"Zimmerman knew all the way that Harris wasn't going to be there. He was playing Markakis to pull and he had already told Zimmerman that on a ball to him, he should go to first base." --Manny Acta, May 23, 2009.
THE RESULT: Five Baltimore Orioles pitchers held the Washington Nationals to one run on seven hits and three walks, as the Birds beat the Nats 2-1, before a robust crowd of 31,833, many of whom made the trip down the B/W Parkway for the festivities.
Nats starter Ross Detwiler pitched well in defeat and should have had a different fate. He went six innings, allowing just one questionable hit, walking four and striking out four.
The run came in the third. Detwiler walked the bases loaded--including a four-pitch walk to O's starter Koji Uehara, making his first ever major league at bat. With two outs, Detwiler got Nick Markakis to ground to Ryan Zimmerman, but Willie Harris failed to cover second on the play, and what should have been a ground ball out to end the inning turned into an RBI single.
The Nats scored their lone run on a Cristian Guzman hone run in the fifth inning, his second of the season.
The Orioles took the lead against Julian Tavarez and Ron Villone in the seventh inning. Tavarez gave up a one-out double to catcher Gregg Zaun, but he was erased on a fielder's choice by Cesar Izturis. Aubrey Huff then pinch-hit for the pitcher, and Acta went for the lefty. Huff proceeded to triple against Villone, and that's all the Orioles would need.
Goerge Sherrill struck out the side in the bottom fo the ninth for the save.
THE GOOD: Justin Maxwell's catch of Adam Jones' sure-to-be home run ball may be the play of the year.
THE BAD: Josh Bard. 0-for-4, ground into DP, K.
THE UGLY: Manny Acta tried to defend Harris not covering the bag, but that's a play little leaguers know to make. Harris hasn't played second in a while, and the Nats are hamstrung by "using" 13 pitchers right now.
But has anyone seen Daniel Cabrera do anything but play catch with the right fielder between innings yet?
NEXT GAME: Nats hope to avoid a sweep by the O's at 1:35 pm. Sharion Martis (5-0, 4.53) faces Brad Bergesen (1-2, 5.35).
0 comments
Post a Comment