May 28, 2006

5/28/06 Compare Him To Robinson, Not Frank, But Brooks.

Ramon Ortiz (2-4, 5.20 ERA) going for his third straight win. Jae Seo (2-2, 5.18 ERA), the former Mets starter on the mound for the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Marlon Anderson in at second so Jose Vidro can take a break from leading the league in hitting. (No McCann!) Mike Vento making his first start in right for the Nationals. Ortiz puts the Dodgers down in order in the first. Ryan Zimmerman is in the cleanup spot, we’ll see if he responds to the challenge.
   Alfonso Soriano walks to start the first, and scores one batter later when Royce Clayton strokes one to the gap in left center. 1-0 Nationals. Nick Johnson sporting the Nationals alternate red DC logo jersey and hats, takes four straight, and walks to first, Zimmerman… takes a swinging strike two, Clayton tries to swipe third, and is tagged out. Zimmerman stares at strike three, and Marlon Anderson has his bat on his shoulder as strike three crosses the plate. 1-0 after one.

   Clayton and Johnson single in succesion with one out in the third. ZIMMERMAN!!! Ryan Zimmerman with a three-run home run. Nationals 4-0 on Zimmerman’s 8th. Marlon Anderson triples. Brian Schneider gets an RBI on a fly out. Anderson scores 5-0 Nationals. Mike Vento gets his first hit in the Majors, and his first RBI scoring Marlon Byrd who had doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch from Seo. 6-0 Nationals. Seo out after 2.2 IP, 7 hits, 6 ER, 3 walks, and 3 K’s, 5.36 ERA.
   soriANO!! Alfonso Soriano number 18, takes one at his ankles and drops it over the fence in left center to give the Nationals a 7-0 lead. The Nationals go up 8-0 in the fifth, when a single to center gets by Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp and scores Mike Vento from first. Ortiz has only allowed one hit through five and is in control on the mound.

   Ortiz gives up a two-run HR to Olmedo Saenz, after Nomar Garciaparra singles in Ramon Martinez. 8-3 Nationals. Ortiz trying to get out of the sixth. Strikes out the Dodgers Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier grounds out to second. Inning over, 8-3 Nationals.
   Nick Johnson wakes up his bat and visits the home team bullpen in left for his 11th of the season. 9-3 Nationals. Ortiz out after 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 3 walks, 5 K’s and a 5.31 ERA to end his afternoon. Jon Rauch comes on for the eigth, loads the bases, and then allows a run when he hits Ethier in the shoulder. 9-4, and Frank Robinson has seen enough. Santiago Ramirez out to try to stop the Dodger rally. Line drive to center off Ramirez, it might fall…Marlon Byrd dives and comes up with it. Inning over.

   Nick Johnson wakes up his bat and visits the home team bullpen in left for his 12th of the season. 10-4 Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman makes a brilliant diving play to end the game. Nationals win. 10 runs, 16 hits, and the win gives the Nationals a 7-3 record in the home stand. Nationals now off to Philadelphia and Milwaukee this week.