Via the MLB facebook.

What’s the only thing more interesting than one benches clearing incident? Well, two benches clearing incidents, with a brawl thrown in for good measure. For the Nationals who’ve lost large leads that looked out blowouts before, they didn’t take any chances, beating the Cubs 9-2 and overall outscoring them 31-9 over four games. For the Cubs, it became a little bit too much to take and frustration spilled out onto the field leading to ejections for both teams.

In yesterday’s sweep of the Chicago Cubs, the Nationals once again blew out their opposition, maintained a 7 1/2 game lead in the NL East, and dropped their magic number to win the National League East down to 18.

The first benches clearing incident happened in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jayson Werth was batting with the bases loaded and the Nats up 7-2. Cubs catcher Clevenger went to the dugout to change his glove when Nats third base coach Bo Porter approached the Cubs dugout yelling. Yet first before Porter approached the dugout, replays showed Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk pointing and yelling at Porter.

Eventually players ran out onto the field from the dugouts and bullpens and the fracas was subdued by the umpires without any further incident. Quirk was ejected from the game for his actions, while Porter remained in. Later after the game umpire Jerry Layne stated that Quirk instigated the shouting match by yelling at Porter.

The fun didn’t end there. The next inning  when Bryce  Harper was batting, Cubs pitcher Lendy Castillo threw an inside pitch. Harper wasn’t hit by the pitch, but with bad blood already brewing, tempers flared.  As Harper started walking towards the mound he had to be restrained by catcher Clevenger and umpire Jerry Layne.

» Continue reading “Benches clear; Nats still sweep”

These first few games have been dangerously close to last season so far.  Little offense (save a one-inning explosion to come back and win last night) and leaving good pitching to dry.  Today, it finally caught up to the Nationals.

Jordan Zimmermann allowed just two runs in his season debut.  Just one earned.  He pitched seven innings, striking out four and allowing six hits.  You’re not going to get much better pitching than that.

But why take advantage of that? It’s much more fun to instead waste pitching you seem to not deserve.  Rizzo went out and got two more solid arms to try to help them, and their response has basically been “Nah, our way is better.”

I don’t seriously think that this is what is going through their minds, but four hits isn’t going to cut it.

» Continue reading “Leaving Zimmermann To Dry Is More Fun Than Run Support”

With Opening Day in the books, the Nats are going to have to kick the offense into gear to sustain the momentum.  Here’s what’s up after day 1 of 2012.

-Here a video recap of the game yesterday from yours truly.

-Strasburg got the start and was solid in his first game of 2012. 153 innings to go. [Wash Times-Daly]

-How yesterday’s game felt almost like an October game. [CSN Washington]

-Harper debuted for AAA last night as well. [Nats Enquirer]

-Morse and Ankiel both began their rehab as well. [CSN Washington]

-Until Storen is back and good to go, Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez will alternate with closing duties. [Nats Journal]

THE NATS ARE UNDEFEATED! Here’s how it went down this afternoon in Wrigley.