Gio Gonzalez shuts out Reds, as Nats bring the bats
WASHINGTON—Gio Gonzalez (2-3, 5.46) didn’t need much offense to earn his second win and first complete game shut-out of the season, but his team picked him en route to a 11-0 win on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Coming into Thursday Gonzalez had lost his last three outings, allowing almost four runs a game but found a way to shut down the team with the best record in the NL.
“I was tempted to pull him going into the ninth,” said Washington manager Davey Johnson. “The way his season has gone so far he deserved to stay out there and finish the game. This was huge for him.”
The Reds just couldn’t touch Gonzalez as he was able go the distance striking out nine batters along the way with one walk and allowing just two hits; the first not coming until two outs in the fifth.
“He [Gonzalez] was untouchable tonight. He has everything going and was finding his spots, and we couldn’t do anything about it,” said Dusty Baker on Gonzalez’s shut-out.
On the other side of the diamond Red’s starter Bronson Arroyo (3-2, 2.30) had his shortest outing of the season while pitching just five innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits. Bronson struggled with his breaking pitches all night and had hard times finding outs.
Bryce Harper was one of those players in which Reds pitcher had a hard time getting out. Harper would go 3-3, including his fourth home-run of the year, a double, and tacked on 4 RBI’s in the blow-out victory.
In the bottom of the eighth Washington put the dagger on the Reds adding to the 6-0 schlacking, scoring five more runs; including Adam LaRoche’s third home run of the year with two runners a board to make things 11-0.
The Reds second hit do not come until the ninth inning, an inning in which Gonzalez found himself in a little trouble; allowing runners on first and second to start the inning but managed to get two outs, setting up a strikeout of Joey Votto to cap off the night.
“We were just ready to get this one over with, said Baker following the game. “You come back tomorrow and play again. Baseball is a funny game so we will see how we come at these guys.”
It was the second time the Reds have been shut out by the Nationals; the only team to do so. As Washington pitching continues to dominate posting a 2.63 ERA through the first 22 games of the year while throwing six shutout games, most in the majors.
The Reds and Nationals will play game two of the four game series under the lights on Friday night. Homer Bailey (0-1, 4.07) will look again for his first win of the year, while he will face Jordan Zimmerman (3-0, 2.12) of the Nats. First pitch is set for 7:05.
LaRoche's double in ninth sends Nats fans home happy
WASHINGTON—After an impressive 11-0 blowout against the Reds on Thursday, Washington would win in a different way on Friday as they would beat the Reds in walk off fashion 3-2, sending 34,000 Nats fans home happy.
Denard Span would kick off the bottom of the first with a lead-off opposite home run on Homer Bailey's first pitch up the game to quickly put Washington out in front 1-0.
Cincinnati would tie the game in the third from an RBI single from starter Homer Bailey, scoring Xavier Paul from second.
In the Reds half of the fifth Shin-Shoo Choo would beat out a throw from Ian Desmond for an infield hit allowing Paul to score again to put the Reds out in front 2-1.
Homer Bailey (0-1, 3.52) who was shooting for his first win of the season in five tries would settled down after the lead off home run. In the bottom of the sixth Bailey would get bailed out of a jam in the fifth, when right fielder would throw out Jayson Werth at the plate to end the inning with the Reds 2-1 lead still intact.
In the seventh an error by Reds third baseman Todd Frazier would put the tying run at second for the Nats, and Dusty Baker would go to his left handed specialist Sean Marshall; fresh off the disabled list. Following a walk to Denard Span, Steve Lombardozi would line a Marshall slider past Frazier and allowed Anthony Rendon to score to tie the game at two a piece.
Cincinnati missed a huge opportunity in the top of the ninth as the scored remained 2-2. Brandon Phillips would coast out a walk from Ryan Mattheus to lead off the inning. Mattheus would get the struggling Jay Bruce to fly out to right but would not retire Todd Frazier would followed Bruce with his second double of the night to set up Reds runners at second and third with only one out. Davey Johnson would turn the ball over to his set-up man, Drew Storen (2-0). Storen would retire Xavier Paul but hit pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan to load up the bases for Devin Mesoraco. Mesoraco would hack at the first pitch lining out to Span in center.
Dusty Baker would once again go to the pen, bringing in Johnathon Broxton (0-1) in the top of the ninth.
Todd Frazier would commit his second error of the game, allowing Span to reach first, setting up a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Steve Lombardozzi. Broxton would then intentional walk Nats phenom Bryce Harper to set up the double play and would pitch to first baseman Adam LaRoche. After falling behind 3-0, LaRoche had the green light sending Broxton's fastball of the right-centerfield wall allowing Span to score from second to give the Nats a 3-2 win.
"I knew he was coming at me with something to hit, and I knew it would be a fast ball so I let it go." said LaRoche following the walk-off win."I thought it was out, but it got the job done so I'm happpy."
The Reds and Nationals will match up in game three on Saturday afternoon for FOX Baseball Game of the Week. Cincinnati will send three game winner Mike Leake (3-1,1.78) to the mound to face Dan Haren (1-2, 3.65). First pitch is set for 1:05 on FOX.
Nats win seventh in a row; Haren shuts out Reds
WASHINGTON—Coming in, Washington starter Dan Haren (2-2, 2.67) had just one win on the season;against the Cincinnati Reds coming on his first start of the season. Coincidentally Haren won his second game of the season in a 8-0 shut out against the same team on Saturday.
Haren would pitch a complete game shutout in the the third game of the four game series, allowing just four hits, while striking out a season high, ten batters. Through two games against the Reds, Haren has not given up a run in 15 innings; while only allowing 9 hits and striking out 14 batters over the course of the two games.
"He's got our number big time. I'm not sure what is it but we just can't do anything against him. I'm glad thats the last time we face him, maybe we will see him in the playoffs," said Reds Manager Dusty Baker following the complete game shutout of Haren.
The Nationals pitching has dominated the Reds through the first tree games of the series; including two complete game shutouts.
Not only has the pitching dominated, but the offense has been on a tear over the three game span. Washington has out scored Cincinnati 22-2. Adam LaRoche has been the key to the offense, as he would homer again in Saturdays 8-0 win; his second of the series, and his fifth run batted in.
Mike Leake (3-2, 3.22) got the loss after having his worst start of the season, pitching five and a third innings, giving up seven runs (6 ER) on seven hits, striking out six and walking two. A complete opposite of what he did to the Nationals on April 6 when Leake only gave up one run in a 4-1 win.
These two teams will match up for the seven and final time in 2013 on Sunday, as the Reds will try to salvage one game against this red-hot Washington team. Cincinnati will send Rookie left-handing Tony Cingrani (1-0, 2.77) to the bump opposing Washington's Ross Detwiler (2-1, 1.91) who has already lost to the Reds in the first week of the season. First pitch is set for 1:35 PM ET.
Game notes:
Jay Bruce is hitting .132 with five hits and two RBI's over his last 10 games....Washington is on a season-high seven game win streak; allowing only 1.9 runs per game during the streak.
Nice Dynasty! Great Sweep of the Cubs! Hopefully you can show The Nationals whos boss in game 3. Also, How do you get the ESPN like setup with the Video look? And the headlines you use above your espn setup? Not tryin to copy just wondering so that i can make my dynasty a little more appealing. Thanks man.
Nice Dynasty! Great Sweep of the Cubs! Hopefully you can show The Nationals whos boss in game 3. Also, How do you get the ESPN like setup with the Video look? And the headlines you use above your espn setup? Not tryin to copy just wondering so that i can make my dynasty a little more appealing. Thanks man.
Thanks man! My team is in a huge slump right now, and I cant beat the Nats for anything. But as far as the video and headlines go....I use http://pixlr.com/express/ to make them. The 'videos' are just pictures I created from scratch, trying to replicate the ESPN layout. The headline is just a screenshot from ESPN (using an extension on my web browser), I just painted over what was in the title, cropped it using pixlr and I just type in my own title of each article.
05-29-2013, 07:11 PM
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