Friday night’s 7-3 loss to the Marlins was one of those nights you just want to forget.  We’re 1-6 against the Fish this season.  Only 20 some thousand crazy fans came out to watch the cold, rainy affair.  At least there were fireworks afterwards.

Redding certainly wasn’t his normal self last night.  He gave up 4 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) with 4 walks and 3 strike outs. Two of those walks came in the 6th inning to Ramirez and Uggla.  With 1 out and the bases loaded, Redding finished his night.  Both of those walks quickly became runs when Colome replaced Redding. 

As excited as I was to watch Redding pitch, I had a bad feeling from the get-go.  Our dear friend Jimmy (you may have seen him dancing on the scoreboard at some point this season) came down to his seat wearing a Marlins cap and a Nationals shirt.  He was heckled and teased about the combination before informing us proudly that Luis Gonzalez had given him the hat.  What’s a boy to do? 

Sure enough, when  Colome entered in the 6th inning to pitch to Gonzalez, the left fielder launched a line drive to right field which scored 3 runs.  Gonzalez scored moments later on Treanor’s single to center.  The score became an abysmal 7-1.

Though the game was essentially over, the Nats managed a rally in the 7th off of Doug Waechter.  Nieves singled and Dukes followed up with a strike out.  Lopez grounded out but advanced Nieves to second.  Guzman doubled to score Wil.  Zimmerman walked. Nick Johnson singled to score Guzman.  Milledge walked.  Manager Fredi Gonzalez had seen enough.  Waechter was lifted for reliever Justin Miller.  With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Kearns failed to deliver - instead flying out to center and stranding three runners. 

Chico’s first appearance out of the bullpen was a successful one.  He pitched 2 scoreless innings and gave up only 2 hits.  Hanrahan finished the game up in the 9th with a walk and a strike out.  

Remember, take plenty of time to get to and from the game tonight as Metro will be experiencing delays on the green line and the free RFK shuttle changes its pick up point to Lot 7.

O’Connor gets his first start of the year against Florida’s Andy Miller.  In Miller’s first start at Nationals Park, the Nats managed 6 runs on 8 hits though they couldn’t keep Florida’s lineup quiet.  We lost 10-7.  The next time we saw him, in Florida, he only gave up 3 runs on 6 hits. We won 6-4.

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