We were looking forward to the start of Inter-league Play and the Beltway Series this weekend.  Having only made it to Camden Yards once last season, I was excited to spend the weekend exploring a new ballpark.  With the Nats coming off a series win against the Mets, I figured we might have a chance to take a few wins from Baltimore.  The Nats ended up losing games on Friday and Saturday, but they escaped with a Sunday win. 

Friday’s game got off to an exciting start, with both Lopez and Guzman reaching base in the first inning.  Zimmerman drove them in with a single and the Nats got to an early 2-0 lead.   However after that early offensive spark, the game went downhill and the Nats lost 3-5.  

Shawn Hill struggled through five innings; he gave up four earned runs on eight hits. Hill looked tired and not himself.  Early reports were that he was sick, but after the game the team announced that Hill has elbow pain (not in the place where he had surgery) and will probably miss his next start.  Disappointing news for the rotation.  Shawn has appeared to struggle since coming back from his injury.  I think it’s time to let him fully recover before pushing him to perform on a regular basis.

The outfield struggled again, and Baltimore capitalized on it.  In the 5th inning, Dukes misplayed a ball off the wall in right field allowing Brian Roberts a triple.  Then Mora hit a ball to right-center field and neither Dukes or Milledge had a read on it. Milledge eventually dove for the ball, but it dropped in for a double, and the O’s added two runs.  The outfield is a mess. Milledge consistently looks unsure of himself in center.  I get a kick out of watching Jerry Morales direct the outfield from the dugout for every batter. 

Unfortunately for the Nats, Saturday’s game wasn’t an improvement. Wily Mo Pena struggled all night in left field, misreading a number of balls which would have been easy outs.  Odalis Perez struggled also giving up six runs on ten hits in five innings.  Ryan Zimmerman hit his eight home run of the season and put the Nats up briefly in the second inning. 

The O’s lead by four for most the game.  Joel Hanrahan relieved Perez in the sixth. After throwing three balls, Nick Markakis walked when the next pitch was called a ball. Catcher Jesus Flores immediently asked umpire Tim McClelland about the call.  Flores appeared to ask him more than once and was eventually ejected from the game.  Manny came out to question the ejection.  The ball in question looked like a strike to me; it was about knee high and on the outside of the plate.  Wil Nieves replaced Flores behind the plate.

The Nats attempted a rally in the 8th.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Aaron Boone hit a single to left and scored both Guzman and Zimmerman. Baltimore changed pitchers, and walked Wil Nieves to load the bases again. Lastings Milledge got hit with a pitch in dramatic fashion and Dmitri Young trudged home.  The score was a close 6-5 with the bases still loaded, and Austin Kearns up.  It was a perfect opportunity for the struggling Kearns to perform. He worked the count to 3-2, and fouled off a few, but he eventually swung at a sinking fast ball and struck out to end any chance of a comeback victory.  Kearns is really struggling, maybe some time on the bench will be a good thing?

Saul Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th, but the Nats couldn’t answer the O’s and lost 6-5.

Sunday we picked up the win, but it was certainly the most miserable of our three trips to Camden Yards this weekend.  We knew and planned for rain, but what do you do for a 2 hour delay on a day game after a night game?  If only there had been a place to take a nap.  After the rain finally died down, we watched John Lannan’s beautiful performance against the Orioles line-up.  He kept the O’s at 2 hits for most of the game, surrendering two more in the 8th to end his fine outing.  When he left the 8th inning, there was one out and 2 men on base.  The Nats were up by 2.  Ayala jogged out from the bullpen but a second heavy downpour forced everyone off the field. 

When the game resumed, Brian Roberts hit a sacrifice fly that scored Adam Jones.  With a one run lead and a runner at third, Ayala got Melvin Mora to line out to right field for a crucial 3rd out.  It’s great to see him getting back to form.  Rauch got 2 quick outs before giving up a hit to Huff.  A pop-up to Zimmerman by Payton ended the game.  Lannan got his much deserved victory and the Nats escaped Baltimore without being swept.

The Nats carried the lead for the whole game on Cristian Guzman’s home run in the 3rd inning.  They picked up a run in the 8th with Lopez and Zimmerman both doubling down the first base line off of Chad Bradford.  Guzman was 2 for 3, Lopez went 2 for 5 and Nieves was 2 for 4.  Dukes continued his struggle at the plate, but also had a tough time on the base paths.  Markakis made 2 outfield assists on Dukes, once at home in a play that ended the 7th inning and again in the 9th inning at second base.

This next series is going to be tough, especially with Hill missing his start on Thursday.  Redding (5-3) takes on Brett Myers tonight at 7:10.  Myers is 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA.  In about 20 at bats each, Zimmerman, Lopez and Guzman have hit real well against Myers.  Kearns also has done well against Myers in the past, but he may be resting that sore right elbow tonight.

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