I’m embarrased to report that my Dad made the trip down from PA to watch a 13-3 loss at our new park.  For Garrett Mock, things started rough in a 3 run first inning, but he settled down, found his groove and completed his outing five innings later by collecting 8 strike outs.  It’s not like he can run out to left field and do WMP’s job for him too, right.  He pitched alright, but he was promptly sent back to Columbus.   

Through the sixth inning, the team was fighting and staying alive, in part thanks to Lastings Milledge.  His web gem catch and solo home run were a necessary jolt of energy in an otherwise lifeless team.

In the 6th ining, we loaded the bases with a 4-3 score and 2 outs with a great opportunity to take the lead.  Kory Casto came in to pinch hit, another indication of how thin our bench truly is.  I remarked to my Dad that Kory was anti-clutch and never performed well under pressure.  One-run game, two outs, bases loaded…ain’t gonna happen.  Then it became a 3-2 count.  Then the fans started standing and yelling.  More pressure.  As expected, Casto couldn’t deliver.  He lined out to end the inning.

The Nats brought Charlie Manning in for the 7th.  Manning faced four batters and recorded only one out, loading the bases for Brian Sanches.  Three singles, one walk and one double later, the Rangers had recorded only one additional out.  They had put 7 runs on the board.

With a eight run deficit, the team completely lost energy.  Fans left, a slow light rain moved over the stadium and the lethargic team moved through the motions with no life.  It didn’t help that slower than slow Jesus Colome finished the game.  You know it’s a bad night when Colome gives up 2 walks, 2 wild pitches and 2 runs, and you don’t even care.  (Oh, and either the radar gun is a little bit screwed up, or Colome consitently, for over two innings, pitched 98-99 mph).

After the game Brian Sanches was sent back to AAA, along with Mock, to make room for Steven Shell and Pett Orr.  Orr will serve as a utility infielder.  Shell will work out of the bullpen.  This will be Shell’s first time in the big leagues.

Odalis Perez, who made a rehab start at Potomac yesterday, pitched well for four innings (56 pitches).  He gave up one run on two hits and struck out five.  Nick Johnson is still having pain in his wrist and will seek another opinion at the Mayo Clinic.

Other News:

It looks like the Nationals have decided to (finally) put some baseball movies on the HD screen.  The movies will run after selected Saturday night home games.  The first one is scheduled for next Saturday, June 28.  They’ll air Rookie of the Year after the last out. 

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am and is filed under Game Recaps. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.