With the Nats feeling a bit of a line up shift (Lopez, Dukes and Pena were on the bench) and facing some tough pitching (Micah Owings) the first game in Arizona looked to be interesting. Ryan Zimmerman was also on the bench for the fifth game in a row, still feeling some pain in his shoulder. Aaron Boone got the start again at third base in his absence.
The Nats got off to an early lead thanks to another great at bat by Jesus Flores. His two RBI single scored both Dmitri and Milledge. That gives Jesus 16 RBI’s so far this season. He seems to be having the best at bats with runners on base. Flores continues to prove himself everyday. The catcher got knocked around a bit in the game tonight, getting hit twice in the head; he was taken out in the 8th inning after he developed a headache and some nausea. Nieves replaced him. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious and Flores feels better soon, lord knows we need his bat!
Tim Redding pitched ok even though he issued five walks and gave up a solo home run in the fourth inning. Redding actually loaded the bases twice in the fifth inning due to walks and consecutive singles, one to hot hitting pitcher Owings. Tim was able to work himself out the jam allowing only one run on a sac fly.
Milledge knocked in a sac fly in the 6th to break the 2-2 tie. Redding started the 6th but seemed to run out of gas, and was relieved by Joel Hanrahan. Hanrahan finished the inning with a double play and worked a scoreless 7th. Willie Harris nailed a three run homer in the 7th to break the tie again and give the Nats some much needed insurance.
Luis Ayala came in to pitch the 8th. He made a nice play at first base to record the first out, and then gave up a solo homer (his fourth of the year) to put the D-Backs within two. Ayala worked out of the inning nicely, striking out the next two batters.
In the 9th Willie Harris and Cristian Guzman hit consecutive singles, and Boone walked to load the bases with one out for Felipe Lopez. Thanks to his hustle, Lopez beat the play at first and Harris scored from third making the score 7-4. Jon Rauch pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and the Nats took game one of the series.
Don Sutton was back in the booth tonight, but he still didn’t sound totally healed. He also had some issues identifying which team he works for. Don called Tim Redding “Tim Hudson” through the entire broadcast. Maybe Don needs a few more days on the announcers DL to rest his voice and study the Nationals roster?
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