and just the fourth hit of the night off E-Jax. The Nats' starter got over to cover on a swinging bunt by Cameron Maybin, however, and Adam LaRoche gracefully and effortlessly made a glove toss to the right-handed pitcher, who got through his own scoreless sixth with the game still 0-0. For four pitches at least. Edinson Volquez got a groundout to third from Adam LaRoche with a 1-0 sinker, but left a 93 mph 0-1 fastball up inside for Jayson Werth, who hit his second HR of 2012 to left field and into the stands some 375 ft from home. A solo blast for Werth and a 1-0 Nats' lead after six and a half. Apparently Werth didn't like the first pitch curve Volquez threw inside on him...

' via @Nationals:

funny thing about the werth kids... don't p*** us off. @hdub44 @Nationals #genetics

' Hillary Werth (@HillaryWerth) April 27, 2012

' 105 Pitches: Pinch hitter Jeremy Hermida ripped a line drive single to right with one out in the Padres' seventh, but Edwin Jackson had two down when Chris Denorfia hit one straight down off home plate that high up over short, making it a tough for Ian Desmond, who bounced a throw to first that not even Adam LaRoche could pick. Two on, two out and Edwin Jackson's done after 6.2 IP, 6 H 0 R (pending), 3 BB, 6 K's, 105 pitches, 62 strikes, 12/2 GO/FO. Tyler Clippard took over on the mound with Chase Headley up and the Nats' right-hander issued a base-loading walk to bring Padres' catcher Nick Hundley to the plate with three runners on in a 1-0 game. Hundley just missed a 2-1 change, pulling it into the third base side stands and Clippard came back with a 94 mph 2-2 fastball to get San Diego's backstop swinging and leave'em loaded. 1-0 Nats after seven.

' Not Kotsay Again: After Padres' right-hander Andrew Cashner threw a quick 1-2-3 top of the eighth, Tyler Clippard came back out to the mound and gave up a one-out walk to Orlando Hudson and a perfect bunt single by Cameron Maybin to put two on for pinch hitter Mark Kotsay, who battled Clippard in an epic 12-pitch at bat before popping out with the tying run at third in a 2-1 game in the series-opener Tuesday night. Kotsay came through with a one-out double to right-center this time though, and drove in two runs to put the Padres up 2-1 after eight innings in Petco Park. Danny Espinosa flew to left on the first pitch from Padres' closer Huston Street in the top of the ninth. Chad Tracy K'd chasing a 1-2 slider into the dirt and Adam LaRoche... singled to right with two down, lining a 2-2 pitch out to Will Venable to keep hope alive for the Nats. Jayson Werth came up with one on, two out and... grounded into a force at second. Padres win, 2-1 final. San Diego salvages the final game of the three-game series.

' Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

' Tonight's Top 5 Commenters:

1. dc Roach - 87
2. cat daddy3000 - 55
3. souldrummer - 53
4. Doghouse - 40
5. MissB - 32

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "COMING SOON!!":

Nationals now 14-5.

Washington Nationals At San Diego Padres: GameThread 18 Of 162.

Ministry of Plenty

Doghouse

Dave at District Sports Page

bluelineswinger

d_c_guy

jeff550

Washington Nationals Win, 7-2 Over San Diego Padres. Improve To 14-4 In 2012.

' Getting To Know You: 22-year-old San Diego Padres' right-hander Joe Wieland was acquired along with 21-year-old left-hander Robbie Erlin last July in a deadline deal that sent veteran reliever Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers. Weiland spent his 2011 campaign at Class-A and Double-A between the two teams' systems. In 26 games, 25 starts and 155.2 IP, the '08 4th Round pick, identified as a control specialist in every scouting report you read, had a 1.97 ERA, 21 walks (1.21 BB/9) and 150 K's (8.67 K/9). In the top of the first inning this afternoon, Wieland retired the Washington Nationals in order on 15 pitches, 11 of them strikes, getting Chad Tracy looking with a 92 mph 1-2 fastball inside to end a quick 1-2-3 frame. Nats' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann then took over on the hill and threw a 1-2-3 first of his own in Petco Park, retiring the Padres' batters in order on 13 pitches to send San Diego's young starter right back out to the mound...

Wieland left two breaking balls up inside to two left-handers in the top of the second and both of the Nats' batters doubled off the Padres' right-hander. Adam LaRoche ripped a 1-1 curve by Yonder Alonso at first and down the right field line for a leadoff two-bagger, and one out later, after taking third aggressively on a Jayson Werth groundout, LaRoche scored on a Rick Ankiel double to right, with the Nats' veteran outfielder lining a 1-0 curve to San Diego right fielder Jeremy Hermida. Ankiel's fourth double of 2012 makes it 1-0 Nats. Ankiel then took third on a fly to right by Wilson Ramos and after an intentional walk to Roger Bernadina brought the opposing pitcher up, the Nats' center fielder scored from third when the Padres' starter gave up an RBI single to center by Zimmermann, who provided his own run support tonight with the two-out hit. 2-0 Nationals after one and a half.

' New Club Record: Jordan Zimmermann gave up a one-out double by Yonder Alonso in the Padres' second, but he stranded San Diego's first baserunner there two outs later as he got Cameron Maybin and Orlando Hudson to ground and pop out, respectively, ending an 11-pitch frame, which was the 24th consecutive scoreless inning thrown by the Nationals' starters...

Including 2.0 thus far today, the current streak of 24.0 consecutive scoreless IP by Nats starters matches a club ('05-now) record.

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) April 25, 2012

The record was originally set by John Patterson, Hector Carrasco, Esteban Loaiza and Livan Hernandez from Sept. 16-20, 2005.#Nationals

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) April 25, 2012

' Graceful, Effortless: Adam LaRoche walked with two down in the top of the third, but Jayson Werth flew out to center field, the deepest part of the park to end the top of the frame. Zimmermann made quick work of the Padres in the home half of the frame, striking Padres' catcher John Baker out with a 2-2 curve outside before popping the opposing pitcher up and jamming Will Venable to induce a groundout to second that ended a 12-pitch frame. 25.0 consecutive scoreless by Nats' starter, and Zimmermann's at 36 pitches after three in Petco.

' Why Bunt After His RBI Single?: Zimmermann popped up in front of home on a bunt attempt in the fourth, with Wilson Ramos at second after singling and Roger Bernadina on first after reaching on an error by Padres' shortstop Andy Parrino. San Diego's first baseman Yonder Alonso let it drop, then threw to second for one and on to third to get Ramos and complete a 3-6-5 inning-ending DP. Zimmermann retook the mound, and the 17th pitch of the inning, and 53rd pitch of the night was a 78 mph 3-2 curve that dropped in for a called strike three on the Padres' Jeremy Hermida, ending Zimmermann's fourth scoreless tonight, and the 26th scoreless overall for the Nats' arms.

' Streak Ovah: Nats' shortstop Ian Desmond walked to start the fifth, then went first-to-third' two outs later when Adam LaRoche singled on a line drive to right for his second hit of the night in three at bats vs the Padres' Joe Wieland. Both runners were stranded, however, when Jayson Werth grounded into a force at second to end the top of the fifth. Jordan Zimmermann was rolling again in the bottom of the inning, retiring the first two batters and recording his fifth K in five innings pitched before he left a 1-1 curve up for Orlando Hudson, who sent his first HR of 2012 and the first HR of the year surrendered by Zimmermann out to right field and into the stands way above Jayson Werth's head to cut the Nationals' lead in half. 2-1 Nats and Zimmermann was up to 66 pitches total after the 13-pitch bottom of the fifth.

' Zimmermann's Done: Pinch hitter Jesus Guzman reached out over the plate to connect with a 1-0 slider from Jordan Zimmermann, and he dumped a single into center for a leadoff hit in the Padres' sixth. Two outs later, Chase Headley snuck a two-out grounder by Danny Espinosa at second to put two on with two out, but Zimmermann threw a 94 mph 1-2 heater by Jeremy Hermida to end a 17-pitch frame and his fourth start of the year.

' Zimmermann's line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K's, 1 HR, 82 pitches, 54 strikes, 4/6 GO/FO.

' More Grace And Effortlesness: Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa hit back-to-back one-out singles off Padres' reliever Luke Gregerson in the top of the seventh. Padres' lefty Josh Spence took over for Gregorson with two on and one out, immediately walking Mark DeRosa to load the bases for Adam LaRoche, whose third hit of the night gave the Nats a 3-1 lead. LaRoche singled to right to bring Desmond in from third. Jayson Werth, facing the third Padres' pitcher, Micah Owings, took a shot at a 3-0 pitch, but fouled it off before walking with the bases loaded to force in the fourth run. 4-1. Wilson Ramos' two-out opposite field single drove in two more to make it a 6-1 game before Owings escaped the top of the seventh.

' Cheese Does It All: Tom Gorzelanny threw a quick seven-pitch 1-2-3 seventh. Ian Desmond walked with one down and went first-to-third as Danny Espinosa followed with the second of two back-to-back singles for the second inning in a row. Nats' skipper Davey Johnson then decided to leave Gorzelanny in and the reliever came through with an RBI single to right to bring Desmond home and make it a 7-1 game after seven and a half in Petco Park. That's Gorzelanny's 13th career RBI, and his second in two seasons in Washington. Gorzelanny came back out for the eighth, giving up a two-out ground rule double by Will Venable before retiring the Padres without San Diego cutting into the Nats' six-run lead. After the Nats came up empty in the top of the ninth, Gorzelanny came back out, giving up back-to-back one-out hits by pinch hitter Mark Kotsay, who singled, and Yonder Alonso, who doubled, to put runners on second and third with one down. A Cameron Maybin groundout brought in the Padres' second run of the game, but Gorzelanny struck Orlando Hudson out to end the Nats' fourth-straight win. 7-2 final. Sixth-straight series win to start the season...

With a win today, the Nationals are now 14-4... that marks the most wins any Nationals/Expos team has ever had thru 18 games.

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) April 26, 2012

' Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

' Tonight's Top 5 Commenters:

1. dc Roach - 204
2. Doghouse - 83
3. RobBobS - 81
4. Jorgath - 75
5. RepConsul - 38

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 18: Offense? For MY Zimmermann?":

via fangraphs

• Supported: Jordan Zimmermann (+19.3% pitching, +5.0% hitting) strikes out 6, walks none, and gives up an earned run over 6 IP. He offsets the run with an RBI single of his own (+10.4%).
  
• I need to write about more Nats: Adam LaRoche (+17.9%) goes 3-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.
• Unconventional saves aren't worth much WPA: Tom Gorzelanny gets the 3-inning save, giving up 1 ER. But even with his RBI single in the aeyth he only has +2.0% WPA.

Nationals now 14-4.

Game 18: Offense? For MY Zimmermann?

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Washington Nationals 3-1 Over San Diego Padres; Gio Gonzalez With Another Strong Start.

Washington Nationals' left-hander Gio Gonzalez needed just six pitches to retire the San Diego Padres' top three in order in the bottom of the first inning tonight in the first of a three-game series at Petco Park that started the Nats' six-game trip through southern California. By the end of his two-walk, 28-pitch second, the 26-year-old starter was talking to himself as he returned to the dugoout with his second scoreless inning on the night, his own sixteenth scoreless overall and the Nats' starters' eighteenth-straight scoreless frame as a rotation. A 15-pitch third had the left-hander at 49 pitches total after three innings, but unfortunately, Padres' lefty Clayton Richard held the Nationals' batters hitless through four with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa reaching on a fielding error and walk, respectively, to start the top of the first before the San Diego starter began a string of eleven-straight batters set down through 4.0 scoreless innings of his own.

The seventeenth pitch of Gio Gonzalez's fourth was an 81 mph 1-2 curve that got a swinging K from Padres' second baseman Orlando Hudson. The strikeout was the Nats' left-hander's third through four scoreless and 20.0 scoreless overall by Washington's starters. Adam LaRoche doubled to start the Nationals' 5th, for the Nats' first hit of the night and the first baseman's fourth double of 2012. Xavier Nady did his job, moving the runner over to third with a groundout, but Wilson Ramos' weak grounder to second in the next at bat forced LaRoche to stay put and allowed the Padres to walk Steve Lombardozzi and pitch to Gio Gonzalez. The right-handed hitting pitcher lined to left-center, but San Diego's Chris Denorfia caught it on the run and headed in to the dugout with no runs on the board for either team after four and a half.

Clayton Richard K'd swinging at a cruel 0-2 curve from Gio Gonzalez to end a quick, seven-pitch 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, and the Padres' lefty then headed back to the hill where he struck Ian Desmond out with a diving 2-2 two-seamer inside for his fifth strikeout of the evening. Danny Espinosa sent an 0-1 fastball back to the mound for out no.2 in what looked like it would be another quick frame, but Mark DeRosa drew a two-out walk, and a balk by Richard moved the runner into scoring position with Jayson Werth at the plate. Before Werth could take a pitch Padres' manager Bud Black came out to argue the balk call and got himself tossed by home plate ump Lance Barrett. Four pitches later, Werth was on too when Richard got behind 2-0 and pitched around the Nats' outfielder to get to the left-handed Adam LaRoche, who K'd swinging at a 95 mph 1-2 fastball upstairs. 6.0 scoreless for the San Diego starter. Still 0-0.

Gio Gonzalez went to a full count with Chris Denorfia when Lance Barrett squeezed the Nationals' starter on a 2-2 curve that caught the batter and home plate umpire off guard, but the Nats' lefty popped the Padres' outfielder up to right field where Mark DeRosa caught the first out of Gio's sixth. Will Venable's one-out bunt single was equally surprising and got by the pitcher before dying in the infield grass in front of a charging Danny Espinosa. Out no.2 came via swinging K, Gonzalez's fifth, which he got with a 92mph four-seamer upstairs to Chase Headley. Another high heater to Nick Hundley had Gonzalez up to six K's total and through six scoreless with an eighteen-pitch frame that left him at 91 pitches total.

Xavier Nady's first double of the year started the seventh with the Nationals' second hit of the game off Clayton Richard after Adam LaRoche had started the fifth with his own two-bagger for the only other Nats' hit. Wilson Ramos failed in an attempt to score LaRoche from third in a one-out at bat the fifth. The Nats' catcher took a full-count fastball low for ball four in the top of the seventh. Both runners moved into scoring position on a nicely executed sac bunt by Steve Lombardozzi, and both runners then scored on a pinch hit single up the middle by Nats' bench bat Chad Tracy, who hit for Gio Gonzalez and finally broke up the dueling shutouts. 2-0 Nats after six and a half. But Gio Gonzalez was done for the night, with his own string of 20.0 scoreless and 22.0 scoreless overall by Nationals' starters...

' Gio Gonzalez's line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K's, 91 pitches, 61 strikes, 5/2 GO/FO.

Nats' right-hander Craig Stammen took over in the seventh, immediately issuing a leadoff walk to Padres' outfielder Cameron Maybin and giving up a single by Orlando Hudson. Tyler Clippard relieved Stammen with Yonder Alonso due up. The Padres' first baseman wasn't bunting, and he K'd swinging through a 2-2 change. Pinch hitter Andy Parrino singled to center in the next at bat, however, and Jayson Werth misplayed it, allowing Maybin to score from third when it should have been bases loaded, 2-1 Nats. Mark Kotsay battled for twelve pitches in a PH appearance, and Parrino stole second before Tyler Clippard popped the Padres' pinch hitter up to short for out no.2. With runners on second and third, Clippard then went to a full count with Chris Denorfia, who grounded out to third to end San Diego's seventh. Still 2-1 Washington.

Nats' lefty Sean Burnett got his tower buzzed and got knocked flat on his back by a one-out, line drive single to center by Chase Headley in the Padres' eighth. Headley took second on a weak grounder to first by Nick Hundley, but he was stranded there when Burnett got a called strike three on Cameron Maybin with a 1-2 sinker outside. 2-1 Nats after eight. Wilson Ramos lined to right with one down in the Nationals' ninth, and Padres' right fielder Will Venable lost it in the lights and flat-out missed one, allowing the catcher to hustle around to third as Cameron Maybin retrieved the ball near the wall. Rick Ankiel came on one out later vs Padres' lefty Joe Thatcher, and drove in run number three for the Nationals with a two-out single to center that made it a 3-1 game and gave Nats' closer Henry Rodriguez a little breathing room.

Henry Rodriguez doesn't need breathing room. Rodriguez dropped a filthy 88 mph 1-2 slider on Orlando Hudson. Strike three. ONE!! Yonder Alonso grounded out weakly to second on a 1-1 100 mph 4-seamer. TWO!! And Andy Parrino flew out to right, 1-2-3 to end a 3-1 Nationals' win. 12 pitches, 9 strikes and save no. 5 of the year for Henry Rodriguez. Gio Gonzalez gets the win, (2-0).

' Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

' Tonight's Top 5 Commenters:

1. dc Roach - 199
2. RobBobS - 92
3. souldrummer 91
4. Doncosmic - 54
5. RepConsul - 44

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "COMING SOON!!":

Nationals now 13-4.

Washington Nationals At San Diego Padres: GameThread 17 Of 162.

by Patrick Reddington on Apr 24, 2012 9:35 PM EDT

Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres, Apr 24, 2012 10:05 PM EDT

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Next Game

Washington Nationals
@ San Diego Padres

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012, 10:05 PM EDT
Petco Park

Gio Gonzalez vs Clayton Richard

Cloudy. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 60.

D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. Ian "+Range, +Arm" Desmond - SS

2. Danny "Glover" Espinosa - 2B

3. Mark DeRosa - RF

4. WereWerth - CF

5. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

6. Xavier Nady - LF

7. Buffalo (aka Wilson Ramos) - C

8. Steve "#LomboLobby" Lombardozzi - 3B

9. Gio Gonzalez (aka The Best Dressed Pitcher In Town) - LHP

' LINKS:

This Is The Gio Gonzalez The Washington Nationals Were Looking For...

posted by Patrick Reddington 38 minutes ago

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Washington Nationals' Prospect Danny Rosenbaum Named Double-A Eastern League Pitcher Of The Week.

posted by Patrick Reddington about 7 hours ago

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Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Weekend In Review: Stephen Strasburg, Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper's First Triple-A HR.

posted by Patrick Reddington about 12 hours ago

66 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

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' For A San Diego Padres Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Padres Site: Gaslamp Ball.

' Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now:

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Clayton Richard

#33 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-5

Weight: 245

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Sep 12, 1983

' 2011 Stats - (5-9), 18 G, 18 GS, 99.2 IP, 3.88 ERA, 4.21 FIP, ERA+ = 91, 38 BB (3.43 BB/9), 53 K's (4.79 K/9), 1.43 WHIP.

' 2012 Stats - (1-1), 3 G, 3 GS, 18.1 IP, 5.89 ERA, 5.77 FIP, ERA+ = 57, 6 BB (2.95 BB/9), 9 K's (4.42 K/9), 1.31 WHIP.

vs D.C. - (1-2), 5 G, 5 GS, 33.2 IP, 25 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 6 HR, 10 BB (2.67 BB/9), 19 K's (5.08 K/9), 3.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .203 BAA.

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Gio Gonzalez

#47 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

Bats: R

Throws: L

Born: Sep 19, 1985

' 2011 Stats - (16-12), 32 G, 32 GS, 202.0 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.64 FIP, ERA+ = 130, 91 BB (4.05 BB/9), 197 K's (8.78 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

' 2012 Stats - (1-0), 3 G, 3 GS, 17.2 IP, 2.04 ERA, 1.40 FIP, ERA+ = 179, 5 BB (2.55 BB/9), 21 K's (10.70 K/9), 0.91 WHIP.

vs SDP - N/A

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' Nats vs Clayton:

' Padres vs Gio:

' Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

' Who's Watching The Nationals?

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Read More: Gio Gonzalez (P - WAS), Clayton Richard (P - SDP), Ian Desmond (SS - WAS), San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals, Apr 22, 2012 1:35 PM EDT, Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres, Apr 24, 2012 10:05 PM EDT

Comments

I don't really see what long-term problems you see with the pitching

Fair warning, I was a Yankee fan for over 15 years and most of my friends remain so.

As I said below, the starting rotation is going to have 4 top notch guys assuming one of Betances and Banuelos work out. Nova had a 3.7 ERA last year and is continuing, which is very good considering the league, ballpark, and division. Pineda seems to be the real deal. That's 3/4 guys which are really cheap, and CC.

As far as the pen is concerned, yes Rivera is getting old, but they have lots of options. Robertson had an AMAZING year last year'best out of any reliever in the league'and he's still young. Soriano will probably return to his Tampa form. Hughes, when they finally give up on him being a starter, is likely to be good out of the pen as he was stellar there in 09.

The only real issue I see moving forward for the Yanks is their bloated infield contracts and the age of Jeter/A-Rod. Don't forget that A-Rod makes all the money back in terms of short-term and long-term commercialization of his beating records (which makes their emphasis on overall payroll seem silly to me).

by mk7676 on Apr 24, 2012 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

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Game 17: The return of CHADitude!

by Doghouse on Apr 25, 2012 8:03 AM EDT

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Read More: Washington Nationals

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This Is The Gio Gonzalez The Washington Nationals Were Looking For...

Gio Gonzalez led the league in walks last season with 91 in 202.0 IP (4.05 K/9), so it was bound to come up as a concern when the Washington Nationals first talked about acquiring the 26-year-old fourth-year starter in a 4-for-2 trade with the Oakland A's this past December. "We really like his peripheral numbers," Nats' GM Mike Rizzo explained at the time, "He's won a lot of games on a mediocre club. 16 wins on the Oakland A's last year was quite a feat. He has the propensity to strike players out. He's got swing and miss stuff and we see his walks turning in the right direction."

Over the previous four seasons his BB/9 had come down from 6.62 BB/9 in his first 34.0 IP in '08 to 5.11 BB/9 in 98.2 IP in '09, 4.13 BB/9 in 200.2 IP in 2010 and finally 4.05 BB/9 in 202.0 IP last season. "We see him having general command and we think as he progresses into his career," the Nationals' general manager said, "each and every year he's going to improve on his command." The Nats were confident enough in what they acquired that they bought out his arbitration years, signing Gonzalez to a 5-year/$42M dollar extension shortly after the trade.

The left-hander has rewarded the Nationals' faith thus far, rebounding from a less-than-stellar debut in Wrigley Field in which he gave up seven hits, four walks and three runs in 3.2 IP to throw 14.0 scoreless, seven innings each in his last two starts, over which he's allowed just four hits total and two walks in one-run wins over the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros. Nats' skipper Davey Johnson talked excitedly about what he'd seen from Gio Gonzalez, who didn't walk a single batter in his 7.0 scoreless against the Reds. "The curve ball is unhittable," Johnson said, "Fastball is live. I heard that he was a little wild, well I haven't seen indications of that. He's been around the plate, even his misses are close."

Gonzalez walked two last time out against Houston, for five walks total in his first three starts or 2.25 BB/9 in his first 17.2 IP with the Nationals. There was only one three-game stretche last season in which he walked fewer than five batters last year in Oakland, from April 20-May 1st, when he walked just four over 17.2 IP in three starts against the Red Sox, Angels and Rangers, and just one stretch where he walked five over three games from September 12th-23rd against the Angels, Tigers and Angels again. The Nats' GM reminded ESPN980's Thom Loverro and Kevin Sheehan today that they saw this coming with Gonzalez, who'll start the first game of the series with San Diego Tuesday night.

"We said when we acquired him we saw his walk totals trending in the right direction for us," Rizzo said, "He was a 4.5 per nine inning walk guy. He trended it down [to just] about 4.0 BB/9 and we always said his stuff is such, he's got such swing and miss stuff and he strikes out a lot of batters that if he could ever get his walk totals to that 3.5 BB/9-type of guy he goes from a really, really good starter to one of the elite left-handed starters in the game. And just turning 26-years-old and not being in the league very long, we thought that this guy had some upside and some ability to cut down on the walks, and in this league we thought that he would pound the strike zone much more often and really trust his stuff a lot more and so far the early return is that he has done that."

Gonzalez has a 2.04 ERA, 1.41 FIP, five walks (2.25 BB/9) and 21 K's (10.70 K/9) three starts and 17.2 IP into his 2012 campaign. That 2.04 ERA is the fourth highest amongst Nationals' starters, behind Jordan Zimmermann (1.29), Stephen Strasburg (1.08) and Ross Detwiler (0.56) after three turns in the rotation for everyone but Strasburg, who made his fourth start on Saturday. Gonzalez does have the lowest FIP. The 2.25 BB/9 are the team's highest, as are the K/9. An unhittable curve that rivals Strasburg's from the right side and improved control from a power left-hander who slots in between hard throwing right-handers Strasburg and Zimmermann. Through three starts, this is the Gio Gonzalez the Nats thought they acquired this past December.