"Just trying to get a pitch to hit and not miss it. Don't foul it off or anything, square it up and see what happens." -- Austin Kearns, on Sunday's game-winning hit, July 26, 2009.
THE RESULTS: The Washington Nationals took a pair of games from the San Diego Padres, the next-worst team in the National League, over the weekend. Saturday, the Nats exploded for a 13-1 win after another lengthy rain delay, and Sunday they rode another strong outing by John Lannan -- and late inning heroics from Kearns -- for a 3-2, 10-inning win.
Lannan was once again outstanding, going eight innings and giving up one earned run on five hits and one walk, striking out two. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after just 81 pitches, 59 of which were strikes.
He did not factor in the decision though, as Mike MacDougal gave up a massive home run with two outs in the top of the ninth to Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks, which tied the game at two.
The Nats had just taken the lead in the bottom of the eighth, when Adam Dunn singled in Willie Harris, who had singled and took second on an error.
Kearns was inserted for defense -- for Dunn -- in the top of the ninth, but was the hitting hero instead. Nyjer Morgan led off the inning with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by Harris. The Padres then walked Nick Johnson, and Ryan Zimmerman flied out for the second out.
Kearns laced the second pitch he saw from Padres reliever Greg Burke to the gap in right, plenty of hit to score Morgan from second.
In Saturday's laugher, Dunn hit a grand slam, Zimmerman added shot of his own, and the Nats pounded out 16 hits in the 13-1 win.
Starter J.D. Martin only threw two innings because of the long rain delay. Tyler Clippard (W, 1-0, 1.93) picked him up, going four one-hit shutout innings, striking out seven along the way.
Morgan went 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot and Cristain Guzman added three hits to the parade.
THE TAKEAWAY: After 98 games, the Nats finally reached 30 wins for the season. They took two series this week, against the injury-depleted Mets and talent-depleted Padres. They went 4-7 for the 11-game homestand, the first 11 games of the Jim Riggleman era.
The Nats now will try to take the momentum from the weekend out on the road with them, as they embark on an eight-day, eight game road trip to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
THE GOOD: John Lannan. You can't really describe a non-strikeout guy as dominant, but in his last three starts, against the Cubs, Mets and Padres, Lannan has been absolutely baffling hitters. In 23.2 IP, he gave up 19 hits and just two walks, striking out just five batters.
THE BAD: Anderson Hernandez. In his first start since Riggleman took over, he went 0-for-4 on Sunday.
THE UGLY: Dmitri Young. I know he's not on the roster, but he is on the 40-man -- for now. He injured a quad muscle last Sunday in Harrisburg, and an MRI revealed a tear in the muscle. He's probably out for the season.
I personally like Dmitri Young, and if he's played his last game in a Nationals uniform, I will miss him. But the sad reality is for $10 million, be gave the club 150 at bats in the last two years.
Good Luck and Good Health, Meathook.
NEXT GAME: Tonight in Milwaukee. Craig Stammen (3-5, 4.14) faces Jeff Suppan (5-7, 4.71).
THE RESULTS: The Washington Nationals took a pair of games from the San Diego Padres, the next-worst team in the National League, over the weekend. Saturday, the Nats exploded for a 13-1 win after another lengthy rain delay, and Sunday they rode another strong outing by John Lannan -- and late inning heroics from Kearns -- for a 3-2, 10-inning win.
Lannan was once again outstanding, going eight innings and giving up one earned run on five hits and one walk, striking out two. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning after just 81 pitches, 59 of which were strikes.
He did not factor in the decision though, as Mike MacDougal gave up a massive home run with two outs in the top of the ninth to Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks, which tied the game at two.
The Nats had just taken the lead in the bottom of the eighth, when Adam Dunn singled in Willie Harris, who had singled and took second on an error.
Kearns was inserted for defense -- for Dunn -- in the top of the ninth, but was the hitting hero instead. Nyjer Morgan led off the inning with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by Harris. The Padres then walked Nick Johnson, and Ryan Zimmerman flied out for the second out.
Kearns laced the second pitch he saw from Padres reliever Greg Burke to the gap in right, plenty of hit to score Morgan from second.
In Saturday's laugher, Dunn hit a grand slam, Zimmerman added shot of his own, and the Nats pounded out 16 hits in the 13-1 win.
Starter J.D. Martin only threw two innings because of the long rain delay. Tyler Clippard (W, 1-0, 1.93) picked him up, going four one-hit shutout innings, striking out seven along the way.
Morgan went 4-for-5 in the leadoff spot and Cristain Guzman added three hits to the parade.
THE TAKEAWAY: After 98 games, the Nats finally reached 30 wins for the season. They took two series this week, against the injury-depleted Mets and talent-depleted Padres. They went 4-7 for the 11-game homestand, the first 11 games of the Jim Riggleman era.
The Nats now will try to take the momentum from the weekend out on the road with them, as they embark on an eight-day, eight game road trip to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
THE GOOD: John Lannan. You can't really describe a non-strikeout guy as dominant, but in his last three starts, against the Cubs, Mets and Padres, Lannan has been absolutely baffling hitters. In 23.2 IP, he gave up 19 hits and just two walks, striking out just five batters.
THE BAD: Anderson Hernandez. In his first start since Riggleman took over, he went 0-for-4 on Sunday.
THE UGLY: Dmitri Young. I know he's not on the roster, but he is on the 40-man -- for now. He injured a quad muscle last Sunday in Harrisburg, and an MRI revealed a tear in the muscle. He's probably out for the season.
I personally like Dmitri Young, and if he's played his last game in a Nationals uniform, I will miss him. But the sad reality is for $10 million, be gave the club 150 at bats in the last two years.
Good Luck and Good Health, Meathook.
NEXT GAME: Tonight in Milwaukee. Craig Stammen (3-5, 4.14) faces Jeff Suppan (5-7, 4.71).
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