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Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates: GameThread 38 Of 162.

2012-05-17T22:35:03Z

Next Game

Pittsburgh Pirates
@ Washington Nationals

Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:05 PM EDT
Nationals Park

James McDonald vs Jordan Zimmermann

Clear. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 70.

• D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. Ian "+Range, +Arm" Desmond - SS

2. The Shark - LF

3. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! - 3B (Word.)

4. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

5. Tape-Measure-Testing, Laser-Throwing, Eyeblack-Oozing Baseball Cyborg" (aka Bryce Harper) - RF

6. Danny "Spinner" Espinosa - 2B

7. The Arm - CF

8. Teh Jesus (aka Jesus Flores) - C

9. Jordan "DeadEyez" Zimmermann - RHP

• LINKS:

Washington Nationals Win, 7-4 Over Pittsburgh Pirates. Adam LaRoche Collects 1,000th Career Hit.

posted by Patrick Reddington 21 minutes ago

4 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo On Henry Rodriguez: "He's Going To Be A Shutdown Closer In The Near Future."

posted by Patrick Reddington about 8 hours ago

19 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Lose 6-1 To San Diego Padres; Stephen Strasburg Out Early, Anthony Bass Shuts Nats Down.

posted by Patrick Reddington 1 day ago

15 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

• For A Pittsburgh Pirates Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Pirates Site: Bucs Dugout.

• Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare Into The Distance Contemplatively:

Jordan Zimmermann

#27 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-2

Weight: 220

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: May 23, 1986

• 2011 Stats - (8-11), 26 G, 26 GS, 1 CG, 161.1 IP, 3.18 ERA, 3.16 FIP, ERA+ = 122, 31 BB (1.73 BB/9), 124 K's (6.92 K/9), 1.15 WHIP.

• 2012 Stats - (2-3), 7 G, 7 GS, 46.1 IP, 2.14 ERA, 2.78 FIP, ERA+ = 177, 8 BB (1.55 BB/9), 33 K's (6.22 K/9), 0.97 WHIP.

vs PIT - N/A

James McDonald

#53 / Pitcher / Pittsburgh Pirates

Height: 6-4

Weight: 200

Bats: L

Throws: R

Born: Oct 19, 1984

• 2011 Stats - (9-9), 31 G, 31 GS, 171.0 IP, 4.21 ERA, 4.68 FIP, ERA+ = 89, 78 BB (4.11 BB/9), 142 K's (7.47 K/9), 1.49 WHIP.

• 2012 Stats - (2-2), 7 G, 7 GS, 44.2 IP, 2.42 ERA, 2.87 FIP, ERA+ = 152, 15 BB (3.02 BB/9), 39 K's (7.86 K/9), 1.03 WHIP.

vs D.C. - (0-1), 4 G, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 10 K's, 4.15 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, .333 BAA.

• Zimmermann vs The Pirates:

	PA	AB	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Nate McLouth	8	8	2	0	0	0	2	.250	.250	.250	.500
Clint Barmes	5	4	4	1	4	1	0	1.000	1.000	1.750	2.750
Rod Barajas	3	2	1	0	1	1	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Total	16	14	7	1	5	2	2	.500	.563	.714	1.277

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/16/2012.

• McDonald vs The Nats:

	PA	AB	H	2B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	IBB
Adam LaRoche	5	5	1	1	0	0	0	3	.200	.200	.400	.600	0
Rick Ankiel	4	3	1	0	1	1	1	2	.333	.500	1.333	1.833	1
Roger Bernadina	4	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	.000	.500	.000	.500	0
Ryan Zimmerman	4	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000	.250	.000	.250	0
Ian Desmond	3	3	1	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.333	.333	.667	0
Danny Espinosa	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	.667	.667	.667	1.333	0
Tom Gorzelanny	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000	0
Chad Tracy	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000	0
Total	25	21	5	1	1	1	4	9	.238	.360	.429	.789	1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/16/2012.

• Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

• Who's Watching The Nationals?

Washington Nationals' Thursday Night Lineup; Roster Notes - Michael Morse's Return?

2012-05-17T21:09:38Z

According to reports out of Nationals Park this afternoon, 30-year-old Washington Nationals' slugger Michael Morse will be reporting to Viera, Florida tomorrow as he continues to prepare for his return from the DL. Morse had a career year in 2011, posting a .303/.360/.550 line with 36 doubles and 31 HR's in 146 games and 575 plate appearances over which he was worth +3.4 fWAR, but after signing a 2-year/$10.5M dollar extension this past winter, the veteran of seven MLB seasons suffered a lat strain/tear in Spring Training and has yet to take his first major league at bat in 2012. From what the Nationals said this afternoon before the second of two with the Pirates in D.C., Morse's days of shoving shaving cream pies in his teammates faces may soon be over. Or at least his days of doing so while on the DL:

• via the Washington Times' Amanda Comak:

The #nats are still targeting June 8 for Michael Morse's return, but he told Davey he'd be ready when they return home for 6/1 homestand
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 17, 2012

• MASNSports.com's Dan Kolko (@MASNKolko on Twitter) added that the Nationals, "will play things carefully with Morse to prevent another setback but there's a possibility he rejoins team as early as 6/1."

• Here's tonight's lineup for the second of two with the Pirates:

#Nats Lineup: @IanDesmond20 SS, Bernadina LF, Zim(n) 3B, LaRoche 1B, Harper RF, @DannyEspinosa18 2B, Ankiel CF, @JesusFloresN26 C, Zim(nn) P
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 17, 2012

• Jordan Zimmermann's on the mound, making his eighth start of the year after a 7.0-inning outing in Cincinnati last week in which he allowed just one run on five hits, walking one and striking out seven. Game time 7:05 pm EDT.

What Washington Nationals' Skipper Davey Johnson Calling Your Name Means...

2012-05-17T17:36:18Z

Would Washington Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson have used Henry Rodriguez last night if it had been a one-run game as it was shaping up to be before the Nats added three runs in the bottom of the seventh? He said yes. The 69-year-old skipper told reporters before the game that he might give the right-handed reliever another night off after his recent struggles. We'll never know, of course, because Adam LaRoche's 1,000th career hit, a double, cleared the bases in the seventh and put the Nats up 7-3. Tyler Clippard gave up a run in the eighth to once again turn it into a save situation, and Davey Johnson brought Rodriguez out, but he also had Ryan Mattheus warming, for the Nats beat writer's sake he joked after last night's game, "... so you guys wouldn't get real nervous." The manager said he did get nervous though, turning serious for a moment, "When [Ian Desmond] booted that ball," on an error at short in the first at bat of the ninth. "My heart dropped a little bit," Johnson said. Check the Tweeter, Davey, all of NatsTown experienced the same sinking feeling...

"But Henry came right back and struck out the next hitter," the manager said, "And then the next guy, got the double play. Very happy ending." The 13-pitch, 9 strike outing followed back-to-back appearances in which the 25-year-old reliever struggled, giving up two hits, two walks and a walk-off grand slam Sunday in Cincinnati and walking the bases loaded on Monday night before he was lifted with one down in the ninth inning of a game Sean Burnett eventually saved. Davey Johnson told reporters that he chalked Monday's night's struggles up to overuse, explaining in a post game press conference that, "... that was [Rodriguez's] third day in a row going and he threw a lot of pitches in Cincy," before insisting that he continued to have confidence in the reliever's abilities.

After last night's outing, which started with the Desmond error on a grounder from Pirates' catcher Rod Barajas, who'd started the recent trouble for the Nats' reliever with a walk-off blast last week when the two teams played in Pittsburgh, the Nats' manager explained his approach to the handling of his reliever. "He always looks pretty good to me," Johnson said, "Except when it's not getting close to the plate. Then I think, that's where he goes in another gear and starts trying to do too much. That's typical with all young players. You just have to have confidence in them, and I do, and the whole club does, really."

"Closing's not easy," the former major leaguer-turned-manager said, stating the obvious, "And especially that game, I was going to have him in there in a one-run game. I didn't want him to blow the save. I didn't want that to even be a factor. But he was throwing good, and I was pretty relaxed over there considering... considering all the questions I've been getting." When reporters have asked recently, Johnson's consistently said that he has confidence in his reliever, which some of see as a manager or executive simply saying what they have to say, but as the Nats' skipper explained, "I don't have to say that to players, I play them."

"I did go up to [Rodriguez] today and yesterday and ask him how he's feeling," Johnson said, explaining that he'd engaged in small talk with the reliever and practiced his spanish in the conversation in which he got the feeling the Rodriguez was in the right frame of mind. "He was all smiles," the manager continued, "and so, I'm with you. And it doesn't matter what I say to him beforehand or whatever. I call his name and he knows that I'm calling because I've got confidence in him. It's that simple. Any time you put a guy's name in the lineup, they know you've got confidence in them."

"Sometime it's harder when you're managing," Johnson said, "Because you know what you expect out of them, and you know you're going to get it, but you've got to stay with them. And that goes for every player, not just the closer." Johnson's stuck Henry Rodriguez. He's stuck with Danny Espinosa (who's starting to turn things around, sort of?) He's talked about the issues each of those player and others have had, talked about talking to them, and done so openly, using the media to motivate them to some degree. You get the feeling listening to him on a daily basis that there's not one word Davey Johnson says that isn't designed or pre-planned to have some influence on his team as a whole or one player in particular.

Washington Post reporter Thomas Boswell wrote before this season, in an article entitled, "Nationals in the midst of a mental makeover under Davey Johnson," that it was all part of the plan, and the role the manager saw himself playing, as he attempted to, "Create a relaxed and playful, but studious and ultra-confident atmosphere in which players like Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos can discover and fulfill their gifts,":

"Three of the four teams Johnson has managed have responded to this approach by developing individual confidence and a collective identity that allowed them to blow past almost every expectation — except their manager’s — and to do it quickly."

In spite of all the injury issues the Nationals have dealt with, the slumping players, struggling relievers and lack of runs they've scored thus far, they've gotten tremendous results from their starters, bullpen and defense so far, and the Nats are in first place in the NL East as of this morning. Of course it's only the 17th of May. But Johnson's been able to motivate the players he does have available and a few weeks back he finally got the left-handed bat he's wanted in the person of Bryce Harper, who's transition to the majors he's been entrusted with overseeing. A master manipulator sounds too sinister. A master motivator is more like it, with the major league resume to back up what he says. Now if only we could figure out Johnson's motivation in leaking the Strasburg "Hot Stuff" story?

Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Records Set, And Michael Morse Sets Records Straight...

2012-05-17T15:41:11Z

Gio Gonzalez's 10 K's last night gave the Washington Nationals' left-hander the NL lead in K's. He also gave up the first HR he's allowed this year. Adam LaRoche (3 for 4, 2B/HR) collected hit no. 1,000 of his career. Xavier Nady hit HR no.100 of his career. And the Nats' win set themselves up with yet another opportunity, their eighth this year, to sweep a series, even though it's only a two-game set with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Michael Morse, who's working his way back, made news yesterday by interrupting Nady's post game interview, then he took to the airwaves this morning to dispute the stories that were going around yesterday claiming that Stephen Strasburg had gotten "Hot Stuff" in an uncomfortable place during his last start. I had always assumed Strasburg got it in his eyes... Was I missing the joke? One more with the Bucs tonight and then everyone gets to yell, "OOOO" during the national anthem for three days. Yeah!! Links and lots of them... RIGHT NOW!!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "The 25,942 stood and showered him with an ovation. LaRoche offered a small grin — that’s all he’s got in the grin department — and tipped his cap." - "Nationals vs. Pirates: Adam LaRoche stays hot in helping Gio Gonzalez to the win" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• NATS BEAT:

• "[Adam] LaRoche, who is hitting .339 with the eighth-best on-base plus slugging percentage in the major leagues (1.024), insists he didn’t think anything of the speculation involving the Nationals and Fielder this offseason." - "Adam LaRoche continues to buoy Nationals' offense in milestone night" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Considering the year [Adam] LaRoche had last season, with the .172 batting average, the boos he received at Nationals Park and the season-ending shoulder injury, today clearly meant a lot." - "Nationals Pastime: For LaRoche, a milestone moment and another huge hit" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Even after making a full recovery, [Adam] LaRoche still spent much of the winter listening to chatter about the Nationals making a play for free agent Prince Fielder..." - "LaRoche gets his well-earned praise" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Hitting cleanup while Michael Morse is on the disabled list, [Adam] LaRoche leads the Nationals with seven homers and 29 RBIs." - "LaRoche, Gonzalez lead Nationals past Pirates 7-4" - Howard Fendrich, AP/WTOP.com

• "[Gio] Gonzalez ended up pitching seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out 10 batters, which put him in the National League lead with 60, ahead of teammate Stephen Strasburg's 56 K's." - "Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals - May 16, 2012" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "[Sandy] Leon said the Nationals told him in two weeks he will be cleared to return to activity." - "Morse plays catch, Leon gets a timetable" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "It's not known when Storen will start throwing off the mound, but he is still projected to play his first Major League game after the All-Star break." - "Storen throws without feeling any pain" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "The series between the Nationals and Orioles has never been more interesting than this weekend. Typically, it's a battle of cellar-dwelling teams with interchangeable spare parts." - "Battle of the Beltways now has relevance" - Thom Loverro, Washington Examiner

• "After Tyler Clippard allowed one run in the eighth, [Davey] Johnson handed the ball to closer Henry Rodriguez, who had surrendered an anxiety-riddled two walk-off home runs last week..." - "Combo of stopper Gonzalez, closer Rodriguez helps Nats to 7-4 victory over Bucs" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "'The only one who can hurt Henry is himself,' starter Gio Gonzalez aptly put it." - "Henry Rodriguez bounces back after Davey Johnson backs up his words" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "So far, [Bryce] Harper has stood in for about 51 percent fastballs. I'll remind you here that the average is around 63 percent." - "The Instant Fear Of Bryce Harper" - Jeff Sullivan, Baseball Nation

• "'It’s kind of tedious,' he said. 'It’s a tedious process, because you want to go out there and throw just like you did before and you can’t really do it.'" - "Drew Storen makes 100 throws on second day of throwing since surgery" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "You don’t have to be a sabermetrics whiz to know the numbers are piling up against Washington Nationals closer Henry Rodriguez..." - "Henry Rodriguez, despite struggles, will get time to save his role" - Jason Reid, The Washington Post

• "Yep, take a look at the current NL pitching leaderboard. Topping the list: Gio Gonzalez with 60 strikeouts. Right behind him: Stephen Strasburg with 59." - "Nats' 1 + 2 = lots of strike 3s" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "The Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann is 2-3, but his ERA is even better than [James] McDonald's, at 2.14, and he too is coming off a strong effort in his last outing..." - "Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals - May 17, 2012" - James Walker, MLB.com Preview

• "Washington's win over the Pirates last night coupled with the Braves' loss to Miami puts the Nats a half-game ahead of Atlanta in the division." - "Nationals Pastime: Standings, saves and strikeouts" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Gio Gonzalez was lights-out for seven innings, striking out 10 to take over the MLB lead in that department." - "Instant analysis: Nats 7, Pirates 4" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "[Drew] Storen played light catch today, his second throwing session since undergoing surgery in April to remove bone chips." - "Drew Storen tosses, still aiming for return around the all-star break" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The thing about Gio [Gonzalez] is, he'll never take credit for the success he's achieved on the mound." - "Heist: Gio, Come on, man" - Craig Heist, WTOP.com

• "[Chien-Ming] Wang said he is willing to work out of the bullpen as long as the team gives him advance warning so he could prepare." - "Wang says he's open to working out of 'pen" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "[Wilson] Ramos said he is out for the rest of the season and hopes to have surgery in two to three weeks, once the swelling in his knee goes down." - "Ramos vows to return healthy next season" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "The injury, as one would expect, crushed Ramos, 24, emotionally. The day he tore the ligament, reporters approached him and he said, 'Please, not now.'" - "Wilson Ramos to have surgery on torn ACL in two or three weeks, out for the season" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'I’m ready,' [Chien-Ming] Wang said through translator John Hsu. 'But I need to follow directions from the team.'" - "Return of Chien-Ming Wang to shake up Nationals' staff" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "[Drew] Storen soft-tossed 100 throws Wednesday, the same number he threw Monday. He did two sets of 50 throws, 25 at 45 feet and 25 from 60 feet. Storen will have another day off tomorrow." - "Storen right on schedule in recovery from elbow surgery" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "On the bright side, [Wilson] Ramos was told he suffered no damage other than the torn ACL, and the surgery to repair it is considered routine procedure." - "Storen throwing, Ramos waiting" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Interleague Play starts Friday night, with the Nationals facing the Orioles in the Battle of the Beltways at Nationals Park." - "Improved Nats ready to face Interleague foes" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "When Davey Johnson said that 'some Hot Stuff got misplaced' he never specifically said where it ended up." - "Michael Morse says Stephen Strasburg Hot Stuff incident didn’t happen" - Sarah Kogod, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "You must not consider tolerance and patience to be signs of weakness. I consider them signs of strength."

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: "Suns starting pitcher Nathan Karns (1-0) earned his first win, pitching six innings and allowing two runs while striking out five batters and not allowing a walk." - "Karns Leads Suns in Sweep of Hickory" - Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: "Frederick was able to get to LHP Robbie Ray in the fourth inning. Ray, who faced the minimum tossing just 20 pitches in the first three innings yielding five hits and four runs to the Keys all earned." - "P-Nats Sweep DH with Keys on Walk-Off" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: Senators 3, Flying Squirrels 1 - Eury Perez - 4 for 5, 2 2B; Jeff Mandel - 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K's - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The inning was [John] Lannan's last one of the game, with the left-hander allowing 11 hits and four walks in six innings." - "6-2 loss snaps Chiefs' win streak" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "Last Night In Woodbridge" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• NATSTOWN:

• "First off, according to PITCHf/x data, batters are making more contact on [Tyler] Clippard this season than at any time in his major league career." - "Is there reason to be concerned about Tyler Clippard's performance?" - Nationals Buzz: Dave Nichols, MASNSports.com

• "A look at four minor leaguers who can help the Nationals stay at the top of the NL East while the team battles injuries." - "Who Can Help the Nats Tread Water?" - Parks Smith, Fanspeak Washington Nats Blog

• "Hey, first place again. Life is good." - "Good Henry showed up!" - Nats Enquirer

• "Baseball in the District, if you ask many fans it would begin and end with Walter Johnson, prior of course to the arrival of Harper and Strasburg." - "What’s in a name?" - Karen and Kevin Flynn, D.C. Baseball History

• "Despite allowing the most earned runs in an outing since his ugly April 7 debut, Gio Gonzalez looked strong Wednesday night through the majority of his start." - "Nationals Power Their Way To A 7-4 Win Over The Pirates" - Will Yoder, The Nats Blog

• "[Adam] LaRoche’s double in the bottom half of the seventh came against right-handed reliever Evan Meek, who hit Jesus Flores and walked Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman to load the bases." - "Washington Nationals Game 37 Review: Gio, LaRoche power Nats past Pirates 7-4" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page

• "It’s been nearly three years since retired racing pierogie Potato Pete leveled Teddy Roosevelt at PNC Park." - "Video: Pittsburgh’s Potato Pete returns. Teddy Roosevelt vows revenge. This could be fun." - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "The Nats went on to beat the Pirates 7-4. (Somewhere Jordan Zimmermann is asking them to save some runs for him.)" - "The Casualties" - Kristen, Win For Teddy

• "BeltwayLand was sad yesterday after the godfather of go-go Chuck Brown died (The Post)." - "Nats honor Chuck Brown with 3 homers in 7-4 win over Pirates" - William F. Yurasko, William World News

• "Last night, in his 36th game of the year, Ian Desmond hit his 5th homerun of the season. Last year, in 154 games, he had 8 homers." - "Desmond's power" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Marlins: "Ozzie Guillen has a rather unique Interleague plan for Bud Selig and other major league higher-ups, if they’re willing to pay attention." - "Manager Ozzie Guillen proposes interleague twist; reacts to Hickey death" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun-Sentinel

• Mets: "We've been taking considerable joy in pointing out that the Mets have been in the 'if the season ended today' playoffs every single day of this season." - "The Mets Are Almost Out of the Pretend Playoffs" - Will Leitch, New York Magazine

• Braves: "Watching last night's game, fans of the Atlanta Braves were hopeful that Mike Minor was past the issues that had plagued him the last three starts ... and then the fourth inning happened." - "Braves Starting Pitcher Mike Minor Has A "Stretch" Problem" - gondeee, Talking Chop

• Phillies: "Roy Halladay, like the rest of the club, is trying to get over a hurdle. The right-hander has not won since April 16, having taken a loss in three of his last five starts." - "Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs - May 17, 2012" - Jon Star, MLB.com Preview

Washington Nationals Win, 7-4 Over Pittsburgh Pirates. Adam LaRoche Collects 1,000th Career Hit.

2012-05-17T04:36:00Z

• McCutchen vs Harper: Pittsburgh Pirates' center fielder Andrew McCutchen was 6 for 9 with two home runs and three walks in three games last week when the Washington Nationals visited PNC Park. The 25-year-old '05 1st Round pick waited on an 80 mph 0-1 curve in his first at bat tonight, and ripped a two-out single through short, but Nats' left-hander Gio Gonzalez struck Casey McGehee with a 94 mph 1-2 fastball outside to strand the Pirates' runner at first at the end of a 14-pitch opening inning in front of 25,942 on Military Appreciation Night in the nation's capital.

19-year-old Nats' outfielder Bryce Harper was 2 for 12 with a double in the series in Pittsburgh, and he made headlines for hurting himself when a bat bounced back off a wall he'd struck in frustration and caught him just above the left eye causing a cut which required 10 stitches. Harper's making news doing productive things with his bat these days, however, having homered in each of the last two games and he just missed hitting his third in three when he took an 88 mph 1-1 two-seamer to right and off the top of out-of-town scoreboard just feet from a home run in the Nats' 2010 no.1 overall pick's first at bat of the evening. A ground out to the right side of the infield off Ryan Zimmerman's bat brought Harper in from third, and Gio Gonzalez took the mound in the second with a 1-0 lead. 15 pitches and three K's later the Nats' lefty was through 2.0 scoreless innings on 29 pitches. 1-0 Nationals...

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• Desmond Goes Yard: After Erik Bedard threw a quick 11-pitch second, he thought he'd K'd on a 1-1 pitch from Gio Gonzalez, (and to be fair Jesus Flores fired it to third, so maybe it was the ump who was confused), but instead the Pirates' left-hander took a 77 mph 1-2 bender for a called strike three and Gio Gonzalez's 5th K through three scoreless innings. The Nats' left-hander threw a quick seven-pitch 1-2-3 third, and four pitches later he's up 2-0 when Ian Desmond takes a hanging 1-2 curve from the Pirates' starter to left for a line drive HR, Desmond's 5th home of 2012. 2-0 Nationals after three in D.C. Gio Gonzalez gave up a long fly ball to left by Andrew McCutchen in the Pirates' fourth, but that ball fell into Tyler Moore's glove on the track and the Nationals' left-hander got a groundout from Casey McGehee in the next AB to end a 14th pitch fourth by retiring the 10th straight Pirates' batter.

• 2 ER in 26.0 IP: Pirates' outfielder Yamaico Navarro broke up Gio Gonzalez's streak of ten-straight batters retired, battling back from an 0-2 count to take a leadoff walk in a nine-pitch at bat to start the top of the fifth. Rod Barajas collected Pittsburgh's second hit in the next at bat, lining to center on a single that allowed Navarro to go from first to third, and one out later an RBI line drive to center by Pirates' third baseman Josh Harrison cut the Nats' lead in half when just the second run Gio Gonzalez has given up in 26.0 IP at home so far in 2012 came in from third. 2-1 game, but Gio Gonzalez gets through a 28-pitch inning with the lead in tact. Erik Bedard needed just 11 pitches to retire the Nationals in order in the home-half of the fifth, and he'd set nine straight down following Desmond's leadoff HR in the third when he finished the inning.

• Back-to-Back: Pirates' second baseman Neil Walker was punched out by first base ump Alan Porter in the first at bat of the Pirates' sixth. 8 K's by Gio Gonzalez. The Nats' lefty got out no.2 with one pitch as Andrew McCutchen grounded out to short, and Casey McGehee K'd swinging way out in front of a full-count change as Gonzalez completed a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 6th in which he recorded his eighth and ninth K's on the night. 86 pitches, 57 strikes for Gio Gonzalez through six innings in Nationals Park. Erik Bedard struck both Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman out to start the Nationals' sixth with his third and fourth straight K's and his eleventh batter in a row retired, but Nats' first baseman Adam LaRoche took a 1-2 four-seamer to right and over the out-of-town scoreboard for a solo HR and a 3-1 Nationals' lead. LaRoche's seventh is followed by Xavier Nady's third, as the Nats go back-to-back to make it a three-run lead. LaRoche to right, Nady to left-center, 4-1 Nationals in Nats Park.

• 48.0 W/O A HR: Yamaico Navarro popped up to Adam LaRoche in foul territory off first for the first out of the seventh. Gio Gonzalez issued a one-out walk to Rod Barajas, but popped up Clint Barmes for out no.2. The Nats' lefty wasn't happy that home plate ump Tony Randazo called two curves low in the next at bat, and he was even less amused after Pirates' 3B Josh Harrison took a 1-2 fastball to left and over the visitor's bullpen for a two-run HR. 4-3 Nationals on the first HR Gio Gonzalez has allowed through 48.0 IP this season. Gio Gonzalez bounces back and strikes Pirates' pinch hitter Nate McLouth out with a 95 mph 2-2 fastball on pitch no. 106 of the night. It would be his last as Roger Bernadina hit for Gio in the Nats' half of the inning...

• Gio Gonzalez's Line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K's, 1 HR, 106 pitches, 68 strikes, 6/2 GO/FO.

• Career Hit no.1,000: Pirates' reliever Evan Meek put the leadoff runner on when he hit Jesus Flores in the first at bat of the Nats' seventh, then pitched around Bryce Harper with one down and Ryan Zimmerman due up. Another free pass loaded the bases as Zimmerman walked for the 8th time in the last seven games and Adam LaRoche cleared the bases with a three-RBI line drive to right that broke the game open. 7-3 Nationals on LaRoche's 10th double of the year, third hit tonight and the 1,000 hit of the 9-year-veteran's MLB career. 256th career double. 7-3 Nats after seven. RHP Tyler Clippard gave up leadoff and one-out singles by Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen, respectively, in the Pirates' eighth, and a sac fly by Casey McGehee with runners on the corner brought the Pirates' fourth run of the game in. 7-4 Nationals. Clippard holds it there and completes an 18-pitch frame.

• Lightning: 7-4 Nationals after eight, and Nats' skipper Davey Johnson brings Henry Rodriguez out to the mound, trying to get the struggling pitcher going again. The first batter the 25-year-old flame-throwing right-hander faced was, of course, Pirates' C Rod Barajas, who hit a walk-off HR off Rodriguez in last week's series. The catcher reached first safely tonight on an error by Ian Desmond at short on what should have been out no.1. E:6. Clint Barmes K'd swinging at a 99mph 2-2 heater for out no.1 instead and Josh Harrison grounds into a game-ending 5-4-3 DP to earn save no. 9 of 2012. Nats win, 7-4 final.

• Miss the Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Tonight's Top 5 Commenters:

souldrummer - 188
cat daddy3000 - 64
Jorgath - 60
Miss B - 36
TJL - 32

• Doghouse's Post Game WPA Graph: "Game 37: 100 and 1,000":

Via FanGraphs

Minor Stumbles: Gio Gonzalez (+11.4%) goes 7IP with 10 Ks and 2 BBs, but the 3 ER makes it a shaky outing--for him, at least.
Mr. One Thousand: Adam LaRoche (+28.0%) goes yard in the 6th (+14.9%) and hits a bases-clearing double in the 7th (+15.6%).
Goon squad (x100): Xavier Nady (+7.1%) continues to defy me, walking and hitting his 100th career dinger (+7.1%).
Power at the top: Ian Desmond (+4.6%) hits one out to pad the early lead (+10.3%).

Nationals now 23-14.

Game 37: 100 and 1000

2012-05-17T02:50:52Z

Tonight's game story: ALR gets 1,000th hit in Nats win.

Via FanGraphs

Minor Stumbles: Gio Gonzalez (+11.4%) goes 7IP with 10 Ks and 2 BBs, but the 3 ER makes it a shaky outing--for him, at least.
Mr. One Thousand: Adam LaRoche (+28.0%) goes yard in the 6th (+14.9%) and hits a bases-clearing double in the 7th (+15.6%).
Goon squad (x100): Xavier Nady (+7.1%) continues to defy me, walking and hitting his 100th career dinger (+7.1%).
Power at the top: Ian Desmond (+4.6%) hits one out to pad the early lead (+10.3%).

Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates: GameThread 37 Of 162.

2012-05-16T22:35:05Z

Next Game

Pittsburgh Pirates
@ Washington Nationals

Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 7:05 PM EDT
Nationals Park

Erik Bedard vs Gio Gonzalez

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80.

• D.C. Starting Lineup:

1. Ian "+Range, +Arm" Desmond - SS

2. Tape-Measure-Testing, Laser-Throwing, Eyeblack-Oozing Baseball Cyborg" (aka Bryce Harper) - CF

3. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! - 3B (Word.)

4. Adam "Graceful, Effortless" LaRoche - 1B

5. Xavier Nady - RF

6. Danny "Spinner" Espinosa - 2B

7. Tyler Moore - LF

8. Jesus "Teh Jesus" Flores - C

9. Gio Gonzalez (aka The Best Dressed Pitcher In Town) - LHP

• LINKS:

Wire Taps: Washington Nationals' Sweepless In 2012; Stephen Strasburg Would Rather Keep That In The Clubhouse.

posted by Patrick Reddington 40 minutes ago

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Washington Nationals Lose 6-1 To San Diego Padres; Stephen Strasburg Out Early, Anthony Bass Shuts Nats Down.

posted by Patrick Reddington about 20 hours ago

15 comments | 0 recs

Washington Nationals Rewind: Bryce Harper Hits First MLB HR In Nats' 8-5 Win Over San Diego Padres.

posted by Patrick Reddington 1 day ago

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Complete Coverage >

• For A Pittsburgh Pirates Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SB Nation's Pirates Site: Bucs Dugout.

• Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now:

Gio Gonzalez

#47 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

Bats: R

Throws: L

Born: Sep 19, 1985

• 2011 Stats - (16-12), 32 G, 32 GS, 202.0 IP, 3.12 ERA, 3.64 FIP, ERA+ = 130, 91 BB (4.05 BB/9), 197 K's (8.78 K/9), 1.32 WHIP.

• 2012 Stats - (4-1), 7 G, 7 GS, 41.2 IP, 1.94 ERA, 1.78 FIP, ERA+ = 195, 17 BB (3.67 BB/9), 50 K's (10.80 K/9), 1.01 WHIP.

vs PIT - (0-0), 1 G, 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 2 K's, 1.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .200 BAA.

Erik Bedard

#45 / Pitcher / Pittsburgh Pirates

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Mar 05, 1979

• 2011 Stats - (5-9), 24 G, 24 GS, 129.1 IP, 3.62 ERA, 3.64 FIP, ERA+ = 110, 48 BB (3.34 BB/9), 125 K's (8.70 K/9), 1.29 WHIP.

• 2012 Stats - (2-4), 7 G, 7 GS, 35.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 2.41 FIP, ERA+ = 143, 14 BB (3.60 BB/9), 37 K's (9.51 K/9), 1.37 WHIP.

vs D.C. - (0-1), 4 G, 4 GS, 20.0 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 30 K's, 1.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, .200 BAA.

• Gio vs The Pirates:

	PA	AB	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Rod Barajas	3	3	1	1	3	0	1	.333	.333	1.333	1.667
Garrett Jones	3	3	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Andrew McCutchen	3	2	1	0	0	1	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Yamaico Navarro	3	3	1	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.333	.667
Jose Tabata	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.333	.000	.333
Total	15	13	3	1	3	2	3	.231	.333	.462	.795

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/16/2012.

• Bedard vs The Nats:

	PA	AB	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Ryan Zimmerman	7	6	1	1	0	1	2	.167	.286	.333	.619
Jesus Flores	6	5	1	0	1	1	3	.200	.333	.200	.533
Ian Desmond	4	4	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Danny Espinosa	3	3	2	0	1	0	1	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Roger Bernadina	2	2	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Bryce Harper	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Total	23	21	4	1	2	2	8	.190	.261	.238	.499

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/16/2012.

• Mr. Wilbon? Way To Go Nats!!!

• Who's Watching The Nationals?

Washington Nationals' Wednesday Lineup; Injury Updates On Chien-Ming Wang, Drew Storen And More.

2012-05-16T20:38:22Z

The last time Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson went with a right-hand heavy lineup to face Pittsburgh Pirates' lefty Erik Bedard, a week ago today in PNC Park, the 33-year-old Bucs' starter left the game after an inning, and a parade of right-handed relievers took over and combined to hold the Nats' bats to two runs on five hits in a 4-2 Pirates' win. Bedard's expected to be back on the mound tonight in Nationals Park for the first game of a quick two-game set in the nation's capital and the Nats' 69-year-old skipper is going with essentially the same lineup he put out there last week, minus catcher Wilson Ramos, of course, who's replaced behind the plate and batting eighth by Jesus Flores.

• Here's tonight's starting lineup for the Washington Nationals:

#Nats Lineup, 5/16: Desmond SS, Harper CF, Zimmerman 3B, LaRoche 1B, Nady RF, Espinosa 2B, Moore LF, Flores C, Gonzalez LHP
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 16, 2012

• There were also some injury updates today, from Nationals Park and from D.C. GM Mike Rizzo this morning on 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s the Mike Rizzo Show...

• via MASN's Dan Kolko on Twitter (@MASNKolko):

Lot of rehabbing #Nats doing early work. Michael Morse (lat) playing catch from 30 feet. Drew Storen (elbow) also throwing off flat ground
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) May 16, 2012

• Mike Rizzo On Morse and Store from the Mike Rizzo Show:

• Morse back by June 8th for Interleague play?: "I think that's our plan that we've talked about, get him in there at least at those American League parks where we can use him strictly as a DH. That will give him another week of his throwing program, and we can utilize his bat, so I think we're targeting some time at the end of June for Michael."

• Drew Storen?: "Drew Storen is beginning his throwing program. We're still going to be cautious and careful with him, but he's coming along. He feels really good. He's starting to do some flat ground work now. He's long tossing. So he's on the way [to] getting healthy and returning to helping the club in the big leagues soon."

• Brad Lidge: "Brad Lidge ran and threw also with Storen and Morse for the first time three days ago, so he's starting his progression to throwing off the mound, and again, he doesn't have an arm injury so he may be a little bit quicker than the other guys. And the tear that he had is not on his pull side of his body, for a right-handed pitcher, so that will aid us in his progression also."

Chien-Ming Wang here at #Nats Park today to throw in front of coaches. Getting closer to making that decision at last.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) May 16, 2012

Game time 7:05 pm EDT. Gio vs Bedard. Go Nats Go!

• Listen to 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s The Mike Rizzo Show With Holden Kushner And Danny Rouhier:

• More Updated Updates:

Michael Morse said he made 60 throws today. Said it felt fine. "I haven't been throwing, so it was kind of like a monkey riding a bike."
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 16, 2012

Drew Storen threw 100 tosses off flat ground. Said it felt like trying to drive a Ferari 5mph. Will probably head to Viera somewhat soon
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) May 16, 2012

Wilson Ramos back at Nats Park today. Won't have surgery for 2-3 weeks. Says no chance of returning this year.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) May 16, 2012

#Nats RHP Chien-Ming Wang said he is willing to work out of the bullpen. Manager Davey Johnson wouldn't make such commitment. #MLB
— William Ladson (@washingnats) May 16, 2012