Ministry of Plenty
Minggu, 24 Juni 2012
Washington Nationals At Baltimore Orioles: GameThread 69 Of 162.
Game 69: That's more like it.
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals 3-1 Over Baltimore Orioles As Edwin Jackson And The Nats' Pen Dominate At Camden Yards.
[WizardRSS: unable to retrieve full-text content]
• 1-3: Bryce Harper heard boos in each of his at bats last night and did again as he stepped to the plate to face Baltimore lefty Wei-Yin Chen with one down in the first of the second of three for the Washington Nationals in Orioles Park at Camden Yards this weekend. The Nats' 19-year-old outfielder had the crowd buzzing though, after he slid into first headfirst on a soft grounder to Orioles' third baseman Wilson Betemit. Harper arrived just as first baseman Mark Reynolds was picking Betemit's low throw out of the dirt and was called out (though he appeared safe upon review.) The O's left-handed starter completed an 11-pitch, 10-strike top of the inning when Reynolds snared a hard-hit grounder off Ryan Zimmerman's bat and stepped on first to end the opening frame of tonight's game. Nationals' right-hander Edwin Jackson needed just eight pitches to retire the Orioles in order in the bottom of the inning.
• 4-6: Michael Morse hit an opposite field single to right on the eighth pitch of the first at bat in the second. A second-straight line drive to right by Adam LaRoche put two on with no outs, but Wei-Yin Chen retired the next two batters, getting a groundout from Ian Desmond and a swinging K by Tyler Moore before Xavier Nady came through with a two-out infield single that brought one run in. A throwing error on the play by Orioles' infielder Wilson Betemit allowed LaRoche to score too and the Nationals had a 2-0 lead by the time Chen completed a 30-pitch second...
• 7-9: Nationals' center fielder Bryce Harper covered a long distance and ran into the right-center wall as he made a catch on a long fly ball off Matt Wieters' bat for the second out of what ended up being a 13-pitch, 1-2-3 second for Edwin Jackson, who set the first six O's batters he faced down in order. Harper walked on four pitches from Chen in his second at bat in the top of the third. The Nats' rookie outfielder stole second after Ryan Zimmerman popped out unproductively with a runner on, (Harper's 6th SB) but was stranded when Michael Morse struck out to end a 13-pitch third that had the O's lefty at 54 pitches total, down 2-0 to the Nats after two and a half. It took another 13-pitches for Edwin Jackson to retire the Orioles in order in the bottom of the third after which the Nats' right-hander was at 34 pitches overall.
• Lucky no.13 And 10-12: Two pitches into the fourth, Adam LaRoche hit his 13th HR of the year, taking a 90 mph 1-0 four-seamer from Wei-Yin Chen to right field and just over a wall-climbing Adam Jones and the seven-foot outfield wall for a solo blast and a 3-0 Nats' lead after three and a half. O's infielder Brian Roberts battled for nine pitches before striking out for the tenth-straight out recorded by Edwin Jackson. Tyler Moore tracked down a fly to left-center off J.J. Hardy's bat for out no. 11 and Chris Davis lined out to Adam LaRoche at first for out no.12. 15-pitch 4th. 49 pitches total through four scoreless by E-Jax.
• E:5: Wei-Yin Chen gave up a two-out single through short by Michael Morse but nothing else in an 18-pitch top of the 5th. A sharp grounder to third off Adam Jones' bat got by Ryan Zimmerman for what was ruled an error on the Nats' Gold Glove-winning third baseman. 4th E of the year for the Nats' third baseman. The potential perfect game by E-Jax was off the table there, and one out later a Wilson Betemit single through the right side of the infield ended the possibility of a no-hitter by Jackson. E-Jax got Mark Reynolds swinging for out no.2 of the fifth but loaded the bases with a two-out walk to Nick Johnson before popping Steve Pearce to end his fifth scoreless frame. A 21-pitch inning had the Nationals' starter at 70 pitches total after five at Camden Yards.
• Please Fix Zim: O's right-hander Darren O'Day took over for Wei-Yin Chen in the sixth and issued a one-out walk to Nats' outfielder Tyler Moore, but a double-play grounder off Xavier Nady's bat ended the top of the inning after 10 pitches by the Orioles' reliever. Edwin Jackson needed 10 pitches of his own to set the O's down in order in the bottom of the sixth, and he was at 80 pitches overall with a 3-0 lead and his 5th K of the night after he got Chris Davis swinging with an 0-2 curve to end the Orioles' inning. Former Nats' reliever Luis Ayala gave up a two-out single by Bryce Harper, but popped Ryan Zimmerman up to end the top of the seventh (w/ Zim 0 for 4).
• Shutout Ends: Adam Jones took a 2-2 slider to left on a line and off the foul pole 333 ft from home for the O's outfielder's 19th HR of 2012 and the Baltimore Orioles' first run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Still 3-1 Nationals. After Edwin Jackson gave up back-to-back hard-hit balls, the second of which fell in for a one-out single by Wilson Betemit, the Nationals' bullpen got active quickly with the starter at 90 pitches on the night. A 3-2 slider to Mark Reynolds was lined to left in the next at bat, and Edwin Jackson was done after 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's. The two runners on were his. Lefty-hander Michael Gonzalez came on to face right-hander pinch hitter Ronny Paulino, who replaced Nick Johnson. Gonzalez started behind 3-0, but got a line drive to short with a full-count fastball. Desmond made the catch and stepped on second for an inning-ending unassisted DP. 3-1 Nats after seven in Camden Yards.
• STRAIGHTEN THAT CAP, PUNK!!!: Orioles' right-hander Pedro Strop retired the Nationals in order in a 17-pitch top of the eighth after which Nats' lefty Sean Burnett came out of the bullpen looking to protect the Nationals' 3-1 lead. The left-handed reliever got the first out of the inning with two pitches, then battled Brian Roberts in a 13-pitch AB that ended with a single to center by the Orioles' infielder. Burnett's 21st pitch of the inning was a 2-2 sinker to J.J. Hardy and the Nats' lefty got a 6-4-3 DP out of the O's shortstop to preserve the Nats' 3-1 lead through eight innings in Orioles Park.
• Clipp'd: Rick Ankiel doubled off O's lefty Troy Patton in the top of the ninth, but two outs later he was stranded at third when Danny Espinosa grounded out to end the Nationals' ninth. Tyler Clippard came on in the ninth looking for save no. 12 in 12 opportunities. O's outfielder Chris Davis flew out to left for out no. ONE!!! Adam Jones K'd swinging at a 82 mph full-count change a pitch after the Orioles' outfielder fouled off a 94 mph fastball. Matt Wieters grounded to second and in the next at bat and Danny Espinosa threw to first to end the Nationals' 41st win of 2012. E-Jax gets the win. Clippard gets the save. And there will be a rubber match tomorrow in Orioles Park.
• Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
• Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 69: That's more like it.":
Via FanGraphs
- Strong start: Edwin Jackson (+16.0%) only goes 6.1 IP, but fans 5 and only walks 1 with a single ER.
- Strong relief: Michael Gonzalez (+15.9%) gets a shutdown to finish the 7th, while Sean Burnett (+9.4%) and Tyler Clippard (+9.4%) record shutdowns with scoreless 8th and 9th innings, respectively.
- Just enough offense: Xavier Nady (+15.7%) continues to defy me, with an error-enhanced single for two runs in the 2nd (+16.4%). Adam LaRoche (+11.7%) follows with a graceful, effortless solo bomb to tack on the fourth (+8.4%).
- Not so useful: Danny Espinosa (-9.9%) is 0-5, even from the right side.
Nationals now 41-28.
Sabtu, 23 Juni 2012
Game 68: Who angered the BABIP gods?
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals At Baltimore Orioles: GameThread 68 Of 162.
Ministry of Plenty
Washington Nationals Drop 2-1 Decision To Baltimore Orioles. Jason Hammel K's 10 In O's One-Run Win.
' DH = Abomination: The threat of rain delayed the start of tonight's game by an hour though no rain actually fell in Orioles Park at Camden Yards (At least not before the game.) At just after 8:06 pm EDT, an hour and one minute after the scheduled start time, the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles began the first game of the final Interleague series of the year for both teams. O's right-hander Jason Hammel retired the Nats in order in a 14-pitch top of the first, getting ground balls from Steve Lombardozzi, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman in a quick opening inning. Jordan Zimmermann left a 1-1 slider up outside that Orioles' infielder Brian Roberts sent to left for a leadoff single, but three batters later he was stranded at first as the Nationals' right-hander popped the next three O's up to start his 14th start of 2012 with a 12-pitch scoreless first in Baltimore. 0-0 after one in Camden Yards.
' Two-Out HR, "One Bad Pitch": Michael Morse went the other way with a first pitch fastball and recorded his fifth double of 2012 when Orioles' right fielder Chris Davis dove for the fly to right and missed. O's right-hander Jason Hammel, who got Adam LaRoche to chase a two-strike curve in the dirt for out no.1 of the second and K no.1 of the night, recorded his second strikeout of the inning in the next at bat against Ian Desmond before dropping a 1-2 curve in for a called strike three on a completely fooled Danny Espinosa. 14-pitch second by Hammel, who strikes out the side. Orioles' catcher Matt Wieters lined to center for the second leadoff single for the O's in two innings against the Nats' Jordan Zimmermann, but the Nats' right-hander got a grounder to first out of Wilson Betemit and a nicely turned 3-6-1 DP for the first two outs. Three pitches later, however, Zimmerann left a 1-1 fastball up inside to Mark Reynolds and the Orioles' took a 1-0 lead on a line drive to left by the slugging first baseman that landed 20 rows back in the left field stands. Reynolds' 6th of 2012. 1-0 Baltimore after a 16-pitch second for Zimmermann.
' Lombo Hustle, Zimmermann Heat: Mark Reynolds bobbled a two-out grounder to first and tossed to pitcher Jason Hammel who bobbled the ball and let Steve Lombardozzi on with two down, but the Orioles' starter got a fly to center from Bryce Harper to complete his third scoreless frame after 12 pitches, leaving him at 47 pitches overall after 3.0. Jordan Zimmermann left another hanging breaking ball up for O's outfielder Steve Pearce and gave up another leadoff hit, this one a double to left. Two flies to right later, Jordan Zimmermann had two down without the runner advancing, and after he threw a 95 mph 1-2 fastball by Chris Davis he was up to 44 pitches overall following a 16-pitch 3rd.
' + Arm, +Range, +Hustle: Ryan Zimmerman K'd looking at an 0-2 fastball from O's starter Jason Hammel, striking out for the first time tonight and the 4th time in his last six at bats. After Michael Morse K'd swinging for out no.3 of the Nats' fourth, Hammel had 6 K's on the board in 4.0 scoreless innings. Jordan Zimmermann needed just 11 pitches to retire the Orioles in order in the bottom of the fourth after which both starters were up to 55 pitches, with a matching 37 strikes each. Still 1-0 O's. Ian Desmond singled to center to start the Nationals' fifth with the Nats' second hit off Hammel. One out later, Desmond was running as Roger Bernadina grounded to third baseman Wilson Betemit and Desmond took third on the play after Betemit checked him and threw to first, but the throw back to third by Mark Reynolds got away from the O's allowing Desmond reach safely and score to tie it at 1-1 after four and a half.
' Don't Hit Glass Nick: After popping Mark Reynolds up with one pitch, Jordan Zimmermann hit Nick Johnson to put a runner on with one out. Zimmermann got out no.2 with one pitch to Steve Pearce, but gave up a two-out single by Brian Roberts on which Nick Johnson went first-to-third. A 1-0 fastball up and in to J.J. Hardy was then lined to left-center and the second of two two-out hits brought Nick Johnson in from third. Hardy's 14th double of 2012 made it 2-1 O's after five innings. Jason Hammel gave up a leadoff single to center by Steve Lombardozzi in the Nationals' sixth, but three batters and two K's later the Orioles' starter was through a 10-pitch frame at 74 pitches overall on the night.
' #'s: Adam Jones lined a first-pitch fastball to right for the O's seventh hit of the night off Jordan Zimmermann to start the bottom of the sixth, but the seventh pitch to Matt Wieters in the next AB resulted in a 4-6-3 DP. The 11th pitch of the inning came back at Zimmermann off Wilson Betemit's bat and bounced off the pitcher's heel for an infield single. With a runner on first, Zimmermann got Mark Reynolds swinging with the 16th pitch of the inning and he was at 88 pitches overall with two K's after 6.0 IP in Camden Yards. Still 2-1 O's.
' Hammel W/ 10: Jason Hammel dropped a brutal 2-2 bender on Michael Morse for K no. 9 on the night. An 0-1 breaking ball to Ian Desmond was lined to right, however, for Desmond's second and the Nationals' fourth hit of the game off the Orioles' starter. Danny Espinosa lined weakly to right for hit no. 5 off Hammel and there were two runners on when Roger Bernadina stepped in. The Shark K'd swinging at a 1-2 slider inside for out no.2 and K no.10, tying a career high by the O's right-handed pitcher. 2 on, 2 out for Jesus Flores, and the Nats' backstop lined a 2-2 pitch to short that J.J. Hardy leapt for and grabbed. Robbed. 2-1 O's after six and a half. Jordan Zimmermann walked Nick Johnson to start the O's seventh. O's outfielder Steve Pearce bunted the runner over/gave up an out, but Brian Roberts flew out to left and J.J. Hardy grounded back to the mound. Still 2-1 Orioles after Zimmermann's 13-pitch seventh.
' Jordan Zimmermann's Line: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's, 1 HR, 101 P, 66 S, 6/6 GO/FO.
' Fireworks: Ryan Mattheus took over in the bottom of the eighth after Jason Hammel retired the Nationals in order on five pitches in the top of the frame. The O's connected on a few pitches from the Nats' reliever but Mattheus completed a scoreless nine-pitch inning to take it to the ninth with the Orioles still up 2-1. O's closer Jim Johnson took over in the top of the ninth looking for his 21st save of 2012. Adam LaRoche flew to right on the first pitch of the inning. Michael Morse grounded to third for out no.2 on a slick fielding play by Wilson Betemit. Ian Desmond took a two-out walk from the Orioles' right-handed reliever, but Danny Espinosa lined back to the mound to end the game. 2-1 Orioles win. Nats drop the first of three in Baltimore.
' Miss The Game? The D.C. Faithful Were Watching...
' Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 68: Who angered the BABIP gods?":
Via FanGraphs
- Hard luck is no surprise: Jordan Zimmermann (+9.4%) pitches 7 innings, striking out 2 and walking 1. A HBP leads to one of two ER, which is enough to lose.
- The closest to clutch: Ian Desmond (+10.8%) is 2-3 and a walk and a brilliant 1st-to-home-on-a-groundout-circus baserunning play to tie it (+8.0%, although for Roger Bernadina, who had -3.3% on the night).
- FAILest: Bryce Harper (-13.8%) and Adam LaRoche (-15.8%) go 0-8 with 3 LOB.
Nationals now 40-28.
Jumat, 22 Juni 2012
Game 67: Danny's double does it
Ministry of Plenty
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)