(davepdc/flickr)
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2008 Opening Day live blog on Baseball Digest Daily. Joe Hamrahi is at the stadium (on the field, in the clubhouses, in the press box, etc) and I, Dave Rouleau, am sipping a beer in my living room in Quebec City (QC, Canada). Guess who's lucky? Right. But I've got the keyboard and the power!!Joe will feed me bits and pieces before, during and after the game, providing a unique perspective into this historic event. I will then blog here and provide game notes (scouting reports, stats analysis, etc.)
Hype us here Refresh the page often for updates!
17h45 (Eastern time): Joe just talked to Roger McDowell, pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves, and he confirmed that John Smoltz will be pitching next Sunday, April 6th, as previously reported. He also talked to Jeff Francoeur (Joe has a man crush on him, I think...) and says he has never seen the outfielder in such a great shape, very muscular. Jeff told him "there was only a couple of beers worth of fat on that frame..."
17h55: Jon Miller, Joe Morgan, Peter Gammons, Jerry Crasnick, John Schuerholz, Stan Kasten, etc. The Nats are warming up and about to take batting practice. To sum up the atmosphere at the new park, in Joe's term: "this is a madhouse!!"
- 18h40: "Security is insane...my bags were checked by Homeland Security and the Department of Defense", Joe says.
- 19h00: With Bush close to entering the stadium, all digital signals are shut down in the park, for security.
- The matchup today will be RHP Tim Hudson for the Braves and LHP Odalis Perez for the Nationals.
Tim Hudson -
After an intensive offseason where he trained like a madman, the 32-year-old really impressed in 2007, with this pitching line: 224 IP, 221 H, 83 ER, 10 HR, 53 BB, 132 K, 3.33 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. That lowered his BB/9 from 3.26 to 2.13! One of the most surprising improvements came in the ground balls induced...62%. That ranked him fourth among starters with at least 150 IP in the majors.
He throws a fastball (low-90s), slider, splitter, cutter, change, curve (secondary pitches in order of % thrown). Talk about keeping batters on their toes...
He also threw almost 300 fewer pitches while pitching three more innings in 2007.
- Odalis Perez
He had very productive seasons from 2002 to 2004, but has never been the same since shoulder problems put him on the DL in 2004 and 2005. He was signed to a minor league contract at the end of February and now will start the opener in Washington. He recorded his lowest K/9 (4.19) in his major league career and his highest BB/9 (3.28) since 2002.
He throws a fastball (high-80s), change, cutter and a curve ball (secondary pitches in order of % thrown).
19h18: The Caveman is there!!!.....Geico....
And he is a Nationals fan?
- Found on the Nationals official website:
Starting with the first pitch being delivered by that far-right-hander, President George W. Bush.
"That will be cool," said Atlanta outfielder Matt Diaz. "I voted for him twice, and I'd vote for him again, if I could."
D'OH!!!!
- 19h37: Lineups and complete schedule (taken from Washington Post blog)-
Atlanta
2B - Kelly Johnson (.276, 16 HR, 68 RBI)
SS - Yunel Escobar (.326, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
3B - Chipper Jones (.337, 29 HR, 102 RBI)
1B - Mark Teixeira (.306, 30 HR, 105 RBI)
RF - Jeff Francoeur (.293, 19 HR, 105 RBI)
C - Brian McCann (.270, 18 HR, 92 RBI)
LF - Matt Diaz (.338, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
CF - Mark Kotsay (.214, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
P - Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.33 ERA)
Washington
SS - Cristian Guzman (.328, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
CF - Lastings Milledge (.272, 7 HR, 29 RBI)
3B - Ryan Zimmerman (.266, 24 HR, 91 RBI)
1B - Nick Johnson (.290, 23 HR, 77 RBI, in 2006)
RF - Austin Kearns (.266, 16 HR, 74 RBI)
C - Paul Lo Duca (.272, 9 HR, 54 RBI)
LF - Elijah Dukes (.190, 10 HR, 21 RBI)
2B - Ronnie Belliard (.290, 11 HR, 58 RBI)
P - Odalis Perez (8-11, 5.57 ERA)
Dave Notes
Nothing really surprising with the Atlanta lineup. Ken Rosenthal picks them to be the World Series champions and as a Toronto Blue Jays fan, I see them at least in the playoff and possibly trying to take the ring from the birds. Unfortunately, the Jays will fly high and away...with the ultimate honors. Sorry.
The Nationals rightfully decided to start Nick Johnson at first base (he missed last season with a fractured femur). He had a .845 OPS compared to Dmitri Young's .654 OPS.
Elijah Dukes in LF? Perfect. Such a great athlete. Once he gets it in his head that the sky's the limit as far as his talent goes, he will takeoff and never look back. To have Lastings Milledge next to him in center field will make it among (if not the) best outfield in baseball in terms of coverage and offensive potential.
Here's the schedule for the pregame ceremony:
7:48 p.m.: Don Sutton with the master of ceremonies' introduction
7:50 p.m.: Braves roster introduction
7:55:30 p.m.: Giant red flags unfurled
7:55:30 p.m.: Fly-over with 121st Fighter Squadron, DC Air National Guard, 4 F-16s)
7:57 p.m.: Nationals coaches introduction
7:58 p.m.: Nationals roster introduction
8:01:30 p.m.: Nationals starting lineup introduction
8:05 p.m.: Manny Acta introduction
8:05:30 p.m.: Joint services color guard
8:06:15 p.m.: National Anthem introduction
8:06:45 p.m.: National Anthem by Denyce Graves
8:09 p.m.: Manny Acta, Ryan Zimmerman and Ted Lerner introduction
8:09:20 p.m.: President Bush introduction
8:09:30 p.m.: Ceremonial first pitch from President Bush, escorted by Ted Lerner and Ryan Zimmerman, with Manny Acta as the catcher
8:11 p.m.: Umpire introduction
8:12 p.m.: Team on-the-field video
8:13 p.m.: Team takes the field
8:14:30 p.m.: The call of "Play ball!" from Mayor Adrian Fenty
8:15 p.m.: First pitch
19h38: From Joe: "They just started playing "It's a beautiful Day" (click for audio) by U2 and I've got chills!"
20h10: What a great ballpark. The dimensions:
- 335 feet down the right field line
- 370 in right-center
- 402 in center
- 377 in left-center
- 336 down the left-field line
RFK's posted dimensions were 335-380-410-380-335, although players doubted whether the measurements to the power alleys were accurate.
- Tonight marks the 48th Presidential First Pitch in the history of the game, with the first one thrown in 1910, by William Howard Taft. George W. Bush is booed heavily and throws a high fastball to Manny Acta.
20h20: The Nationals take the field, the first time in the history of this ballpark...
There's a gig "W" in center field.
20h21: First pitch is a fastball (87 mph) down in the zone and Johnson swings and fouls it back.
- Joe has the following to say:
"*The scoreboard is by far the most beautful I've ever seen
*About an hour before game time and the place is about half full
*The concession stands are plentiful but the lines go 50 deep in some cases...like at the sausage lines. That's not a good sign
*The sound system is fantastic...clear, crisp, and not too loud.
*The concourses are great...wide and open to the field. Reminds me a bit.of Detroit
*The whole place seems like one gigantic party! Everyone is smiling, the park looks great, the food smells good.
*The site lines are fantastic from just about wherever I've been."
20h25: Perez is very aggressive with the fastballs, topping it at 91 mph so far, but mostly 88-89 mph. He just walked Escobar after being 0-2...devastating for a manager...
20h30: He strikes out Teixeira on an offspeed pitch low and inside. Mark is not happy with the call, but it was a strike. Good debut for Perez, who was signed to a minor league deal a month ago.
20h32: Christian Guzman has the first hit in the Nationals Park, to RF on a first-pitch sinker on the outside corner.
20h34: Guzman reaches third base on a bad pickoff throw to first base by Tim Hudson.
20h36: Great at-bat by Milledge, but the sinking fastball by Hudson comes back over the plate and freezes the newcomer to Wash.
20h39: Zimmerman strikes out two on a low-and-away pitch. Still a guy on third, but now two outs.
20h40 : Nick Johnson is late on the first two fastballs, but gets a bloop single to RF on a slider that runs inside. His bat breaks, one run is in and Johnson tests Francoeur for a double. 1-0 Nationals.
20h44: Single by Kearns to RF, again, and Johnson tests Francoeur for the second time in a row, but this time at the plate....safe!. 2-0 Wash.
20h47: A slow roller by Lo Duca is then thrown to first base by Chipper for the third out. What a way to tell the fans: "welcome to our new home!"
20h51: Francoeur is out the same way the first inning ended.
20h52: McCann hits a liner to the RF fence, but is thrown out to second base on a great throw by Kearns (with relay from Belliard)
Peter Gammons just mentioned that there is a IPOD charger at each locker in the Nationals clubhouse.
20h54: Matt Diaz is retired on a grounder at second base. Perez is keeping the ball down and is following the club instructions to be more aggressive (throe strikes).
20h57: Three quick outs for Hudson, first on a flyball by Dukes, then a grounder to Jones and a strike out of Perez (pitcher).
21h02: Two quick out to RF, first on a pop up and then a fly ball along the foul line.
21h04: Kelly Johnson has swung to the first pitch in both at-bats now, with two fouls. Now, on the second offering, he gets a single up the middle.
21h05: Wow...what a bad running game for the Braves so far. Johnson gets picked up by Perez trying to steal second base. He was caught 5 times last season on 14 attempts. In the second frame, McCann tried to be a bit too aggressive by going to second on his loooong single.
It's a luck for us....a similar situation in ST that our photographer
caught... (Bill Richardson/BDD)
21h09: Man oh man!!! Yunel Escobar just chased a grounder up the middle and turned around for a strong throw to first base that got Zimmerman by a step! Very athletic shortstop right there.
Joe says: "Crowd seems to really be behind the Nationals. Odalis Perez is getting a lot.of luck from the Braves hitters. Very few are taking a pitch."
21h14: Chipper Jones lines a shot in the left-center field bleachers. 2-1 Wash. Perez is throwing a lot of off-speed stuff now.
Jeff Francoeur is HACKING at the ball! Joe was right earlier, he looks incredibly strong. And he just turned 24....
21h17: Francoeur hits the top part of a change-up and rolls it down the line. Zimmerman let's it roll and hopes for a foul.....no! Jeff's on first base.
21h20: Brian McCann hits a high fly ball to Milledge in CF. Still 2-1 Wash. in the middle of the fourth.
Theodore Rosevelt won the 'Presidential Race' in the middle of the frame.
21h24: Kotsay catches makes a nice running catch in CF on a Johnson fly ball.
Kearns swings over a great (!!) change-up by Hudson (77 mph). He then high-hops the ball, but the pitcher jumps and grabs it for the second out, after throwing it to first base.
21h26: Lo Duca is retired again on a grounder on the left side of the field, the 10th out in a row for Hudson after a shaky first inning that didn't give him any breaks.
21h29: Error by Guzman at SS, after a great pitch that Diaz hit weakly. The ball went between Guzman's legs...
Joe says: "You can stand in various spots on the concourse and literally watch the game from there if you don't like your seats. To be honest, it might actually be a more enjoyable experience and better view!"
21h35: Kelly Johnson grounds out to first base for the third out, stranding a runner on second base. 2-1 Wash, now in the middle of the fifth inning.
21h40: Five minutes and three ground balls later, Hudson makes sure the bats go right back out to at least make that game even, with the score still 2-1 Wash.
Pitching change: Saul Rivera (RHP) is now on the mound for the Nationals. Make that a successful beginning for Odalis Perez. He induces a ground ball to Yunel Escobar, to Guzman behind the second bag.
21h45: Chipper Jones can now hit as a left-handed hitter versus Rivera, but he strikes out with what looks like sinker (89 mph, but the bottom drops out of it).
21h47: Teixeira swings on the first pitch again and pops out near the mound, where Zimmerman takes it in for the end of the inning. Already heading in the bottom of the sixth inning!
Hudson painted that corner inside against Guzman on the third pitch. Teixeira then catches a ground ball and finishes the play himself by stepping on first base.
21h52: Two other grounders dispose of the Wash. batters. Hudson has not allowed a base runner since the 2-run first inning.
Impressive display of pitching from both teams so far. The running game of the Braves probably cost them the run they currently need, so we'll see how the two managers play it in the final three innings.
21h55: Incredible...grounders....grounders....grounders....grounders....
21h58: Two fly balls to Kearns in RF finish the inning.
Seventh inning stretch!!
Escobar can get on base any way Bobby Cox wants...
Starting with the first pitch being delivered by that far-right-hander, President George W. Bush.
"That will be cool," said Atlanta outfielder Matt Diaz. "I voted for him twice, and I'd vote for him again, if I could."
D'OH!!!!
- 19h37: Lineups and complete schedule (taken from Washington Post blog)-
Atlanta
2B - Kelly Johnson (.276, 16 HR, 68 RBI)
SS - Yunel Escobar (.326, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
3B - Chipper Jones (.337, 29 HR, 102 RBI)
1B - Mark Teixeira (.306, 30 HR, 105 RBI)
RF - Jeff Francoeur (.293, 19 HR, 105 RBI)
C - Brian McCann (.270, 18 HR, 92 RBI)
LF - Matt Diaz (.338, 12 HR, 45 RBI)
CF - Mark Kotsay (.214, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
P - Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.33 ERA)
Washington
SS - Cristian Guzman (.328, 2 HR, 14 RBI)
CF - Lastings Milledge (.272, 7 HR, 29 RBI)
3B - Ryan Zimmerman (.266, 24 HR, 91 RBI)
1B - Nick Johnson (.290, 23 HR, 77 RBI, in 2006)
RF - Austin Kearns (.266, 16 HR, 74 RBI)
C - Paul Lo Duca (.272, 9 HR, 54 RBI)
LF - Elijah Dukes (.190, 10 HR, 21 RBI)
2B - Ronnie Belliard (.290, 11 HR, 58 RBI)
P - Odalis Perez (8-11, 5.57 ERA)
Dave Notes
Nothing really surprising with the Atlanta lineup. Ken Rosenthal picks them to be the World Series champions and as a Toronto Blue Jays fan, I see them at least in the playoff and possibly trying to take the ring from the birds. Unfortunately, the Jays will fly high and away...with the ultimate honors. Sorry.
The Nationals rightfully decided to start Nick Johnson at first base (he missed last season with a fractured femur). He had a .845 OPS compared to Dmitri Young's .654 OPS.
Elijah Dukes in LF? Perfect. Such a great athlete. Once he gets it in his head that the sky's the limit as far as his talent goes, he will takeoff and never look back. To have Lastings Milledge next to him in center field will make it among (if not the) best outfield in baseball in terms of coverage and offensive potential.
Here's the schedule for the pregame ceremony:
7:48 p.m.: Don Sutton with the master of ceremonies' introduction
7:50 p.m.: Braves roster introduction
7:55:30 p.m.: Giant red flags unfurled
7:55:30 p.m.: Fly-over with 121st Fighter Squadron, DC Air National Guard, 4 F-16s)
7:57 p.m.: Nationals coaches introduction
7:58 p.m.: Nationals roster introduction
8:01:30 p.m.: Nationals starting lineup introduction
8:05 p.m.: Manny Acta introduction
8:05:30 p.m.: Joint services color guard
8:06:15 p.m.: National Anthem introduction
8:06:45 p.m.: National Anthem by Denyce Graves
8:09 p.m.: Manny Acta, Ryan Zimmerman and Ted Lerner introduction
8:09:20 p.m.: President Bush introduction
8:09:30 p.m.: Ceremonial first pitch from President Bush, escorted by Ted Lerner and Ryan Zimmerman, with Manny Acta as the catcher
8:11 p.m.: Umpire introduction
8:12 p.m.: Team on-the-field video
8:13 p.m.: Team takes the field
8:14:30 p.m.: The call of "Play ball!" from Mayor Adrian Fenty
8:15 p.m.: First pitch
19h38: From Joe: "They just started playing "It's a beautiful Day" (click for audio) by U2 and I've got chills!"
20h10: What a great ballpark. The dimensions:
- 335 feet down the right field line
- 370 in right-center
- 402 in center
- 377 in left-center
- 336 down the left-field line
RFK's posted dimensions were 335-380-410-380-335, although players doubted whether the measurements to the power alleys were accurate.
- Tonight marks the 48th Presidential First Pitch in the history of the game, with the first one thrown in 1910, by William Howard Taft. George W. Bush is booed heavily and throws a high fastball to Manny Acta.
20h20: The Nationals take the field, the first time in the history of this ballpark...
There's a gig "W" in center field.
20h21: First pitch is a fastball (87 mph) down in the zone and Johnson swings and fouls it back.
- Joe has the following to say:
"*The scoreboard is by far the most beautful I've ever seen
*About an hour before game time and the place is about half full
*The concession stands are plentiful but the lines go 50 deep in some cases...like at the sausage lines. That's not a good sign
*The sound system is fantastic...clear, crisp, and not too loud.
*The concourses are great...wide and open to the field. Reminds me a bit.of Detroit
*The whole place seems like one gigantic party! Everyone is smiling, the park looks great, the food smells good.
*The site lines are fantastic from just about wherever I've been."
20h25: Perez is very aggressive with the fastballs, topping it at 91 mph so far, but mostly 88-89 mph. He just walked Escobar after being 0-2...devastating for a manager...
20h30: He strikes out Teixeira on an offspeed pitch low and inside. Mark is not happy with the call, but it was a strike. Good debut for Perez, who was signed to a minor league deal a month ago.
20h32: Christian Guzman has the first hit in the Nationals Park, to RF on a first-pitch sinker on the outside corner.
20h34: Guzman reaches third base on a bad pickoff throw to first base by Tim Hudson.
20h36: Great at-bat by Milledge, but the sinking fastball by Hudson comes back over the plate and freezes the newcomer to Wash.
20h39: Zimmerman strikes out two on a low-and-away pitch. Still a guy on third, but now two outs.
20h40 : Nick Johnson is late on the first two fastballs, but gets a bloop single to RF on a slider that runs inside. His bat breaks, one run is in and Johnson tests Francoeur for a double. 1-0 Nationals.
20h44: Single by Kearns to RF, again, and Johnson tests Francoeur for the second time in a row, but this time at the plate....safe!. 2-0 Wash.
20h47: A slow roller by Lo Duca is then thrown to first base by Chipper for the third out. What a way to tell the fans: "welcome to our new home!"
20h51: Francoeur is out the same way the first inning ended.
20h52: McCann hits a liner to the RF fence, but is thrown out to second base on a great throw by Kearns (with relay from Belliard)
Peter Gammons just mentioned that there is a IPOD charger at each locker in the Nationals clubhouse.
20h54: Matt Diaz is retired on a grounder at second base. Perez is keeping the ball down and is following the club instructions to be more aggressive (throe strikes).
20h57: Three quick outs for Hudson, first on a flyball by Dukes, then a grounder to Jones and a strike out of Perez (pitcher).
21h02: Two quick out to RF, first on a pop up and then a fly ball along the foul line.
21h04: Kelly Johnson has swung to the first pitch in both at-bats now, with two fouls. Now, on the second offering, he gets a single up the middle.
21h05: Wow...what a bad running game for the Braves so far. Johnson gets picked up by Perez trying to steal second base. He was caught 5 times last season on 14 attempts. In the second frame, McCann tried to be a bit too aggressive by going to second on his loooong single.
It's a luck for us....a similar situation in ST that our photographer
caught... (Bill Richardson/BDD)
21h09: Man oh man!!! Yunel Escobar just chased a grounder up the middle and turned around for a strong throw to first base that got Zimmerman by a step! Very athletic shortstop right there.
Joe says: "Crowd seems to really be behind the Nationals. Odalis Perez is getting a lot.of luck from the Braves hitters. Very few are taking a pitch."
21h14: Chipper Jones lines a shot in the left-center field bleachers. 2-1 Wash. Perez is throwing a lot of off-speed stuff now.
Jeff Francoeur is HACKING at the ball! Joe was right earlier, he looks incredibly strong. And he just turned 24....
21h17: Francoeur hits the top part of a change-up and rolls it down the line. Zimmerman let's it roll and hopes for a foul.....no! Jeff's on first base.
21h20: Brian McCann hits a high fly ball to Milledge in CF. Still 2-1 Wash. in the middle of the fourth.
Theodore Rosevelt won the 'Presidential Race' in the middle of the frame.
21h24: Kotsay catches makes a nice running catch in CF on a Johnson fly ball.
Kearns swings over a great (!!) change-up by Hudson (77 mph). He then high-hops the ball, but the pitcher jumps and grabs it for the second out, after throwing it to first base.
21h26: Lo Duca is retired again on a grounder on the left side of the field, the 10th out in a row for Hudson after a shaky first inning that didn't give him any breaks.
21h29: Error by Guzman at SS, after a great pitch that Diaz hit weakly. The ball went between Guzman's legs...
Joe says: "You can stand in various spots on the concourse and literally watch the game from there if you don't like your seats. To be honest, it might actually be a more enjoyable experience and better view!"
21h35: Kelly Johnson grounds out to first base for the third out, stranding a runner on second base. 2-1 Wash, now in the middle of the fifth inning.
21h40: Five minutes and three ground balls later, Hudson makes sure the bats go right back out to at least make that game even, with the score still 2-1 Wash.
Pitching change: Saul Rivera (RHP) is now on the mound for the Nationals. Make that a successful beginning for Odalis Perez. He induces a ground ball to Yunel Escobar, to Guzman behind the second bag.
21h45: Chipper Jones can now hit as a left-handed hitter versus Rivera, but he strikes out with what looks like sinker (89 mph, but the bottom drops out of it).
21h47: Teixeira swings on the first pitch again and pops out near the mound, where Zimmerman takes it in for the end of the inning. Already heading in the bottom of the sixth inning!
Hudson painted that corner inside against Guzman on the third pitch. Teixeira then catches a ground ball and finishes the play himself by stepping on first base.
21h52: Two other grounders dispose of the Wash. batters. Hudson has not allowed a base runner since the 2-run first inning.
Impressive display of pitching from both teams so far. The running game of the Braves probably cost them the run they currently need, so we'll see how the two managers play it in the final three innings.
21h55: Incredible...grounders....grounders....grounders....grounders....
21h58: Two fly balls to Kearns in RF finish the inning.
Seventh inning stretch!!
Escobar can get on base any way Bobby Cox wants...
22h03: Second pitch call of the at-bat against Nick Johnson frustrates Hudson. It was clearly a strikes that came back on the inside corner. The umpire gave up on the pitch too fast! The first baseman then flies out to CF.
22h06: Same results for Kearns, on the third pitch of the at-bat, 0-2.
22h07: Paul Lo Duca finally lifts the ball in this plate appearance and is retired when Matt Diaz catches the ball in left field. Still 2-1 after 7 innings played.
22h06: Same results for Kearns, on the third pitch of the at-bat, 0-2.
22h07: Paul Lo Duca finally lifts the ball in this plate appearance and is retired when Matt Diaz catches the ball in left field. Still 2-1 after 7 innings played.
Sent by Joe....from center field....
See that "W" I mentioned earlier...sweeeeeet......
See that "W" I mentioned earlier...sweeeeeet......
Willie Harris now patrols left field for Washington. LHP Ray King is now on the mound.
Pena gets on base with a walk and Gregor Blanco pinch runs for him.
King can't seem to find the plate now... There's one out, one on (first base).
Note: the crew was still installing lighting fixtures when BP was on!! It costs $611 M to build this 41,888-seat facility.
22h15: Milledge catches the Kelly Johnson fly ball/liner. Now two outs and Manny Acta is calling for the fourth Nationals pitcher. King did his job partially, with still a runner on first after he walked Pena.
Pitching change: RHP Luis Ayala is now on the mound for Escobar.
22h20: Guzman doesn't miss this grounder and makes a force out at second with an underhand throw to Belliard who steps on the bag for the end of the inning. Expect Chad Cordero to close the deal in the top of the ninth.
Pitching change: LHP Will Ohman takes the mound. Willie Harris at the plate.
Harris grounds out to first base. Good observation by David Pinto at Baseball Musings:
If Tim Hudson had started in the second inning, he'd be pitching a perfect game right now. Since Kearns singled in the first, Hudson retired the last 19 batters. He's losing 2-1, so he may be lifted for a pinch hitter, unless the leadoff man gets on and Sox elects to bunt.
Pitching change: Ohman did the job and Coz brings in RHP (and side-armer) Peter Moylan.
Incredible movement on his fastball and he gets a grounder and then strikes out Felipe Lopez...looking. It was a fastball that cut right over the outside part of the plate.
Milledge has looked good in CF so far tonight (Bill Richardson/BDD)
Pena gets on base with a walk and Gregor Blanco pinch runs for him.
King can't seem to find the plate now... There's one out, one on (first base).
Note: the crew was still installing lighting fixtures when BP was on!! It costs $611 M to build this 41,888-seat facility.
22h15: Milledge catches the Kelly Johnson fly ball/liner. Now two outs and Manny Acta is calling for the fourth Nationals pitcher. King did his job partially, with still a runner on first after he walked Pena.
Pitching change: RHP Luis Ayala is now on the mound for Escobar.
22h20: Guzman doesn't miss this grounder and makes a force out at second with an underhand throw to Belliard who steps on the bag for the end of the inning. Expect Chad Cordero to close the deal in the top of the ninth.
Pitching change: LHP Will Ohman takes the mound. Willie Harris at the plate.
Harris grounds out to first base. Good observation by David Pinto at Baseball Musings:
If Tim Hudson had started in the second inning, he'd be pitching a perfect game right now. Since Kearns singled in the first, Hudson retired the last 19 batters. He's losing 2-1, so he may be lifted for a pinch hitter, unless the leadoff man gets on and Sox elects to bunt.
Pitching change: Ohman did the job and Coz brings in RHP (and side-armer) Peter Moylan.
Incredible movement on his fastball and he gets a grounder and then strikes out Felipe Lopez...looking. It was a fastball that cut right over the outside part of the plate.
Milledge has looked good in CF so far tonight (Bill Richardson/BDD)
22h32: Chipper Jones is up at the plate and lines directly to John Rauch for the out. Even Rauch looked surprised he caught the ball!!
It's an interesting combo they have in the middle of the lineup, with two power AND switch- hitter.
22h34: Teixeira hits a long double to the fence and there's a pinch hitter in his place at second base.
Chad Cordero had some stiffness while throwing in the bullpen, so that gives Rauch an opportunity to close that game.
22h36: Francoeurs covers the plate well, but hits it at the end of the bat to the second baseman and that advances the runner to third base.
Then Rauch throws a pitch that eludes Lo Duca and the runner scores from third!!!! 2-2.
22h37: McCann flies out to Harris in LF. We're going to the bottom of the 9th. Moylan stays in the game and Guzman is going to the dish.
22h41: Moylan strikes out Guzman with a great pitch that moves...so......much...
22h42: Milledge slides at first base to try and beat the throw from Jones after a grounder to him, but in vain.
Moylan just throws an outside pitch that was a strike, man....
22h43: Zimmerman shoots a 1-0 pitch (93 mph, low and inside - I can see you smile Jon. Hale...lol) in the left-center bleachers for a home run that wins it for the home club.
Great pitching matchups and a great finish.
Can you really ask for a better end to that game? No.
Joe says: "Wow".
Indeed.
It's an interesting combo they have in the middle of the lineup, with two power AND switch- hitter.
22h34: Teixeira hits a long double to the fence and there's a pinch hitter in his place at second base.
Chad Cordero had some stiffness while throwing in the bullpen, so that gives Rauch an opportunity to close that game.
22h36: Francoeurs covers the plate well, but hits it at the end of the bat to the second baseman and that advances the runner to third base.
Then Rauch throws a pitch that eludes Lo Duca and the runner scores from third!!!! 2-2.
22h37: McCann flies out to Harris in LF. We're going to the bottom of the 9th. Moylan stays in the game and Guzman is going to the dish.
22h41: Moylan strikes out Guzman with a great pitch that moves...so......much...
22h42: Milledge slides at first base to try and beat the throw from Jones after a grounder to him, but in vain.
Moylan just throws an outside pitch that was a strike, man....
22h43: Zimmerman shoots a 1-0 pitch (93 mph, low and inside - I can see you smile Jon. Hale...lol) in the left-center bleachers for a home run that wins it for the home club.
Great pitching matchups and a great finish.
Can you really ask for a better end to that game? No.
Joe says: "Wow".
Indeed.