Washington Nationals' Michael Morse Hits "Two" Grand Slams; One Without A Bat...

After a review of Michael Morse's first inning grand slam, Morse and the rest of the Washington Nationals were forced to reenact the play with Morse taking a fake swing and then running the bases again. 4-0 early...

From tonight's game story:

"Jayson Werth had a few quick words with home plate ump Corey Blaser after taking an 81 mph 2-2 change up high and inside for a called strike three in the first AB of Saturday night's game against St. Louis. Cards' right-hander Kyle Lohse tried a backdoor curve to Bryce Harper in a 1-2 count, but the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder waited for it, reached out and slapped a one-out single into center for the first Nationals' hit off the Cardinals' veteran starter. Harper took third on double no. 36 of 2012 by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche walked to load the bases for Michael Morse... Who launched a first-pitch sinker to right and... over the right field wall for an opposite field grand slam! 4-0... Nat... Wait. The umpires decide to review it, but it's clearly out upon further review. Morse's 17th HR of 2012 is a grand slam to right field in Busch Stadium. For some reason the umpires have the Nats reenact the grand slam after having a second look and all the players retake their bases so Morse can fake a swing [he had no bat] and reenact the moment before running around the bases. 4-0 Nationals after a half...

You kind of have to see this...

After two and a half innings in Busch Stadium, the Washington Nationals and Jordan Zimmermann have a 4-0 lead over the Cardinals. After four innings in Atlanta, the Braves lead the Mets, 1-0. Big night of baseball for Nats fans.

' Join tonight's GameThread HERE...

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals' Kurt Suzuki's Two-Out, Two-Run Double Wins It In the 10th, 6-4 Nats Over St. Louis Cardinals

Nine innings after Michael Morse's first inning grand slam, Washington Nationals' catcher Kurt Suzuki hit a two-out, two-run double to help the Nats in a 6-4 extra innings win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

' Could They?: 88 years to the day that the Washington Senators clinched the first pennant in D.C. baseball history with a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on September 29, 1924, the Washington Nationals, the third franchise to call the nation's capital home, had a magic number of two heading into tonight's game with a chance to claim the first division championship for Washington since 1933 when the Senators represented the American League and the nation's capital in the postseason for the third and last time before the 2012 Nationals earned a playoff berth this year in the National League. 79 years after that last playoff game involving a D.C.-based team, (in what ended up World Series loss to the New York Giants), the Nationals would need to beat the St. Louis Cardinals tonight in Busch Stadium and have the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves in Turner Field if they were going to clinch the NL East... Could they do it? Would the Mets help the Nationals again?

' Do It Again! Do It AGAIN!!: Jayson Werth had a few quick words with home plate ump Corey Blaser after taking an 81 mph 2-2 change up high and inside for a called strike three in the first AB of Saturday night's game against St. Louis. Cards' right-hander Kyle Lohse tried a backdoor curve to Bryce Harper in a 1-2 count, but the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder waited for it, reached out and slapped a one-out single into center for the first Nationals' hit off the Cardinals' veteran starter. Harper took third on double no. 36 of 2012 by Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche walked to load the bases for Michael Morse, and the Nats' big middle-of-the-order bat launched a first-pitch sinker to right and... over the right field wall for an opposite field grand slam! 4-0... Na... The umpires decide to review it, but it's clearly out upon further review. Morse's 17th HR of 2012 is a grand slam to right field in St. Louis' Busch Stadium. For some reason the umpires have the Nats reenact the grand slam after having a second look and all the players retake their bases so Morse can fake a swing [he had no bat] and reenact the moment before running around the bases. 4-0 Nationals after a half. You have to watch this if you missed it...

' Zimmermann, Two "Ns", 2.0 Scoreless: Jon Jay took an 0-2 fastball from Jordan Zimmermann for a called strike three and the first out of the Cardinals' first. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Nats' SS Ian Desmond showed off his range on a grounder up the middle off Matt Carpenter's bat, getting there in the first place and then spinning to settle himself before throwing to first for out no.2. A routine fly to right from Matt Holliday ended a 15-pitch inning for the Nats' right-handed starter.

Kyle Lohse began the second at 31 pitches. The 42nd pitch of the night by the right-hander was lined to center for a two-out single by Jayson Werth, but Bryce Harper grounded out to end a 17-pitch frame by the Cards' starter. Jordan Zimmermann gave up a one-out single to right by Yadier Molina in the St. Louis' second. Carlos Beltran got hold of a 96 mph full-count fastball but it only made it to the track in center in Busch Stadium where Bryce Harper caught out no.2 of what ended up being another 15-pitch frame when Skip Schumaker K'd swinging through a 95 mph 0-2 heater.

' 4.0 Scoreless: Lohse gave up a leadoff single by Ryan Zimmerman in the top of the third, but retired the next three Nationals he faced in a 10-pitch inning. Jordan Zimmermann gave up a two-out single by Jon Jay in the home-half of the fifth, but he was through three scoreless on 50 pitches after 20-pitch 3rd ended on Matt Carpenter's fly to Morse in left. Danny Espinosa singled to start the fourth and one out later he was bunted over by Zimmermann, but Jayson Werth's groundout to second ended the second-straight 10-pitch frame by the Cards' Kyle Lohse. Jordan Zimmermann walked Matt Holliday on four pitches before giving up a single to left by Allen Craig to let the first two runners on in the Cards' fourth. Yadier Molina lined out to third. Carlos Beltran grounded to first. Skip Schumaker K'd swinging at a low 2-2 slider. Out no. 3, K no. 3. 4.0 scoreless for Zimmermann, 67 pitches overall after a 17-pitch frame.

' 5.0!! Zimmermann Rolling: Kyle Lohse got Bryce Harper looking with a two-seamer inside for his 6th K in 4.1 IP. A 1-2 sinker inside got by Ryan Zimmerman for Lohse's 7th K. Adam LaRoche lined a 2-2 slider over short for a two-out single that brought Michael Morse to the plate, but the Nats' slugger K'd looking on a generous called strike on a fastball away and Lohse had 8 Ks after his scoreless 21-pitch fifth. Cards' shortstop Pete Kozma battled for eight pitches and then lined to left for a leadoff single in the Cards' half of the fifth, but Kyle Lohse K'd trying to advance the runner with a bunt on an 0-2 pitch and Jon Jay grounded into a 6-4-3 inning-ending DP that had Zimmermann through 5.0 scoreless after another 15-pitch inning.

' 6.0!!!: Kurt Suzuki singled with two down in the top of the sixth, but Jordan Zimmermann's line drive to Jon Jay in center ended an 11-pitch inning in which Lohse collected his 9th K on the night. 4-0 Nats after five and a half innings in St. Louis. Michael Morse caught a line drive to left off Matt Carpenter's bat, Zimmermann threw a 3-2 fastball by Matt Holliday and Allen Craig grounded back to the mound to end an 11-pitch inning and Jordan Zimmermann's 6th scoreless in St. Louis. 93 pitches overall for the Nats' right-hander.

' One Too Many: Bryce Harper singled off Cardinals' reliever Edward Mujica with one down in the Nats' seventh to leave the 19-year-old National 2 for 4 tonight in the second game of three in St. Louis. Adam LaRoche singled with two down in the inning, but Michael Morse's swinging K ended the top of the seventh after 20-pitchesby Mujica. Jordan Zimmermann came back out for the bottom of the seventh and gave up the fifth hit of the night by the Cardinals when Carlos Beltran singled to right with one down on a 2-1 slider. Skip Schumaker hit the second-straight one-out single and Pete Kozma the third with Kozma's driving in both of the runners that were on to get St. Louis on the board. 4-2 D.C. A walk to David Freese put the tying run on and ended Zimmermann's night. Kozma scored on a single to right off Sean Burnett by the Cards' Jon Jay that made it 4-3 Nationals, but the Nats' lefty got out no.2 on a fly to center by Matt Carpenter and Ryan Mattheus came on to get out no.3 from Matt Holliday, who flew out to right. 4-3 Nats after seven.

' Clippard?: After Cardinals' reliever Mitchell Boggs set the Nats down in the seventh scoreless inning after Morse's HR in the first, Nats' reliever Tyler Clippard entered the game in the bottom of the eighth. A 93 mph 2-2 four-seamer popped Allen Craig up to first for out no.1. Clippard just "missed" with a low full-count fastball outside to Yadier Molina and put the tying run on with Carlos Beltran due up. Clippard got up 0-2 on the Cards' outfielder and got a 6-4-3 inning ending DP with a 93 mph four-seamer. 4-3 Nats after eight. 15-pitch inning by Clippard.

' STOREN WARNING!!!: Jason Motte retired Chad Tracy and Jayson Werth to set up a two-out at bat between the power righty and Nationals' slugger Bryce Harper. Harper doubled for the 25th time in 2012 on a 1-0 pitch from the Cardinals' reliever, leaving the rookie outfield 3 for 5 tonight and 5 for 8 two games into the series. A fly to right by Ryan Zimmerman ended the top of the ninth with Harper still on second, however. Nats' closer Drew Storen came on in the bottom of the ninth looking for his fourth save of 2012. [CHOMP!] One pitch, one out when Skip Schumaker flew out to left. Pete Kozma kept hope alive for St. Louis with a one-out single through short. Daniel Descalso came on to pinch hit, and hit the second-straight single through the right side. First and third. One out. Jon Jay stepped in with two on and flew out to center to bring the tying run in. 4-4 game, runner on first. Storen got a swinging K from Matt Carpenter for out no.3, but it was tied at 4-4 after nine in St. Louis.

' FREE BASEBALL!!!: Adam LaRoche walked to start the tenth and took second on a sac bunt by The Shark. Fernando Salas replaced left-hander Sam Freeman on the mound with one down. Ian Desmond flew out to Jon Jay in center for out no.2. The Cards walked Danny Espinosa to get to Kurt Suzuki with two on and two out. A passed ball moved both running into scoring position and the Nats' catcher drove them both in with a two-out, two-run double to the left-center gap. 6-4 Nats. Craig Stammen gave up a leadoff single to right by Matt Holliday, but got a 6-4-3 DP out of Allen Craig. Two down. Yadier Molina K'd swinging. Ballgame. 6-4 final.

The Mets didn't hold up their end of the bargain, however so the Nats' magic number was down to one after the win...

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: COMING SOON!! W00T!!

Nationals now 96-62.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Game 158 WPA: Beyond replay, reenactment! Nationals 6, Cardinals 4

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Washington Nationals' Edwin Jackson vs The St. Louis Cardinals Tonight

Nats' skipper Davey Johnson said Edwin Jackson had something to prove the last time the Washington Nationals' right-hander faced the St. Louis Cardinals team he pitched for in 2011. E-Jax returns to St. Louis tonight.

Edwin Jackson's had three chances to become the fifth Washington Nationals' starter with double-digit wins. The recently-turned-29-year-old right-hander is (0-1) with the Nats 0-3 in those outings, including a strong start last time out against the Milwaukee Brewers in which E-Jax threw eight strong, allowing just one run on six hits in what ended up a 4-2 loss when Tyler Clippard struggled on the mound in D.C. and blew a 2-1 lead and the game in the top of the ninth. "Well, that one hurt," Davey Johnson told reporters after the loss.

"Jackson pitched a great ballgame. I was tempted to let him go out in the ninth, but I said, 'You pitched a great ballgame, Clippard's fresh. Let's go there.'"

After hanging an 0-2 slider to Brewers' catcher Jonathan Lucroy early in the second, Jackson retired six-straight. In the fourth, E-Jax got help from his defense when Bryce Harper threw Ryan Braun out at home as the Milwaukee outfielder tried to score from second on an Aramis Ramirez single after Braun had doubled his way on to open the inning. E-Jax gave up a single by Lucroy in the next at bat for the third-straight hit that inning, but the Nats' starter got a double play to escape the frame with Washington's 2-1 lead intact.

"[Jackson] was great," Davey Johnson stressed afterwards, "He started the game a little bit up. Hung a slider to Lucroy. But after that he got back down and he was great. What did he throw, about 105 pitches or something? It was a great outing." Going forward, the Nats' skipper said he thought the veteran of ten MLB seasons and seven postseason appearances, four as a starter, would benefit the Nationals as they head to the postseason either as a Wild Card team or if the 69-year-old Johnson has his way, the NL East champs. The Nats' manager said he had a glimpse in Jackson's last outing of what the right-hander can bring.

"It's a big deal," Johnson said of the pitcher's experience. "He had that kind of postseason demeanor about him today." The Nationals' manager also praised E-Jax's work the last time he faced the same Cardinals he faces tonight. Jackson helped the Cards to a World Series win last season after he arrived in a convoluted four-team trade that sent him from Arizona to Chicago, Toronto and finally St. Louis at the end of July. After finishing out the 2011 season in St. Louis, Jackson signed a 1-year/$11M dollar deal with Washington this past February and he's about to help the third team of eight he's pitched for his in his career make a playoff run in October.

The Nats' skipper thought Jackson had something to prove last time out against the Cardinals. "He knew he was going up against his old ballclub and he really wanted to pitch a good game and show them," Johnson said, "I think it was great. Everybody could feel it and knew it." Jackson threw seven scoreless and even though he was at 105 pitches and his spot came around in the lineup in the bottom of the inning, Johnson said the decision to let E-Jax hit was an easy one. "He had his shin guard on and his helmet and his gloves on," Johnson told reporters, "Three hitters before he [was due up]. So it was very obvious what he wanted to do. He wanted to throw a shutout and a complete game."

Jackson would give up an unearned run in the eighth, but complete an 18-pitch inning against his old team. Jackson got the win that night, then beat the Cubs in his next start in a so-so outing in which he received 11 runs of support. In his last three starts, however, he's winless. Jackson has a 5.00 ERA over his last 18.0 IP, in which he's allowed 19 hits, 11 runs, 10 earned and three walks while striking out 15. Tonight the right-hander makes his second start of the year against St. Louis, back in Busch Stadium for the first time since last season.

In his career, E-Jax has made 10 starts in St. Louis, posting a (3-1) record with a 3.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 27 walks (4.01 BB/9) and 45 Ks (6.68 K/9) in 60.2 IP. After helping helping the second team in two years to the post season, will Jackson be back in D.C. in 2013? When D.C. GM Mike Rizzo was asked about both Adam LaRoche and Jackson during the latest edition of the The Mike Rizzo Show with 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier, Rizzo said that both the first basemen and starter, "... fit for us in the clubhouse and on the field. They're the character that we want, they're the makeup we want and they're the skill-level we want."

"We've had discussions with Edwin's people," Rizzo said, but the team would have to see where those talks went. "We have to have a long-term vision of these things, but these are two guys that fit for us in the clubhouse and on the field and you can't have too many of those guys and I love having both of them around."

Edwin Jackson makes his 30th start of 2012 tonight in St. Louis.

' Here's tonight's lineup:

Tonight's lineup: Werth, rf; Harper, cf; Zimmerman, 3b; LaRoche, 1b; Morse, lf; Desmond, ss; Espinosa, 2b; Suzuki, c; Jackson, p.

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 28, 2012

' Listen to this past week's edition of The Mike Rizzo Show w/ Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier:

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Lose, 12-2 To St. Louis Cardinals, But Magic Number At Two After Atlanta Braves' Loss.

The Washington Nationals got knocked around by the St. Louis Cardinals in a 12-2 loss, but the Atlanta Braves' loss to the New York Mets made it a little easier to take.

' Magic Number: A blowout loss at this time of the year can lead to some unhealthy/stress-inducing activity... like scoreboard watching. As the NL East's first-place Washington Nationals watched Edwin Jackson get knocked around and out early in the series opener in St. Louis, the Cincinnati Reds were in Pittsburgh where Homer Bailey threw a no-hitter against the Pirates to lead the Reds to their 95th win of the year, leaving them (95-62) after 157 games. Fortunately for the (95-61) Nationals, as the evening went on and a comeback appeared less and less likely, the Atlanta Braves blew a 1-0 lead in the seventh and dropped a 3-1 decision to the New York Mets, meaning the Nationals' magic number to clinch the NL East would be down to 2 regardless of the outcome of their game with the Cardinals. No one wants to back into a division crown. But the Nats will likely take it. Here's how tonight's loss to the Cards went down...

' Good Start: 19-year-old Washington Nationals' outfielder Bryce Harper spit on back-to-back curves from 31-year-old St. Louis Cardinals' right-hander Adam Wainwright to go from an 0-2 to a 2-2 count, and Harper then fouled off a 93 mph sinking fastball, and took another sinker outside before lining to right on the full-count pitch for his 24th double of 2012. Wainwright got just-turned-28-year-old Nats' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman swinging with a 2-2 cutter for the second out of the opening frame, but 32-year-old Nationals' first baseman Adam LaRoche drove Harper in with a single to right for a 1-0 lead in the series opener in St. Louis. Wainwright needed 21 pitches to get through the top of the inning against the Nats.

' Bad Start: Edwin Jackson's last start against St. Louis saw him throw seven scoreless before surrendering an unearned run in the eighth inning of an 8-1 Nats' win. Tonight's outing didn't go as well for the Nats' right-hander. Two pitches into the bottom of the inning Jon Jay had the Cards' first hit off Edwin Jackson when he lined an 0-1 fastball back up the middle. Matt Carpenter took the first walk of the game from the Nats' right-hander in the next AB. Ian Desmond had to field a one-hopper to short back on the lip of the outfield grass, so his snap throw to second arrived too late for the force. Bases loaded. Allen Craig singled to left on the first pitch he saw, tying it at 1-1. Ryan Zimmerman charged Yadier Molina's swinging bunt, but came up empty as another run scored. 2-1 when the run came in from third. Still bases loaded, no outs recorded...

Jackson went to a full count with Carlos Beltran and issued a bases loaded walk that made it 3-1 Cardinals. No one out. Daniel Descalso's sac fly to center made it 4-1 and advanced both runners into scoring position so Molina could score on a bloop single to center by Pete Kozma that made it 5-1 before Adam Wainwright mercifully grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 in the next AB and E-Jax was through one after 31 pitches overall.

' Wainwright Rolling: Ian Desmond sent a low liner back up the middle for a leadoff single in the Nats' second, but two outs later he was still standing at first as Adam Wainwright retired Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki in consecutive at bats. Davey Johnson stuck with Edwin Jackson and let him hit with two down and the opposing pitcher walked to get Jayson Werth up with two on, but the Nats' right fielder flew out to right to strand two and end a 16-pitch frame by the Cardinals' starter.

' 56 Pitches And Out: Edwin Jackson went up and in on Jon Jay with an 0-2 fastball then missed with the 1-2 pitch before surrendering a leadoff double to center in the first at bat of the Cards' second. Edwin Jackson bounced a fastball by Kurt Suzuki to move Jon Jay up 90 ft. Jackson walked Matt Carpenter in the next at bat to put two on with no outs. Carpenter stole second on another pitch in the dirt from E-Jax. Ian Desmond had a sharp grounder bounce off his glove, but he recovered barehanded the ball and threw Matt Holliday out at first as the Cards' sixth run scored, 6-1. Allen Craig's RBI line drive to right made it 7-1 and ended Jackson's nigh... ? Nope. Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run to left in the next at bat. 9-1 Cardinals on Molina's 22nd. Jackson missed with a 3-1 pitch to Carlos Beltran and was done after he walked the Cardinals' outfielder with his 56th and final pitch of the night. Tom Gorzelanny was finally warm.

' Zim's Double! A Highlight!!: With one down in the third, Ryan Zimmerman lined a 90 mph 1-2 sinker from Wainwright to center and over Jon Jay's head for the Nats' third baseman's 35th two-base hit of 2012. Zim took third when Adam LaRoche lined out to left, but was stranded there when Michael Morse K'd swinging to end a 17-pitch third by the Cards' starter. Ryan Zimmerman sent LaRoche reaching across the basepath into foul territory off first to catch the final out of a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the third, retiring the fourth-straight batter after he took over on the mound. Adam Wainwright threw a nine pitch, 1-2-3 top of the fourth to push Gorzelanny right back onto the mound. Allen Craig was 3 for 3 tonight after he lined to center with two down in the Cards' fourth, breaking a streak of six-in-a-row retired by Gorzelanny after he took over for E-Jax. The Nats' lefty walked Yadier Molina with two down, then put Carlos Beltran on too to load the bases before he retired Daniel Descalso to end the frame. Still 9-1 Cards.

' Craig 4 for 4: Bryce Harper lined a first-pitch change to center for a two-out hit off Wainwright in the top of the fifth, but he was forced out at second on a Ryan Zimmerman grounder to short. Another nine pitch inning for the Cards' veteran right-hander. Christian Garcia retired the Cardinals in order in a 14-pitch bottom of the fifth inning. After Adam LaRoche flew to deep right, Michael Morse ripped into an 0-1 sinker from Wainwright, but lined out to short when Pete Kozma made a leaping grab for the second out of the sixth. Ian Desmond's swinging K ended another nine-pitch inning by the Cardinals' starter. Christian Garcia returned for the bottom the sixth and hit Matt Holliday to put a runner on with one down before giving up a single by Allen Craig (4 for 4) that sent Holliday's pinch runner around to third. A grounder to short by Yadier Molina started a 6-4-3 DP though and Garcia was through two scoreless innings in relief.

' [CHOMP!]?: Cards' reliever Joe Kelly gave up a two-out solo home run by Roger Bernadina that gave the Nats their second run of the game in the seventh. 9-2 Cardinals. One batter later, the Cardinals' right-hander was through a 22-pitch inning with St. Louis ahead by seven. Zach Duke threw a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, retiring Carlos Beltran, Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma in order. Trevor Rosenthal issued a leadoff walk to Tyler Moore then retired the next three Nats in order in a 20-pitch to of the eighth. Michael Gonzalez gave up a leadoff double by Tony Cruz, a one-out RBI double by Matt Carpenter and a two-run home run by Shane Robinson (no.3) that made it first 10 and then 12-2 St. Louis in the Cardinals' eighth.

' Nats Lose: Fernando Salas came on in the ninth and retired the first two Nationals he faced before issuing a two-out walk to Roger Bernadina. Corey Brown

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: COMING SOON!! W00T!!

Nationals now 95-62.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Game 157: Mets 3, Braves 1--magic number now 2!

If a pitcher gets a lot of WPA early, you know it's not good. Tonight, E-Jax gets pretty much all the WPA in the first 1.1 innings....

Via FanGraphs

• That got out of hand fast: Edwin Jackson (-50.9%) only gets four outs, walking four, striking out none, and giving up 9 runs.
• One more to 100: Adam LaRoche (+8.7%) singles in a run in the first for a not-terribly-robust early lead (+9.4%).
• Least significant bits: Roger Bernadina (-0.1%) hits a line-drive solo shot in the 7th to no particular WPA (+0.2%). Michael Gonzalez (-0.1%) gives up 3 runs in the 8th and barely moves the WPA needle.
  

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

LivingSocial and Metro Reach Agreement On Late Service For Washington Nationals' Postseason Games.

A lingering issue with keeping Metro trains running late should the Washington Nationals' playoff games go long was solved this afternoon with the announcement that the group LivingSocial and the WMATA had reached a deal.

You no longer have to worry about getting home from Nationals Park via Metro should any future postseason games run late according to reports this afternoon that say the WMATA and the group Living Social have reached an agreement to keep the trains going throughout the postseason. The late starts of potential playoff games became an issue and drew attention a few weeks back when fans were stranded following a rain-delayed extra inning game and reports at the time said that it took a $29,500 deposit to keep the Metro service running later than it normally did.

Several reports in the Washington Post have covered the topic extensively.

The Nationals had previously released a statement, quoted in the Washington Post's report on the issue which said in part that, "There are a number of parties involved in these discussions and we are looking into all options, which is typical of any organization that is beginning to plan for a potentially large event that can positively impact the city."

According to the reports this afternoon in a press release from the WMATA entitled, "LivingSocial and Metro keep the trains running for baseball fans in DC throughout postseason", the group LivingSocial, "... and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) today announced that they had signed an agreement to offer late-night Metrorail service for evening 2012 baseball postseason games in Washington, DC."

Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles is quoted in the release explaining that there is now, "... a service agreement in place with LivingSocial to provide an additional hour of service for fans to get home following Nationals games during the entire postseason."

' From The Press Release: LINK

"Under the terms of the agreement, which is standard for Metro late closings, LivingSocial will underwrite at least one hour and up to two hours of extended Metrorail service for all rides originating from Navy Yard-Ballpark station after home evening post-season games in October and November. (Extended hours only apply for Sunday through Thursday night games, as Metrorail already provides service until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.)

"LivingSocial will underwrite the cost of the late-night service and will receive reimbursement for a portion or all of those costs based on ridership during the extra hour(s). Specific details regarding extended service will be available on Metro's website, wmata.com, prior to each game."

' Twitter:

"When it's extra innings & Clippard or Storen is gonna go & slam it shut, now we know how everybody can go & get home." -CEO of LivingSocial

' Chase Hughes (@chasehughes) September 27, 2012

LivingSocial and Metro keep the trains running for baseball fans in DC throughout postseason wmata.com/tiny.cfm?id=53'

' @wmata (@wmata) September 27, 2012

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Win 7-3 To Take Two Of Three From Philadelphia Phillies In CBP

With two home runs by Michael Morse and Bryce Harper's 21st homer of 2012, the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 to take two of three in CBP.

' #Werthlessit: Jayson Werth was booed as he stepped in for the first at bat of tonight's series finale between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies in Citizens Bank Park. Rookie Phillies' right-hander Tyler Cloyd, a 25-year-old '08 18th Round pick, retired Werth for the first out of the game, but gave up Bryce Harper's 21st HR of 2012 when the Nats' 19-year-old outfielder crushed an 0-1 cutter and hit one out to right-center to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead early. Harper takes one more step toward topping the All-Time list of HRs by a teenager in MLB history, just three away from former Red Sox' slugger Tony Conigliaro. Tyler Cloyd retired the next two batters in order in a 16-pitch frame, but Harper gave the Nats an early lead in a game they desperately wanted/needed to win. 1-0 after a half...

' More Harper Records:

Bryce Harper's first-inning homer gives him 21 for the season, matching franchise mark for rookie (Espinosa, 21 HR in '11).#nationals

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 27, 2012

' Wild Gio: Gio Gonzalez's 32nd start began with a groundout to short off Phillies' shortstop Jimmy Rollins' bat. Ryan Zimmerman fielded a one-hop grounder to the left of the mound and sidearmed a throw to first to beat Kevin Frandsen to the base for out no.2... but Chase Utley pulled a 94 mph 2-2 four-seamer through the right side of the infield for first hit off Gonzalez, a two-out single. Utley stole his 10th base of the year on a 1-2 curve in the dirt to Ryan Howard and the big Phillies' first baseman worked the count full and walked to put two on with two out. The second-straight walk, this one to John Mayberry, had Gonzalez up to 22 pitches in the first. Bases loaded. Two out. CRACK. Bryce Harper chased Darin Ruf's line drive to center, but wasn't going to catch this one. Three-run two-base hit to center field. 3-1 Phillies. Domonic Brown took the third walk of the inning, pushing Gonzalez up to 30 pitches total in 0.2 IP. Erik Kratz flew to right to end a 37-pitch inning Werth made the catch for the final out. Heard boos.

' MORSE CRUSH!!!: Michael Morse opened the second with the Nats' second home run off Phillies' righty Tyler Cloyd when he crushed a 1-1 cutter. Morse's 15th HR of 2012 cleared the left field wall some 380 ft from home and pulled the Nationals within one, behind 3-2 in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. Cloyd retired the next three Nationals in a 14-pitch second that had the Phillies' starter at 30 pitches total after 2.0 IP. Jimmy Rollins snuck a one-out single through the right side of the infield for Philadelphia's 3rd hit of the night off Gio Gonzalez in the bottom of the second. Kevin Frandsen collected the fourth hit when he lined a 1-0 fastball to center to put two on in front of Chase Utley. The Phillies' second baseman flew to right for out no.2. More boos for Werth when he caught it. Gonzalez crossed Kurt Suzuki up and threw a wild pitch/passed ball that moved both runners into scoring position for Ryan Howard, but his groundout ended the second. 18 pitch inning, 55 pitches through 2.0 for Gio.

' Run. Produced.: Tyler Cloyd retired the opposing pitcher, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper in order in a 14-pitch, 1-2-3 top of the 3rd. Darin Ruf was 2 for 2 tonight after he ripped a one-out single through short under a diving Ian Desmond. Domonic Brown sliced a low liner to third that Ryan Zimmerman caught for out no.2 and Ian Desmond got a force at second on an Erik Kratz grounder to end a quick, 11-pitch 3rd by the Nats' left-hander. Ryan Zimmerman smoked a low 1-2 cutter from Cloyd for a double into the left-center gap to lead off the 4th. Zim's 34th double. Zimmerman took third on a fly to deep center by LaRoche and scored when Michael Morse drove in the tying run with a groundout to Rollins at short. 3-3 game in the fourth.

' Zim. Can. Pick it.: Gio Gonzalez deflected a grounder toward the mound to the left side of the infield where Ryan Zimmerman somehow fielded it and threw an awkward one-hopper to first for Adam LaRoche to scoop. Jimmy Rollins isn't slow either and Zimmerman's throw beat him to the bag for out no.2 of what ended up being the second-straight 11-pitch inning for Gio Gonzalez. 77 pitches total in 4.0 IP.

' Harper To Left: Tyler Cloyd walked Danny Espinosa in the first at bat of the Nationals' fifth. Nats' catcher Kurt Suzuki flew out unproductively in front of Gio Gonzalez, who bunted away out no.2. Jayson Werth heard boos again when he stepped in. And heard some more when he walked to put two on for Bryce Harper. The Nats' 19-year-old outfielder spit on a 1-2 change in the dirt from Tyler Cloyd then lined a 2-2 cutter over short for an opposite field RBI single that gave the Nationals the lead. 4-3 after four and a half in Citizens Bank. Another 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning for Gio Gonzalez in the bottom of the fifth ended with Danny Espinosa making a sliding over-the-shoulder catch on a fly to short right off John Mayberry's bat. 88 pitches for Gio Gonzalez after five.

' MORSE CRUSH AGAIN!!: Adam LaRoche doubled off the base of the out-of-town scoreboard in center field for his 33rd two-base hit of 2012 to lead off the top of the sixth. Four pitches later, Michael Morse ended Tyler Cloyd's night when he hit a 420-30 ft [estimate] HR to center and into the visiting team's bullpen on the second deck of the tiered outfield bullpens in Citizens Bank Park. Morse's second HR of the game and his 16th of 2012. 6-3 Nationals. Phillies' lefty Jeremy Horst took over for Philadelphia and retired the next three batters in order on 18 pitches. Domonic Brown doubled for the 10th time this season on a 2-0 pitch from Gio Gonzalez in the Phillies' sixth, but the Philly outfielder was stranded at third after an 18-pitch inning that had Gonzalez up to 106 pitches overall.

' Morse's 2nd HR of the Game:

' Twitter on Morse:

According to ESPN HR Tracker, Morse was the first RH hitter to hit HR into upper bullpen in Philly since his amigo Ryan Zimmerman on 4/27/09

' Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) September 28, 2012

' For Reference Until Morse's HR distance is released. Here's how far Zim's 4/27/09 HR went (ed. note "And as folks note in the comments, it didn't go "into" the visitor's bullpen, though it did hit the wall just to the left of the bullpen at a height equal to the second level, etc. But did not go "into" the bullpen, etc.") according to Hit Tracker Online 446 ft to CF:

' Gio Gonzalez's Line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 Ks, 106 P, 59 S, 6/2 GO/FO.

' K + WP = Run: Mark DeRosa connected for a pinch hit single then was replaced on the basepaths by Eury Perez, who stole his 3rd base of the year in front of Jayson Werth. As chants of "Werthless" rained down on the Nats' right fielder, he drew a walk out of Phillies' lefty Jeremy Horst to put two on in front of Bryce Harper with no one out. Harper started out down 0-2 and worked a nine-pitch walk out of Horst. Bases loaded for Ryan Zimmerman. Zim K'd swinging at a 1-2 change, but it got by Erik Kratz and allowed Perez to score from third. K + WP = 7-3 Nats after six and a half. Sean Burnett took the mound in the bottom of the seventh in Citizens Bank. Sean Burnett gave up a one-out double to right by Kevin Frandsen but stranded the Phillies' infielder at the end of a scoreless 25-pitch 7th. Still 7-3 Nats.

' Project Get Clip Right: Kurt Suzuki singled with two down off Phillies' right-hander Phillipe Aumont, but pinch hitter Chad Tracy grounded weakly to first to end the top of the eighth. Tyler Clippard struck two of three batters he faced out in a 15-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the inning against the Phillies. Another Phillies' lefty Jake Diekman took over in the top of the ninth and gave up a leadoff double by Jayson Werth. No. 20 of 2012 for the Nats' right fielder. Bryce Harper K'd swinging for the first out of the frame. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out, LaRoche flew out. Three down.

' DRUUUUUU!!!: Drew Storen took over in the ninth with Washington ahead 7-3. Juan Pierre grounded out to second. ONE!!! Nate Schierholtz grounded to short. Grounder. Desmond. Out. 2 outs, 5 pitches. Jimmy Rollins popped out to the infield to end it. Ballgame. 7-3 final. Nats win 95th of 2012.

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: COMING SOON!! W00T!!!:

Nationals now 95-61

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Game 156 WPA: 7-3 Nats. Beast mode still best mode.

Harper is hawt and the Beast is unleashed. Also, throw more strikes, Gio.

Via FanGraphs

• A bit shaky: Gio Gonzalez (-4.1%) gives up 3 ER in the 1st when he loses track of the plate, but ends up going 6 IP on 6 Ks and 3 BBs with no further damage.
• Look out, Tony: Bryce Harper (+28.6%) is 2-4 with a solo shot for the lead in the 1st (+11.2%) and an RBI single to regain the lead in the 5th (+16.6%).
• Take on THIS: Michael Morse (+26.4%) hits a CBP NPN special for a solo shot to get the Nats within one in the 2nd (+10.4%), then a monster two-run jack into the far bullpen for pad the lead in the 6th (+13.8%).

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Report: FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal And Jon Morosi Report Bo Porter To Become Houston Astros' Next Manager.

According to a report from FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi tonight, the Washington Nationals' third base coach Bo Porter is going to become the Houston Astros' manager after the end of this season.

A report out of Houston, Texas earlier this month by MLB.com's Brian McTaggart said that the 40-year-old Washington Nationals' third base coach Bo Porter had traveled to meet with the Astros and interview for their open managerial position. After the Astros let Brad Mills go, interim manager Tony DeFrancesco took over the team, but Houston was known to be interviewing for a potential full-time replacement.

Porter, a New Jersey native in his sixth season as a big league coach, was a third base and bench coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks and a third base coach with the Florida (Miami) Marlins before he joined the Nationals. Porter had previously interviewed for positions with the D-Backs, Marlins and Pirates but returned to the Nats' bench when he didn't land any of those jobs. According to a report tonight by FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi, Porter did get the Astros' job.

Though he reportedly won't officially become the manager for the AL West-bound Astros until after the Nationals' 2012 season is over. The FOXSports.com writers reported tonight that Porter was hired by Houston GM Jeff Luhnow and, "... will be named to the position on Thursday morning, major-league sources say."

The one-time major leaguer who made 142 MLB PAs and posted a .214/.284/.333 line with five doubles, two triples and two home runs over three seasons with Chicago, Oakland and Texas was one of the first names to surface in the search for the Astros' next skipper, and if the reports are accurate, he'll take over a team that's about to change leagues after finishing with the worst record in the majors. Bo Porter's got a hard road ahead of him, but he's reportedly going to be the manager tasked with turning things around for Houston.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Can Bryce Harper Catch Tony Conigliaro For Most HR's By A Teenager In MLB History?

If Bryce Harper can hit four home runs in the next seven games, the Washington Nationals' outfielder will tie Boston's Tony Conigliaro for the most HRs hit by a teenager in MLB history.

From May 14th-17th, 19-year-old Washington Nationals' outfielder Bryce Harper hit four home runs over a 13-game stretch in which he was 17 for 49 (.347/439/.714) with the four dingers, three triples, eight walks and 10 Ks. Harper hit three HRs over a nine-game stretch from June 3rd-12th. From August 29th-September 5th, the 2010 no.1 overall pick hit five HRs in eight games, seven starts and 30 at bats. If Harper can go on that sort of HR-hitting streak again in the last seven games remaining on the Washington Nationals' 2012 regular season schedule, the Nats' rookie might be able to move from no.2 to a tie for no.1 overall on the list of total HRs by a teenager is MLB history.

Harper's 20th HR of the 2012 campaign Wednesday night lifted him above the New York Giants' Mel Ott into second place behind only the Boston Red Sox' Tony Conigliaro on the list. The Revere, Massachusetts-born Conigliaro, who signed as an amateur free agent with the Sox in 1962, debuted two years later with a .290/.354/.530 season in which 6'3'', 185 lb slugger hit 21 doubles and 24 HRs to pass Ott on the list and take over the no.1 overall spot 38 years after the Ott collected 19 HRs over three seasons, 241 games and 741 PAs before he turned 20 in March of 1929.

The 19-year-old Conigliaro hit all 24 of his HRs in 111 games and 404 ABs in his rookie campaign with the Red Sox. Conigliaro connected for his 24th on September 26, 1964. The Sox' OF finished his first season with a .329/.407/.553 September/October in which he hit five doubles and four home runs in 22 G (22 GS) and 76 ABs. After struggling at the start of the second-half of his own rookie campaign, Harper has put together a .297/.366/.582 line with five doubles and five home runs in 24 games and 91 at bats so far in September.

Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey, Jr., Mel Ott. Bryce Harper has passed them all. Only one teenaged major leaguer has more HRs as a teenager than the Nats' rookie now. If he can somehow hit four in the next seven games he'll not only help his team lock down the NL East, but he'll make history again as he's seemingly has every time he's barreled up a ball since making his MLB debut back on April 28th.

' Bryce Harper's 20th HR traveled 410 ft to center field in Citizens Bank Park according to Hit Tracker Online:

Harper vs Kendrick:

' Harper's 20th via MLB.com:

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Rewind: Jayson Werth Feeds Off Boos From Philadelphia Phillies Fans

Washington Nationals' outfielder Jayson Werth got the Citizens Bank Park crowd riled up then came through with a big hit in the Nats' 8-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

With runners on first and third and one out in the ninth inning of what was then a 5-4 game in the Washington Nationals' favor, Danny Espinosa fouled off a 2-2 to pitch that shot past the catcher and ump and hit the wall behind home plate in Citizens Bank Park. Jayson Werth, who was on deck, picked up the ball and faked a toss to the crowd. After teasing the Phillies fans, Werth rolled the ball into the visiting dugout instead. The crowd reacted with anger immediately, turning their attention away from the plate where Danny Espinosa was in the process of striking out to focus on their former outfielder and boo him as he walked up to face Phillies' reliever Justin De Fratus. The crowd rose in anger in unison and cheered De Fratus as he got ahead 1-2 on the Nats' right fielder. "You bum!" a fan yelled, cleverly taunting the 32-year-old former Philly fan favorite who left for Washington, D.C. and a 7-year/$126M dollar deal in the winter of 2010-11 after helping Philadelphia to four-straight post season appearances in his four years with the team.

The love was lost long before last night, of course. If not the moment he signed with the Nats or in his first year in D.C., the love affair was over for good, for ever after Werth heard Phillies fans in D.C. taunting him after he broke his wrist in a game against Philadelphia in Nationals Park in May. Werth emailed the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore after the injury to tell the WaPost Nats beat writer that he was using the fans' comments for motivation and had every intention of paying them back. "I am motivated to get back quickly,'" Werth wrote, "'... and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again.'"

The Phillies are playing for pride at this point, with no hope of a celebratory walk down Broad Street this season, but they seemed to be enjoying the spoiler role, having taken 6 of the last 7 from Washington before last night and Charlie Manuel and his team were doing all they could to win, rallying from a 5-0 deficit to get within one run at 5-4 after scoring on Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the eighth. Jayson Werth put and end to any thought of a comeback with one swing, however, taking a 3-1 fastball back up the middle to drive in two runs and give Washington a 7-4 lead in what ended up being an 8-4 win after Bryce Harper drove Werth in with an RBI triple.

Asked about the fake toss that riled up fans and had all of Citizens Bank Park booing him as he got the big hit in his former home park, Werth told reporters he had his reasons:

Werth on ball fake: "Behind the kids (he was going to flip to) were all these unruly middle-aged men that, to me, appeared to be snarling."

' Amanda Comak (@acomak) September 27, 2012

Werth on the fans behind the Nats dugout: "I kind of got the sense maybe they were intoxicated."

' Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) September 27, 2012

Davey Johnson told reporters he thought his right fielder fed off the crowd's reaction. "I think he feeds off the boos," the Nats' skipper said, "Sometimes I think he gets too amped up here. But the boos kind of get him real focused and that was a huge hit up the middle." The Nationals were on the ropes. They held a four-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East with eight games left and they were in danger of blowing a one-run lead to the Phillies when they already knew the Braves had won their own game with the Miami Marlins.. The insurance runs Werth drove in emptied the park, sending the Phillies fans filing out of Citizens Bank. Some of them might drive home via Broad Street. But no parade will be held there this year.

' LINK: Werth explained the whole "fake ball toss" to the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Drop 6-3 Decision To Philadelphia Phillies In Citizens Bank

The Washington Nationals lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 in the first game of their series in Citizens Bank Park.

PHILADELPHIA - Citizens Bank (aka Nats Park North): Jayson Werth gave everyone behind him in the lineup a good look at what Philadelphia Phillies' lefty Cole Hamels was working with tonight before he struck out swinging to end an eight-pitch at bat in the top of the first of the series opener in CBP. 19-year-old Washington Nationals' OF Bryce Harper singled up the middle on a 2-2 cutter from the Phillies' 28-year-old starter in the next AB. Philly 3B Kevin Frandsen dove for a sharp grounder off Ryan Zimmerman's bat and threw to second for a force and out no.2 and Cole Hamels got Adam LaRoche, (who was 7 for 22 w/ a double, four HRs, a walk and 5 Ks vs Hamels before tonight) swinging for the 6th K in their respective careers when LaRoche chased a full-count curve into the dirt. 22-pitch opening frame for Hamels. Jayson Werth was a few steps onto the track in right and stumbling backwards when he caught a line drive from Jimmy Rollins for the first out of Ross Detwiler's outing. Chase Utley singled to center with two down in the Phillies' first, but the Nats' 26-year-old lefty threw a 93 mph 1-2 sinker by Ryan Howard to end a scoreless, 11-pitch bottom of the first with a swinging K. 0-0 after one in Citiizens Bank.

' Small Acts: A 1-2 change made Michael Morse look bad as Cole Hamels collected his third K in 1.1 IP from the first batter in the second. One pitch later the Philly lefty had two outs after Ian Desmond popped up to center. Hamels spiked a 3-2 fastball and issued a two-out walk to "Right Side" Danny Espinosa. The Nats' infielder stole his 20th base of the year with Kurt Suzuki at the plate and then scored when the Nationals' catcher hit a 2-2 curve back up the middle for a two-out RBI single and a 1-0 Nationals' lead. A 19-pitch inning had Hamels at 41 after 2.0 IP. Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz grounded back to the mound. John Mayberry to second. Two down. Philly LF Darin Ruf ripped into a 93 mph full-count 4-seamer, however, and collected his first major league hit, a solo shot to left-center in CBP in the 26-year-old outfielder's third big league AB. HR Ruf. 1-1 game. Kevin Frandsen doubled with two down and Detwiler walked the opposing pitcher, but Jimmy Rollins popped up to first to end the second.

' Ruiz Crushes One: Cole Hamels retired Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman in order in a 12-pitch top of the third. Ross Detwiler issues his second walk of the game to John Mayberry in the first at bat of the Phillies' half of the inning and Chase Utley took the second straight free pass from the Nats' lefty in the next AB, then Ryan Howard made Detwiler pay for the walks with an RBI single that made it 2-1 Phillies in CBP. With two runners on in the next at bat, Carlos Ruiz crushed a 2-0 fastball and sent a line drive out to left over Michael Morse's head and the outfield wall to make it 5-1 Phillies with no one out. Detwiler retired the next three batters in order, but he was at 61 pitches overall after a 26-pitch 3rd.

' 2-Out Rally: Michael Morse ripped a single through short on a first-pitch cutter from Hamels with one down in the Nats' fourth, but Danny Espinosa took two healthy cuts at a 3-1 change and a full-count fastball and came up empty, fouling strike three into Ruiz's mitt. Cole Hamels' 17-pitch fourth had him at 70 pitches with a four-run lead and 6 Ks overall. Ross Detwiler needed just nine pitches to retire Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins and John Mayberry in order in the bottom of the inning, after which the Nationals' lefty was at 70 pitches as well. Kurt Suzuki was 2 for 2 tonight and 2 for 6 vs Hamels in his career after he singled to start the top of the fifth. Detwiler bunted his catcher over to second, and one out later Bryce Harper hit a two-out single to center under a diving Jimmy Rollins to bring Suzuki in from second and make it 5-2 Phillies. Ryan Zimmerman battled for seven pitches before he hit a 2-2 change through the left side of the infield for the second straight RBI single. Harper scored easily, after third base coach Bo Porter frantically waved him around. 5-3 Phillies. Adam LaRoche lined to center for the third two-out hit off Hamels, but Michael Morse grounded into a force at second to end a 29-pitch innings by the Phillies' left-hander.

' Nine-Straight: Ross Detwiler started the bottom of the 5th at 70 pitches overall. Chase Utley K'd swinging at a 1-2 slider for the Nats' lefty's 3rd K in 4.1 IP. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Ryan Howard rolled one out to the Nats' shortstop at second in the shift. A fly to center by Carlos Ruiz ended a 14-pitch frame after which Detwiler had retired nine-straight Phillies following Ruiz's three-run third inning home run. 84 pitches overall for Detwiler.

' Hamels and Det Done: Josh Lindblom took over for Cole Hamels in the top of the sixth, throwing a 13-pitch, 1-2-3 frame against the Nationals. Ross Detwiler's night ended after: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R. 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, 2 HR, 84 P, 49 S, 6/4 FO/GO when Craig Stammen replaced him on the mound in the bottom of the sixth. The first pitch Stammen threw got crushed. Phillies' OF Domonic Brown sent one screaming out to right for his 5th HR of 2012 and Philadelphia took a 6-3 lead. Darin Ruf singled in the next at bat and Nate Schierholz walked with one down. A second-straight walk to Jimmy Rollins loaded the bases for John Mayberry, who K'd swinging for out no.2. Davey Johnson went to the pen with the bases loaded and two down and Michael Gonzalez got help from Adam LaRoche on a sharp one-hopper to first from Chase Utley that ended the home-half of the frame. 6-3 Phillies after six.

' Pen vs Pen: Phillies' right-hander Justin De Fratus retired pinch hitter Steve Lombardozzi and Jayson Werth before he gave way to Antonio Bastardo. The Philly lefty got the best of Bryce Harper, striking him out, and made the 6-3 lead hold up through six and a half. Zach Duke took over for the visiting Nationals in the bottom of the seventh, striking Ryan Howard out for the first out of the frame. Carlos Ruiz flew to right for out no. and Domonic Brown grounded to second to end a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3 inning by Duke. Righty Phillipe Aumont got a fly ball ot center from Ryan Zimmerman for out no.1 of the eighth. Adam LaRoche grounded to short for out no.2 and Michael Morse was thrown out by Carlos Ruiz to end a 15-pitch frame.

' After Zach Duke threw his second scoreless inning, Phillies' closer Jonthan Papelbon came on for the top of the ninth. Ian Desmond K'd swinging through a 94 mph 1-2 fastball for out no.1. Danny Espinosa K'd swinging two. 180th K of 2012 for the Nats' 2B. Kurt Suzuki tried to keep hope alive... and managed to single to center to do just that. Chad Tracy came off the bench in the next at bat and rolled a weak grounder to short to end it. Ballgame. Phillies win 6-3.

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 154: Phillies 6, Nats 3 - Walks are bad, mmmkay?":

Via FanGraphs

• No room for walks in the mini-park: Ross Detwiler (-34.4%) walks 3 and fans 3 in 5 IP, giving up a total of 5 runs.
• Walks bad, walls close: Craig Stammen (-6.8%) melts down in relief, giving up a solo shot and walking the bases loaded while getting only 2 outs.
• More offense would be better: Kurt Suzuki (+13.3%) is 3-4 with an RBI single in the second for a short-lived lead (+11.0%).

Nationals now 94-60, 93-61

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Game 154: Phillies 6, Nats 3 - Walks are bad, mmmkay?

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Washington Nationals Rewind: Ross Detwiler Relying On Fastballs, Falls To Phillies

The Washington Nationals dropped a 6-3 decision to the Philadelphia Phillies when Ross Detwiler struggled with his control in the third.

When 26-year-old Washington Nationals' lefty Ross Detwiler struggled on the mound in an August 22nd start against Atlanta, giving up seven hits and two runs in 5.2 IP before he was lifted with two runners on in the sixth, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson said it was a matter of the 6'5'' sinkerballer relying too much on his fastball. "Det had an explosive fastball," Davey Johnson explained, "The only problem, he didn't use his other pitches, he just used his fastball. The second time around he was also getting the ball up. But he did have an unbelievably good fastball. When he stayed down he was pretty much overmatching. But you've still got to use your other pitches."

When a reporter noted that the Nats had previously praised Detwiler's ability to get outs using nothing but his sinking mid-90's heater, the Nationals' 69-year-old manager noted that though Detwiler relied on his fastball, "You still have to have a curve ball and a changeup. I think he might have thrown four. Because good hitters keep seeing one pitch, I don't care how good it is, eventually you're going to get hit. And when I guess he got a little bit tired too, where he was trying to hump up, the ball got up and he started getting hit."

Last night it was more of the same in Citizens Bank Park. Detwiler 35 pitches in the first two innings, all but one a fastball (four-seam or sinker). Rookie Phillies' outfielder Darin Ruf connected with a full-count fastball in the second and sent a solo home run (his 1st) to left-center to tie the game at 1-1 a half-inning after Washington took an early lead. The second time around in the Phillies' lineup in the third, Detwiler struggled with his control, walking the first two batters on nine pitches and then surrendering an RBI single and a three-run home run when Ryan Howard took an 0-2 fastball to right and Carlos Ruiz took a 2-0 sinker out to left.

After the rough start to the third, Detwiler recovered to retire nine straight before he was replaced on the mound in the seventh. "A lot of times he'll start a game and just want to use one pitch," Davey Johnson told reporters after the game, "And overthrows it a little bit. And today when he wasn't locating that's the result." The Nats managed to knock Cole Hamels out early, (5.0 IP/99P) but the deficit Detwiler put the team in proved too much to overcome as the Phillies' bullpen allowed just one hit over four scoreless in what ended up a 6-3 Philly win.

"I don't think [Hamels] had his best stuff either," Johnson said, "But like I said, he's a young pitcher and this is a learning process you've got to go through with Det. He'll be all right. After the first couple innings he settled down and started using his pitches and it was easier for him."

The loss left the Nationals with a (4-6) record over their last ten as they try to lock down their first division crown. The Nats' manager wasn't too concerned with the loss last night in Philadelphia, however, explaining that as he sees it, "We've just got to win tomorrow. We lost a battle today. We've got to win a battle tomorrow if we want to win the war." The Phillies aren't going to make it easy. The win last night by Philadelphia guaranteed that Philly fans wouldn't suffer the indignity of having to watch the Nationals clinch in Citizens Bank.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Welcome to SB Nation United

Welcome to the new SB Nation! We're thrilled that you've stopped in to view the most ambitious project we've ever embarked upon. Re-engineering over 300 sites is not easy but everything we did, we did to make your experience on our sites the best it can possibly be. Below are a number of frequently asked questions about our new look and feel. We also have an introduction video and a downloadable PDF with more details. We want to make sure that you get to know and love your new communities as quickly and as easily as possible.

One quick note: this is merely the first day of SB Nation United and we like to think of it as a live beta. We're going to be working hard behind the scenes to be constantly improving it. So if you notice anything amiss or have suggestions for improvement, please email support@sbnation.com.

SB Nation United FAQs

- Whoa, this page looks different. Is SB Nation changing the way they cover teams and sports?

SB Nation is not changing the way we cover sports. We're going to remain the place for passionate, intense and fan-driven coverage of your favorite teams and sports. This new look is designed to load faster, be more versatile on all platforms and give you the most important news and analysis in an easy to digest and prettier package.

- How do I sign up for a new account?

Simply click on the 'Sign up' link in the upper right hand corner of your favorite SB Nation community. Your username will work not only at all of SB Nation's sports sites, but also Vox Media's leading consumer tech destination, The Verge, and the forthcoming gaming-focused destination, Polygon. Signing up for an account allows you to comment on articles, track new comments and easily follow updates from your favorite SB Nation sites across all sports and leagues.

- If I had an account, where do I go to log in? Is the process still the same?

The process remains exactly the same. You should be able to login the same exact way you used to and you'll still have the same username and password as before. Logging in using your Facebook or Yahoo account will also work the same.

- Where do I go to comment? Will the commenting still work the same? (z-button, etc.?)

Commenting hasn't changed. It's exactly the same experience. Within an article, press C to tab to new comments, Shift-C to tab backwards, X to mark as read, and Shift-A to mark all read. The best: Z will simultaneously mark and tab forward, and R will reply to the comment that has focus.

- What are FanPosts and FanShots and where are they located?

FanPosts are designed to be a place where you can start a conversation on a topic that you care about. It's one of the most empowering tools SB Nation offers and it allows the community to create articles around topics not presently being discussed on the main page of the site. Different communities have different rules about FanPosts so be sure to read your community guidelines before diving in.

FanShots are similar to FanPosts in that they empower our communities to open up their own conversation but these are designed to be shorter, quicker posts that link to a photo, video or interesting content you find elsewhere on the web. These are designed to be shared quickly without much commentary at all.

- How do I create a FanPost or FanShot?

There's a FanPost "Post your own" link on the front page of every SB Nation community as well as a FanShot space where you can paste a link to the link, image, or video you want to share. Look in the sidebars of the front page of an SB Nation site for these sections or click the Community tab in the site's navigation bar.

- Can FanPosts and FanShots still be recommended and where will they show up?

Yes, the recommend process will be exactly the same and FanPosts and FanShots will still be prominently placed on front page of our sites.

- What are Game Threads and where will they appear?

Game Threads are posts that our site editors put up to act as a real-time discussion of a live game. It's the place where the community gathers to discuss what is going on with your favorite team, during the game. It's the place where the communities bond, celebrate and/or commiserate. Game Threads will still appear prominently on our team and sport pages during live events. They will be placed high up on the front page so you know exactly where to go when you come to the communities during those events. Jump in and enjoy a virtual stadium experience minus the really uncomfortable stadium seats and urinal troughs.

- Will Game Threads work the same?

Mostly. If you're a long-time community member, they will likely be very similar to the experience you had in the past. The one major difference is that we now have something called StoryStreams. StoryStreams will allow our lead site editors to add updates to the Game Threads so the live experience will all live in one place, as opposed to the way it worked before with multiple Game Threads. The experience should be greatly improved from this standpoint and will help to consolidate the game day experience all in one area.

- If I notice problems with the new site not working properly, what do I do?

Email support@sbnation.com. We have a very friendly and helpful product support staff that is on call 24/7 and can address your issue. You might not hear back immediately but they are always there in the background waiting to help.

Attached to this post is further information but these FAQs as well as the video will get you cruising around the sites in no time.

You can find a Welcome to SB Nation United Quick Tour here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Win 12-2, Earn Split Of Four-Game Set With Milwaukee Brewers. Jordan Zimmermann Sharp

' Zimmermann's 31st: "[Jordan Zimmermann] is as strong as a bull," Washington Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson told reporters before this afternoon's series finale with the Milwaukee Brewers. "You guys were worried about him because he had a couple not Jordan-esque type starts, but he had a little bit too much rest in between. But last time out he was outstanding." In his last outing, Zimmermann held the LA Dodgers' batters to a run on six hits in 6.0 IP in a 3-1 win over Los Angeles, improving to (11-8) on the year with a 2.96 ERA, 3.55 FIP, 39 walks (1.92 BB/9) and 141 Ks (6.95 K/9) in 30 starts and 182.2 IP. "He knows what he needs to do to be successful out here," Zimmermann's manager said, "and I like where he's at." This afternoon in Nationals Park, the 26-year-old right-hander held Milwaukee to one run on four hits in 6.2 IP as the Nats earned the split in the four-game series with a 9-1 win over the visiting Brewers.

' Here's how it happened...

' Pride Of Auburndale: Zimmermann's 31st start of the season began with a 14-pitch first in which he gave up a one-out walk to Rickie Weeks, but got help from Nats' center fielder Bryce Harper, who caught a line drive to center from Ryan Braun, then tracked a fly ball off Aramis Ramirez's bat to the track and made a nice catch as he slammed hard into the center field wall. 0-0 after a half. Harper reached on a swinging bunt with one down in the home-half of the first, then moved up when Ryan Zimmerman drew a walk in the next at bat. Brewers' right-hander Marco Estrada got behind Adam LaRoche, 3-0, but the Nats' first baseman got the green light and popped up to the infield. With Ian Desmond up, Harper caught the Brewers napping, swiping third on a pitch in the dirt and then scoring when catcher Jonathan Lucroy threw past an empty base and into left. #RUNHARP! Harper's 15th SB of 2012. 1-0 Nationals after one in D.C.

' Make that 1-1: Brewers' first baseman Corey Hart got hold of the first pitch Jordan Zimmermann threw in the second and launched an opposite field blast to right and over the out-of-town scoreboard to tie it with one swing. 1-1 on Hart's 28th. Two outs later, 22-year-old former Angels' infield prospect Jean Segura tripled off the right field scoreboard, collecting his third three-base hit of the year, but Zimmermann got the opposing pitcher looking to end the second after 22 pitches. Danny Espinosa, Roger Bernadina and Kurt Suzuki went down in order in a 14-pitch second by Marco Estrada and it was still tied at 1-1 after two.

' 0 for 2 In 3-0 Counts: A swinging bunt by Norichika Aoki on a 1-1 pitch bounced off the runner and gave Jordan Zimmermann a quick out in the top of the third. Rickie Weeks worked the count full, but sent a grounder to short. Grounder. Desmond. Out. and two down. Zimmermann got up 1-2 on Ryan Braun and threw a 96 mph four-seamer by the Brewers' slugger, who fouled it into Kurt Suzuki's mitt to end a 17-pitch, 1-2-3 3rd for the Nats' right-hander. Zimmermann put down the glove, picked up a bat and singled to center off Marco Estrada to lead off the Nationals' half of the third. Jayson Werth pulled a 3-1 fastball through the left side of the infield for the second-straight single off Estrada. With two runners on, Bryce Harper was first-pitch swinging and flew out to left. Ryan Zimmerman took a 1-2 fastball outside for a called strike three and out no.2 and Adam LaRoche popped out behind home to strand two runners after three straight outs. [ed. note - "LaRoche popped up on another 3-0 pitch. That's 0-2 on 3-0 pitches today for LaRoche."]

' FBb Jumps The Gun, Sorry Jordan: A lineout to short and a grounder to third got Jordan Zimmermann two quick outs in the fourth from Aramis Ramirez and Corey Hart, respectively. Jonathan Lucroy? Grounder. Desmond. Out. 10-pitch, 1-2-3 4th for Zimmermann, and seven-straight Brewers' retired after Segura's triple in the second. Danny Espinosa lined a double to right with one down in the Nationals' fourth, collecting his 37th two-base hit of the season. A balk moved the Nats' second baseman to third, but Espinosa was thrown out at home trying to score on a weak grounder to first by Roger Bernadina. Ill-advised attempt. 2 outs. Kurt Suzuki singled to center with two down and cleared the pitcher's spot. 1-1 after four. I shouldn't have written that ahead of time, Jordan Zimmermann came through with his second hit of the game, lining to center with two down to score Roger Bernadina and make it 2-1 Nationals with two down in the fourth. 2 for 2 on the day for the Nats' right-hander. Jayson Werth flew to center to end the four--- I did it again! Werth flies to center and Carlos Gomez loses it in the sun. 2-run double when the Brewers' CF dives desperately but misses it. 4-1 Nats on Werth's 19th double of 2012. So it would be Ryan Zimmerman who would end the fourt-- NOPE! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! After a double steal puts both runners in scoring position, Ryan Zimmerman hits his 24th HR of 2012 over the GEICO sign on the right-center wall. 7-1 #Nats after four.

' Zimmermann Rolling: Danny Espinosa tried to barehand a one-out grounder from Jean Segura but came up empty on what was ruled an infield single. Travis Ishikawa hit for Estrada with one down in the fifth, or more accurately, K'd looking at a low 94 mph 3-2 slider from Zimmermann. K no. 4 for the Nats' right-hander, who then threw a 79 mph 1-2 curve by Norichika Aoki for K no.5 to end a 19-pitch inning at 82 pitches overall. Ian Desmond took a six-pitch walk from Brewers' right-hander Kameron Loe to start the Nationals' fifth, then stole his 20th base of the season with Danny Espinosa at bat. Espinosa singled to left, then took second when Braun bobbled the ball on the outfield grass. Second and third for the Shark, but a grounder to short resulted in another out at home, at least according to home plate ump Marvin Hudson, who got an earful from Davey Johnson after punching Desmond out. Kurt Suzuki made Loe pay anyway, however, with a sharp grounder by third that drove both runners in and made it 9-1 Nationals. Suzuki's 19th double of 2012.

' 13 of 15: A 2-2 slider got Rickie Weeks swinging for out no.1 of the sixth and Jordan Zimmermann's 6th K. Ryan Braun reached safely on an infield single neither Ryan Zimmerman or Ian Desmond could get to. Aramis Ramirez hit a chopper to third that allowed Zimmerman to cut the lead runner down at second for out no.2 and Corey Hart flew to right to end a 13-pitch frame by the Nats' right-hander. 13 of the last 15 set down by Zimmermann, who was at 95 pitches after he finished the sixth. Ryan Zimmerman singled to center to start the Nats' sixth, but Adam LaRoche flew to left and Ian Desmond grounded into and inning 6-4-3 DP. 9-1 after six.

' Zimmermann's Done: Jordan Zimmermann gave up a four-pitch walk to the first batter in the seventh, Jonathan Lucroy, but got Carlos Gomez looking with a front door 0-2 bender that was called strike three for the Nats' right-hander's 7th K in 6.1 IP. Jean Segura grounded to Ryan Zimmerman at third, who made an underhand toss to second for the force and out no.2, at which point Jordan Zimmermann was lifted in favor of left-hander Sean Burnett, who got pinch hitter Martin Maldonado swinging to end the seventh. Still 9-1 Nats. Danny Espinosa singled to start the Nats' seventh, but he was erased on a DP grounder off Tyler Moore's bat, and Kurt Suzuki grounded to third to end a 14-pitch inning by Brewers' lefty Manny Parra.

' Zimmermann's Line: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 Ks, 106 P, 72 S, 6/5 GO/FO.

' Ready Or In the 8th?: Tyler Clippard got a fly to left from Norichika Aoki for the first out of the eighth. Rickie Weeks K'd swinging at a 93 mph full-count fastball for out no.2, but Ryan Braun reached safely on a pop to short right that neither Danny Espinosa or Jayson Werth could reach. A two-out double by Aramis Ramirez scored Braun and made it a 9-2 game before Corey Hart flew to right to end Milwaukee's eighth. Mark DeRosa walked to start the Nats' eighth, and one out later took second on an infield single by speedy Eury Perez. Ruled an E:3. Poor Eury. Ryan Zimmerman singled to right in the next at bat and the Nats took an 11-2 lead. Two runs score, one on the error. [Ed. note - "Perez's hit changed back to a hit, his first in the majors."] The Nats loaded the bases with one down and added another run when Danny Espinosa grounded into a force at second, 12-2.

' DRUUUUUUU!!!: Nats' right-hander Drew Storen came out for the ninth. Jonathan Lucroy reached safely on a grounder up the middle to start the inning, but Jean Segura grounded into a 4-6-3 DP and Yorvit Torrealba grounded to third to end it. Ballgame. Nats win, 12-2 final.

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 153: WOOOOOOOOP!*":

Via FanGraphs

• Where's the power? Jordan Zimmermann (+10.1 pitching, +18.9% hitting) gives up 1 run over 6.2 IP with 7 Ks and 2 BBs. He's 2-3 at the plate with a go-ahead RBI single in the 4th (+14.9%).
  
• AAaaarrrrooOOOOOO! Jayson Werth (+22.2) is 2-4 with a walk and a two-run double to pad the lead after J-Z gets it started in the 4th (+17.4%).
• Step it up, scrub: Ryan Zimmerman (+7.8%) barely makes it into the WPA leaderboard by going 3-4 with a walk and a three-run bomb (+9.0%).

*I had the dOOOOOOOOM post all ready to go.

Nationals now 93-60.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals' Davey Johnson Talks Magic Numbers; Pennant Races; Rat's A----...

Davey Johnson talks magic numbers and the pennant race.

After the Washington Nationals' 12-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, the Nats' magic number was down to 5 with nine games left on the regular season schedule. The Nationals are now 93-60. The win this afternoon gave the Nationals a 4-3 record on the current homestand and got them one step closer to the pennant the Nationals' 69-year-old skipper has said is the goal as far back as last November. It's getting closer now, every game's important. And as Davey Johnson told reporters after the win on Monday, his players know it. "My guys feel it," Johnson said, "There's no doubt about it. I mean, we ran into a hot club. They're swinging the bats awfully good and we [needed] to hold our own with them and we did, so it's a good win to go on this road trip, six games against a couple good ballclubs too. So... I mean, they're feeling it."

Before Monday's game, the Nationals' manager said that the pennant chase has been a learning experience for everyone involved, from his players to the fans in the nation's capital. "They're great fans," Johnson said, "I mean, they're into it. They sure learn quick. Standing up, hollering at two strikes. I like it. The players like it. It's fun."

"We're in a pennant race," the manager who's led four different franchises to the postseason said this afternoon, "That's something that's great to experience. Shows what you're made of and I like what we're made of. So, it's never easy. I don't care... it's never easy. This ballclub's come along way, it's really developed quickly. It's a tribute to the makeup, the tenacity of really working hard. So, we've got a nice, rough row to hoe. I like it."

As the Nats' skipper has reiterated all season, every game is important, every day important as the next and that's how he's approached the entire schedule. "They're all important," Johnson said, "And this [game] is important, this is our focus today and we'll worry about where we're at tomorrow. But today, that's a pennant race. Every game you play from April 3rd to here." The focus is on each day, every day. Johnson said he even had to tell the Nationals' general manager yesterday not to break down the potential playoff scenarios for him.

"I said to [Nats' GM Mike] Rizzo yesterday," the manager explained, "'Don't tell me what it is, because I don't even want to know.' There [are] so many variables in there that there is no solution to the equation until you see where you finish up. I mean, there are multiple things that could happen. The Wild Card. If there's a tie. We've got ten games left, I know if we win six out of ten we win the division and we've got a good chance of probably having the best record. With my background [bachelor's degree in Mathematics] that was pretty easy to figure out."

If the Nationals do manage to lock the division down, Johnson told reporters this afternoon that he won't hesistate to rest his players and get everyone ready for the first postseason for a team from the nation's capital since 1933, regardless of what anyone else has to say about his approach. "Interesting you brought that up," Johnson said when a reporter asked about what he plans to do should the Nats clinch, "I really don't give a rat's ass what somebody thinks about my club and who I put on the field to either help somebody else or I'm supposed to not rest my regulars after we clinch it?"

"I'm resting my regulars. End of conversation."

"I have a lot of confidence in the other guys too," Johnson continued, referring to his bench players, "That they're fully capable, as they've shown all year long when they've had the opportunity to play. My responsibility is to get my club ready for the next day. But it's happened to me in the past, I've had criticism. I said, 'Fine.'"

"I've still got a big responsibility to make sure my guys are ready for the postseason," Johnson said, "And it has nothing to do with what the rest of the league is doing."

The main goal, as Johnson has said from the start and did again today after a long discussion of how the playoff format this year handicaps managers who don't know who they'll be facing until the very end, is to win the division. "I don't care about the best record," Johnson said, "I care about winning the division. If winning the division we have the best record, wonderful. If that gives us an advantage? I don't know yet. But the main concern? Win the division. And if you win it quickly enough then you have a pretty good idea who your oppponent might be and you can set up your pitching accordingly."

There are three games in Philadelphia, three in St. Louis and then three more at home against the Phillies in the D.C. The postseason is coming back to the nation's capital and Davey Johnson is leading the way.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals Lose Fly Balls In Sun, Lose To Milwaukee Brewers, 6-2.

' Wang vs Gallardo: Chien-Ming Wang had a tough assignment this afternoon. The 32-year-old, sinkerballing right-hander hadn't started a game since June 19th, and had struggled with injury issues all season. Now he was being asked to make a spot start since the Washington Nationals had played a doubleheader earlier this week against LA and manager Davey Johnson didn't want to have any of their starters throwing on short rest. In addition to the fact that he hadn't started often this season, and hadn't enjoyed much success when he did, Wang was matched up against Brewers' right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who was (8-0) over his last 10 starts heading into today's game, with Milwaukee 10-0 over the same stretch.

Wang got a weak grounder back to the mound from Norichika Aoki in the first at bat of the game, then had two straight batters reach on a hard grounder toward third by Rickie Weeks that Ryan Zimmerman couldn't handle and a single to center by Ryan Braun, but the Nats' right-hander retired the next two Brewers he faced and held Milwaukee off the board in a 15-pitch opening frame. After Yovani Gallardo retired the first three Nationals he faced in a 17-pitch bottom of the inning, Brewers' outfielder Logan Schafer sliced a one-out single to left on a 1-2 sinker from Wang in the top of the second, but he was caught stealing in the next at bat and Chien-Ming Wang got Jean Segura swinging to end a 12-pitch frame.

27 pitches through 2.0 scoreless for Wang...

' 3U: Adam LaRoche doubled for the 32nd time this season in the Nationals' second, sending a grounder off Corey Hart's glove at first that trickled into right field for the Nats' first hit of the game off Gallardo. MIchael Morse K'd swinging unproductively for the first out of the frame, but Ian Desmond beat Aramis Ramirez's throw to first on a weak grounder toward third and had an infield single that moved LaRoche up 90 ft, before Danny Espinosa lined right to Hart at first and into a double play that ended the inning. 3 unassisted. 0-0 in D.C.

' Aoki "May" Have Been Safe: Ian Desmond made a ridiculous diving play to field a sharp grounder to short off Yovani Gallardo's bat, but he couldn't get his feet under him as he fired a throw to first wide of the bag. Norichika Aoki grounded to first in the next at bat and Adam LaRoche started a 3-6-1 DP that ended with Wang stretching and just keeping his foot on the bag to complete the double play... uh, at least according to first base ump Marvin Hudson. A swinging K by Rickie Weeks ended a 12-pitch frame and Wang's third scoreless. After completing his third inning of work on the mound, Chien-Ming Wang collected his second MLB hit in 38 ABs when he lined to left-center off Gallardo for his first career double. Wang took third on a single to right by Jayson Werth, but Bryce Harper grounded into an inning ending 6-4-3. 0-0 after three in D.C.

' Harper vs the Sun: Bryce Harper got under a fly to center then lost it in the sun, gifting a double to the Brewers' Ryan Braun (no.33) in the first at bat of the fourth. The next ball was sent out to center too, but this time Harper managed to catch it, retiring Aramis Ramirez for the first out of the frame. Corey Hart sent a one-out single through short to move Braun to third, and Jonathan Lucroy drove the first run of the game in with a sharp grounder under a diving Adam LaRoche and into right. 1-0 Milwaukee. Logan Schafer got hold of a first-pitch sinker and doubled off the out-of-town scoreboard in the next at bat to bring Hart around and make it 2-0 Milwaukee after three and a half. The 30-pitch frame had Wang at 69 total after four. Zimmerman walked to start the Nationals' fourth, but Adam LaRoche K'd looking and Michael Morse grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3. 2-0 Brewers after four.

' Goon Squad Leader: Craig Stammen took over for Chien-Ming Wang in the fifth. Stammen got a fly to right by Norichika Aoki and swinging K from Rickie Weeks (on a 92 mph 3-2 two-seamer) for the first two outs of the inning before he issued a two-out walk to Ryan Braun. Aramis Ramirez crushed a 3-2 slider and sent a double off the wall in left that moved Braun around to third, and Stammen lost Corey Hart and ended up loading the bases with two down before Jonathan Lucroy popped to Ian Desmond in short left to end the top of the fifth after 29 pitches by the Nats' right-hander reliever. Ian Desmond walked to start the Nats' fifth and hustled around to third on an opposite field double by Danny Espinosa, who connected for his 36th two-base hit of 2012. 2nd/3rd, 0 outs. Kurt Suzuki worked the count full, but K'd swinging at a 94 mph heater for the first out of the inning. Pinch hitter Chad Tracy got down 0-2 early, but battled back and lined a 2-2 cutter to right for an RBI single that cut Milwaukee's lead in half. 2-1 Brewers, runners on 1st/3rd, and a sac fly to left by Jayson Werth tied it at 2-2 after five.

' Chiefs' Duke: Zach Duke retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth after just five pitches, then issued a six-pitch two-out walk to Yorvit Torrealba before a fly to right by Norichika Aoki ended a 13-pitch inning with the score still tied at 2-2. Brewers' right-hander Brandon Kintzler took over on the mound after Gallardo was hit for in the top of the sixth and retired Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche before issuing a two-out walk to Michael Morse. Ian Desmond, who was 1 for 1 w/ a walk against Gallardo, ripped a 1-2 change to left for a two-out double, no. 32 of 2012, putting runners on second and third for Danny Espinosa. The Brewers walked Espinosa intentionally to get to Kurt Suzuki, and the Nats' catcher struck out to leave'em loaded and keep it tied at 2-2.

' FIREWORKS!!: Nats' righty Ryan Mattheus gave up an infield single by Rickie Weeks, but the Brewers' shortstop was forced out at second on a grounder to third by Ryan Braun that Ryan Zimmerman backhanded before making a spinning throw as he fell into foul territory. #GG3B. Aramis Ramirez doubled to right in the next at bat, but Jayson Werth got it in quickly enough to hold Braun at third. An intentional walk to Corey Hart loaded the bases, and a single up the middle by Jonathan Lucroy gave Milwaukee back its lead. 3-2. No out on the play in spite of Desmond's effort. Jayson Werth tracked a fly to right off Carlos Gomez's bat then ducked out of the way when he lost it in the sun. 4-2. 5-2 on an RBI groundout to short by Jean Segura. Francisco Rodriguez retired the Nats in order in a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.

' Es: Norichika Aoki reached on an error by Steve Lombardozzi in the top of the eighth. Rickie Weeks buzzed Michael Gonzalez's tower with a liner back up the middle and Bryce Harper misplayed it for the second error of the inning, allowing both runners to advance. Second and third with no outs. A sac fly to center by Braun made it 6-2 Milwaukee after seven and a half. Brewers' reliever Jim Henderson retired the Nats in order in a 17-pitch second that ended with LaRoche and Morse striking out looking.

' Comeback?: Carlos Gomez doubled to right with one down in the Brewers' ninth and almost got picked off after taking far too wide a turn around second. The Milwaukee outfielder took third on a groundout to first by Jean Segura, but was stranded there when pinch hitter Jeff Bianchi K'd to end the top of the frame. Jose Veras came on to pitch the ninth for the Brewers. Ian Desmond took a leadoff walk. Roger Bernadina lined out to short. Kurt Suzuki K'd swinging. Steve Lombardozzi walked on four pitches to get Jayson Werth up with two down. John Axford came on to close it out. Werth... flew out to center. Ballgame. Brewers win, 6-2 final. Nats need a win tomorrow for the series split.

' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...

' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 152: And I thought Wang would be the problem...":

Via FanGraphs

• Lost in the sun (1): Chien-Ming Wang (-7.4%) strikes out 2 and walks none in 4 IP, giving up 2 ER after Harp loses a fly ball in the sun for a "double."
• With runners corners: Danny Espinosa (+5.4%) lines into a DP to end the 2nd (-12.4%), while Bryce Harper (-18.5%) GDPs to end the 3rd (-13.3%).
• Helpful: Ian Desmond (+18.0%) is 2-2 with a double and 2 walks. Espy doubles to put runners 2nd/3rd in the 5th (+15.3%). Chad Tracy has a pinch-hit, RBI single to get the Nats within one in the 5th (+11.5%).
• Lost in the sun (2): Ryan Mattheus (-39.7%) has a 3-run meltdown in the 7th, aided by Werth losing a fly ball in the sun and some unlucky infield hits.
• Unhelpful: Kurt Suzuki (-22.3%) fans with runners 2nd/3rd in the 5th (-8.4%) and with the bases loaded to end the 6th (-10.3%).

Nationals now 92-60.

Game 152: And I thought Wang would be the problem...

Ministry of Plenty

Doghouse

Dave at District Sports Page

bluelineswinger

d_c_guy

jeff550

SaratogaCountySports

A Brief History Of 20-Game Winners In The Nation's Capital: From Walter Johnson To Gio Gonzalez.

Ministry of Plenty

Doghouse

Dave at District Sports Page

bluelineswinger

d_c_guy

jeff550

SaratogaCountySports

Washington Nationals' Davey Johnson On 20-Game Winner Gio Gonzalez.

With a seven inning outing against the Milwaukee Brewers today in which he gave up three hits, a walk and two runs, both unearned, 27-year-old Washington Nationals' lefty Gio Gonzalez earned his 20th win of 2012, becoming the first pitcher in the majors to do so this season. Gonzalez, in his first year in the nation's capital with the Nats following the trade this past December with the Oakland A's, became the first D.C.-based pitcher to win 20 games since Washington Senators' right-hander Bob Porterfield did it in 1953 and he became the first left-hander from the nation's capital to win 20 since the Sens' Earl Whitehill won 22 in 1933, during the last season in which a team from D.C. made it to the postseason before this year.

Asked about the contributions Gonzalez has made to the team in his first season with Washington, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson told reporters after the game that the left-hander had exceeded his expectations. "He's surpassed mine," Johnson said. "Mike Rizzo and I knew that [in order] to give up what we gave out [to acquire him], we knew [Gio was] special," the Nationals' manager continued, "And in every form he's special. His personality. His competitiveness. He has fun."

The Nationals' 69-year-old manager said after Saturday's game that winning 20 games like Gonzalez did, "Is always huge. Pitching is the main thing in baseball, when you win 20, that's the mark of a Cy Young... it's just everything. It's bigger than a hitter, for me, hitting .300. He's had just a phenomenal year. That was a typical Gio game. Low pitch count, low hits."

After the win Saturday, Gonzalez is (20-8) on the year with a 2.84 ERA, 2.84 FIP, 73 walks (3.40 BB/9) and 201 Ks (9.36 K/9) in 31 starts and 193.1 IP. When a reporter asked Gonzalez's manager if the left-hander has done enough to earn consideration for the Cy Young Award this season, Johnson stated cleary that there was no doubt in his mind that the pitcher deserved the award. "Hands down," the Nationals' manager said.

Gio's still learning too, in his fourth full season (fifth overall). "Young pitchers learn," Johnson said, "They learn about themselves and their stuff and it takes a while to go through that. And this is an experience too, being in a pennant race and that's how he responded." Strong as he was on the mound against Brewers, the Nats' manager joked, he started the day with a bullpen session in which he didn't feel entirely comfortable. "I asked [Pitching Coach Steve McCatty], 'How's he feeling, how many do we need to score?" Johnson told reporters, "And he said, 'He had an awful pen, so that means we probably need one.' I worry more about when they have a great pen. And [Gonzalez] said he felt like 'Heck.' That's what [Jim] Palmer used to say all the time, 'Get me a bunch, I don't have nothing,' and he'd throw a shutout."

"We always worried whenever [Palmer] came in from the pen and said, 'Man I feel great,' and I said, 'Oh, no, we'd better score a bunch.'"

Davey Johnson was then asked if he thought Gio Gonzalez belonged in the conversation as one of best pitchers in the game right now along with some of the other recent 20-game winners, and again the manager said there was no doubt. "No question about it," Johnson said, "No question about it. My thing is hits-per-inning," Johnson said, "That tells you what kind of pitcher and stuff he has. His are phenomenal. I don't think I've ever had somebody who has that few hits per inning."

On the year, Gio Gonzalez has allowed an average of 6.76 H/9, the lowest total amongst all MLB starters, ahead of the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (6.84 H/9) and the Angels' Jered Weaver (6.97 H/9).

Does Gio Gonzalez deserve the Cy Young Award? We'll see when the final numbers are in... but the Nats' left-hander is certainly in the conversation. After today's win, he's the first 20-game winner from Washington in 59 years. Can he become the first Cy Young Award winner in D.C. baseball history?

' Gio Notes:

With today's win, Gio Gonzalez becomes the first pitcher in MLB to earn 20 wins in 2012. #Nationals

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 22, 2012

With 200 in hand, Gio Gonzalez is the first DC-based pitcher to record 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson had 228 in 1916. #Nationals

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 22, 2012