What to Watch For: NLDS Game 2
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Washington Nationals (1-0) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (0-1)
RHP Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 2.94) vs. LHP Jaime Garcia (7-7, 3.92)
Trailing 2-1 into the top of the eighth inning, the Nationals got a two-out, two-strike, two-run pinch-single from Tyler Moore to flip the script and steal a Game 1 victory in St. Louis. Washington will send right-hander Jordan Zimmermann to the hill this afternoon in Game 2 against Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche on the importance of Sunday’s Game 1 win:
“Game 1 in a short series like this is huge. I think more than anything because now for the Cardinals, since we won Game 1, this is kind of a must-win.”
NATIONALS LINEUP
1. Werth RF
2. Harper CF
3. Zimmerman 3B
4. LaRoche 1B
5. Morse LF
6. Desmond SS
7. Espinosa 2B
8. Suzuki C
9. Zimmermann RHP
IT HAS BEEN A WHILE
Entering the 2012 postseason, a big league club from Washington last won a postseason game on October 5, 1933 (79 years ago), when the AL Nationals topped the New York Giants, 4-0, at Griffith Stadium and southpaw Earl Whitehill tossed a five-hitter. Davey Johnson’s last postseason win came as the Orioles doubled up the Indians, 4-2, in Game 5 on October 13, 1997 (15 years ago).
WERTH NOTING
Jayson Werth’s 13 career home runs in 45 career postseason contests are tied for fifth among active players with Chipper Jones (13 in 93 games) and Alex Rodriguez (13 in 68 games). Only Derek Jeter (20 home runs, 153 games), Albert Pujols (18 in 74 games), Jim Thome (17 in 68 games) and Nelson Cruz (14 in 34 games) have more. In fact, in 44 career postseason games, Werth has more homers than the following October legends: Yogi Berra (12 home runs in 75 games), David Ortiz (12 in 75 games), Duke Snider (11 in 36 games), Johnny Bench (10 in 45 games), Frank Robinson (10 in 35 games), Chase Utley (10 in 46 games) and Barry Bonds (nine in 48 games).
D.C.’S POSTSEASON LEDGER
It’s well known that the Nation’s Capital has one MLB World Championship (‘24) on its resume. Washington, D.C. owns an all-time record of 9-11 in the postseason.
Gio had a bad day yesterday. But JZimm will step up today and he will go a solid six innings. No need to worry fans
GO NATS.
Gio had a bad inning only – but he was being careful not to give Holiday or Molina something they could park over the fence, and the ump was not giving the edge of the plate. Plus he knew the Nats had his back. Good team – good day.