SB Nation - J.D. Martin

Washington Nationals: Winter Meetings Wrap.

Ed Chigliak — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:28:33 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo found the catcher he wanted at the Winter Meetings, now the Nationals need to add some pitching. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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Before the Winter Meetings, the Washington Nationals made clear that they did not think it was absolutely essential that they add the pitching help they need from the top of the free agent class or within the three-day span of the Indianapolis Winter Meetings, as DC GM Mike Rizzo explained to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, who wrote in a 12/2/09 article entitled, "Pitching the focus for Nats at Meetings", that fans shouldn't, "...look for the the Nationals to attempt to break the bank," in pursuit of free agent help, as they did last Winter in their pursuit of Mark Teixeira, who we've been told, time and again, was seen as a once-in-a-generation talent, but instead should accept the fact that it's more, "...likely that Rizzo will make trades."

(cont.)...

BACKPAGE:

• The LIST.

• Oh...AND LIVAN HERNANDEZ!

• Guzman To Second, Desmond At Short?

• Bally To The Bullpen? WT...

BACKPAGE:

• The LIST as the DC Faithful are calling it, (ed. note - "No one is calling it that."), that Rizzo gave to Washington Post writer Chico Harlan for an article entitled, "Reading Material, Shopping Lists", of pitchers that the Nationals were interested in this winter, started with 14 names, but as the Winter Meetings officially end following tomorrow's Rule 5 Draft, the list has been shortened some, from, "Jason Marquis, Randy Wolf, John Lackey, Cliff Lee, Jon Garland, Kevin Millwood, Tim Hudson, Brad Penny, Joel Piñeiro, Braden Looper, Jarrod Washburn, Brandon Webb, Brett Myers, John Smoltz and more..." to, as the Post's Chico Harlan wrote in two Nationals Journal posts entitled, "The starting pitching shopping list", and "The starting pitching, Pt. II":

"(Jon Garland and)...almost every established free agent starting pitcher except the A-lister, John Lackey. So, the Nats would entertain the possibility of Jarrod Washburn, Joel Pineiro, Vicente Padilla, Jason Marquis, and John Smoltz."

• Oh...AND LIVAN HERNANDEZ!

After Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin wrote about Elijah Dukes' winter, he added a note to the end of an article entitled, "Nationals notes: Dukes, L. Hernandez", about the Washington Nationals making contract with the agent for Mr. National Himself, Livan Hernandez, the original Nationals' Ace, who has openly expressed his desire to return to the nation's capital since the end of the '09 season. Mr. Sheinin writes that Hernandez's agent, "(Barry) Praver would not characterize the talks", but in the Washington Post writer's opinion it would take, "...a one-year contract with a low base and ample performance incentives."

-- (ed. note - "Do you want to see Livan Hernandez return to the Nationals? From what I've read in the comments, it's pretty much split amongst the DC Faithful...Should the Nationals let Livan teach Strasburg the eephus?")

• Guzman To Second, Desmond At Short?

MLB.com's Bill Ladson was Twittering throughout the Winter Meetings, letting Nationals' fans know what was going on long before it went into print (as were the Washington Times' writers), and the biggest revelation out of the final day in Indianapolis was that the Nationals had made up their minds about what to do with their twenty-ten middle infield:

"It appears the Nats will take a chance with Cristian Guzman at second base. That means Orlando Hudson is not coming to DC."

Does that mean that Ian Desmond is officially a "Go!" at short? Are the Nationals still going to try to find another option at short?

• Bally To The Bullpen? WT...

The other interesting thing that MLB.com's Bill Ladson Twittered was the idea that:

"The Nats may rely on some of their youngsters in the bullpen. Luis Atilano, Collin Balester and Craig Stammen are candidates."

As the Nationals' system produces more pitching, some of the older starters who haven't established themselves are going to have to make the move to the pen to make room for the next wave of pitchers. Is Balester on that list in your mind? (ed. note - "Not mine.")...What about J.D. Martin? Shairon Martis? Atilano? Stammen? Ross Detwiler? Is this Washington's way of saying why sign relievers when we have all these arms under contract?

The Bill James Handbook 2010 - Projections For The Washington Nationals' Pitchers In 2010 + Fall Notes.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:00:30 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

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With the help of The Bill James Handbook 2010 (available 11/1/09) and Acta Sports.com, who made Mr. James' Hitter and Pitcher projections available before the book's publication, we're able to take a look at what the future might hold for the pitchers expected to throw for the Nationals next season. Will Garrett Mock start or work out of the pen? Will some of the older pitchers like Craig Stammen and J.D. Martin make the rotation this time around? What will John Lannan's role be as more and more prospects rise through the system? What should fans expect from the Nationals' bullpen arms like Sean Burnett, Mike MacDougal or Saul Rivera? After that, what one Chicago writer says about the Nationals' managerial search, and another night in the DWL with Ian Desmond...

After The JUMP...

The Bill James Handbook 2010 Hitter Projections For The Washington Nationals' Pitchers:

Collin Balester:

Balester, Collin	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	----	--	-	---	---
'09 Stats	7	7	30.1	20	10	1	4	6.82	0
2010 Projections	11	11	47.0	32	6	2	3	5.38	0

Jason Bergmann:

Bergmann, Jason	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	33	21	139.0	113	20	7	9	4.25	0
'09 Stats	56	0	48.0	40	7	2	4	4.50	0
2010 Projections	73	0	60.0	48	8	3	4	4.35	0

Sean Burnett:

Burnett, Sean	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	67	0	60.0	29	7	2	5	6.27	0
'09 Stats	71	0	57.2	43	6	2	3	3.12	1
2010 Projections	65	0	49.0	27	5	2	3	5.14	0

Tyler Clippard:

Clipper, Tyler	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	41	0	60.1	67	9	4	2	2.69	0
2010 Projections	62	0	91.0	84	13	4	6	4.55	0

Livan Herandez?

Hernandez, Livan	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	27	27	150.0	84	19	8	9	4.90	0
'09 Stats	31	31	183.2	102	19	9	12	5.44	0
2010 Projections	31	31	188.0	103	23	8	13	4.98	0

Logan Kensing:

Kensing, Logan	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	43	0	46.0	45	6	2	3	4.33	0
'09 Stats	32	0	35.1	19	8	1	2	8.92	1
2010 Projections	36	0	41.0	38	8	2	3	4.81	0

John Lannan:

	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	29	29	177.0	103	18	9	11	4.08	0
'09 Stats	33	33	206.1	89	22	9	13	3.88	0
2010 Projections	32	32	199.0	101	21	11	11	4.03	0

Mike MacDougal:

MacDougal, Mike	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	----	---
'09 Stats	52	0	50.0	31	3	1	1	3.60	20
2010 Projections	67	0	67.0	59	4	3	4	4.43	4

J.D. Martin:

J.D. Martin	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	15	15	77.0	37	14	5	4	4.44	0
2010 Projections	29	29	177.0	125	19	10	10	4.07	0

Shairon Martis:

Martis, Shairon	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	15	15	85.2	34	11	5	3	5.25	0
2010 Projections	7	7	43.0	26	26	2	3	5.23	0

Garrett Mock:

Mock, Garrett	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	28	15	91.1	72	9	3	10	5.62	0
2010 Projections	31	25	143.0	122	14	8	10	4.91	o

Scott Olsen:

Olsen, Scott	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	32	32	199.0	153	29	10	12	4.58	0
'09 Stats	11	11	62.2	42	11	2	4	6.03	0
2010 Projections	22	22	121.0	91	18	5	8	4.98	0

Saul Rivera:

Rivera, Saul	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	74	0	80	60	3	4	4	3.80	0
'09 Stats	30	0	38.1	21	7	1	3	6.10	0
2010 Projections	43.0	0	59.0	42	3	3	4	4.42	0

Craig Stammen:

Stammen, Craig	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	19	19	105.2	48	14	4	7	5.11	0
2010 Projections	20	20	120.0	64	13	6	8	4.50	0

Ron Villone:

Villone, Ron	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	76	0	42.0	36	4	2	2	4.22	0
'09 Stats	63	0	48.2	33	6	5	6	4.25	1
2010 Projections	71	0	54.0	44	5	3	3	4.33	0

?'s Raised By The #'s:

• Is there any room on the pitching staff for Logan Kensing in 2010? What bullpen arms from last year are you bringing back? Which would you part with?

• Which pitchers will make the twenty-ten rotation? Craig Stammen? Collin Balester? J.D. Martin? Shairon Martis? Do you expect anything from Scott Olsen?

• Mike MacDougal's projections are cleary skewed by the fact that he hadn't saved a game since 2006 before '09's 20 saves? Will MacDougal hold the closer's role throughout the twenty-ten campaign?

• A .500 season from John Lannan? Does that mean he'll finally receive some support this season? Is anyone guaranteed an 2010 rotation spot right now, outside of Lannan?

• Is Livan Hernandez coming back to DC next season?

2010 Skipper Search UPDATE:

If you haven't already read this when it was linked to in the comments of a previous post or elsewhere around the internet, since it was basically the only "news" to come out of DC this weekend, check out Chicago Tribune writer Phil Rogers "On Baseball" column entitled, "Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman in great demand", wherein, Mr. uh, Rogers writes (without citing a source, anonymous or otherwise) that the time for Bobby Valentine to claim a major league managing job may have passed:

"Bobby Valentine may be shut out on the job market. He was a finalist for the Indians job that went to Manny Acta, and it appears the Nationals are close to giving former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman the job he had on an interim basis last season."

Is the Washington Nationals' search for a full-time manager going to end with a promotion?

Saturday Night In The DWL:

The Tigres del Licey and Gigantes del Cibao squared off on Saturday with Nationals' infielder Ian Desmond starting at second for Licey and going 1 for 2 with a walk and a sac fly RBI, but it was Desmond's throwing error in the ninth that allowed the Gigantes to rally to tie the game at 3-3 and eventually steal a walk-off win when Tigres' pitcher Oneli Perez gave up a sac fly to left that ended it. Desmond's first DWL error proves costly. The 24-year-old, who impressed after his September call-up to DC, is now hitting .214 (6 for 28) with 7 RBI's in 8 games. Notes: Atahualpa Severino got a backwards K from the first batter he faced in the eighth after replacing Yhancy Brazoban, but Severino was out after allowing a run-scoring single in the next AB, though the run was Brazoban's.

Final Score: Gigantes 4, Tigres 3. MLB.com Box Score.

Washington Nationals: 2009 Post-Season Player Achievement Awards.

Ed Chigliak — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:40:09 -0000

More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP

8 months ago: Washington Nationals' Adam Dunn (44) is congratulated by teammates Cristian Guzman (15) and Ryan Zimmerman (11) after hitting a three-run home run against the Florida Marlins' in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Miami, Monday, April 6, 2009. Guzman and Zimmerman scored on the home run. The Marlins won 12-6. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

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Under the auspices of The Washington, DC Internet Baseball Writers Association (DC-IBWA), a selection of Washington Nationals blogs and bloggers voted recently for the first Washington Nationals Post Season Player Achievement Awards with 20 ballots submitted from "online media outlets" covering the Nationals including: Nationals News Network, Nationals Pride, We've Got Heart, Centerfield Gate, FJB, Federal Baseball, The Nationals Enquirer, DC Sports Box, Nationals Inquisition, Nats Fanboy Looser, Planetary Nats, Bang! Zoom!, Nats Nation, Let Teddy Win!, Nationals Review, DC Sports Plus and Passing Time Between Wil Nieves Bombs, all choosing which Nationals would win the following awards:

• Goose Goslin Most Valuable Player*

-- Player most valuable to the success of the Washington Nationals:

• Walter Johnson Starting Pitcher of the Year*

-- Excellent performance as a starting pitcher

• Frederick "Firpo" Marberry Relief Pitcher of the Year*

-- Excellent performance as a relief pitcher

• Sam Rice Hitter of the Year*

-- Excellence in all-around hitting, situational hitting and baserunning

• Frank Howard Slugger of the Year*

-- Excellence in power hitting

• Joe Judge Defensive Player of the Year*

-- Excellence in fielding

• Mickey Vernon Comeback Player of the Year*

-- Player who overcame biggest obstacle in the preceding season to contribute on the field

• Josh Gibson Humanitarian Player of the Year*

-- Player who meritoriously gave of himself to the community

• Minor League Player of the Year*

-- Minor league player most destined for big league success

(ed. note - " * = Detailed biographies included in PDF Press Release Included After The JUMP.")

• THE RESULTS...AFTER THE JUMP!!!

• DC-IBWA Awards Official Press Release.

(ed. note - "Voters chose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finalists for each award with (1st = 5 points), (2nd = 3 points), (3rd = 1 point)...")

• Goose Goslin Most Valuable Player*

-- Player most valuable to the success of the Washington Nationals:

Ryan Zimmerman (92 points, 16 1st Place votes)
Adam Dunn (41 points, 1 1st Place vote)
Nyjer Morgan (25 points, 3 1st Place votes)
(Others: John Lannan (19 points), Josh Willingham (3 points))

• Walter Johnson Starting Pitcher of the Year*

-- Excellent performance as a starting pitcher

John Lannan (96 points, 18 1st Place votes)
Jordan Zimmermann (42 points, 2 1st Place votes)
Craig Stammen (22 points)
(Others: J.D. Martin (6 points), Garrett Mock (4 points), Livan Hernandez (3 points), Ross Detwiler (2 points))

• Frederick "Firpo" Marberry Relief Pitcher of the Year*

-- Excellent performance as a relief pitcher

Tyler Clippard (80 points, 13 1st Place votes)
Mike MacDougal (55 points, 6 1st Place votes)
Sean Burnett (29 points, 1 1st Place vote)
(Others: Jason Bergmann (6 points), Joe Beimel (5 points), Ron Villone (3 points), Saul Rivera (1 point))

• Sam Rice Hitter of the Year*

-- Excellence in all-around hitting, situational hitting and baserunning

Ryan Zimmerman (81 points, 14 1st Place votes)
Adam Dunn - (39 points, 2 1st Place votes)
Nyjer Morgan - (26 points, 3 1st Place votes)
(Others: Josh Willingham (14 points), Nick Johnson (9 points, 1 1st Place vote), Cristian Guzman (6 points))

• Frank Howard Slugger of the Year*

-- Excellence in power hitting

Adam Dunn (100 points, 20 1st Place votes)
Ryan Zimmerman (46 points)
Josh Willingham (27 points)

• Joe Judge Defensive Player of the Year*

-- Excellence in fielding

Ryan Zimmerman (88 points, 14 1st Place votes)
Nyjer Morgan (69 points, 6 1st Place votes)
Willie Harris (12 points)

• Mickey Vernon Comeback Player of the Year*

-- Player who overcame biggest obstacle in the preceding season to contribute on the field

Nick Johnson (50 points, 10 1st Place votes)
Mike MacDougal (20 points, 1 1st Place vote)
Ryan Zimmerman (18 points, 3 1st Place voes)

• Josh Gibson Humanitarian Player of the Year

-- Player who meritoriously gave of himself to the community

John Lannan (72 points, 12 1st Place votes)
Ryan Zimmerman (44 points, 4 1st Place votes)
Wil Nieves (21 points, 3 1st Place votes)
(Others: Josh Willingham (9 points), Nyjer Morgan, Willie Harris, Elijah Dukes (3), Tyler Clippard (1))

• Minor League Player of the Year

-- Minor league player most destined for big league success

Derek Norris (54 points, nine first place votes)
Ian Desmond (53 points, nine first place votes)
Drew Storen (41 points, two first place votes)
(Others: Bradley Meyers (16 points), Chris Marrero (7 points), Mike Morse (4 points), Daniel Espinosa (2 points), Ross Detwiler (1), Jorge Padilla (1)).

(ed. note - "Thanks to Dave from NNN, who's behind all of this...")

Cast Your Own Votes In The Comments Section.

Washington Nationals Win Season Finale In 15 Innings, Sweep Atlanta Braves To Finish 2009 59-103.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:23:55 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

2 months ago: Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes takes his base with a smile after being walked by Atlanta Braves' Boone Logan during the 15th inning of their baseball game Sunday Oct. 4, 2009, in Atlanta. Dukes later scored on a hit by Alberto Gonzalez to win 2-1. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP!!!!!!!

Game 162 of 2009 took 4 hours, 18 minutes and 15 innings to finish and when it was over the Washington Nationals had completed a four-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves for their seventh-straight win (and second-straight sweep) to end a 2009 season they started 0-7 before recording their first win...And, yes, that is the first time that's ever happened...DC starter J.D. Martin allows just one-run on 6 hits in 6.0 IP, giving up Nate McLouth's solo HR to leadoff the sixth and put Atlanta ahead 1-0. Braves' righty Tim Hudson gives up just 4 hits through 6.0 IP, but three-straight singles from Alberto Gonzalez, Jorge Padilla and pinch hitter Adam Dunn bring in the tying run in the seventh and it remains tied through fourteen before Elijah Dukes takes a one-out walk and Wil Nieves and Alberto Gonzalez hit back to back two-out singles to score Dukes for the winning run...

Nationals win, 2-1 final.

Miss The Game?

• The DC Faithful Were Watching!!! (634 comments) vs The Talking Chop Open Thread (718 comments)

• "Game 162: Finally, some history we can call our own!" - Doghouse.

• BACKPAGE: Dunn Doesn't Reach 40 - J.D. Martin Finishes Strong - Strasburg To Pitch Tomorrow.

• For The Completist, Full (and I mean FULL) Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals finish 2009 59-103.

BACKPAGE:

• Dunn Doesn't Reach 40...Adam Dunn hit his 38th HR of 2009 on September 22nd against Los Angeles, leaving the Nationals' big left-handed hitting slugger with 10 games to hit the 39th and 40th HR's of 2009. Had he reached 40 HR's for the sixth-straight season, Dunn would've been one of only four players in MLB history (along with Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa and Babe Ruth) to hit 40+ HR's in six-straight seasons, leaving him just one behind Ruth's industry standard of seven-straight 40 HR seasons. Dunn, however, managed just 3 hits in his next 36 at bats (2 of them doubles, but no HR's) heading into today's game, and when he wasn't in the starting lineup, the DC Faithful knew it was over. Having failed to reach 40 HR's for the first time in six seasons didn't seem to upset Dunn too much. The Big Walky, Big Opposite Field, The Big First Baseman, singled in one of Washington's two runs in a pinch hit appearance this afternoon to finish the season with a .267 AVG, 29 doubles, 38 HR's and 105 RBI's.

• J.D. Martin Finishes Strong...With no-decisions in his last 4 starts, J.D. Martin finishes the 2009 campaign (5-4) with a 4.44 ERA, one of only two Nationals' pitchers to finish the season with a record above .500. (Shairon Martis finished (5-3), though he was sent down in mid-June and didn't return). In his final start of 2009, Martin throws 73 pitches, 50 for strikes in 6.0 IP, allowing just 6 hits and 1 ER. The Nationals' 26-year-old right-hander, who was (8-3) with a 2.66 ERA in 15 starts, 1 relief appearance and 88.0 IP with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs before making his MLB debut on July 20th, 2009, might just have pitched his way onto the 20-10 roster.

• Strasburg To Pitch Tomorrow...I know it's a cliche to say that the 2010 season starts the second the final out of 2009 is recorded, but with MLB.com's Bill Ladson writing this afternoon that '09 #1 overall pick, Stephen Strasburg would be making his first appearance as a National tomorrow afternoon in an instructional league game against Detroit, it is actually accurate. Instructional League, The Arizona Fall League, the Dominican Winter League, baseball never really stops, and neither do we...see you...tomorrow.

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Atlanta Braves. Game 162 Of 162.

Justin Maxwell vs Tim Hudson to start the last game of the season, and a brutal two-strike bender gets J-Max swinging for the first out of the day. Ian Desmond takes a 2-2 fastball on the low outside corner for a called strike three. Pete Orr smokes a single through second for a two-out hit in front of Elijah Dukes. Dukes rolls the third out to first to end the opening frame...Jorge Padilla bounces off the wall as he closes the glove on a fly ball out from Nate McLouth. Pete Orr dives toward the third base line but can’t get to Omar Infante’s line drive double. Martin Prado pops out to second. Garrett Anderson grounds out to first, inning over.

Mike Morse grounds weakly to third to start the second. Josh Bard likes the first pitch he sees and he grounds out to second. Alberto Gonzalez flies to right to end the Nationals’ half...Adam LaRoche flies out to right field. Yunel Escobar gives Dukes more work. Kelly Johnson grounds to Morse at first to end the second.

Jorge Padilla swings wildly over a full-count sinker. J.D. Martin stares strike three all the way in. Justin Maxwell walks with two down. Ian Desmond hits a high chopper that dies in the grass halfway to third, refusing to go foul. Pete Orr grounds to LaRoche at first and it’s 0-0 in the third...Clint Sammons skies one to right for Elijah Dukes to get under. Tim Hudson lines a one-out single to center and the oh-oh-oh-ing starts in Atlanta. Nate McLouth takes a 2-2 slider on the outside edge. Omar Infante flies out to left.

Elijah Dukes takes a low full-count slider but Tim Hudson gets the call. Mike Morse flies out to right. Josh Bard slips a hard-hit grounder by first and hustles his way to second. Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to end the Nationals’ fourth...Martin Prado flies out to Elijah Dukes in right. Garrett Anderson pops out over short, and J.D. Martin gets a fly ball from Adam LaRoche to end the fourth scoreless.

Jorge Padilla hits a fly ball out to Nate McLouth in center field for Atlanta. J.D. Martin can’t handle what Hudson’s throwing, but Justin Maxwell just takes and takes and walks, then tries to take more but gets caught trying to steal second, no score after four and a half...Yunel Escobar takes strike three and has few choice bi-lingual words for the Ump. Kelly Johnson singles through second with one down. Clint Sammons flies out to Justin Maxwell in center.

Ian Desmond grounds out to third. Pete Orr pops out to third. Elijah Dukes hits a two-out single to left field, but Mike Morse’s infield pop ends the top of the sixth...J.D. Martin gives up a long fly ball to right on an 0-1 change to Nate McLouth, who puts it over the wall for a 1-0 lead. Jorge Padilla sprints to the corner to catch the first out off of Omar Infante’s bat. Martin Prado drives a single by a lunging Ian Desmond at second. Garrett Anderson lines out to Jorge Padilla in left for out No. 2. Adam LaRoche lines to left field, Jorge Padilla comes up throwing and nails Prado trying for third.

Josh Bard leads off the seventh against Tim Hudson. Bard grounds out to second. Alberto Gonzalez singles to center and Jorge Padilla follows with a second-straight single and Adam Dunn gets a PH chance. Dunn lines a hanging bender to right to score Gonzalez from second for a 1-1 tie!!! Justin Maxwell K’s/fails swinging through an 0-2 fastball upstairs and inside. Ian Desmond grounds out to first to strand two. 1-1 in the seventh...Yunel Escobar sends the first pitch from Tyler Clippard soaring into center field for Justin Maxwell. Kelly Johnson K’s swinging through a two-strike change. Clint Sammons K’s looking at a fastball inside.

Pete Orr grounds out to second to start the Nationals’ eighth. Braves’ reliever Peter Moylan walks Elijah Dukes with one down. Mike Morse grounds to Yunel Escobar to Kelly Johnson to Adam LaRoche at first, double play...Chipper Jones guides a high outside heater through short for a single. Nate McLouth gets a sac bunt down and gets tagged out by Clippard as Chipper moves up. Pete Orr looks Chipper back to second and throws out Omar Infante on a weak grounder. Martin Prado flies to deep center, but Justin Maxwell gets there, no problem.

Josh Bard pops up a 2-1 pitch from Rafael Soriano. Alberto Gonzalez takes a one-out walk in front of pinch hitter Josh Willingham. The Hammer K’s swinging through a high heater. Cristian Guzman grounds out to end the Nationals’ ninth...Ron Villone gets a groundout to third from Garrett Anderson. Adam LaRoche K’s swinging through a 2-2 bender upstairs. Yunel Escobar keeps hope alive for Atlanta with a two-out single through second. Kelly Johnson hits a broken bat blooper to second and the last game will take more than nine innings to decide.

Kris Medlen gets Justin Maxwell swinging to start the tenth. Ian Desmond rrrrips a grounder by third base and into the corner for a one-out double to left. Pete Orr pops out to short center. Elijah Dukes grounds out to second to end the top of the tenth...Ron Villone’s back in the tenth against Clint Sammons, who flies out to left. Pinch hitter Greg Norton takes a one-out walk. Nate McLouth K’s swinging through a looping bender over the middle. Jason Bergmann on for Villone against Omar Infante. Infante battles, but K’s swinging through a full-count slider!!

Kenshin Kawakami vs Mike Morse in the eleventh. Morse sends a dribbler by Adam LaRoche at first and Omar Infante misplays it to give Morse second. Wil Nieves tries the sac bunt and hits it too hard, Morse cut down at third. Alberto Gonzalez grounds to Yunel Escobar to Kelly Johnson to Adam LaRoche, double play...Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera pops up Martin Prado. Reid Garecki K’s swinging through a high fastball. Adam LaRoche grounds to first to end the eleventh.

Josh Willingham singles to left and takes second on a sac bunt from Saul Rivera. Justin Maxwell vs Kenshin Kawakami. Maxwell can’t hold up and he K’s swinging at a low fastball for the second out. Ian Desmond up when a wild pitch from Kawakami gets by Clint Sammons. Hammer to third. Ian Desmond lines to left and it’s...caught, Omar Infante makes a shoestring catch to rob Desmond...Saul Rivera gets a weak grounder from Yunel Escobar for the first out. Kelly Johnson rips one to first, Mike Morse knocks it down and tosses to Rivera covering. Clint Sammons shatters his bat but singles with two down. Pinch hitter Brian McCann grounds back to the mound and it’s on to the thirteenth.

Eric O’Flaherty takes over on the mound for Atlanta in the thirteenth. Pete Orr grounds out to second. Elijah Dukes flies out to center. Mike Morse K’s swinging...Nate McLouth flies out to the track in center field for Justin Maxwell. Omar Infante lines a double on one hop and over the wall in center with one down. Saul Rivera walks Martin Prado in front of Brooks Conrad, who flies out harmlessly to center. Adam LaRoche grounds out to first, and it’s on to the fourteenth...

Manny Acosta takes over against Wil Nieves, who walks to start the frame. Alberto Gonzalez flies out unproductively to center field. Josh Willingham can’t hold up on a low two-strike heater. Pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman drives a double to center, McLouth cuts it off and Nieves stops at second. Justin Maxwell walks to load the bases for Ian Desmond...Logan Kensing’s on for DC. Yunel Escobar starts the Braves’ half with a line drive single to left. Kelly Johnson grounds to second, Alberto Gonzalez to Ian Desmond to Mike Morse, double play. Clint Sammons grounds back to the mound.

Pete Orr K’s looking to start the fifteenth. Boone Logan, the Braves’ right-hander, walks Elijah Dukes with one down. Mike Morse flies out unproductively to left. Wil Nieves singles to short right to move Dukes up. Alberto Gonzalez lines an RBI single to the left-center gap!! Dukes scores, 2-1 Nationals!!! Josh Willingham K’s looking to end the top of the frame...Logan Kensing vs Javier Vazquez. Vazquez grounds one off Logan Kensing’s pitching hand, Ian Desmond picks it up and throws out the pinch hitting pitcher. Nate McLouth K’s swinging over a sinker. Omar Infante singles up the middle with two down. Martin Prado drills an 0-2 pitch to left center, second and third with two down. Brooks Conrad K’s trying to check his swing and it’s over. Nationals win, 2-1 final.

Nationals finish season 59-103.

Elijah Dukes Will Run Through Walls. Washington Nationals 4, New York Mets 3.

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:20:27 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

2 months ago: Washington Nationals' starter J.D. Martin, pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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We've learned two things about Elijah Dukes this year:

1) You don't run on Dukes.

2) Elijah Dukes will run through walls.

If David Wright didn't know that second one already he found out as he came around first and watched Elijah Dukes run full speed into the out-of-town scoreboard in right to rob Wright of a potentially game-tying extra base hit with two out in the top of the ninth tonight in DC's 4-3 win over New York. Dukes' catch gave Mike MacDougal his 18th save in 19 opportunities a half-inning after Washington took the lead with the help of two errors from NY's middle infielders. The Nationals take their second straight over the Mets and set themselves up for the sweep in the last home game of 2009 tomorrow afternoon. (ed. note - "And I'm telling you right now...Teddy Roosevelt will win tomorrow, buy your tickets so you can say you were there...") (ed. note - "The previous opinion is in no way based on facts, just gut feelings, like Riggleman!!")

BACKPAGE:

• Martin v Pelfrey.
• Elijah SSSSSUPER DUKESSSSS!!!! F.O.D.&D. Rejoice! Desmond Does It Too!!!
• Adam Dunn Gets The Beyond The Box Score Treatment.

• Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Check Out the SB Nation's NY Mets Blog: Amazin' Avenue OpenThread.

• LINK: Game 157: Enjoy 2B Next Year, Guz..." - Doghouse.

• For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 54-103. (Countdown To 100 Losses, Over For Days Now).

BACKPAGE:

• Martin v Pelfrey. J.D. Martin gets himself in trouble early, giving up a leadoff double to Angel Pagan and letting Luis Castillo reach base on a sac bunt attempt. David Wright walks to loaded the bases and Carlos Beltran walks too to force in the first run. 1-0 NY. Martin gets a line drive to short, a fly ball to short center and an out at second to escape further damage, but he gets right back in trouble in the second. Wilson Valdez doubles to start the frame, moves to second on a sac bunt by the Mets' starter and scores on an Angel Pagan single for a 2-0 lead. David Wright doubles Pagan in, 3-0 Mets.

• Mike Pelfrey retires the first eight batters he faces before allowing a bloop single to the opposing pitcher in the bottom of the third. The Mets' right-hander throws four scoreless for NY, holding DC to just a walk and a single, but the fifth starts with "Pinch Hittin'" Pete Orr singling on an 0-2 fastball up and out over the plate. Ian Desmond's up next and the Nationals' rookie shortstop gets a 1-2 fastball from Pelfrey that doesn't quite make it inside, Desmond explodes on it, launches it to left and GONE!! Two-run HR, 3-2 NY. Two outs later, still in the fifth, Willie Harris and Elijah Dukes hit back-to-back singles and Mr. Gold Glove Himself, the one and only Ryan Zimmerman gets two straight and I mean "straight" fastballs inside, the second of which is lined to left for Zim's 103rd RBI and the 3-3 tie.

• J.D. Martin ends up throwing four scoreless after the rough start, and leaves after 6.0 IP, having given up 7 hits, 3 ER and 2 walks, but the win ends up going to DC reliever Tyler Clippard who throws 2.0 scoreless, the second of which I still can't believe he escaped. Clippard gave up back to back singles to Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy, then walked Jeff Francoeur to load the bases with no outs and the score tied at 3-3 tie in the eighth. Former Nationals' catcher Brian Schneider (Call us, Brian?) does Washington a solid by popping out unproductively and pinch hitter Jeremy Reed lines to second, Alberto Gonzalez catches it, throws to first, Francoeur's out, (where was he going?) DOUBLE PLAY!! Clippard's one lucky reliever...

• Mike "Danger" Morse walks with one down in the Nationals' eighth, Justin Maxwell takes over on the basepaths, and pinch hitter Cristian Guzman follows with what should be a double play, but Anderson Hernandez fields at short and tosses one low to Luis Castillo, and right by second, both runners safe. Ian Desmond follows with another DP grounder, Anderson Hernandez gets to it behind second, tosses to Castillo, Castillo fires wide of first and out of Daniel Murphy's reach, Desmond's safe. Maxwell scores from second, 4-3 DC!!

• Top Of Ninth...Mike MacDougal comes on to close it. Cory Sullivan K's swinging. Angel Pagan...singles, (3 for 5), but MacDougal paints the outside corner to get Luis Castillo looking with Pagan still at first. David Wright, works the count full and destroys a 96 mph MacDougal heater. Wright drives it to right, Elijah Dukes sprints toward the wall, and runs into the out-of-town scoreboard as he makes the grab, Dukes bounces of the wall, falls back and rolls to his feet, then jumps up pounding his chest!!! SSSSSUPER DUKESSSS Runs through walls! Nationals win, 4-3 final.

LINK:

• Adam Dunn Gets The Beyond The Box Score Treatment.

Walter Fulbright has an article up at Beyond The Boxscore, the SB Nation's "Saber-Slanted" blog, entitled, "The Two Sides Of Adam Dunn: Graph Of The Day", in which Mr. Fullbright determines that Adam Dunn is, "...still a superstar, just playing out of position because he no longer has one," and recommends that fans, "...start a letter writing campaign to see if we can find the Nationals an American League trading partner." Dunn ranks dead last on Mr. Fulbright's league-wide UZR chart and the BtB writer's description of the nation's capital's favorite first baseman is at odds with most of what I've heard from the DC Faithful:

"Adam Dunn can't hide his failings at the cold corner. Whatever advantage he has for reaching to balls above his head (a pretty low percentage play anyway) are absolutely obliterated by his inability to scoop balls in the dirt, either from throws or from ground balls. He's so completely top heavy that he has an inherent disadvantage to those born with the virtue of just being closer to the ground. This is a pretty definite trend, he has roughly the same power off the bat as when he was 23, only with 60-70 more pounds packed on, his defense has gone from pretty bad to awful to absolutely unacceptable."

Check out Mr. Fulbright's article HERE or in the title link above to see how he reached his conclusions. Let him know what you've seen from Dunn...

GAME REPORT:

New York Mets At Washington Nationals. Game 157 Of 162.

DC right-hander J.D. Martin takes a deep breath, stretching his jaw as he does, then he exhales and fires the first pitch home to Angel Pagan. Pagan ends up doubling to right off the out-of-town scoreboard to start the game with a runner on second. Luis Castillo bunts to third and J.D. Martin cuts Ryan Zimmerman off to field and not throw to first. First and third for David Wright. J.D. Martin walks the bases loaded and goes 3-0 to Carlos Beltran, hitting the outside corner for 3-1 and getting a foul for another full count. Then Martin walks Beltran and walks in a run, 1-0 New York. Daniel Murphy lines toward short, Ian Desmond catches and holds it. Jeff Francoeur flies out to short center, and Willie Harris catches it coming in to hold Castillo at third. Brian Schneider lines to Pete Orr to end the threat with just the walked in run scoring...Willie Harris pops out to left to start the bottom of the first. Mets’ righty Mike Pelfrey gets a weak grounder to third from Elijah Dukes. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to short.

Wilson Valdez doubles over short to start the second. Mike Pelfrey bunts to Adam Dunn, who can only throw to first. Angel Pagan singles to score Valdez and it’s 2-0 New York with one out in the second. Luis Castillo pops out to left. David Wright doubles off the base of the wall in left, Pagan scores from first, 3-0 Mets. Carlos Beltran grounds out to first, Adam Dunn fields it and hustles to first...Dunn leads off DC’s second with a swinging K on a bender off the plate. Mike Morse grounds out to Wilson Valdez at short. Pete Orr grounds to Castillo at second and it’s 3-0 NY after three.

Willie Harris has to run way into left to catch a line drive off Daniel Murphy’s bat. Francoeur flies out to Elijah Dukes in right. Brian Schneider grounds out to first and Dunn tosses to Martin to end the Mets’ third...Ian Desmond flies out to right field. Mike Pelfrey gets off the mound quickly to field a dribbler toward third and throws a strike to Daniel Murphy at first to get WIl Nieves. J.D. Martin sends a bloop single to center for the Nationals’ first hit. Willie Harris walks. Elijah Dukes rolls the third out to short.

Wilson Valdez grounds out to Pete Orr. Mike Pelfrey’s groundout rolls over the first base bag to Dunn. Angel Pagan sends Mike Morse sprinting back to make an overhead catch for the final out of the Mets’ fourth...Ryan Zimmerman grounds to short, Wilson Valdez double-pumps and throws to first. Adam Dunn flies out to deep center. Mike Morse grounds out to short, Pelfrey’s got four scoreless.

Willie Harris takes two steps back and catches a line drive off Luis Castillo’s bat. David Wright pulls a bender over third and into left for a one-out double. Carlos Beltran grounds weakly to second. Daniel Murphy flies out to Mike Morse and it’s 3-0 NY after four and a half...Pete Orr smacks a single through short. Ian Desmond goes deeeep to left on a high inside fastball and it’s GONE!!! Two-run HR, 3-2 NY. Wil Nieves grounds out to WIlson Valdez at short. J.D. Martin K’s swinging over a two-strike sinker. Willie Harris sneaks a grounder under a diving Luis Castillo at second. Elijah Dukes singles to center, but Willie Harris holds up at second. Ryan Zimmerman gets a fastball before it gets inside and singles to center to score Harris. 3-3. Adam Dunn grounds out to first, tied after five.

Jeff Francoeur lines to left, Morse misjudges it but hustles back to make a leaping catch. Brian Schneider throws his bat at a fastball and singles to center. Wilson Valdez sends a fluttering line drive out to Willie Harris. MIke Pelfrey flies out to right...Mike Morse grounds out to third. Pete Orr grounds to Daniel Murphy at first. Ian Desmond slides in safe at second on a one-hopper to third that gets by David Wright and rolls out to left. Wil Nieves lines out to right.

Tyler Clippard starts Angel Pagan with three balls and then blows Pagan away. Ian Desmond throws out Luis Castillo. Clippard gets Wright on a called strike three, 3-3 in the seventh...Alberto Gonzalez grounds to Murphy at first. Willie Harris flies out to center. Elijah Dukes grounds one through Pelfrey’s legs for a two-out single. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to right, 3-3 after seven.

Carlos Beltran singles to center to start NY's eighth. Daniel Murphy rips a grounder by Dunn at first, Beltran takes third. Jeff Francouer walks to load the bases for Schneider. Brian Schneider pops out foul of third. Pinch hitter Jeremy Reed hits a broken bat liner to second, Frenchy gets doubled up!!...Adam Dunn K’s and Pedro Feliciano’s out after one batter. Mike Morse vs Sean Green. Morse walks, Justin Maxwell on to run. Cristian Guzman will hit. Guzman grounds to second, Anderson Hernandez tosses it but Castillo at second, both runners safe. Ian Desmond grounds to second, Anderson Hernandez knocks it down, tosses to second, Castillo....throws it wide of first, Maxell scores, Desmond's safe. 4-3 NY. Francisco Rodriguez comes on. Desmond takes third without a throw. Angel Pagan makes an underhand catch on a line out by Alberto Gonzalez.

Mike MacDougal vs Cory Sullivan. Angel Pagan lines off Zimmerman’s glove and into left. Luis Castillo takes a called strike three for out No. 2!!! David Wright flies to deeeep right, Elijah Dukes tracks it and catches it as he hits the wall at full speeeeed. SSSSSUPER DUKESSSSSS!!!!!!!! Sets up the sweeeep!!!!

Nationals now 53-104.

Washington Nationals Drop Their 100th Game Of 2009, 7-6 To The Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:57:16 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

2 months ago: Los Angeles Dodgers' shortstop Rafael Furcal (15) is greeted at the home plate by teammate Andre Ethier (16), after furcal hit a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, in Washington. Nationals catcher Jaime Burke stands at left. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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• Before the 102-loss 2008 Washington Nationals, and ignoring for a moment the Montreal Expos' past of the current DC-based baseball franchise since the Nationals' ownership group has no love for this team's Francophone roots, you have to go back to 1964 to find the last 100-loss season in DC baseball history. It was also the last time, (before this year) that a team from the nation's capital had back to back hundred-loss campaigns. The 1964 Senators dropped the 162nd game of that season to Johnny Pesky and the Boston Red Sox to finish the year 62-100. The previous year, the '63 Senators dropped their one-hundredth in game 153 against the Baltimore Orioles, and they ended the season 56-106. In 1962, the Senators dropped number 100 to Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and the NY Yankees in game 159 of 161, and in '61 the Senators hit the century mark in Game 161 against the Kansas City Athletics in the first year after the Original Senators left and became the Twins...

• The Original Senators dropped 100 games or more four times...The 1955 Senators dropped No. 100 in the next-to-last game of their 154 game schedule, which they completed 53-101 after three straight losses to the Baltimore Orioles. Before that, the 1949 Senators finished 50-104, losing their 100th to Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and the Yankees in the 147th of 154...One-hundred years ago this season, loss 100 for the 1909 Senators came against the St. Louis Browns in game 136 of 142, with Washington eventually finishing 42-110...And, finally, there's the 1904 Senators, who reached one-hundred losses in game 132 of 157 to Willie Keeler, Wid Conroy and the 1904 New York Yankees...

Last year, Washington lost 100 of 159, hitting triple digits against Phillies, and then dropping two more to finish 59-102. This year...??? AFTER THE JUMP...

• The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Check Out The SB Nation's LA Dodgers Blog: True Blue LA.

• Follow The 100-Loss Story At The Hub: SB Nation.com StoryStream.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Trying To Avoid Triple Digits, The 52-99 '09 Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third of a three-game series in DC...

• The first three Dodgers to come up in the first, Rafael Furcal, Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez, hit back to back to back singles to start the game and Ramirez’s scores the Dodgers’ first run of the night off DC’s J.D. Martin. Matt Kemp drives in the next three with a 3-run HR on the first pitch he sees after a visit to the mound from DC Pitching Coach Steve McCatty. Fastball down the pipe and out to left, into the Red Porch. 4-0 LA...

• Ryan Zimmerman walks and Josh Willingham rips a fastball from Vicente Padilla back up the middle to put two on for Elijah Dukes, who doubles off the right field wall to drive Zimmerman in and cut the lead to three. 4-1 LA. Alberto Gonzalez goes the other way with a fastball outside for a line drive single that scores Josh Willingham. Jamie Burke’s first RBI for Washington makes it a one-run game, but that’s as close as DC can get. 4-3 Dodgers.

• J.D. Martin gives a run right back, with a HBP, a single and a walk to start the Dodgers’ third. Martin gets Ronnie Belliard swinging, but gives up a sac fly to Blake DeWitt to put the Nationals two runs behind L.A. at 5-3 after three. The Nationals climb back within one when Willie Harris scores Alberto Gonzalez from second on a two-out single, 5-4 LA, but the Dodgers are quickly up by two again after Matt Kemp reaches first on a line drive to left that Josh Willingham drops after losing it in the lights... E: 133...takes on second on the Willingham error, and moves to third on a wild pitch/ball four from DC reliever Marco Estrada to James Loney, before scoring on hard hit Blake DeWitt grounder to third that makes it 6-4 LA.

• Cristian Guzman and Willie Harris hit back to back two-out RBI singles off LA righty Ramon Troncoso in the sixth to score Elijah Dukes, who'd wallked with one down and Alberto Gonzalez, who hit a one-out single. 6-6 ballgame after six, and it looks like LA's going to take the lead right back in the seventh after Matt Kemp flies to left, to the wall, and has it bounce of Josh Willingham's glove and fall in for a stand-up triple, but three outs later, Tyler Clippard's retired the side with a strike out, an infield pop out and a fly ball to center to strand Kemp...

Top of the eighth...DC lefty Ron Villone gets pinch-hitter Jim Thome to ground out to first, but in the next AB, Villone throws a 1-0 sinker to Rafael Furcal that hangs up in the zone and ends up going out to right, right over the out-of-town scoreboard and into the first row of seats. Ballgame. 7-6 Dodgers win.

Nationals now 52-100.

GAME REPORT:

Los Angeles Dodgers At Washington Nationals. Game 152 Of 162.

Rafael Furcal, Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez hit back to back to back singles to start the game and Ramirez’s hit scores the Dodgers’ first run off DC’s J.D. Martin. 1-0 LA. Matt Kemp drives in the next three with a 3-run HR on the first pitch he sees. Fastball down the pipe and out to left, into the Red Porch. 4-0 LA. J.D. Martin throws a sharp slider inside to get James Loney swinging. Martin throws a fastball by Ronnie Belliard for his second K. Blake DeWitt sends a line drive to short on one hop, but Ian Desmond dives to stab it, jumps up and throws DeWitt out (ESPN Webgem #5)...Willie Harris pops out to the infield. Ian Desmond K’s swinging over a two-strike curve outside. Adam Dunn K’s swinging over a full-count slider from Vicente Padilla.

Russell Martin backs Josh Willingham up to the track in left, flying out for the first out of the second. J.D. Martin gets the opposing pitcher swinging. Rafael Furcal keeps the inning alive, wrapping a grounder around first base and fair, and sliding in ahead of Elijah Dukes’ throw to second. Andre Ethier grounds out to second and Alberto Gonzalez’s throw ends LA’s second...Ryan Zimmerman walks to start DC’s second. Josh Willingham gets his first solid hit in recent memory, lining a 2-0 pitch to center. Padilla leaves a fastball up in the zone and Elijah Dukes destroys it, doubling off the right-center wall. Alberto Gonzalez goes the other way with a line drive to right that scores Willingham. 4-2 Dodgers. Jamie Burke scores Dukes from third with a sac fly to the track in left field. 4-3 LA. J.D. Martin bunts Alberto Gonzalez over. Willie Harris pops out to short to end the second.

Manny Ramirez takes a fastball on the elbow. Matt Kemp lines by J.D. Martin’s glove and under a diving Ian Desmond at short for a single. Russell Martin walks. Ronnie Belliard’s got the bases-loaded chance. J.D. Martin makes Belliard look silly with a looping 1-2 curve. Blake DeWitt flies out to right, Josh Willingham overthrows the cutoff man to give up the run and two extra bases. 5-3 Dodgers. Russell Martin gets the intentionals. VIcente Padilla flies out to end LA’s third...Ian Desmond K’s swinging to start DC’s third. Adam Dunn grounds to Loney at first, Padilla covers. Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham both walk with two down and Dukes has another chance. Vicente Padilla hits the outside corner with a full-count fastball for a called strike three.

Marco Estrada takes over for J.D. Martin and strikes out Rafael Furcal to start the fourth. Estrada hits the outside corner with fastball for strike three on Andre Ethier. Manny Ramirez swings through a fastball upstairs, just tipping it into DC backstop Jamie Burke’s mitt...Alberto Gonzalez reaches on a swinging bunt toward third that Blake DeWitt just watches. Padilla hits the outside corner to get Jamie Burke staring at strike three. Marco Estrada gets down the second successful sac of the night to move Gonzalez to second. Willie Harris knocks Alberto in with a line drive single to make it 5-4 then gets thrown out running with Desmond at bat.

Matt Kemp ends up on second when Josh Willingham drops his line drive to left and throws in late to second. James Loney walks and ball four gets by Jamie Burke. Kemp takes third. Ronnie Belliard swings through a straight-up fastball. Ryan Zimmerman fields a high hopper from Blake DeWitt on his backhand, spins and leaps to fire to second for the force as Kemp scores. 6-4 Dodgers. Russell Martin pops out to short right to end the Dodgers’ fifth...Vicente Padilla hits the outside corner with a two-seam fastball to get Desmond looking again. Adam Dunn pops up behind home but it plays tricks on Russell Martin and he misses it. Dunn pops out to Kemp in center. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to second to end the fifth.

Pinch hitter Juan Pierre lines out to the Hammer in left. Rafael Furcal hits a one-out double over Willie Harris’ head in center. Andre Ethier pops out behind second. Jason Bergmann’s on for Estrada with two down and Furcal still at second. Bergmann vs Manny Ramirez. Bergmann gets a harmless fly to center from LA’s slugger to strand Furcal on second...Ronnie Belliard leaps to pull a line drive from Willingham down. Ronald Belisario vs Elijah Dukes. Dukes uses his Discering Eye to draw a one-out walk. Alberto Gonzalez sneaks a single through short. Jamie Burke K’s swinging. Pinch hitter Cristian Guzman grounds sharply to second where Belliard awaits on the grass. Belliard fields and rushes a throw that sails by first, Loney and Guzman collide, Dukes scores, 6-5 LA. Willie Harris lines a single over short to score Alberto Gonzalez, and it’s tied at 6-6. Ian Desmond K’s swinging and has to run it out.

Matt Kemp flies deeep to right off Tyler Clippard....Josh Willingham tracks it and leaps at the wall...but misses, trapping it up with his glove, but letting it drop...and Hammer thinks it’s out...Kemp keeps running, and it’s a triple before Willingham finds it in his feet. James Loney K’s swinging at a fastball outside. Ronnie Belliard takes a full-count fastball for ball four. Clippard pops up Blake DeWitt, Zimmerman catches it in foul territory off third. Clippard gets a fly ball to center from Russell Martin and the leadoff triple is stranded!!! Still 6-6...Adam Dunn walks on four straight from Ramon Tronocoso to start DC’s seventh. Ryan Zimmerman gets jammed and flies out to left. Dunn’s running as Josh Willngham grounds out to DeWitt at third. Dukes gets the intentionals to bring up Alberto Gonzalez. The General grounds weakly to third to end the seventh.

Ron Villone starts the eighth against Jim Thome who grounds out to first. Rafael Furcal gets a 90 mph sinker for ball one. Villone comes back with another sinker that hangs up high in the zone and Furcal launches it to right, and, GONE! Solo HR, 7-6 Dodgers. NO!!! Andre Ethier grounds out and Villone’s done. Logan Kensing comes on and walks Manny Ramirez before popping up Kemp to end the LA eighth...George Sherrill gets a fly ball to left from Jamie Burke and a line drive to center from Justin Maxwell. Willie Harris walks to give Ian Desmond a two-out shot. Desmond lines to right, Harris rounds third, Ethier comes up throwing, and it’s perfect, Harris is dead, he tries to ram Russell Martin, but it’s no use, Martin holds on, 7-6 LA after eight.

James Loney lines out to to left. Logan Kensing pops Ronnie Belliard up. Blake DeWitt’s thinking double when he lines to right, but Dukes’ arm holds him at first. Russell Martin flies out to right to end the Dodgers’ ninth...Dunn, Zimmerman and Orr vs Jonathan Broxton. Adam Dunn grounds to DeWitt at second in the dramatic shift. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to DeWitt at third. Pete Orr grounds back to the mound. The Nationals lose their 100th game of 2009. 7-6 final.

Nationals now 52-100.

Dodgers Look To Bounce Back After Nationals Knock Down

Eric Stephen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

The O-Dog tripped over Adam Dunn's leg at first base in the ninth inning last night.

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The Dodgers lost last night in walk-off fashion, the seventh time they have done so this season. On the walk-off ledger, the Dodgers are still in the black, thanks to their 12 walk-off wins at Dodger Stadium. After the previous six walk-off defeats, the Dodgers have done well the next game:

Date	Walk-Off	Date	Result
June 25	6-5 L @ CWS	June 26	8-2 W vs Sea
July 29	3-2 L @ StL	July 30	5-3 W @ StL
August 12	4-2 L @ SF	August 14	4-1 L @ AZ
August 15	4-3 L @ AZ	August 16	9-3 W @ AZ
August 25	5-4 L @ Col	August 26	6-1 W @ Col
September 9	4-3 L @ AZ	September 11	10-3 W @ SF

I doubt that really means much going into today, but a 5-1 record isn't bad.

Vicente Padilla is making his sixth start as a Dodger tonight, and coming off really his only bad start in Dodger blue. He gave up four runs in five innings Friday against the Giants, but through five starts as a Dodger he is 3-0 record with a 2.96 ERA, a 3.99 FIP, and a 3.88 x-FIP.

Starting for the Nationals tonight is another rookie, 26-year old J.D. Martin. He has given up exactly two earned runs in each of his last four starts. He is 5-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 starts, but has also given up 12 home runs in 62 innings. Of the 261 MLB pitchers with at least 60 innings pitched this season, Martin is 248th in home runs per nine innings, at 1.74 His FIP is 5.73 and his x-FIP is 5.34.

Casey Blake will likely sit tonight with a sore left hamstring, which he re-injured running the bases on his home run Tuesday. Also, it wouldn't surprise me to see Orlando Hudson sitting again, especially after his fall last night.

Today's Dodger birthdays include Dick Nen and Hubie Brooks.

**********

The playoff scenario is the same today as it was yesterday, except that the Dodgers can't clinch a spot today because the Braves are off. The Giants play the Cubs at home tonight at 7:15pm.

The Rockies, five games back in the division with 10 to play, host the Padres at 5:40pm.

**********

Check out Xeifrank's simulation of today's game here.

Don't forget to RSVP for True Blue LA Day at Dodger Stadium, on the next-to-last day of the regular season, October 3 against the Rockies.

Get your guesses in for our today's "One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out," here.

Game Time: 4:05pm

TV: KCAL

Baseball Reference Preview

No-No Becomes "Oh No" For Dodgers

Eric Stephen — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:58:56 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Home plate umpire Tom Hallion was quite memorable tonight.

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A beautiful beginning for the Dodgers ended up with an ugly, frustrating loss, as the Nationals pushed across a run to win in the ninth inning, 5-4. Missed opportunities both in the field and at the plate led to the loss, and the Orlando Hudson even got hurt, playing in his first game in four days.

A hanging curve by ended the Chad Billingsley feel-good story of the night, as Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run, game-tying home run to break up Billingsley's no-hitter. Billingsley was electric tonight, finishing with nine strikeouts, five of them looking, made all the more memorable by the emphatic calls by home plate umpire Tom Hallion. Billingsley did walk four, including two in the sixth before Zimmerman's tying blast, but overall he looked great. He had good command of his fastball, and outside of that one pitch to Zimmerman, Billingsley pitched a gem.

A tied game in the later innings figured to favor the Dodgers, with their superior bullpen, but the eighth inning is where it started to head south for the Dodgers. With Cristian Guzman on first base and nobody out, George Sherrill induced a pop-up to left centerfield. The ball should have easily been caught by Matt Kemp, but Kemp and Manny got confused and the ball dropped between them. One out later, Elijah Dukes hit an easy double play ball up the middle. All Hudson had to do was step on second and through to first to end the inning, but O-Dog rushed the throw and threw wildly to first. As James Loney came off the bag to retrieve the errant throw, Guzman scampered home from second (hat tip to El Lay Dave) with the go-ahead run.

Hudson led off the ninth with an infield single, but tripped over Dunn as he crossed first base. Hudson fell to the ground, hard, and had to leave the game. Post-game reports said Hudson jammed his left wrist, and is day to day. The Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out, and scored the tying run when Christian Guzman threw wild to home plate on a grounder by Ronnie Belliard.

The game was now tied, the bases were still loaded, and the meat of the lineup was due up. All the stars seemed aligned to getting George Sherrill his first win as a Dodger, which would have made him the club-record 22nd Dodger to get a win this season. However, Andre Ethier struck out, Manny grounded out, and the birthday boy Matt Kemp lined out to end the inning and the threat. Ethier, Ramirez, and Kemp combined for no hits in 12 at-bats, with three walks on the night.

James McDonald came in to pitch the ninth inning, and was greeted by a leadoff single by Justin Maxwell. A sacrifice and an all-too-easy steal of third base led to a precarious situation. Jorge Padilla walked, then Pete Orr lifted a flyball to medium-deep right field. It looked to be a sure game-ending sacrifice fly anyway, especially with Ethier retreating on the ball, but it seemed fitting with all the late sloppiness that the ball bounced off Ethier's glove for an error, and a Dodger loss.

Despite the tough loss, Billingsley's outing was encouraging. That seems weird to say in an outing when Billingsley's went up from 4.05 to 4.07, but he was dealing. He's close to being back, which is good news. A weird night deserves a weird stat: Billingsley is the 15th LA Dodger ever to give up three or more runs while giving up one or less hits.

Vicente Padilla faces J.D. Martin tomorrow night in the series finale.

Magic Numbers
To win NL West: 6, but really 5 (Rockies lost to the Padres 6-3)
To clinch a playoff spot: 2 (Braves beat the Mets 5-2, and the Giants beat Arizona 5-2)

WP - Saul Rivera (1-3): 2 batters, 2 outs

LP - James McDonald (5-5): 0.1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk

Box Score

Washington Nationals Hand New York Mets Sixth-Straight Loss, 6-5 In Citi Field.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:00:16 -0000

More photos » by Henny Ray Abrams - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman, center, is congratulated by teammate Josh Willingham, right, after driving-in Cristian Guzman, left, with a two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

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• Ryan Zimmerman’s 2-run home run off Mike Pelfrey in the first is Zimmerman’s 30th of the season. The Nationals’ 1st 1st Round pick is now 6 over his previous season high of 24 set over 162 games back in 2007. Zimmerman now has 30 in 142 games played in '09, and he put Washington up 2-0 over Pelfrey and the New York Mets after one...

• J.D. Martin got through two scoreless, but gave up a leadoff double to Wilson Valdez in the third. After a sac fly by Pelfrey, the Mets hit back to back singles with Angel Pagan knocking Valdez in and taking third on a low liner to center by Luis Castillo. One out later, after Josh Willingham leaps at the wall to rob David Wright, Carlos Beltran singles in the second run with the fourth hit of the inning and it's a 2-2 tie.

• Josh Bard, who came into the game with a .167 AVG with 4 hits in 24 September at bats, so of course, Bard gets a hold of a sinkless sinker from Mike Pelfrey and launches it to right center, and just into the bullpen for a two-run HR that scores Ian Desmond, who’d doubled to the corner in left to start the fifth. 4-2 DC...

(The SHOCKING Conclusion After The JUMP)...

• Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

• Check Out The SB Nation's Mets Blog: Amazin' Avenue Open Thread.

• "Game 147: Yeah, it's the Mets, but a win is a win" - Doghouse.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 51-96.

• J.D. Martin walks Carlos Beltran to start NY’s sixth, and gives up a one-out single to Jeff Francoeur before he’s lifted from the game after (5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 3 K's)....Ron Villone takes over, and walks the first batter he faces, Fernando Tatis, to load the bases, and Villone gives up a line drive to left to Wilson Valdez, Josh Willingham charges in to catch Valdez’s liner and the Hammer throws home as Beltran tags from third, Bard catches the throw on one hop, reaches across the plate and makes the tag as Beltran slides around and reaches for the dish..., "You’rrrre OUT!!!" yells the Ump as he punches the air.

• Elijah Dukes scores the Nationals’ 5th run of the game after a throwing error on an excuse-me single in the seventh...Dukes takes second after Mets’ catcher Josh Thole throws by first on Dukes' dribbler. Ian Desmond’s grounder to second moves Dukes up to third and Josh Bard drives in another run with a sac fly to center for a 5-2 DC lead.

• Best and Worst Of Bergmann And MacDougal...

Jason Bergmann started the eighth by striking out both David Wright and Carlos Beltran, Wright with a heater, Beltran with the curve (he still can't hit those!), but then Rutgers' Finest gives up a two-out single to Daniel Murphy and another single to Jeff Francoeur, and DC closer Mike MacDougal has to come out in the eighth for the 4-out save. MacDougal strikes out backup backstop Josh Thole to strand Murphy and Frenchy and preserve the 5-2 DC lead.

• STOP: Hammertime - Top of the ninth...Josh Willingham leads off against Brian Stokes. Stokes throws a first-pitch fastball and instantly regrets it, 94 mph coming in, and gone just as quick, Josh Willingham hits his 23rd HR of 2009 and knocks in his first run since September 4th...

• Back To MacDougal... It's at this point that Mike MacDougal decides he'll continue the "DC Closer Tradition of 'Making It Interesting'", walking the first batter of the ninth, before popping up pinch hitter Jeremy Reed...and walking Angel Pagan...Luis Castillo singles, bases loaded, David Wright singles, 6-3 DC. Carlos Beltran grounds into a force but scores a run. 6-4. Daniel Murphy rips a hotshot to short, Ian Desmond stabs it and throws high to first and off Adam Dunn's glove. Castillo scores, 6-5. Jeff Francoeur rips one to the mound that takes MacDougal's glove off his hand, the pitcher recovers, throws to first, ballgame.

• E: 125, 126.

E: 125 - 2nd Inning, Jeff Francoeur pops up foul of first, Adam Dunn tries to stay with, tries to make the catch...and...drops it. Dunn's 15th Nick-Johnson-esque error is the Nationals' 125th as a team. OUTCOME: Francoeur flies out given another pitch, and Brian Schneider flies out to end the inning. No harm. E: 126 - 6-4 Nationals, bottom of the ninth, Mike MacDougal's reeling, and Daniel Murphy rips a two-out one-hopper to short, Ian Desmond stabs it with his backhand but throws high to first, Dunn leaps, but it's off his glove. Desmond's 3rd is DC's league-leading 126th. OUTCOME: A run scores on the error to make it 6-5, but MacDougal recovers to end it one batter later.

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At New York Mets. Game 147 Of 162.

Mike Pelfrey’s on the mound for the Mets, Willie Harris leads off for DC with a fly ball to Carlos Beltran in center for the first out of the game. Daniel Murphy tries to toss a weak grounder to first with his glove, but it doesn’t quite work, Guzman’s safe. Ryan Zimmerman goes the other way with a low fastball outside and just gets it over the fence for a 2-run blast and a 2-0 DC lead. Adam Dunn fouls off a few full-count pitches and flies out to Angel Pagan in left. Josh Willingham swings over a two-strike sinker inside...Josh Willingham pulls up just short of the wall in foul territory in the left field corner to catch Angel Pagan’s fly ball out. Luis Castillo throws his bat at a two-strike fastball outside for a swinging K. David Wright rolls the second fastball he sees out to third for Zimmerman to handle.

Elijah Dukes rrrrips one back off the pitcher’s feet, and David Wright can’t make a barehand play. Dukes safe. Ian Desmond grounds to second, Luis Castillo tosses to second for the force but Dukes’ slide into Wilson Valdez ends any chance of a DP. Josh Bard gives them another chance, grounding to Luis Castillo to Valdez to Daniel Murphy at first, double play...Ian Desmond dives over a grounder from Carlos Beltran who’s on first to start the Mets’ second. Daniel Murphy K’s swinging over a two-seam slider that breaks outside at the last second. Adam Dunn drops a foul pop off Jeff Francoeur’s bat, but Frenchy just flies out to left unproductively given the second chance. Brian Schneider flies to Willingham to end the second.

J.D. Martin grounds out to Wilson Valdez at short. Willie Harris flies out to Carlos Beltran. Cristian Guzman flies out to Pagan in left for a quick 1-2-3 by Pelfrey...Wilson Valdez rips a double by Josh Willingham and to the wall in left. Mike Pelfrey’s sac bunt moves Valdez to third. Angel Pagan drives a sinking fastball outside through second and into center. Valdez scores, 2-1 Nationals. Luis Castillo hits a low liner back up the middle for the third hit of the inning. David Wright flies to deeep left, WIllingham leaps at the wall, and makes the grab!! Hammer!!!! Carlos Beltran sneaks another single under a diving Desmond at second for an RBI single and a 2-2 tie. Daniel Murphy flies out to center to end the frame.

Ryan Zimmerman starts the fourth with a single back over the mound and up the middle. Adam Dunn flies out to Angel Pagan in left field. Josh Willingham lines on one hop to Beltran in center. Elijah Dukes grounds to Valdez at short, to Castillo to Murpy, double play...J.D. Martin gives up the second straight leadoff double, this one to Jeff Francoeur. Brian Schneider takes a free pass. Wilson Valdez grounds to second, Desmond, to Guzman to Dunn, double play. Francoeur to third. Pelfrey grounds back to the mound, 2-2 ballgame.

Ian Desmond pulls a hanging bender to left for a leadoff double. Josh Bard gets a sinkless fastball over the heart and takes it deeeep to right and gone, two-run blast, 4-2 Nationals. J.D. Martin takes a fastball for a called strike three. Willie Harris swings through a fastball for the second out. Guzman chops one slowly to Pelfrey to end the inning...Angel Pagan grounds out to second to start the Mets’ fifth. Josh Willingham charges in to catch the second out off Luis Castillo’s bat. J.D. Martin throws a high two-strike fastball by David Wright for a swinging K to end the frame.

Ryan Zimmerman rips a line drive right at Angel Pagan in left. Adam Dunn flies out to left for David Wright. Josh Willingham swings through a high fastball for the second-straight K to end the sixth...J.D. Martin walks Carlos Beltran to start the home half of the frame. Daniel Murphy sends a high fastball out to Willlie Harris in center. Carlos Beltran’s running as Jeff Francoeur lifts a low slider to center for a one-out single. J.D. Martin’s lifted. Ron Villone vs Fernando Tatis. Tatis walks to load the bases for Wilson Valdez. Valdez lines to left, Willingham catches it coming in and fires home as Beltran tags from third, Josh Bard catches it on one hop and tags Beltran before his hand slides over the plate. "You'rrre OUT!" yells the UMP.

Elijah Dukes surprises the new catcher with a swinging bunt on a fastball inside, and Dukes is safe when Josh Thole throws it by first. Dukes takes second. Ian Desmond does his job, grounding Dukes over to third. Josh Bard flies out to center, Dukes tags and scores. 5-2 DC. Mike Morse grounds a few feet in front of home for the last out of the inning...Sean Burnett takes over on the mound. Gary Sheffield sends a screamer right into Ian Desmond’s glove. Sean Burnett gets a swinging K out of Angel Pagan. Luis Castillo pops out to second.

Sean Green vs Willie Harris in the eighth. Harris grounds back to the mound. Cristian Guzman grounds out to Castillo at second. Ryan Zimmerman beats David Wright with a high hopper to third. Green out, Pedro Feliciano gets a fly ball to right center from Dunn to end the inning...David Wright vs Jason Bergmann. 92 mph fastball gets Wright swinging for the first out. Beltran swings over a two-strike bender from Bergmann. Daniel Murphy sneaks a single through second. First pitch fastball to Francoeur, who singles, and it’s first and third with two down after a double. Bergmann out, Mike MacDougal’s going to try for four outs. Francoeur takes second without a throw. Josh Thole swings through a fastball for strike three to end the eighth.

Josh Willingham gets a hold of a hanger from Brian Stokes and sends it out to left and GONE! HAMMER!!! 6-2 DC. Elijah Dukes flies out to left. Ian Desmond grounds out to short. Josh Bard pops up over short, Wilson Valdez makes the grab...Mike MacDougal looks to end it. Cory Sullivan walks to start the frame. Jeremy Reed flies out to Willie Harris in left. Angel Pagan takes the second walk. Luis Castillo singles by a diving Zimmerman at third to load the bases with one out. David Wright rips a single to right to score Sullivan. 6-3 DC. Carlos Beltran grounds to second, Desmond to Alberto Gonzalez to Dunn...not in time, 6-4 and two down. Daniel Murphy rips a hotshot to short, Ian Desmond stabs it, spins and throws high to first and it hits off Dunn’s glove, run scores, 6-5, second and third. Jeff Francoeur lines up the midd--MacDougal knocks it down and it knocks off his glove, MacDougal recovers and throws to first to end it.

Nationals win, 6-5 final.

Nationals now 51-96.

Sorry, Florida Marlins, Sorry! Washington Nationals Win 5-3.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Jeffrey Boan - AP

"THE BIG OPPOSITE FIELD DOES IT AGAIN!!!" -- Washington Nationals' Adam Dunn hits a two-run home run off Florida Marlins' pitcher Josh Johnson during the first inning of a baseball game in Miami, Friday, Sept 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeffrey M. Boan)

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First and third, one out in the Florida Marlins' ninth. Washington's up 5-3 after DC closer Mike MacDougal gives up a HR to Dan Uggla to start the frame. Florida left fielder Chris Coghlan steps to the plate as the winning run. MacDougal throws three straight fastballs, 97, 97 and 96 and all on the outside corner looking for the doub--...

We Interrupt This Game Report For A Word From DC GM Mike Rizzo:

Mike Rizzo: "With the pitchers, with pitchers, I'm a big ground ball guy. I think ground balls are better than fly balls, because with a ground ball you have a chance to get two outs with one pitch..."

MacDougal's 3 outs into a 5-out save and he's two outs away from his 15th save in 16 opportunities, and he throws another fastball outside to the Marlins' outfielder, Coghlan connects and sends a ground ball out toward second where Cristian Guzman waits for it, fields, steps on second and throws to first, double play to end the Nationals' 49th win of 2009, and the first of the year on the road against Florida. Washington wins for just the 5th time in 16 games played against the Marlins this season, "The Big Opposite Field" Adam Dunn hits his 37th HR of '09 to left for a two-run blast in the first, Ryan Zimmerman hits #29 in the seventh after Mike Morse knocks in two with an RBI double to deep center in the sixth and J.D. Martin (4-4, 4.29 ERA) gets the Curly-W and climbs up to .500 with 5.0 IP in which he allows 2 hits, 4 walks and 2 runs.

[Mike Rizzo Points To His Head]...

Nationals win, 5-3 final.

Miss The Game? The DC Faithful Were Watching...

Check Out The SB Nation's Florida Marlins Blog: FishStripes - Open Thread And Ichthyomancy.

"Game 141: Only a little "interesting"..." - Doghouse.

BACKPAGE: (under construction - 11:20 pm)

• J.D. Martin Is Legit.

• #37 Goes Where?

• Mike Morse Wins It For DC...

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 49-92.

BACKPAGE: (under construction)...

• J.D. Martin Is Legit.

J.D. Martin gave up two runs in the bottom of the first, (on Hanley Ramirez's 23rd HR, a two-run blast after a one-out walk to Nick Johnson), letting Florida right back in the game after Adam Dunn's two-run HR in the top of the first off Marlins' right-hander Josh Johnson. Martin allows just one other hit and three walks over the next four innings, throwing 97 pitches in all, and popping up Jorge Cantu twice with two on to keep it tied. Tyler Clippard takes over for Martin in the sixth and throws 2.0 scoreless, striking out four and giving up just one hit. Jason Bergmann gets the first out of the eighth and hands the ball to Mike MacDougal who records the 5-out save to lock down Martin's 4th win.

• #37 Goes Where?

Adam Dunn took the first fastball he got from Josh Johnson in the first for a called strike, and he took the second one off the low outside corner and dropped it over the wall in left field for a 331ft HR over a 330ft fence. Dunn now needs just 3 HR's in the Nationals' last 20 games to get to the 40 HR mark he's reached or surpassed in each of the last 5 seasons. The Big Opposite Field goes to left again.

• Mike Morse Wins It For DC...

Mike Morse's two-run double to center might have gone out of some parks, but Morse hit the two-out line drive to straight center in Dolphin Stadium (ed. note - "What? Land Shark Park? Field? Land Shark Stadium? Are you serious? Whatever...") off Marlins' reliever Brian Sanches so it just fell into the outfield grass over Cameron Maybin's head to knock in Josh Willingham who'd walked to start the inning and Wil Nieves, who hit a two-out single to finally move Willingham to second. Morse now has 5 RBI's on 3 hits in his last 3 at bats.

GAME REPORT:

Washington Nationals At Florida Marlins. Game 141 Of 162.

Florida starter Josh Johnson walks Willie Harris in the first at bat of this evening’s game. Cristian Guzman, who’s starting at short, K’s swinging through a 2-2 slider inside. Ryan Zimmerman can’t catch up to a 95 mph two-strike fastball. Adam D- SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!!! Adam Dunn goes opposite field and just gets it over the fence at the end of the scoreboard. #37 for Dunn, 2-0 DC. Josh Willingham K’s looking to end the top of the first...J.D. Martin throws a two-strike fastball by Florida’s leadoff hitter, Chris Coghlan. NIck Johnson uses his Discerning Eye to draw a one-out walk and Hanley Ramirez ties it with one swing, slapping a first pitch fastball to left and GONE, 2-2 ballgame. Jorge Cantu flies out deep to center and Willie Harris. Josh Willingham takes a knee to catch a line drive from John Baker.

Elijah Dukes rips a single through short to start the second. Wil Nieves grounds to second and Dan Uggla throws it away trying for the force. First and second for J.D. Martin. Martin pops up a bunt attempt, and John Baker catches it. Willie Harris takes strike three on a low fastball outside...Dan Uggla flies out to Dukes in right. Cody Ross pops up the infield, Adam Dunn makes the catch. J.D. Martin hits the low inside corner with a two-strike heater to get Cameron Maybin looking.

Cristian Guzman pops out to left, Chris Coghlan sprints over to make the catch. Ryan Zimmerman walks with one down to give Dunn another chance. Johnson throws a 2-2 fastball by Adam Dunn. Josh Willingham takes a two-out walk. Elijah Dukes chops the third out to Cantu at, uh, third...Josh Johnson lines just over Guzman’s glove at short for a leadoff single. Chris Coghlan grounds to Pete Orr at second, Orr throws to first. Dukes goes back to the track to catch Nick Johnson’s fly ball out. Hanley Ramirez gets the intentionals. Jorge Cantu flies out to Willingham in left to end the third.

Pete Orr K’s swinging over a sharp slider inside. Wil Nieves grounds out to second. Josh Johnson blows J.D. Martin away with a fastballf for strike three...John Baker walks to start the Marlins’ fourth. Dan Uggla takes strike three on an 0-2 bender outside. Cody Ross moves the catcher over. Cameron Maybin grounds to short, Guzman takes the force at second.

Willie Harris walks to start the fifth. Cristian Guzman gets another one of those breaking balls inside, strike three. Ryan Zimmerman skies the second out to center. Adam Dunn grounds into the shift to end the top of the fifth...Gaby Sanchez hits for Johnson in the Fish’s fifth. J.D. Martin busts him inside to get Sanchez swinging. Guzman GOES TO HIS LEFT and just gets to a grounder from Chris Coghlan. J.D. Martin hits Nick Johnson. Hanley Ramirez gets the intentionals and Martin gets the groundout from Jorge Cantu to end the fifth.

Brian Sanches comes on for Florida and walks the first batter he faces, Josh Willingham. Elijah Dukes flies out to the track in left, just missed. Chris Coghlan catches the second out off Pete Orr’s bat. Wil Nieves rips a single over short to bring up Mike Morse with two on. Morse lines to deeep center and off Cameron Maybin at the wall. Two runs score, 4-2 DC. Willie Harris pops up to the infield to end the Nationals’ sixth...Crisitian Guzman charges and double pumps a throw to first to just get John Baker. Tyler Clippard vs Dan Uggla. Clippard throws a full-count change by Uggla up high. Clippard gets Cody Ross swinging too.

Andrew Miller takes over on the mound for the Marlins. Cristian Guzman sends a soft fly over second, Dan Uggla sprints into center to catch it. Ryan Zimmerman rips a fastball to left and over the out-of-town scoreboard for #29 of ‘09. 5-2 Nationals. Adam Dunn walks with one down. Josh Willingham grounds to short, Hanley Ramirez to Uggla to Johnson at first, double play...Clippard gets Cameron Maybin swinging at a high two-strike fastball. Pinch hitter Brett Hayes K’s too. Chris Coghlan flies out to right to end the seventh.

Christhian Martinez gets a fly ball out to center right from Dukes. Pete Orr flies out to left. Wil Nieves walks with two down. Clippard pops out behind second to end the top of the eighth...Clippard’s back and he gives up a leadoff double to deep center to Nick Johnson before Jim Riggleman lifts him. Jason Bergmann vs Hanley Ramirez. A wild pitch from Bergmann moves Nick Johnson to third. Hanley Ramirez eventually walks. Jorge Cantu pops out to the infield, Dunn catches it with two hands. Mike McDougal replaces Bergmann and gets two outs with one pitch, John Baker grounds to second, Orr to Guzman to Dunn, double play.

Willie Harris vs Christhian Martinez. Willie Harris walks again. Nick Johnson takes a force at second on a weak grounder by Cristian Guzman. Ryan Zimmerman hits it hard enough for an inning ending DP...MacDougal’s back. Dan Uggla takes a high outside fastball to left and into the second deck. 5-3 DC. Cody Ross lines a single to center. Ross Gload hits for Maybin. Brett Carroll comes on to run for Gload, who walks, and Emilio Bonifacio gets a pinch hit chance. MacDougal gets Bonifacio to chase a 1-2 sinker out of the zone. One down. Chris Coghlan grounds to short, Guzman fields, steps on second, throws to first, double play to end it!! Nationals win, 5-3 final.

Nationals now 49-92.