 |
Nats fall to Brewers in Extras on Memorial DayMay 30th, 2008
|
The Memorial Day masses exited Nationals Park while listening to a Jamaican Rastafarian crooning about how ‘every little thing gonna’ be all right’ after the Nationals blew a lead in the top of the seventh inning, closed a deficit in the bottom of the 8th, then gave up the winning run in the top of the 11th.
Starting pitcher Jason Bergmann departed after throwing 5.2 innings of shutout, four-hit ball, enough to make him eligible for the win when leaving the mound with the Nats leading 2-0 overe the Milwaukee Brewers. The next three relievers proceeded to give up a run apiece before first baseman Dmitri Young smacked a deep drive to centerfield in the bottom of the 8th, pulling into third with what initially was a stand-up triple.
The umpires then convened, discussed whether Young’s shot had cleared the fence, decided that it had, and the 298 pounder casually strolled home with his first homer of the season as the Nats pulled even.
Closer Jon Rauch, the Nats’ fifth pitcher of the afternoon, pitched a 1-2-3 9th. Saul Rivera came on in the 10th, struck out the first batter, gave up a single to the next hitter, and induced the next two batters to fly and line out, respectively.
In the top of the 11th, Brewer first baseman Price Fielder led off with a double to left and was sacrificed to third. Following a strikeout, the Brewers pinch hit for their pitcher with a player who came out of retirement to play this season.
In 2007, Gabe Kapler was the manager of the Greenville Drive, a minor league team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. For large parts of 2003 through 2006, Kapler was a platoon outfielder and fan favorite with the Boston Red Sox. In September 2005, he ruptured his left Achilles tendon while circling the bases, and he later returned from surgery too early in 2006. In December 2006, he retired and was named manager of the Drive as a 31-year-old. But during the 2007 season he realized he still had years left of mashing baseballs.
In the top of the 11th, with two out and Fielder on third in a 3-3 tie game, Kapler stroked an RBI single to centerfield and Fielder waltzed home with what proved to be the winning run. Kapler stole second then was moved to third following two walks as the Brewers threatened to blow the game open before a groundout gave the Nats what would be their final at-bat, two groundouts and a swinging strikeout.
The Nats’ ‘production’ at the plate in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings? The minimum nine at-bats, broken down as three groundouts and six strikeouts, two of which were looking.
Previous to those late innings, the Nats’ bats were productive. They hit two home runs, the first being shortstop Christian Guzman’s in the first inning, the second being Young’s in the 8th. They stroked three doubles, two of which were back-to-back and generated the game’s second run when rightfielder Elijah Dukes doubled to center and catcher Jesus Flores’ RBI double to left.
Before Young’s stand-up triple was ruled a home run, the big man’s prowess on the basepaths bore a sharp contrast to that of his counterpart who also plays first base, bats fourth and packs on the pounds. In the second inning, the 270-pound Fielder (28 pounds less than Young) smashed a ball to right field and chugged past first base. Dukes cleanly fielded the hit off the wall and relayed the throw to second, catching the less-than-speedy runner at least a pace before he reached the bag.
Monday was an ideal day for an afternoon ballgame and the matinee was strikingly reminiscent of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ as the gainfully employed should have been in offices but, contrary to the three Chicago-area high schoolers playing hooky in that 1986 flick, the ball-yard represented the perfect method to observe the holiday and pay respects to the nation’s war dead.
All activity at the ball-yard came to a halt immediately at 3pm for the nationwide moment of silence, when players and fans alike stood, faced the flag, lifted their hats and paid tribute.
Through Tuesday morning, the Nats remain in the NL East basement, nine games out of first place and 2½ behind the rapidly sinking New York Mets. The Nats’ record is slightly ahead of the San Diego Padres, whom the Nats visit next for a three-game set beginning Tuesday night.
Following the Padres’ series, Bob Marley’s loosey goosey advice about not worrying about anything likely will be rendered useless when the Nats visit one of the best clubs in the early season.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, now in first place in the NL West, host the Nats for a three-game set Friday through Sunday before the Nats return for a seven-game homestand.
Related Posts
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.