The Washington Nationals took an early lead and held on in spite of a rally by the Colorado Rockies last night in Coors Field. Aaron Barrett's big K in the sixth left the bases loaded. Five pitches from the rookie right-hander were huge...
Doug Fister was up in the zone, but the Washington Nationals' right-hander was able to hold the Colorado Rockies off the board through five innings last night in the series opener in Coors Field. The Rockies rallied in the sixth, however, cutting the Nats' 4-0 lead in half with a succession of singles.
A two-out, base-loading walk on his 26th pitch of the inning ended Fister's night after 85 pitches total.
"That situation tonight is the one that we've brought him in all year. He's comfortable there. He made some good pitches." -QOTD - Matt Williams on Aaron Barrett via MASNSports.com
Nationals' right-hander Aaron Barrett inherited a bases loaded two-out jam, but struck pinch hitter Brandon Barnes out with a 1-2 slider to end a five-pitch at bat and leave'em loaded. After allowing runs to score in four of his last five outings, the 26-year-old right-hander made a quick, efficient appearance to preserve the Nationals' two-run lead.
They added three runs late in what ended up a 7-2 win.
Nats' skipper Matt Williams talked after the game about the brief but important appearance by the rookie reliever.
"I think that position is comfortable for him, more comfortable," Williams said, "because he's in that position a lot. Recently, he's been going an inning and facing some left-handers, and that got him in trouble a little bit. That situation tonight is the one that we've brought him in all year. He's comfortable there. He made some good pitches."
After last night's outing, the 2010 9th Round pick has a 2.61 ERA, a 2.92 FIP, 17 walks (4.94 BB/9) and 37 Ks (10.74 K/9) in 31 IP. He threw just five pitches last night, but the strikeout brought an abrupt end the Rockies' rally.
The Nationals took the series opener from the Rockies. They're back at it tonight at 8:40 PM EDT. Until then, links and lots of them... starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "He then zips himself into a cylinder called a hyperbaric chamber, pulls on a breathing mask and spends the next 90 minutes or so resting in an oxygen-rich environment." - "Rafael Soriano, Washington Nationals closer, uses hyperbaric chamber to reach rarefied air" - James Wagner, The Washington Post
How does #Nats' Rafael Soriano stay fit? A hyperbaric chamber is part of the routine. #MLB http://t.co/tHfeK6ePof pic.twitter.com/NXoZcul08U
— Post Sports (@PostSports) July 22, 2014
• NATS BEAT:
• "With Monday night’s 7-2 victory at Colorado, the Nationals are 11-5 since Bryce Harper came off the disabled list June 30, 54-43 overall." - "Healthy Nationals lineup has become NL’s most productive group" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider
• "Jordan Zimmermann should be all set for Tuesday in Colorado after recovering from a right bicep strain. The two-time All-Star threw a bullpen session on Saturday and felt no discomfort in the muscle." - "State of the Nats: Road tripping" - Chase Hughes, Nats Insider
Right? Man. pic.twitter.com/zB7KytuCeS
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 22, 2014
ZIMMWINGS R HOT! #ZimEatingThings pic.twitter.com/a9U2RE3DqA
— B Sheridan (@md_dc) July 22, 2014
ZIMMMPIZZAAAA! pic.twitter.com/Y8js8LYHfY
— B Sheridan (@md_dc) July 22, 2014
Either Zimmerman is winded blowing up this balloon, or he does not like the taste of balloons. You decide pic.twitter.com/uLNawu03fA
— B Sheridan (@md_dc) July 22, 2014
• "Tulowitzki, one of the top hitters on this planet, suffered a quad injury over the weekend and will miss his second straight game." - "Nationals Pastime: Harper out of Nats lineup; Rockies without Tulowitzki, Morneau" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "The conditions at Coors Field, like mud on a horse track or dim lighting at a bar, can equalize mismatched contestants." - "Aaron Barrett, Doug Fister lift Washington Nationals to 7-2 win over Colorado Rockies" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "It's clear that infield defense is a key whenever Fister pitches, and Williams is hoping that the right-hander can keep the ball on the ground and out of the thin Denver air that can torment pitchers." - "Nationals Pastime: Williams explains lineup logic, says Fister's stuff will play at Coors (updated)" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "The extended time off, though, allowed Zimmermann to avoid a stint on the disabled list." - "Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies - July 22, 2014" - Daniel Popper, MLB.com Preview
.@IanDesmond20 and the @Nationals take over sole possession of 1st in the NL East: http://t.co/tlR803tf3q pic.twitter.com/XAJ6ZvFrPO
— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2014
• "'I’m totally fine with it,' Harper said. 'Of course, I’m a guy that likes to play. I always try to battle my way into the lineup. But I totally understand it.'" - "Matt Williams rests Bryce Harper against a left-handed starter" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
• "In a park where the ball absolutely flies, the Nationals held a beat-up Rockies squad to just two runs while the Washington offense just kept on clicking." - "Nationals Pastime: Williams on Desmond's big night, Barrett's big strikeout and more after 7-2 win" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Turf grows thicker and higher at Coors Field than it does at other parks, Manager Matt Williams told his players." - "The Nationals’ best offensive weapon? Base running" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post
• "In the fourth inning, five straight Nationals batters reached base to start a nice rally." - "Starters keep game scoreless early (Desmond 5-for-5 in 7-2 win)" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama):
Now we’re so interdependent, we need to build trust and confidence. On a national or personal level self-centredness is a source of trouble.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) January 21, 2014
• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:
• "[Ben] Paulsen, son of former Clemson Assistant Coach (2003-10) and current Winthrop Head Coach Tom Riginos (2011-present), became the 52nd Tiger in history to play in an MLB game..." - "Paulsen Makes Most Of MLB Debut" - Cu Sid, BC Columbia | Local Sports
• "With the Nationals set to face three left-handed starters in the series against Colorado, Williams said he wanted to find extra at-bats for switch-hitting Danny Espinosa..." - "Harper heating up, but gets day off from Nats' lineup" - Nick Kosmider, nationals.com: News
• "Washington Nationals fan Eric Brooks styled his beard to match the team's logo." - "Nats fan has the most amazing baseball beard you'll ever see (Photo)" - Mike Oz, Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
• "Right-hander Doug Fister got the best of the Rockies for the second time in three weeks, limiting Colorado to two runs while scattering nine hits over 5 2/3 innings." - "Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies - July 21, 2014" - Cody Ulm, MLB.com COL Recap
• "At an elevation of 5,280 feet, the place is not, as manager Matt Williams noted Monday, a 'sea-worthy' stadium." - "Washington Nationals at Colorado Rockies - July 21, 2014" - Nick Kosmider, MLB.com WSH Recap
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Auburn: "Washington Nationals fourth-rounder Robbie Dickey is scheduled to make his Auburn Doubledays debut against the Lowell Spinners Monday evening at Falcon Park." - "Doubledays Pregame: Dickey to make Auburn debut, Carey back in lineup" - Jeremy Houghtaling, Auburn Citizen
VIDEO: Auburn Doubledays fall to Lowell Spinners, 10-2 http://t.co/YWyQ5UM8BW #Ddays
— Jeremy Houghtaling (@CitizenHough) July 22, 2014
• Class-A Auburn: "Spinners 10, Doubledays 2 - Robbie Dickey - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 Ks - Auburn Doubledays Scoreboard
• Low-A Hagerstown: "The Hagerstown Suns (21-11, 65-37) secured their fifth consecutive series win on Monday night with a 3-1 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds (16-16, 54-47)." - "Suns win fifth consecutive series" - Eli Pearlstein, Hagerstown Suns News
• High-A Potomac: "P-Nats starter, RHP Pedro Encarnacion dealt 4.0 frames and allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking one and fanning a quartet." - "Nationals Outlast Salem 5-2 in Finale to Finish Series Sweep" - Potomac Nationals News
#Nats minor league RHP @AustinVoth31 has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 22, 2014
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Matt Skole scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the top of the tenth inning to push Harrisburg to a 4-3 victory in 10 innings over the Bowie Baysox on Monday night." - "Senators Win a Wild One" - Perry Mattern, Harrisburg Senators News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox, 4-3, Monday night at NBT Bank Stadium." - "Chiefs fall to Red Sox on Brown homer" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Another week of minor league baseball is in the books. Here are players around the Washington Nationals’ organization that are making headlines." - "Washington Nationals: Minor League, Prospect Report for July 20th" - Brian Skinnell, District Sports Page
• NATSTOWN:
• "At Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night to begin their nine game road trip, the Washington Nationals defeated the Rockies 7-2 thanks in large part to a big night from Ian Desmond." - "Washington Nationals Game 97 Review: Desmond Leads Nationals Past Rockies" - Brian Skinnell, District Sports Page
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly w/ @NationalsDSP and FBB's Doghouse on the #Nationals' 7-2 win over the #Rockies in Coors Field: http://t.co/q2KaSjkT6A
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) July 22, 2014
• "The non-waiver trade deadline is 10 days away, but there has been very little mention of the Nationals in the national media with regard to being a player in the annual talent swap." - "Will Nationals be active at trade deadline?" - Nationals Buzz: Dave Nichols, MASNSports.com
• "#TeamWeekdayAfternoonGame. The Racing Presidents’ letter looks a lot more official than Klinsmann’s, anyhow." - "Nationals issue ‘presidential pardon’ for fans to attend weekday afternoon games" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
• "Best team in baseball?" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "Ian Desmond's five-hit night (Video)" - Nats Enquirer
• "Ian Desmond went 5 for 5 with his 17th home run of the season in the Nationals’ 7-2 win at Coors Field on Monday, and he did it all while wearing some nifty, red stirrups." - "Stirrups-sporting Ian Desmond goes 5 for 5 in Nationals’ win" - Scott Allen, The Washington Post
• "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has named Nationals Park the No. 5 most vegetarian-friendly Major League ballpark in the country." - "Nationals Park Ranked Among the Best Ballparks for Vegetarians" - Jessica Sidman, Young & Hungry
• "Prince George’s County students represent Nationals in baseball tournament" - Emilie Eastman, Gazette.Net
• "This Washington Nationals Player's Epic Fail Is the Baseball Blooper You Need to See Today" - E! Online
• "The Washington Nationals have three weekday games coming up, and so have given fans the OK to play hooky in order to attend." - "Racing presidents issue printable pardons excusing fans from work" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!
• "Let's just call the batting stance "stack and jack" and the hair cut "jack and stack" for simplicity." - "Bryce Harper unveils new 'stack and jack' batting stance, hair style" - Nats Enquirer
• ""From the first pitch, it was clear how extreme Coors Field could be. Every pitch seemed to hang, and routine popups and fly balls went much further than the Nats were used to." - "Desmond And Fister Lead Nationals to Third Straight Win" - Andrew Flax, The Nats Blog
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "First, Simmons said, he observes direction. Is it a ball he has to go in to get? Or does he have to go back and away from the cut of the grass?" - "Braves stress the importance of defense" - Anna McDonald, SweetSpot Blog - ESPN
RECAP: #Braves drop a tough one in extras to the Marlins, 3-1. http://t.co/0VBv2m8Hsi pic.twitter.com/hIBgY9kMcD
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2014
• Marlins: "Bolstered by extra rest following the All-Star break, Julio Teheran was strong in what he said was his best start of the season." - "ATLANTA: Teheran shines as Braves fall 3-1 to Marlins in 10" - Charles Odum, Baseball Wires - MiamiHerald.com
• Mets: "If the Mets are to be sellers at the trade deadline this year—and it has appeared that they should be lately—Dillon Gee might be a good player for the team to move." - "Mets trade rumors: Dillon Gee trade profile" - Chris McShane, Amazin' Avenue
• Phillies: "However, according to a report via Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, much like Cole Hamels, there are nine teams that the Phillies can deal Lee to without the consent of the 35-year-old lefty." - "Phillies trade rumors: Report reveals list of teams Cliff Lee can be traded to without consent" - Matt Lombardo, NJ.com