Adam LaRoche scores the winning run over the Mets. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images North America)
Before last night’s game even started, there were plenty of changes in the Nationals’ clubhouse. Danny Espinosa–who was playing through a left rotator cuff tear–was finally placed on the disabled list which opened the door for top prospect Anthony Rendon to be called up. Right-hander Henry Rodriguez and left-hander Zach Duke were designated for assignment while left-hander Ian Krol was called up from Class AA Harrisburg in an attempt to straighten out the bullpen. To complete the moves, outfielder Jayson Werth was activated off of the disabled list after missing over a month from a strained hamstring.
Despite the flurry of changes, the Nationals hammered out a win and pulled back to .500 before the night was over. Jordan Zimmermann delivered another dominant performance pitching eight innings giving up no earned runs and four strikeouts. Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth with no earned runs and one strikeout.
After being held to only one run until the ninth inning, the Nationals put a rally together against Mets’ closer Bobby Parnell.
After Ryan Zimmerman doubled, he advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored the tying run on Adam LaRoche‘s single to right. Ian Desmond doubled, and Roger Bernadina was intentionally walked which brought Steve Lombardozzi to the plate.
Filling in at second base for the ailing Espinosa, Lombardozzi smacked a sac fly to left field, allowing Adam LaRoche to score the winning run and caused the dog pile celebration on the field.
“I was out of breath. I think I blacked out a little there.”
Pushing across the winning run to top off the 3-2 walk-off win effectively gave the Nationals their first walk-off win of the season and allowed them to break a lopsided stat: until the walk-off, the team was 0-21 when trailing after six innings.
Now after checking off their first walk-off of the season, perhaps it’s the spark that will get them back on track.
Tonight the Nationals face the New York Mets for game 2 of the series with Dan Haren on the mound facing right-hander Dillon Gee. The Nats currently trail the Mets 2-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
The third time’s the charm. Yesterday, Jordan Zimmermann was named National League’s July pitcher of the month, joining Stephen Strasburg (who won in April) and Gio Gonzalez (who won in May).
The Nationals are the first team to have three different pitchers recognized since the 1979 Astros.
During the month of July Zimmermann’s gone 4-0 in six starts with a .97 ERA and led the Nationals pitching with the lowest ERA at 2.28 with the most innings pitched (134 1/3).
Teammate Ryan Zimmerman put together an impressive campaign for NL’s player of the month, but was beat by Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen.
In case you missed it…
It’s Werthmas! Jayson Werth made his triumphant return from his broken wrist yesterday. And against his old ballclub, no less. The outfielder hit a single and drove in a run in his return.
With Werth’s return, Henry Rodriguez is headed to the DL (again) with a lower back issue.
Third base umpire Chris Guccione takes Joel Peralta's glove with the "foreign substance" to the umpire's room.
The Nationals and Rays may not exactly be sworn enemies, considering they’re in completely different leagues and see each other every few years. However, considering the pine tar shenanigans that occurred last night and the comments that followed afterwards, I doubt either team is willing to go on a bonding retreat or something of the sort.
After last night, baseball’s code and ethics are suddenly thrown into the spotlight in DC and in the baseball world. Yesterday, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Tampa Bay Rays reliever Joel Peralta came in to pitch. Before Peralta, a former National, even threw a pitch, Davey Johnson asked umpire Tim Tschida to check Peralta’s glove.
After Tschida checked Peralta’s glove, the glove was confiscated and Peralta was ejected for what Tschida said was a “significant amount” of pine tar in his glove. In the end, it seems to have worked out for the Rays. Reliever Jake McGee was called to pitch in place of the ejected Peralta and retired all three Nationals in order. The Rays went on to win the ballgame 5-4.
Now the glove is en route to New York to be checked by Major League Baseball, but this is far from over. After the game Rays manager Joe Maddon had a few thoughts of his own about what transpired.
Through 3 blown saves, Davey Johnson has stood by Henry Rodriguez as closer. But, after things got a little too interesting last night, Johnson is now considering changing things around. In the 2-1 win the Phillies last night, Rodriguez allowed the tying and winning runners to reach scoring positions. He also threw two wild pitches in a 1/3 of an inning. (Rodriguez has 8 wild pitches this year.)
So far this year, Rodriguez has been somewhat of a Jekyll & Hyde act, being inconsistent with a lack of control. Last night Sean Burnett was able to bail Henry out, but now Johnson is forced to rely more on the bullpen. Closer Drew Storen is out until the All-Star break (at least) and Brad Lidge still a few weeks removed from returning. Also today there was even more unfortunate injury news with Ryan Mattheus being placed on the disabled list (foot). Davey Johnson doesn’t have many more candidates to chose from.
The Nats will look to snap a 4 game losing streak today as they kick off a homestand against the DiamondBacks and Phillies. After a day off yesterday, the Nats are seeing a lack of offense finally catching up to them on the scoreboard. Here’s what you need to know.
-From us, the Nats losing streak is finally shining a light on the lack of offense this season.
-Closer Brad Lidge is going to have surgery to repair a hernia. Better get used to Rodriguez. [Nats Journal]
-Harper may have already made his major league debut, but he will face a new animal in his home debut today. [Wash Times]
-Here’s a look at how the Harper and Tyler Moore promotions affect the rest of the organization. [Nats Prospects]
-The Nats had a pretty successful April, but what specifically has it told us about this 2012 team so far? [District on Deck]
-The rotation of the outfield has been interesting, and will continue to be so throughout the year with various call-ups.[Nats Review]
First, let’s give a warm round of applause to our city’s hockey team, the Capitals, knocking off the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in OT of Game 7 in the 1st round of the playoffs last night. That was sick. Speaking of sick, Jordan Zimmermann got himself a win, and the Nats won 7-2 over the Padres to up their record to an NL-leading 14-4. And RG3 will be drafted by the Redskins tonight (HOLLA DC sports!) Here’s what’s up.
-From us, Henry Rodriguez appears to be smoothing out his arm for the Nats, just in time to help close with Storen out.
-Ryan Zimmerman’s MRI showed no significant damage, though it’s still uncertain whether or not he will go on the DL. [Wash Times]
-And Stephen Strasburg even does it with a catcher’s mitt. Because why the hell not. [Nats Enquirer]
-A look at what’s been happening with the other end of the Gio Gonzalez trade so far. [CSN Washington]
-More looks at Adam LaRoche’s great start to the season. [Federal Baseball]
-More information about the newest Nats, especially since they’ve been contributing to the early success. [Nationals Review]
-Mike Rizzo went on the radio and talked about Tyler Moore, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and more. [Nats Blog]
Raise your hand if you got really nervous when Drew Storen went down with injury just before the start of the season (raises hand). It was a relief then to know that the Nationals had acquired Brad Lidge. Then he pitched, and, well, it hasn’t exactly been pretty. There was one option left, and it was a terrifying one: Henry Rodriguez.
Everyone has always known he’s had the power. The Nats acquired him as part of the deal for Josh Willingham (that also included Corey Brown). For the last couple of years, his arm has been visibly raw.
Rodriguez could get his speeds up, but it was a crap chute whether or not he would get it near the strike zone. It was more of the same with his other pitches: the potential was there, but control problems prevented him from being able to break through.
Whatever Rodriguez did over the winter worked. He returned for 2012 with a new calmness and control over his arm that has made him a great closer early in the season. Batters are hitting .038 against him and he has yet to give up an earned run.
Well, thank God that was over. Two days without baseball during the regular season? That’s just not cool. On to the Padres!
-From us: the Nats being in first place isn’t a fluke.
-There were questions about Ryan Zimmerman’s shoulder, but it was well enough for him to sign autographs on Saturday…from his Bentley. [Nats Enquirer]
-Tell me if this sounds familiar: Chien-Ming Wang threw his first rehab start. [Nats Journal]
-A couple of years later, looking back on the Josh Willingham trade that brought the Nats prospect Croey Brown and Henry Rodriguez. [Nats Blog]
-More on Desmond’s hot start, which couldn’t have come at a better time to get people back to thinking he is core part of the future. [CSN Washington]
-A lot of things have been freakishly awesome about the Nats pitching staff. Among them: they haven’t been giving up home runs. [Nats Journal]
-With Pudge officially retiring yesterday, another look at our piece about his time with the Nats. Rodriguez really helped this organization in transition.
Within two years, Drew Storen has become the go-to for the Nats in closing situations. He has been steady, consistent, powerful, and until recently, healthy. With some tightness going through his throwing arm, the Nats have to make preparations in case the young ace can’t go.
In the past, Todd Coffey might have filled in, or perhaps even Tyler Clippard. This year, however, the Nats have the privilege of having another talented closer on the roster: Brad Lidge.
Davey Johnson says that it will be either Lidge or Henry Rodriguez (so, yeah, hopefully Lidge). One would think that Clippard would be in the fold as well, but Johnson wants to try to keep him in the position he is best at. From Nats Insider:
We knew it was going to even itself out. The Battle of the Beltways is tied at one apiece and the Nat have scored 20 runs in those two games. Think of it that way, it sounds more awesome. Some links to prime you for this afternoon’s tilt:
-Roger Bernadina has been doing everything he can think of to stay with the big club, including working on his pitch selection at the plate. [Nats Journal]
-An update on the rest of the NL East. [Nats Blog]
-Could it be time for Michael Morse to embrace his role off the bench? [Examiner.com]
-Henry Rodriguez has broke the 100 mph mark a couple of times, and Riggleman has noticed his improvement. [Nats Journal]
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