Nats rally around Lannans arm, win 2-1

John Lannan may be young, but he’s not stupid. The pitcher who has played above his projected ability, and above his experience level all season long showed today that he also is mature beyond his years. Knowing the responsibility was on his 23 year old shoulders to stop the 4 game winning streak of the Orioles and to avoid the sweep, he came off his worst performance of the year and delivered a gem. They say one of the key jobs of an ace is to be a stopper by ending a losing streak before it gets out of control, Lannan filled the role today.

Lannan tossed seven and a third beautiful innings this afternoon, letting up only 5 hits and one earned run. He did an excellent job of locating all of his pitches and forcing ground balls. Out of 24 outs recorded, Lannan produced 11 ground ball outs and 5 K’s while letting up only one walk. That Nats fans, is how you win a game while only scoring 2 runs.

On the other side of the hill, former first round pick for the O’s, Jeremy Guthrie, also had himself a great day, allowing only five hits and only one earned run through seven innings. However for a change the Nats were able to turn their quiet bats into runs as they showed good patience against a good pitching performance. Washington drew 6 walks in comparison to only two strikeouts which allowed them to put that extra run on the board over the O’s.

Wil Nieves + Jesus Flores > Paul Lo Duca + Johnny Estrada

The sample size is still small, but it’s getting larger and larger every game and it’s becoming more and more evident that Flores and Nieves are the best catchers on this team. Damn the contracts and the big names, Nieves and Flores are playing like they want to be on the Nationals, as opposed to having to play for the Nationals. Lo Duca and Estrada are both former all stars, but its clear their careers are coming to a close and this is the only place they were offered a Major League job. The baseball gods are telling us something with these injuries, let the kids play.

Jesus Flores Season Stats: .367 BA (11/30), .500 OBP, 1.133 OPS
Wil Nieves Season Stats: .310 BA (13/42), .385 OBP, .788 OPS
Lo Duca Season Stats: .200 BA (10/50), .298 OBP, .558 OPS
Johnny Estrada Stats: .179 BA (7/39), .220 OBP, .298 OPS

Record with:
Nieves at catcher 7-8
Flores at catcher 3-8
Lo Duca at catcher 6-11
Estrada at catcher: 5-5, 4 broken clubhouse chairs

Game Notes:

Nick “Stone Cold” Markakis did not have a great game from the plate, but he did show Nationals fans his franchise talent from the field today gunning out two runners from right field ( Elijah Dukes twice). It’s players like Markakis, who always bring something to the table, that make Nats fans really frustrated with the disappointment of Austin Kearns, who brings nothing.

Going 0-2 today with 2 walks, Aaron Boone stopped his mini hit streak, but did continue his on base streak to 7 games.

GUZMAN WATCH: Guzman has a good game today and actually aided in a Nats winning effort. Guzman went 2-3 with 2 RBI’s and a solo homer. He also had a sacrifice bunt! Trade value: rising.

Question: Do you think the marlins would trade Austin Kearns for 1$?

(picture above is lucky jarmes behind an angry nats fan at camden yards)

Box Score

Photos courtesy of AP/Nick Wass

Lo Duca returns, the Nats will carry 3 catchers

Paul Lo Duca will be recalled from his minor league rehab today and rejoin the big league club against Pittsburgh. Lo Duca originally hurt his hand after being hit by a pitch against Atlanta April 13th. With Cordero being placed on the DL yesterday, it perfectly cleared room on the major league club for Lo Duca to return. This is good for Wil not Will Nieves as he will get to stay in the bigs for a few more weeks as the team’s third catcher. Its not often teams carry three catchers, however for the Nats there aren’t really any other options until Elijah Dukes returns in a few weeks.

"Wil Nieves has done a phenomenal job catching," Bowden said. "He's done a phenomenal job with the bat. So yeah, I think we have three quality catchers and certainly we have guys that can hit, and guys that can catch and throw, and it's a good combination.
"As long as we can carry it, I think it's a good thing to have. It allows Manny to pinch-hit for the catcher. It allows him to double-switch, put a defensive catcher in if he decides. ... Normally I'm not a three-catcher GM, but the way we're structured, I think it will work out well." Bill Ladson-MLB.com

Wil Nieves comes up huge, Nats win second in a row

Lastings Milledge showed up late to the game last night and lost his starting spot to Willie Harris. He took responsibility, at first verbally yesterday, and now tonight with his bat. Going 2 for 2 from the plate with two walks, Thrilledge more then made up for his absence the night before, however he was not the hero of the night.
Coming to the plate with one on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Wil don’t call me Will Nieves delivered a much needed walk off homer, clinching the win for the Nats. Big hits were something the team had been missing this season, but the last two nights they have come and the Nats have their first winning streak since the first three games of the season.

Odalis Perez- The best winless pitcher in baseball?

Ok well maybe that’s John Lannan…But still, the bottom line is the Nationals Starting pitching has been excellent. Constantly you can expect six strong innings with no more then three runs, which gives any line up, even the Nats, a chance to win the ball game. Perez is more then earning his pay check so far this year, and for the Nat sake, hopefully him, Tim Redding, and John Lannan keep their early successes going.

Mike O’Connor’s misuse

With the bases loaded in the top of the 8th, in arguably the most important situation of the game, the best managers will not be afraid to bring in their best pitcher from the bullpen. In today’s game the good managers know that closers aren’t only for the 9th, they know that the best pitcher in the pen needs to pitch in the most critical point. Call it closer by committee, call it smart, call it whatever.

Tonight when the Nats had a one run lead and the bases loaded in the 8th, Manny Acta was faced with a decision on who to bring into the game. Jesus Colume was available; he has been lights out all year. John Rauch the make shift closer was available too. No Manny doesn’t use either of them, Manny decides to bring in the pitcher who has been in the majors for all of two days, Mike O’Connor. I’m sure Acta thought…O’Connor’s a lefty, “Murtons a lefty…clearly this is a good idea.”

Reasons this was not a good idea:

1. Mike O’Connor has been a starter in the minor leagues for the last 2 years; he was called up to the big leagues only yesterday and pitched yesterday. O’Connor hasn’t pitched out of the bullpen since 2004 in class A ball which means he clearly isn’t used to pitching on back to back nights yet.

2. Mike O’Connor hasn’t been proven in tough situations yet, especially not in front of a huge crowed with the bases loaded.

3. Relief pitchers and starting pitchers have a different warm up and mentality, starting a game and coming in with the bases loaded are two completely different situations to adjust to.

Reasons to be Happy

1. we won
2. 2 game win streak
3. a win streak in general
4. Heart of the Order has woken up
5. Aside from the newbie, the Nats bullpen did a great job against a good team
6. 2nd walk off homer in Nats Park history.

Box Score

Photos Courtesy of AP/Pablo Martinez