On The Hill...

DC lefty John "Cool Hand" Lannan made his second professional start, the first in front of the DC faithful, against the Cincinnati Reds last season on August 1st in RFK Stadium, earning his second win in the Majors for 5.2 innings of work during which he allowed 5 hits, 2 ER's, and 2 walks, with a .250 BAA, while collecting just one strikeout from Reds' batters. Lannan's second start against Cincinnati comes tonight in Great American Ball Park, where for the 17th time in '08, the (4-9) "Cool Hand" Lannan takes the mound for the Nationals.

Johnny Cueto will also be making his 17th start of the '08 campaign, but it's Cueto's first time around the Majors, and the 22-year old right-hander's facing the Nationals for the first time. After posting a (3-5) record in his first 11 starts, Cueto was (3-3) in 6 starts in June, while his ERA dropped from 5.40 in both April and May to 3.47 in more innings (36.1) than he'd pitched in either of the previous two months. At home, Cueto's (4-3) in 9 starts with a 4.11 ERA in 57.0 innings. 

Cueto beat the Cleveland Indians in Interleague Play his last time out on the mound, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings, and prompting, in MLB.com's Mark Sheldon's article entitled, "Reds clinch Ohio Cup behin Cueto", the Reds' Manager Dusty Baker to proclaim:

"'He threw a great game,' Reds manager Dusty Baker said. 'He had outstanding tempo going. He controlled both sides of the plate.'"

Reds' shortstop Jerry Hairston, Jr. goes into a little more detail in analyzing and praising Cueto's efforts in Mr. Sheldon's article, telling the MLB.com writer:

"'When he's spotting his fastballs and throwing that breaking ball for strikes, he's tough to beat,' shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. said. 'He's one of those guys that doesn't get really rattled or appear to be. You can tell he has made an effort to get better. Obviously, you know the talent is there.'"

The Reds' #'s Against John "Cool Hand" Lannan...

Adam Dunn - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 BB, 1 RBI.

Ken Griffey, Jr. - 1 for 3, .333 AVG, 1 RBI.

Brandon Phillips - 1 for 3, .333 AVG, 2 CS.

Jeff Keppinger - 1 for 2, .500 AVG. 

Nationals' #'s Against the Cincinnati Reds*...

Felipe Lopez - 12 for 32, .375 AVG, 4 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI's.

Ronnie Belliard - 84 for 279, .301 AVG, 25 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR's, 31 RBI's.

Aaron Boone - 7 for 39, .179, 1 HR, 6 RBI's.

Cristian Guzman - 11 for 57, .193 AVG, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

DY - 23 for 71, .324 AVG, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI's.

The "If They Were Playing" List...(#'s Against the Reds.)

Austin Kearns - 9 for 30, .300 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR's, 6 RBI's.

Ryan Zimmerman - 17 for 51, .333 AVG, 4 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI's, .393 OBP, .647 SLG, 1.040 OPS.

Nationals' #'s @ Great American Ball Park...

Felipe Lopez - 190 G - 192 for 694, .277 AVG, 35 2B, 4 3B, 25 HR's, 91 RBI's.

Ronnie Belliard - 16 G - 18 for 57, .316 AVG, 5 2B, 3 HR's, 5 RBI's.

DY - 4 G - 8 for 15, .533 AVG, 4 2B, 5 RBI's. 

DC Bullpen vs the Reds...

Jesus "Everyday" Colome - 5 G, (1-1, 6.43 ERA), 2.29 WHIP, .343 BAA, (7 IP, 12 hits, 10 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 6 K's).

The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History Jon Rauch - 10 G, (0-1, 7.84 ERA), 1.65 WHIP, .302 BAA, (10.0 IP, 13 hits, 9 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 11 K's). ( Rauch @ GABP - 3 G, (0-1, 11.57 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .364 BAA).

Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera - 4 G, (0-0, 8.44 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .333 BAA. (5.1 IP, 7 hits, 5 ER, 3 BB).

The "If He Was Pitching Against the Reds" List...

The Flat-Brimmed Closer Chad Cordero - 12 G, (0-1), 1.76 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .151 BAA, (15 IP, 8 hits, 3 ER's, 1 HR, 5 BB, 19 K's). 

* = (ed. note - "Extended stats courtesy of Winston Smith.")

"Zimmerman Watch" - Federal Baseball's 24-Hour, 22 Hou...12 Hour... Intermittent Dodgy Coverage of the BREAKING NEWS! And ACTION!!......

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Zimmerman taking small steps", the Washington Nationals' third baseman has started taking some swings with a bat, in an early step in his recovery from what is described as a, "small labral tear", and Zimmerman's quoted in the article reporting:

"'It's feeling better,' Zimmerman said before heading out to the cages for the second straight day on Wednesday. 'It's getting stronger, but it's hard to notice anything [in the early stages of rehab].'"

And also in Mr. Ladson's article...

DC Skipper Manny Acta reports that Austin Kearns, "... is expected to join the big league club Thursday in the series opener against the Reds," and upon his return to the DC outfield, Mr. Ladson writes:

"Acta said Kearns would start in right field and Elijah Dukes would move over to left when the 28-year-old (Kearns) gets back. Roger Bernadina would likely remain in center field until Lastings Milledge returns from a right groin injury."

Dukes, Bernadina and Kearns...Huh? Let's hope AK's elbow's up to snuff..."Cool Hand" Lannan's in control on the mound...Johnny Cueto's not as good as he's looked...and Cristian Guzman continues to rake, after hits in his last 11 games...Who's Watching the Nationals? 7:10 pm EST...Great American Ballpark...Ken Griffey, Jr.?

GAME REPORT...

The Nationals lost again this afternoon, this time a 3-2 comeback win by Florida on the bat of Alfredo "The Amazing" Amezaga, leaving Washington 2-10 against Marlins after the two teams have played 12 of the 18 games they'll play this season. DC dropped three straight to Florida back on April 7th-10th, and settled for just one of the three games they played in Miami one week later from April 18th-20th. Back home in the nation's capital in the second week of May, the 9th-11th, the Nationals were swept again at home as the Marlins left town with three wins, to go 6-0 so far in Nationals Park in '08, and now, with today's win, the Marlins improved to 4-2 in Dolphin Stadium. (ed. note - "You're welcome. Have second place on DC, Florida. Washington will take '09's #1 Pick! and spoil it all in September...")

Today's game...started well for Washington, with Paul Lo Duca singling in two runs off Marlins' starter Ricky Nolasco for an early 2-0 DC lead. "Opening Night" Odalis Perez retired the first nine batters he faced for a 2-0 lead after three, and those of us here at federalbaseball.com thought things were going well...

"C'Mon PLoD Increase That Trade Value..." - BravesBooster

"Lo Duca Rules!!!! RBI single to center. 1-0 DC" - e chigliak ("Everything I say is a 'little' sarcastic.") (ed. note - "Alright, I was listening on the radio, the real score was...")

"2-0 DC.

Now maybe we only have to eat half his (Lo Duca's) salary to get someone to take him…" - Doghouse ("When in doubt, blame PLoD.")

Unfortunately, the Nationals' offense dried up after those early runs. The right-hander Ricky Nolasco retired 15 of the next 16 DC batters, (allowing only Willie Harris to reach base in the third on an error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez), and in the bottom of the sixth the Marlins finally came through with support for their starter when Robert Andino hit an RBI single to drive in Hanley Ramirez, who had double and moved to third on a wild pitch from "Opening Night" Odalis Perez...

Highlight reel material from both Willie Harris, diving in left center for a sliding catch to steal extra bases off the bat of Cody Ross, and Roger Bernadina who layed out in center to rob Wes Helms hold the Marlins' to one run in the 8th. Check out the highlights with MLB.com's GAMEDAY.

Odalis Perez, (2-5)  - 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's, 3.78 ERA. 

Charlie Manning?

What to do with Charlie Manning? Before giving up the go-ahead home run today to Alfredo "The Amazing" Amezaga, (who hadn't homered since 5/28...His only other HR!), Manning was already struggling in his first 19 games in the Majors, giving up 10 hits, 8 ER's, 2 HR's and 13 walks with 20 K's in 16.1 relief innings for DC since debuting on 5/24.

With the blown save and the loss this afternoon, Manning drops to (0-2) with a 4.96 ERA in 20 G's...And this from a pitcher who, in 11 games at Triple-AAA Columbus, was (0-1) with a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched, over which he allowed just 7 hits, 3 ER's, 2 HR's and 6 walks with 12 K's. What to do with Charlie Manning? Who could come up to replace Manning? Bascik? Hinckley? Martis? O'Connor? Detwiler? How's Detwiler doing?

The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch...

...gets a mention in the most recent edition of USA Today Sports Weekly, dated June 2-8, in an article by Paul Petera and Ron Shandler of BaseballIQ.com entitled, (in the online edition), "Overachievers are this season's true fantasy All-Stars", in which one or both of the writers names Jon Rauch the "Runner-Up", behind only Cubs' reliever Kerry Wood, in a list of, "...players who have succeed their preseason projected values," in this case, as closers.

...and finally there's a quote from Manny Acta in the USA Today team notes section, in a post entitled, "Inside Pitch", where DC Manager Manny Acta makes a comparison between an old Expo and the newest Nationals' arm:

"'Very impressive," manager Manny Acta said. 'We haven't had an arm come through our system like this since Javier Vazquez (with the Montreal Expos). It's exciting.'"

Nationals now 34-52.

On The Hill...

"Opening Night" Odalis Perez (2-5, 3.87 ERA) has faced Florida once this season already, back on April 20th in Dolphin Stadium, throwing 6.0 innings of 5-hit, 1-run ball against the Marlins, with the one run unearned, 3 walks allowed, 7 K's, a 1.33 WHIP and a .208 BAA for the game. In his 10-year Major League career, Perez has pitched against the Fish 11 times, 8 as a starter, going (2-2) with a 3.55 ERA in 50.2 innings, over which the veteran lefty's allowed 51 hits, 20 ER's, 17 walks and 3 HR's for a career 1.34 WHIP and .268 BAA against the Marlins.

The one win Odalis earned in Miami Gardens, Florida in April, is one of only two wins Perez (2-3, 5.35 ERA) has collected in 7 starts away from DC this season. Of the 11 HR's Odalis has served up in '08, 7 have been hit on the road, and Perez has given up 23 ER, 20 walks and 52 hits in 38.2 innings for a 1.86 WHIP with opponents hitting .327 against "Opening Night" on tour. 

Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins' 25-year old, 6'2'' third-year right-hander out of Corona, California, leads the Marlins in wins so far this season, posting an (8-4) record and a 4.05 ERA in 95.2 innings pitched in '08. 6.0 of those innings came against DC back on May 9th, when Nolasco (and the Marlins) beat the Nationals 7-3, with Nolasco allowing 4 hits and 1 of the earned runs, with 2 walks and 6 K's. In 5 starts and 7 appearances in his career, Nolasco's (4-1) with a 3.77 ERA against DC, having been hit 24 times for 12 ER's in 28.2 innings. 

Nolasco's win over the Nationals earlier this season was on the road in Washington, and in fact, 5 of Nolasco's 8 wins (5-2, 4.37 ERA in 10 starts) this season came outside of Miami...But at home in Dolphin Stadium, Nolasco's posted a (3-2) record and 3.50 ERA in 5 starts and 7 appearances, with 6 HR's launched and 17 runs (14 earned) scored against him in 36.0 IP, where he's walked only 7, for a (1.17 WHIP) while striking out 26, and holding visiting teams to a .257 BAA.  

Nationals' #'s Against Ricky Nolasco...

Cristian Guzman - 1 for 4, .250 AVG. 

Paul Lo Duca - 5 for 9, .556 AVG, 2 RBI's. 

Felipe Lopez - 1 for 11, .091 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Pete Orr - 2 for 7, .286 AVG, 1 3B. 

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Lastings Milledge - 2 for 3, .667 AVG. 

Ryan Zimmerman - 2 for 14, .143 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI. 

Nick Johnson - 3 for 12, .250 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

Early Returns On The Nationals' New Kids...

Before Collin Balester (1-0, 1.80 ERA) appeared in and earned the win in the first start of his MLB career, MLB.com's Bill Ladson quoted, in an article entitled, "Balester getting accustomed to Nats", DC Skipper Manny Acta, who broke down expectations for the 22-year old in his debut and for as long as he remains on the big league roster, telling Mr. Ladson:

"'He has one of the best fastballs in our system,' Acta said. 'That being said, control is going to be a key for him. In the past, he has shown that he can throw the ball over the plate. Except that here, it's not only throw it over the plate, it's sometimes on the edges of the plate.'"

As for 24-year old Roger Bernadina, MLB.com's Bill Ladson also talks to Mr. Acta in an article entitled, "Bernadina learning as he goes in bigs", where Acta provides an early analysis of Bernadina's performance (and shows his own excitement for watching these players "arrive" in the Majors):

"'He looked good [in his first game],' Nationals manager Manny Acta said. 'He got the first hit out of the way, and he looked good in the outfield. Got a bunt down, tried to steal a bag. It's out of the way, and he understands this is baseball.

'He's going to have to make some adjustments when people adjust to him, but he's getting an opportunity. He's playing his dream out.'"

Memo: To All MLB Pitchers Who Don't Read Federalbaseball.com - STOP HANGING PITCHES TO ELIJAH DUKES!

Last night Dukes was 3 for 5 with 1 HR, and 3 RBI's. Monday, Dukes was 1 for 4 in the first of three in Florida, so with a little of the old "addition", Duke is, for now, 4 for 9 with 2 HR's and 4 RBI's two games into the series. Dukes' June was the best month (outside of HR's) of his (admittedly nascent) two-year Major League career, as DUKES!! finished the month batting .292 in 27 games and 106 at bats, scoring 14 runs on 31 hits, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR's, and 15 RBI's, with 16 walks and 5 stolen bases.

The Marlins' Fans' Perspective, Check out the SBN's Marlins' blog:

FishStripes

It's a 12:10 pm EST start early this afternoon for the rubber match of the three game series between the Nationals and Marlins, so there should be plenty of dolphin-blue and orange empty seats in Dolphin Stadium as Odalis Perez and Ricky Nolasco square off on the hill. It is Florida though, so there's a 60% chance of rain according to the latest forecast...

DC leadoff batter Roger Bernadina battles Marlins’ lefty Mark Hendrickson to a full count and then strikes out swinging for the first out of tonight's second of three in Dolphin Stadium. Cristian Guzman lays one down the line in right for a soft fly ball single. Elijah Dukes archs a line drive out to Robert Andino at second. DY grounds back to the mound...

The first pitch of Collin Balester’s MLB career is a strike, high and inside to Hanley Ramirez. Two balls, one low, then high and tight, and the fourth pitch shatters Ramirez’s bat, resulting in a pop out to second. 95 mph fastball starts Jeremy Hermida off, and after showing the Marlins his 76 mph curve, and missing a few fastballs, a low 93 mph heater from Balester makes it a full count...Hermida grounds to short, but Guzman can’t come up with the ball, Hermida’s safe at first. Jorge Cantu at bat, Hermida steals second easily off Balester and DC catcher Paul Lo Duca. Cantu works the count full, and then pops up Balester's nasty 77 mph curve. Balester hits Josh Willlingham with a slow curve, but gets Mike Jacobs to pop up a fastball to end a scoreless first. 

Ronnie Belliard lines out to center for the first out of the second. Lo Duca flies out to center. Wily Mo Pena goes down chasing off-speed junk from Hendrickson, who completes his second scoreless...Balester gets strike two from Cody Ross with a low in the zone, mid-70’s curve, and then goes upstairs with 95 mph heat for a swinging K. Balester throws another fastball by Robert Andino, and gets a grounder to short from Matt Treanor to end the second. 

Robert Andino steps back onto the grass to catch Felipe Lopez’s pop out. Collin Balester’s first AB? K’s like a pitcher. Roger Bernadina grounds out to second to end the DC third...Balester strikes out the opposing pitcher to start the home half of the third. Full count to Hanley Ramirez, and Balester gets a groundout to short. Hermida chops one to third, Belliard's throw to first ends Balester’s third scoreless. 

Mark Hendrickson’s first mistake of the night comes with one down in the fourth, and it’s a hanging curve that Elijah Dukes sends soaring into the upper deck in left. DUKES!!! 1-0 DC. DY flies out to right. Belliard grounds out to short. 1-0 Nationals, middle of the fourth...Roger Bernadina retreats to left-center to catch Jorge Cantu’s fly ball. Josh Willingham grounds out to second. Jacobs chases an 86 mph change from Collin Balester for strike two, and then chops a grounder to second, where Lopez fields and throws to first. 1-0 DC after four.

Paul Lo Duca doubles off the wall in left to leadoff the fifth. WMP pops up over home for an unproductive out. Felipe Lopez slices a line-drive to Jeremy Hermida in left, Lo Duca 'rounds third, and Mike Jacobs deflects the throw back in to hold Lopez at first, as Lo Duca scores. 2-0 Nationals. Balester’s first MLB sac bunt moves Lopez to second. Bernadina goes the other way with a single to left, Lopez turns around third, Josh Willingham comes up throwing, and Treanor stops Lopez three feet up the line from home so there’s no doubt he’s out. 2-0 DC after four and a half...Cody Ross smacks a one-hop single to right for the first hit off Balester. Robert Andino beats out the backend of his own DP grounder, Ross is out at second. Matt Treanor takes Balester’s first walk, and Mark Hendrickson takes Balester’s first inexcusable walk to load the bases for Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez pops to short left, where Lopez catches it going back, and Robert Andino tags and beats the throw home. 2-1 Nationals on the first run off Balester. Balester’s first wild pitch comes on a curve to go to a full count, two outs against Jeremy Hermida, and Balester reloads the bases with another walk. Jorge Cantu pops out foul of first, Balester escapes his first tough spot...

Cristian Guzman blasts a grounder under a diving Hanley Ramirez’s glove. Elijah Dukes rips a low liner through short. DY smokes a single to right. Bases loaded for Ronnie Belliard. Make that Belli-YARD!! GRAND SLAM!! GRAND SLAM!! 6-1 DC. Felipe Lopez hits a two-out single off the wall in left, but gets nailed trying to stretch it...6-1 Nationals middle of six...Steven Shell replaces Collin Balester (5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K's, 1.80 ERA). Shell strikes out Willingham, gets a fly ball out to center from Mike Jacobs, and after walking Cody Ross, Shell blows Andino away. 6-1 after six. 

Eulogio De La Cruz pitches to DC reliever Steven Shell to start the seventh. Shell grounds out to first. Bernadina pops up to third. Cristian Guzman grounds sharply to short, Hanley Ramirez has it, 6-1 after six and a half...Stand up and stretch...Matt Treanor singles to start the Marlins’ seventh. Shell hits Alfredo “The Amazing” Amezaga. Full count fastball to Hanley Ramirez...GONE!! Second deck in left for a three-run blast. 6-4 DC. “Wild” Joel Hanrahan’s up next. Jorge Cantu flies to Dukes in short right. Josh Willingham doesn’t get much farther into right than Cantu, Felipe Lopez has this one. 6-4 DC after seven. 

Elijah Dukes lines a broken bat single to center to start the eighth. Dukes steals second, just avoiding Hanley Ramirez’s tag on a good throw from Treanor. DY strikes out chasing a low fastball. Ronnie Belliard walks, and Eulogio De La Cruz is done. Joe Nelson takes over for Florida. Lo Duca pops off his fists, and into center for a single. Bases loaded. Kory Casto on to hit for WMP. Casto grounds hard to first, Jacobs fields and throws...wide of home, Dukes scores. 7-4 DC. Felipe Lopez drops a single one hop in front of Cody Ross. Belliard crosses. 8-4 DC. Willie Harris rips a line drive to right. Lo Duca scores. 9-4 Nationals...Mike Jacobs strikes out swinging through a fastball from Charlie Manning. Cody Ross doesn’t come close, for another swinging K. Wes Helms takes a two-out walk. Manning suddenly loses control and walks Treanor too...Manning’s out in favor of Luis Ayala. Alfredo “The Amazing” Amezaga lines by Guzman’s glove for an RBI single to center. 9-5 Nationals. Hanley Ramirez singles to right, Dukes throws over home as Treanor scores, Amezaga to third, Ramirez to second. 9-6 Nationals. Jeremy Hermida chases strike three out of the zone!! 9-6 after a long eighth.

Logan Kensing pops up Elijah Dukes on the first pitch. Aaron Boone flies out to center. Ronnie Belliard strokes a two-out double to center. Paul Lo Duca takes a pitch to the arm. WWJD? Jesus Flores strikes out swinging...Wait for it...The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History...Jon Rauch is on to end it for DC...Cantu grounds to short. Willingham strikes out swinging through a high fastball. Mike Jacobs lines off Rauch’s leg, and reaches safely when it bounces into foul territory. Cody Ross singles to right. Rauch goes 3-0 on Luis Gonzalez, then throws two fastballs for strikes. Full count. Gonzalez flies to center, Roger Bernadina closes his glove on Collin Balester’s first Major League win. Balester (W, 1-0, 1.80 ERA).

Nationals now 34-51.

The Nationals look to rebound from a tough late-inning loss to the Marlins' last night that saw them blo...

Awww...Who am I kidding? It's all about Collin Balester tonight, as the Washington Nationals' 22-year old right-hander, an Expos' selection in the 4th Round of the 2004 Draft, 144th Overall, makes his Major League debut under the Curly "W". 

Before being called to DC, Balester was having his best season in the Nationals' system, posting a (9-3) record and 4.00 ERA in 15 starts and 78.2 IP, with wins in 8 of his last 10 starts and a (4-0) record through four starts in June, in which he's allowed 22 hits, 7 ER's and 6 walks, while collecting 19 K's in 22.1 innings. 

DC GM Jim Bowden reportedly challenged Balester this Spring, telling the young right-hander, according to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's article entitled, "Injuries Force Teams to Rely on Youngsters":

"'If you want to get to us," he told Balester, 'you have to win. I don't want to see .500 down there with great stuff. What does that do for me?'"

Tough talk from the GM, is Bowden a .500 -GM thus far with his trades and acquisitions? Well the talking's done, let's see what the kid can do? Balester opposes the Marlins' 34-year old lefty, who makes his 153rd Major League start, and 197th overall appearance. Show'em what ya got, Balester...I'm late, let's go...

Collin Balester: July 3, 2007 (via mashmore98)

(ed. note - "Reprinted from 1/28/08 'Can Collin Balester Crack The Washington Nationals' '08 Rotation?'")

DC leadoff batter Roger Bernadina stares at a low strike three from Florida starter Ryan Tucker. Cristian Guzman hits an easy fly ball out to left. Elijah Dukes’ Discerning Eye draws a two-out walk, but Tucker throws a changeup by Jesus Flores to end a scoreless top of the first...Tim Redding throws a fastball high and outside by Hanley Ramirez for a late-swinging strike three. Jeremy Hermida flies out to center,  and Jorge Cantu flies out to left to end the inning. 

Ryan Tucker gets DY swinging ahead of a two-strike change. Ronnie “Walk-off” Belliard grounds out to Jorge Cantu at third. Tucker gets a ground ball to second from Paul Lo Duca to retire the Nationals in order...Tim Redding walks the first batter he faces in the second, Josh Willingham. Hit and run single from Mike Jacobs allows Willingham to take third. Redding fires a low fastball by Cody Ross for a swinging K. Robert Andino rips a low liner under Guzman’s glove at short, Willingham scores, Jacobs takes third. 1-0 Fish. Matt Treanor takes strike three inside and low, (and lets the Ump know). Redding gets a groundball from the opposing pitcher to end the second. 

Willie Harris takes one off the arm to earn a free pass in the third. Tim Redding lays down a successful sac bunt to bring up Bernadina. Tucker’s change gets Bernadina again. Cristian Guzman bounces a single through the right side of the infield to score Harris from second...1-1 ballgame. (ed. note - “You know what ‘they’ say, ‘A leadoff HBP is as bad as a leadoff walk.’)...Dukes chops one into the dirt around home, and Tucker fields and throws to first to end the DC third...Tim Redding gets a low strike call for a backwards K on Hanley Ramirez. Jeremy Hermida hits a pop fly to left, and takes second when Paul Lo Duca can’t get over to the line in time. Roger Bernadina catches Jorge Cantu’s fly to right, and fires it in to keep Hermida on second. Josh Willingham hits one into the second deck of empty dolphin-blue seats in left. Two-run blast. 3-1 Florida. 

Jesus Flores goes down swinging. DY grounds out to short for the second out of the fourth. Ronnie Belliard works the rookie righty to a full count and then drops a line- drive in front of a charging Cody Ross in center. Paul Lo Duca fouls off a few two-strike pitches and then waits and pushes an outside pitch to right for a single, Belliard takes third. Willie Harris cracks a bat on a bloop single to left center that scores Belliard, 3-2 Marlins. Tucker walks Tim Redding to bring up Roger Bernadina. Two down, bases loaded, Bernadina grounds to second, Robert Andino tosses to Hanley Ramirez to end the threat...Cody Ross lifts one out to left, where Lo Duca easily grabs it, Robert Andino works the count full and grounds out to short, but Matt Treanor disrupts Redding’s flow with a double off the old-timey scoreboard in left. Redding’s too much for Ryan Tucker who strikes out like a pitcher. 

Cristian Guzman pops out to short. Elijah Dukes explodes on a 2-2 fastball and bounces it off the upper deck. Solo shot for DUKES!! 3-3 ballgame. Jesus Flores lifts one to left, where Josh Willingham makes the play. GIVE ME A “D” “D!!!” GIVE ME A “Y” WHY? DY goes deep to right and three rows over the wall for another solo shot and a 4-3 DC lead...Ronnie Belliard can’t come up with Hanley Ramirez’s chopper down the line at third. Redding walks Jeremy Hermida to put two on with no outs. Jorge Cantu pops out right behind second. “The Hammer” Josh Willingham flies out to Elijah Dukes in right. Mike Jacobs, goes to a full count, Redding throws one in the dirt and Jacobs chases. Crisis averted...

Doug Waechter will pitch the sixth for the Marlins. Lo Duca swings through a high 90 mph strike three. Willie Harris sails an out to Cody Ross. Tim Redding lines a two-out single to left. Bernadina pops out to short. 4-3 DC, middle of six. Tim Redding’s back for the bottom of the inning, and he gives up a leadoff single through short to Cody Ross. A second hit and run single, this time by Robert Andino, and that’s all for Redding...Jesus “Everyday” Colome starts in a jam...Matt Treanor flies out to right, and Roger Bernadina sails an ill-advised throw home, Ross scores, 4-4 score. Andino to second on the throw. Sac bunt from Waechter moves Andino to third. Hanley Ramirez? Pops out to end the sixth.

Saul Rivera's back out for the seventh after the Marlins' Waechter gets Guzman, Dukes and Flores in order. Rivera gets a swinging K from Jeremy Hermida, and Cantu grounds out in front "The Hammer", who lines out to end the inning, Saul Rivera's got two scoreless in relief.

Ronnie Belliard takes a one out walk from Waechter in the eighth and Lo Duca singles to left moving Bellliard to third. Waechter out, Renyel Pinto in for the Marlins. First and third, one out for Willie Harris, Renyel Pinto throws a wild pitch. Belliard scores standing up. 5-4 Nationals. Pinto walks Willie Harris. Wil Nieves swings through a full count pitch with the runners going, and Belliard’s easily thrown out at third, strike’em out, throw’em out, 5-4 middle of eight. Lopez stays in at short, Harris to left, Boone at first, and  Saul “Sa-ool” Rivera on the hill, Mike Jacobs rips a single through second, and Alfredo “The Amazing” Amezaga comes on to run...Cody Ross tries not to swing at an outside pitch, but he strikes out when he can’t pull back. Amezaga steals second, Robert Andino lines out to right, Amezaga takes third. Matt Treanor swings over a slider. Amezaga’s stranded.

Top of the ninth. Roger Bernadina chases strike three out of the zone. Pinto walks Cristian Guzman and gets yanked from the mound. Justin Miller comes on to get the second out on a line drive from Dukes. Pinch hitter Kory Casto pops out to end the DC ninth...The Tallest PItcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch comes on to close it. Wes Helms chases a ball into the dirt. Rauch leaves a 2-2 fastball up and out over the plate and Hanley Ramirez redirects it into the upper deck in left. 5-5 tie. Rauch gets swinging K's from Hermida and Cantu to keep it there...Add an extra frame...

Florida closer Kevin Gregg works the top of the tenth. A one out walk to Belliard and single one out later from Willie Harris and Wil Nieves is up with two on and two out...Nieves goes down swinging...Jon Rauch is back out for the tenth. Josh Willingham steps into the batter's box...First pitch from Rauch...GONE!!! Off the top of the scoreboard in right...Marlins win 6-5. That's two walk-offs in two nights from these two teams...More walk-off fun tomorrow...

Nationals now 33-51.

The second biggest surprise in baseball out of Florida this season, the NL East's second-place Marlins welcome the Washington Nationals to Dolphin Stadium, in sunny Miami Gardens, Florida, on Dan Marino Blvd, for a three game series starting tonight at 7:10 pm EST...

On The Hill...

Tim Redding, (6-3, 4.05 ERA) the Washington Nationals' right-handed good-luck charm arm takes the mound for the 9th time in his 7-year career opposite the Marlins, against whom he's accumulated a (4-2) record with a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Three of the nine starts have come this season, with Redding posting a (1-2) record, and allowing 14 hits, 17 runs, (10 earned), 2 HR's, and 7 walks, with 16 K's and a 5.87 ERA in 15.1 innings against the Marlins in '08. 

Florida throws rookie right-hander Ryan Tucker, the Marlins 1st Round Pick, 34th Overall in the '05 Amateur Draft, who was called up in early June, and in his first 4 starts above Double-AA ball, has a (2-2) record with a high 6.75 ERA, 12 walks allowed and 15 K's collected over 20.0 innings. In his last start against The Tampa Rays, Tucker lasted just 4.0 innings, giving up 8 hits, 2 HR's and 7 ER's in a 15-3 Marlins' loss. 

As for what Nationals' batters can expect from the Marlins' rookie...MLB.com Marlins' writer Joe Frisaro covered Tucker's MLB debut in an article entitled, "Tucker first of the gang to start in the bigs", where Mr. Frisaro notes:

"...Tucker flashed a fastball that was regularly clocked between 92-95 mph. He had an impressive changeup, in the 81 mph range, and he struck out Jay Bruce with an 84 mph slider." 

Nationals' #'s Against the Florida Marlins...

Jesus Flores - 10 for 28, .357 AVG, 4 2B, 6 RBI's.

Paul Lo Duca - 64 for 185, .346 AVG, 9 2B, 2 HR, 28 RBI's.

Ronnie Belliard - 57 for 199, .286 AVG, 10 2B, 5 HR's, 21 RBI's. 

Cristian Guzman - 38 for 110, .345 AVG, 9 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI's.

Wily Mo Pena - 21 for 69, .304 AVG, 3 2B, 5 HR's, 14 RBI's.

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson...in an article entitled, "Belliard's walk-off blast powers Nats", Sunday's Mr. Walk-Off Ronnie Belliard, who capped off a (4-5) 9-game homestand for DC when he hit a bottom of the ninth, two-strike, two-out blast, off Orioles' closer George Sherrill, told the assembled media after the game:

"'I was thinking 'Hit the ball as hard as I can,' Belliard said. 'If he gave me something to drive, I was just going to hit a fly ball or something. If it hits the wall, I would get a double, probably Dmitri [would score]. But thank God the ball went out of the park.'"

That pitch Belliard caught hold of was a slider from Sherrill, and Belliard watched it all the way into the stands in left, then trotted around the bases, to be greeted at home by his ecstatic teammates, who let Belliard tag home and then swarmed around him in celebration as the assorted Orioles' fans in attendace stood stunned in disbelief... 

Who's watching the Washington Nationals?

The Nationals start the three game series with the Marlins at 7:10 pm. The Nationals have won three of their last four, following a four-game losing streak, but DC' lost five-straight to Florida, including a three-game sweep by the Marlins from May 9-11th, when Washington dropped three straight at home in DC...This time it's in Florida? Last time down south...The Nationals took the first of three, but then dropped two in a row during a mid-April road trip...Let's Play Ball...

Newark Star-Ledger sports writer Dan Graziano seems to take delight in belittling the Washington Nationals, as I've documented before here at federalbaseball.com, using the DC franchise, and its struggles, as an opportunity to display his inimitable wit at every opportunity. Today it's Mr. Graziano's Sunday Star-Ledger baseball column, creatively titled, "Dan Graziano on MLB", with its feature story, "A division with many minuses is a plus for Mets" in which Mr. Graziano breaks down the NL East after the conclusion of the first 81 games of the '08 season, and posits:

"The Mets can talk all they want about the various reasons to hope their season gets better -- easier schedule, warmer weather, the tides...whatever. But the biggest reason they still have hope, after all they've been through this year, is the pitiful division in which they play."

Mr. Graziano then proceeds to identify, with the help of two unnamed NL East scouts, (for four of the NL East's five team's at least), "What's gone wrong", "What's gone right" and what the "Outlook" is for the remainder of each team's '08 campaign...

(ed. note - "To summarize...")

The Phillies have had their weaknesses, on the mound and at the plate, exposed recently, but Cole Hamels has anchored the staff, and it'll be up to him to hold it together the rest of the way. The Marlins' home-run-heavy offense and no-name bullpen are big questions, but any team with Dan Uggla, Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham should not be dismissed...but again, the bullpen? The Mets? I mean it was obviously all Willie Randolph's fault, right? But with Jose Reyes, David Wright, Mike Pelfrey, and Pedro, and maybe some bullpen additions...There's still reason to hope, Mets' fans! As for the Braves, obviously the injuries to pitchers John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Rafael Soriano, and Peter Moylan hurt Atlanta, but with Chipper Jones, Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann, and Yunel Escobar...well if Smoltz were there, Mr. Graziano's "Scout" concludes, "...they had a shot to contend. But without Smoltz it's asking too much." 

Then Dan Graziano gets to the Washington Nationals...

What's gone wrong: Everything.

 

What's gone right: Nothing.

Outlook: Maybe 2009? 2010?

Ahhh-hah...Reduced to a punchline again, as a Nationals' fan I should be used to it by now, but I'm not I guess...but rather than use this as a forum to simply scold, I'll instead endeavor to complete for Mr. Graziano, the thorough (and admittedly insightful) analysis he provided for all of the other NL East teams...

NATIONALS

What's gone wrong: One word, injuries. The Nationals, at their best, were not expected to compete in the up-for-grabs NL East, but when they suffered injuries to, and lost, prominent players like Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson, Dmitri Young, Austin Kearns, Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Hill, Chad Cordero and Elijah Dukes for considerable lengths of time, any thoughts of even moderate success were put to rest. The Nationals' starters have been deprived of run-support as the offense has produced paltry returns, with the notable exception of shortstop Cristian Guzman, who may emerge as an All-Star and a much-desired free agent, and Jesus Flores, who effectively unseated veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca as the team's starting backstop, with mature-beyond-his-years play both at and behind the plate. 

What's gone right: Cristian Guzman, who many wrote off after three injury-plagued seasons in DC, has emerged, in the final year of his four-year deal, as the player the Nationals thought they were getting from Minnesota when they signed him as a free agent back in November of 2004. Currently batting .313, with 24 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR's and 26 RBI's, Guzman might actually earn a spot on this year's NL All-Star team, rather than being the annual obligatory entry from the DC roster. Journeyman starter Tim Redding leads the team in wins, John Lannan, at just 23, has the lowest ERA amongst the starters, and Joel Hanrahan and Jon Rauch have emerged as a legitimate late inning options for the Nationals' future. All of this, while Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes are being given time to develop into solid outfielders. And don't get me started on Jesus Flores, who might just surprise everyone and make the All-Star team himself...

Outlook: As DC GM Jim Bowden told MLB.com's Bill Ladson the other day in an article entitled, "GM, skipper review team at halfway mark":

"'We have the fourth-best record of all farm systems in baseball as an organization, and we're winning with prospects, and they're developing and they're moving. Some of these guys have gone above and beyond what our expectations were.'"

Already, John Lannan, Garret Mock, Tyler Clippard and now Collin Balester have poked their heads up for some Major League air...young outfielders Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes are starting to produce at the Major League level. Ryan Zimmerman will still be 23 when he returns from injury, and I can't say enough about Jesus Flores. With what Baseball America deemed MLB's 9th best farm system last January, the future is finally beginning to look better for this long-suffering franchise and its fans...(ed. note - "Though I guess that's just another, admittedly more wordy way, of summing up, as Mr. Graziano did, "Outlook: Maybe 2009? 2010?")

There...I feel much better now.

Brian Roberts lines the second pitch Jason Bergman throws out into left where Wily Mo Pena plays it and holds Roberts to a single. Roberts runs on Wil Nieves, and gets thrown out at second. Roger Bernadina closes his glove on a pop fly from Alex Cintron. Nick Markakis knocks an 0-2, two-out single to right. A low fastball entices Aubrey Huff to pop out foul of third, where Kory Casto catches it...Wait for it...

The Major League debut of Roger Bernadina...against O’s righty Jeremy Guthrie...line drive single through second. Bernadina starts out hot on a fastball inside that he drives. Cristian Guzman takes one in the numbers, square in the back, to bring up Elijah Dukes with RISP...Dukes’ Discerning Eye draws a walk to load the bases...Aaron Boone grounds into a force at second, but Elijah Dukes breaks up the DP with a hard slide as Bernadina crosses, 1-0 DC after one.

Kevin Mill-ah singles to start the O’s second. Bernadina catches a pop fly off Luke Scott’s bat. Bergmann drops a two-strike curve on “Invicible” Adam Jones to get a swinging K. Guillermo Quiroz grounds to third, Casto throws to Willie Harris for the force and Mill-ah slides hard at Harris’ ankle for some reason (ed. note - "Mill-ah thought there was only one down. Pay attention, Mill-AH!!!)...Wily Mo Pena lines a single to left to start the DC second. Willie Harris drives an inside pitch from Guthrie to right for a single...Two on, 0 outs, for Wil Nieves...Nieves grounds to third, Aubrey Huff fields, steps on the bag and throws to first, double play. Bergmann grounds out. 1-0 DC after two.

Jeremy Guthrie grounds weakly to Guzman for the first out of the third. Brian Roberts flies out to Bernadina. Alex Cintron ends the O’s third with another fly ball out. Bergmann through three scoreless...Roger Bernandina goes the other way by Aubrey Huff leaps to rob him of a hit. Cristian Guzman takes a one-out walk in front of Dukes. Dukes takes a questionable 1-1 slider for a strike and then goes down swinging defensively. Aaron Boone pops out to short right to end the third. Still 1-0 Nationals.

Wily Mo Pena ambles over to the line to catch Nick Markakis' pop fly. Jason Bergmann walks Aubrey Huff. Kevin Mill-ah swings through a high heater from Bergmann. Aaron Boone gets some leather on a hotshot from Luke Scott, but it gets by Boone and trickles into right allowing Huff to take third. Adam Jones up, Bergmann bounces a curve allowing Scott to take second. Jones grounds down the line, Casto gets it on his backhand, turns and fires to first...IN TIME! 1-0 DC after three and a half...Casto grounds out to third. WMP hits a weak groundout to short. Willie Harris golfs a two-out single to right-center. Will Nieves swings over a slider for strike three to end the fourth. 1-0 Washington.

Casto fields a sharp grounder off Guillermo Quiroz’s bat. Jeremy Guthrie’s first MLB hit is a double into the left center gap off Bergmann. Wil Nieves picks Guthrie off second when he strays too far from the bag, and let’s Guzman sneak in and tag him out. Brian Roberts grounds to second, Bergmann through five...Bergmann flails away at a few and K’s swinging. Bernadina chops a groundout to second. Guzman sails the third out to right, where a running Markakis makes the catch. Five in the books. 1-0 DC.

Alex Cintron flies out to Bernandina in center. Nick Markakis pops up behind short, where Guzman grabs it. Kevin Mill-ah lifts one to right, Dukes has it, Bergmann’s through six scoreless...Elijah Dukes takes a full-count slider for a called strike three. Aaron Boone grounds to Cintron at short. Casto grounds the first pitch to first to end the sixth. 1-0 DC. 

Bergmann pops up Mill-ah for the first out of the seventh. Luke Scott lifts a low fastball to straight center and...GONE! Just over the out-of-town scoreboard and into the first row of seats. 1-1 ballgame. Adam Jones grounds out to short. Bergmann blows away Quiroz. Stand up and stretch...WMP walks to start the DC seventh. Pete Orr pinch runs for Pena. Willie Harris grounds to Mill-ah, to second, Cintron back to Mill-ah, double play. Wil Nieves grounds out to third. 1-1 after seven. 

Saul “Sa-ool” Rivera starts the eight with a foul tip out into Nieves’ mitt from Jay Payton. Brian Roberts grounds to second, Cintron swings over a curve, 1-1 middle of eight...Orioles’ righty Jim Johnson takes over in the bottom of the inning. Jesus Flores bloops a single over first to start the inning. Felipe Lopez comes on to run for the catcher. Bernadina bunts too hard, and Mill-ah takes the force at second. Guzman slices a single to left, Bernadina takes second. Elijah Dukes fights off a few two-strike pitches, but ends up grounding to third, Huff steps on the bag and throws to first, double play by Huff. 1-1 after eight. 

The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch to pitch the ninth. Rauch gets a fly out to right from Markakis. Aubrey Huff pops out foul of third. Mill-ah pops out to center, and Rauch retires the O’s in order...Boone hacks at the second pitch and pops out to first. Kory Casto grounds out. Pete Orr goes through short for a single to left off Jim Johnson. Willie Harris? Pops out to first. Extra innings up next...

Luis Ayala’s on the mound in the tenth. Luke Scott grounds out to Orr at second. Ayala drops a nasty two-strike-comeback-fastball on Adam Jones for the K. Pete Orr ranges behind second and makes the play to throw out the O’s catcher Quiroz....Bottom of the tenth. Chad Bradford’s pitching for the Orioles. Wil Nieves chases strike three into the left-handed batter’s box. Ronnie Belliard lines out to center. Roger Bernadina? Bernadina grounds through Mill-Ah’s wickets for a two-out single. Cristian Guzman up, Bernadina runs, but Bradford and Quiroz go with the pitch-out to nail the rookie baserunner. On to the 11th...

Melvin Mora pops out in a pinch hit appearance. Luis Ayala throws a fastball outside and trailing away from Brian Roberts for a swinging K. Alex Cintron gets sawed off by Ayala, who completes his second scoreless...Orioles’ righty Dennis Sarfate takes over in the eleventh. Guzman stares strike three into Quiroz’s glove. Elijah Dukes pops out ot short right. Aaron Boone beats out an infield single. Casto grounds out to short. 1-1 after eleven...

Nick Markakis singles off Ayala to start the twelfth. Aubrey Huff drives a single to left. Mill-ah flies out to left, and Casto fires it back in to hold the runners. DC Manager Manny Acta replaces Ayala with Charlie Manning. Manning throws three curves to Scott and gets him chasing. “Wild” Joel Hanrahan is on to face Adam Jones. Jones lines a a low 2-2 slider to right and Markakis beats Dukes’ throw home. 2-1 Orioles after eleven and a half...Lefty George Sherrill’s on in the bottom of the twelfth to close out the Orioles' win. Pete Orr down chasing. Paul Lo Duca grounds out. DY takes a two-out walk. Ronnie Belliard...GOES DEEEEEEP TO LEFT...AND GONE!!!! WALK-OFF HOMER FOR BELLIARD!!! WALK-OFF!! WALK-OFF!! Like I told you in the title, THE O’s Don’t Win on Sundays!!!

Nationals now 33-50.