What to Watch for: 7/5
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San Francisco Giants (45-37) vs. Washington Nationals (47-32)
RHP Matt Cain (9-3, 2.53) vs. LHP Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.30)
After the Nationals beat the Giants last night to earn another series victory, they look to put the finishing touch on a sweep the now second-place NL West team tonight. A win tonight will push the Nats to a season-best 16 games above .500.
NATIONALS LINEUP:
1. Lombardozzi LF
2. Harper CF
3. Zimmerman 3B
4. Morse RF
5. LaRoche 1B
6. Desmond SS
7. Espinosa 2B
8. Flores C
9. Detwiler LHP
BESTING SOME OF THE BEST
Wednesday’s 9-4 win was the Nationals third in as many games. During the three consecutive wins, Washington has scored 26 runs (8.7 per game) despite being opposed by Madison Bumgarner (career 3.14 ERA), Tim Lincecum (3.23) and Tim Hudson (3.42), who rank fourth, seventh and 16th, respectively, in career ERA among active pitchers.
DESMOND NOT SHORT ON POWER
Since debuting with Washington on September 10, 2009, Ian Desmond has blasted 36 homers to match the total hit by all other Nationals shortstops combined (Cristian Guzman 21, Felipe Lopez 8, Danny Espinosa 2, Alberto Gonzalez 2, Ronnie Belliard 1, Damian Jackson 1 and D’Angelo Jimenez 1) since the franchise’s 2005 arrival in The District. Ian’s 40 extra-base hits (24 doubles, 2 triples, career-high 14 homers) pace MLB shortstops (Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera ranks second with 31).
‘CATT’S MEOW
Steve McCatty’s staff leads MLB in fewest runs allowed (275), ERA (3.18), starters ERA (3.28), batting average against (.229), hits per 9.0 innings (7.62), WHIP (1.20), baserunners allowed per 9.0 innings (10.99), OPS against (.656), fielding-independent pitching (3.46) and swing-and-miss percentage (24.1).
