After starting out the west coast trip losing 2 of 3 to San Diego, the Nationals bounced back with a 7-4 win over the National League West leader Arizona.
Once again, the Nationals got offensive production from their young catch, Jesus Flores, who put the Nationals up 2-0 in the second on an RBI single that scored Dmitri Young and Lastings Milledge. Flores is now 6 for 15 with 7 RBIs in his last 4 games. Christian Guzman had another multiple hit game going 3 foir 5 and raising his average to a team leading .310. It is Guzman’s 4th multiple hit game in the last 5 games and has had 3 hits in two of the last three games. Can you say — All Star!
The big bat came from Willie Harris, subbing in for Felipe Lopez, Harris nailed a three run homer in the 7th that gave the Nats a 6-3 lead they would not relinquish. Joel Hanrahan (1-2) blew the save and decision for starter Tim Redding, who gave up 3 runs in 5.1 innings, but earned the win out of the bullpen. Jon Rauch closed out the 9th for his 12th save.
With the Mets losing to the Dodger, the Nationals pulled within 3 1/2 games of climbing out of the NL East cellar.
DCPSR Player of the Game: TIE: Willie Harris, 1-5, HR, 3 RBIs and Christian Guzman, 3-5, R
Tonights Matchup: Second game of a three game series in Arizona at 8:10PM — Jason Bergmann (WAS) v. Brandon Webb (ARI)
Mini-Preview Glimpse: Jason Bergmann since returning to the nationals after being demoted earlier to Columbus has made three starts and has NOT yielded a single run. All three starts were quality starts (5.2 Inn, 7 Inn, & 7 Inn) for a total of 19.2 scoreless innings. Bergmann has also racked up 22 strikeouts, recording 8 or more in 2 of the 3 starts. Out of the three impressive mound performances, Bergmann has earned just one win, because of a lack of offensive support. The nationals offense will look to turn that around tonight. Jesus Flores and Christian Guzman will look to keep their hot bats swinging.
Ryan Zimmerman: Started out as a Monday rest day to nurse minor shoulder soreness. Now the injury turns out to be shoulder pain that Zimmerman acknowledges may linger throughout the rest of the season. What is it with DC Sports that the Nationals and Capitals feel like they need to originally be secretive about injuries? Did the Nats not realize that we would not notice the face of the organization missing?
Zimmerman expressed no outright concern about his injury, delivering the regular assurances that have become daily ritual since he vacated the Washington lineup. The shoulder is feeling better each day, he said. He can’t foresee a trip to the disabled list.
He added, though, that he sometimes feels a “sharp pain” when he swings. “I wouldn’t say it’s all the way back,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be back all the way until the season is over and I have a chance to rest it for more than a week. But, you know, that’s me: I want to play, and if I have to play through a little pain I don’t see a problem with that.
Newbie Watch: Is Elijah Dukes finally heating up? His 1 for 1 at bat last night now gives him a hit in 5 of the last 7 games. During that stretch, Dukes has raised his average from .068 to .160. Still no power though.
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