LEADOFF WALK IN 13TH COMES AROUND TO SCORE WINNING RUN
On a day where the Washington Nationals hope they acquired pieces of their future on Draft Day, the team of the present let another late lead slip away, surrendering a 4-0 lead, getting tied in the eighth inning, and eventually losing to the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in 13 innings, before a capacity crowd at AT&T Park.
All the positive vibes coming from the east coast after the Nats selected Anthony Rendon No. 6 overall seemed to be carrying over, as the Nats backed John Lannan to a 4-0 lead, thanks to Michael Morse's ninth home run of the season and a two run double by the streaking first baseman.
As was the case in Sunday's game, the Nats could not hold a late lead, as Lannan gave up a solo home run in the seventh, his last inning of work, then Todd Coffey and Sean Burnett allowed a series of dinks and dunks to erode the lead until it no longer existed, as a three-run rally by the Giants tied the game up to the delight of the home crowd.
The Nats and Giants traded shaky innings by their relievers until the bottom of the 13th, when Craig Stammen issued a four-pitch walk to the leadoff hitter, catcher Chris Stewart, who does not have a hit this season. After a failed sacrifice by reliever Javier Lopez (W, 3-1), Andres Torres singled to right field to put two runners on. Stammen coaxed a ground ball to short by Miguel Tejada, but Ian Desmond had trouble with the feed to second, and the Nats had to settle for one out.
Failure to turn two doomed the Nats, as Freddie Sanchez lined a ball to right field to drive home Stewart with the winning run.
Lannan deserved a better fate. He went seven innings, allowing just one earned run on the solo homer to Aaron Rowand. He gave up just four hits and three walks, striking out six.
The loss drops the Nationals record to 26-34 for the season, and 2-3 on this 11-game road trip thus far.
_______________________________________________
THE GOOD: Morse. He went 2-for-6 with the homer and three RBIs, upping his average to .302.
THE BAD: Henry Rodriguez. It's amazing how he did not allow a run. He gave up two hits and two walks in 1 2/3, striking out two but he was barely able to throw a strike, and Pudge Rodriguez would not let him throw a fastball to right-handed hitters.
THE UGLY: Jayson Werth went 0-for-6, stranding six runners. He needs to be better.
THE STATS: Nine hits, five walks, 14 strikeouts. 2-for-10 with RISP, nine LOB, 1 GIDP. No errors.
NEXT GAME: Tuesday against the Giants at 10:15 pm EDT. Jordan Zimmerman (3-6, 3.61) faces Jonathan Sanchez (4-3, 3.50)
Nice quick, clean review for me. I'm pretty glad that I missed this one and chose to focus on affiliate FAIL instead. At least there I can focus on a Marrero home run, Milone's pinpoint control, Robbie Ray's dominant start, and Bryce Harper's dinger after an ouchie Sunday night.
Hope is down on the farm people, not in Joel Hanrahan's right arm Sean Burnett's left arm.
Strikethrough tag FAIL!