Results tagged ‘ Miami Marlins ’
Highlights: 4.17.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
4.17.13 – Nationals 6, Marlins 1
Stat of the Game: With seven innings of one-run ball, Ross Detwiler became just the second pitcher in Nationals/Expos history to go at least six innings while allowing one or fewer runs in each of his first three starts of the season, joining Pedro Martinez.
Under-the-Radar Performance: Coming off a missed game to to the flu, Bryce Harper matched a career high with four hits, including an RBI infield single with two outs in the ninth.
It Was Over When: The Nationals bounced back from their only run allowed (on a questionable call in the bottom of the fifth inning) to score single runs in the sixth and seventh and put the game out of reach.
What to Watch for: 4.17.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Washington Nationals (8-6) vs. Miami Marlins (3-11)
LHP Ross Detwiler (0-0, 0.69) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-1, 3.12)
The Nationals look to wrap up their first road series victory of the 2013 season after splitting the first two games of the series. Washington is 4-1 so far this season vs. the Marlins.
NATIONALS LINEUP:
1. Werth RF
2. Lombardozzi 2B
3. Harper LF
4. Zimmerman 3B
5. LaRoche 1B
6. Desmond SS
7. Bernadina CF
8. Suzuki C
9. Detwiler LHP
EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
The Nationals pace the NL as 40.2 percent of their hits have gone for extra bases. This season, Washington’s 117 hits include 27 doubles, two triples and 18 homers. Atlanta ranks second in the NL (38.6%).
IAN’S BEING … IAN
Ian Desmond paces all MLB middle infielders in extra-base hits with 10 (seven doubles, triple, two home runs). Desmond’s seven doubles are also tied for the MLB lead (all positions) with Seattle’s Kyle Seager.
GONE FISHIN’
With the series outcome on the line tonight, note that Washington has won only three of 18 series played in Miami since the beginning of the 2007 campaign. The Nationals and Marlins split 18 games last season despite Washington’s 20-12 advantage in home runs. Via a 10-8 mark in 2007, the Nationals/Expos franchise has won only one season series from the Marlins since ’98.
What to Watch for: 4.16.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Washington Nationals (8-5) vs. Miami Marlins (2-11)
RHP Dan Haren (1-1, 9.00) vs. RHP Alex Sanabia (1-1, 4.91)
The Nationals scored a season-high 10 runs to win the opening game of this series over the Marlins Monday night as Jordan Zimmermann tossed his first career nine-inning complete game. With Bryce Harper and Denard Span out due to stomach illness, Washington will lean on several members of the “Goon Squad” to deliver the offense today.
NATIONALS LINEUP:
1. Werth RF
2. Bernadina CF
3. Zimmerman 3B
4. LaRoche 1B
5. Desmond SS
6. Moore LF
7. Lombardozzi 2B
8. Suzuki C
9. Haren RHP
CATCH THIS
Nationals catchers currently lead MLB with a .458 on-base percentage. Collectively, Nationals backstops Wilson Ramos (DL) and Kurt Suzuki (Jhonatan Solano has not played yet), are batting .333 (13-for-39) with three doubles, three home runs, six RBI, eight walks and six runs scored.
DESMOND IN THE ROUGH
Ian Desmond’s nine extra-base hits (six doubles, triple, two home runs) are tied with Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips and Oakland’s Jed Lowrie for the MLB lead among middle infielders. Desmond’s six doubles are also tied for the MLB lead (all positions) with eight other players.
CATCHING CAP
Davey Johnson and his 1294 career managerial wins appear poised to move into the top 30 all-time in the coming days. Johnson currently ranks 31st on the all-time list and trails Hall-of-Famer Cap Anson, who posted 1295 wins and a .578 winning percentage in 21 seasons (1875, 1879-98) primarily as a player/manager with the Phillies, White Sox, Chicago Colts and Giants. Before the season ends, Johnson has a strong chance to also catch and surpass Hall-of-Famer Ned Hanlon (#29, 1313 wins) and Chuck Tanner (#28, 1352 wins).
Bouncing Back Big
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Early in a young season, teams are still settling into the flow of the campaign, still forming the identities that will define them over the course of 162 games. A quick glance at Washington’s results through the first couple weeks may lead one to wonder what kind of team these 2013 Nationals truly are. But before jumping to any conclusions, positive or negative, take heed from someone who knows best.
“You’re never as bad as you look when you lose, and never as good as you look when you win,” said skipper Davey Johnson after the weekend series against the Braves.
He echoed that sentiment after Monday night’s 10-3, series-opening thrashing of the Marlins.
Jordan Zimmermann steadied the ship and gave the bullpen a day off.
“You know, we don’t live in the past,” he said. “We don’t worry too much about things. We take it one day at a time, and this was a perfect example.”
The Nationals snapped out of their weekend funk with a roaring first inning, scoring four runs before Jordan Zimmermann ever took the mound. They added on with two more in the third, fourth and fifth to open up a 10-0 advantage behind their workmanlike third ace, who delivered his first-ever, nine-inning complete game. While it was a big game to reverse momentum and preserve the bullpen, it was only fitting that the even-keeled Zimmermann controlled the tempo throughout. Nevertheless, he allowed himself to relish in his accomplishment.
“It means a lot,” he said of his 103-pitch performance. “It means I’m doing my job, staying in the game, putting up zeroes. That’s the kind of pitcher I want to be. I want to be a workhorse.”
Zimmermann, who was the first Nationals starter to two wins, now leads the team and shares the league lead with three, to go along with his 2.45 ERA. After getting precious little run support through much of his 12-win campaign last year, he has been the beneficiary of 21 runs of offense through his first three outings this season.
“It seems like we all hit better when Jordan pitches,” said Ian Desmond, whose 4-for-5 night raised his average to .320 for the season. “Last year, we didn’t hit for him. This year, we’re hitting for him.”
Zimmermann will not finish the year 33-0 with a win in every start. The Nationals will not win every game they play against Miami this season, nor lose every one against Atlanta. It is important to keep perspective, especially considering this – entering play on June 4 last season, 39 games farther into the campaign than they currently sit, the Nationals were in a three-way tie for first place with Miami and the New York Mets. Seriously, see for yourself.
Regardless of how much stock you want to put in a single game’s outcome, though, it was a good night to get a win and get back on track.
Highlights: 4.15.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
4.15.13 – Nationals 10, Marlins 3
Stat of the Game: Ryan Zimmerman‘s first home run of the season gave him four RBI for the evening, making him the team leader in that category with 11 on the year.
Under-the-Radar Performance: Needing just 103 pitches to do so, Jordan Zimmermann notched his first career nine-inning complete game.
It Was Over When: The Nationals scored four times in the first inning and never looked back on the way to their largest offensive output of the young season.
What to Watch for: 4.15.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Washington Nationals (7-5) vs. Miami Marlins (2-10)
RHP Jordan Zimmermann (2-0, 2.08) vs. Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 3.27)
The Nationals hit the road for a six-game swing through Miami and New York, opening with a three-game series with the Marlins tonight. Washington swept the Fish to open the season back in D.C. just two weeks ago.
NATIONALS LINEUP:
1. Span CF
2. Werth RF
3. Harper LF
4. Zimmerman 3B
5. Desmond SS
6. Moore 1B
7. Lombardozzi 2B
8. Suzuki C
9. Zimmermann RHP
ATTENTION SPAN!
Denard Span’s .423 on-base percentage is noteworthy beyond the fact that it ranks sixth among all Major League leadoff hitters. In recent years, Washington struggled mightily ranking 18th (.325 in 2012) and dead last (.285 in 2011) in on-base percentage from the leadoff slot.
EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
The Nationals pace the NL as 39.8 percent of their hits in ‘13 have gone for extra bases. Washington’s 93 hits include 18 doubles, two triples and 17 home runs. The Mets rank second in extra-base hit percentage at 39.4%.
CATCHING CAP
Davey Johnson and his 1293 career managerial wins appear poised to move into the top 30 all-time in the coming days. Johnson currently ranks 31st on the all-time list and trails Hall-of-Famer Cap Anson, who posted 1295 wins and a .578 winning percentage in 21 seasons (1875, 1879-98) primarily as a player/manager with the Phillies, White Sox, Chicago Colts and Giants. Before the season ends, Johnson has a strong chance to also catch and surpass Hall-of-Famer Ned Hanlon (#29, 1313 wins) and Chuck Tanner (#28, 1352 wins).
The Routine of the Road
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Baseball players are creatures of habit. They have to be, by necessity. Success in this sport is defined by consistency, by the ability to produce at a high level continuously over the ups and downs of a six-month grind.
So one can imagine that it might take a while for players to get into their groove upon the beginning of a new campaign. Spring Training is easy – every day is almost the same – a morning workout, usually a mid-day game, and the evening off, with the same bed to sleep in for six weeks. The regular season brings something else entirely.
From the beginning of April until whenever the season comes to an end, the team jets north and south, east and west, zigzagging the country every few days. Most road trips – of which the Nationals will take a dozen during the regular season – include at least two different stops, meaning a new city, a new opponent for which to prepare, a new ballpark, and a new hotel bed.
Santangelo is used to the rigors of the road from his playing days.
It’s no wonder it can take a while for players to settle in.
“It usually took me the whole month of April,” recalled Nationals television color man F.P. Santangelo, who played parts of seven big league seasons with the Expos, Giants, Dodgers and Athletics.
For the Nationals, the month of April includes the recently concluded trip to Cincinnati, an upcoming week split between Miami and New York, and a trip to Atlanta and Pittsburgh that rolls into early May. While that is a fair amount of travel, Santangelo pointed out that the Nats lucked out in one regard.
“At least they only have one Opening Day,” he explained, referencing the April 1 opener in D.C. “Sometimes we’d have two or three. You’d have to stand out on the line for a half-hour for introductions. It would take you totally out of your routine.”
Quite often, teams will play in both their own home opener as well as one or more on the road, as Washington did last year in Chicago. The Nationals were spared the extra pomp and circumstance by a quirk in the schedule this year that saw them play three at home, travel to Cincinnati for three, then return again to D.C.
Now behind the mic, Santangelo is still subject to the same schedule as the players. Having played through it during his career, he knows not to invest too much into the highs (like a three-game, opening sweep of the Marlins) or the lows (such as a 15-0 loss to the Reds on Friday) this early in the season.
That’s the beauty of the game – while each individual result stands on its own, the teams that can get into the habit of winning for the long stretches are the ones that get to keep playing in October.
Weekly Review: 4.8.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
It was an exciting first week of the 2013 season, as next year finally arrived. The Nationals opened their campaign as defending National League East Champs against the Marlins in Washington on Monday. Bryce Harper took no time building off last year’s Rookie of the Year campaign, homering in each of his first two at-bats of the season, backing Stephen Strasburg in a 2-0 victory in front of the largest regular season crowd in Nationals Park history. Despite the star power on display, the quiet return of Wilson Ramos may have been the most impressive storyline of the day.
After an off-day Tuesday, the Nationals shut out Miami again on Wednesday, with Gio Gonzalez doing it all himself, tossing six scoreless frames and homering for the game’s first run in a 3-0 final. Meanwhile, Roger Bernadina introduced a new term into the ever-growing Shark lexicon. On Thursday, Washington rounded out a season-opening sweep with a 6-1 win, becoming just the fourth team in Major League history – and the first since the 1979 Astros – to allow just one run over its first three combined games.
The first road trip of the year began inauspiciously, as Washington was blanked, 15-0, in the series opener Friday night in Cincinnati. However, the club responded in a big way, launching five home runs, including two in the 11th inning, to capture a thrilling, nail-biting, cardiac arrhythmia-inducing victory on Saturday. Kurt Suzuki got into the offensive act with a three-run shot in the Sunday finale, but the Nats dropped the game, 6-3, and the series to the defending NL Central Champs.
Overall Record: 4-2
What to Watch for: 4.5.13
Follow @Nationals on Twitter | Like the Nationals on Facebook
Washington Nationals (3-0) vs. Cincinnati Reds (2-1)
RHP Dan Haren (0-0) vs. RHP Homer Bailey (0-0)
The defending NL East and NL Central champs battle in Cincinnati as the Nationals head out on the road for the first time following a season-opening sweep of the Marlins this week in D.C.
NATIONALS LINEUP:
1. Span CF
2. Werth RF
3. Harper LF
4. Zimmerman 3B
5. LaRoche 1B
6. Desmond SS
7. Espinosa 2B
8. Suzuki C
9. Haren RHP
ZERO TOLERANCE
At 3-0, the Nationals are Major League Baseball’s lone undefeated team. It has been exactly 100 years since the last time a team from the Nation’s Capital was lone big league team without a loss. The 1913 AL Nationals won their first five games en route 90 wins and second place in the American League.
ONE AND DONE
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Nationals (via 2-0, 3-0 and 6-1 home wins over the Marlins) are just the fourth team in MLB history to allow no more than one run in the initial three games of a season. The 1979 Astros (2-1, 6-0, 2-0), ‘69 Padres (2-1, 2-0, 2-0) and ’63 Cardinals (7-0, 4-0, 7-0) were the original three clubs to turn this trick.
HARPER’S DREAM DOZEN
With two more hits in Thursday’s finale, Bryce Harper has now hit safely in a career-high 12 straight regular season games dating to September 24 of last season. The 12-game hitting streak is currently tied with Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki for the longest active streak in MLB. During Harper’s current 12-gamer, which spans 13 contests (he pinch ran in Washington’s 2012 season finale vs. Philadelphia, but did not bat), he is 21-for-45 (.467) with four doubles, a triple, five home runs and 10 RBI. Harper’s OPS during the streak is 1.444 and he has scored 13 runs.
Recent Comments