2007 #1 Draft Pick, DAVID PRICE Makes Nationals Debut!

[Rod_Carew29]

As some of you all know, I signed David Price (property of the Rays) to my Nationals @ 4 years/$18,000,000.00. Historically, I don't ever put players on my Franchise teams that are not part of that team in real life, but my Nationals REALLY need a pitching shot in the arm and I did it this one time. I waited for him to pitch a few starts while he was in AA (Harrisburg Senators) to see how he would do before I made the decision to bring him up. It was a no-brainer. He was outstanding!

He was 4-0 with an out-of-this-galaxy ERA 0f 0.98. To make room for him, I had sent Tim Redding (1-2; 6.75) down to Harrisburg.

[Rod_Carew29]

The Matchup: David Price (no record) vs. Scott Olsen (7-7; 3.76)

The Nationals lineup:

CF-Nook Logan
SS-Felipe Lopez
1B-Nick Johnson
LF-Wily Mo Pena
RF-Austin Kearns
3B-Ryan Zimmerman
2B-Ronnie Belliard
C-Jesus Flores
P-David Price

The Marlins Lineup:

SS-Hanley Ramirez
2B-Dan Uggla
1B-Mike Jacobs
RF-Cody Ross (absolutely murders lefties)
LF-Josh Willingham
CF-Cameron Maybin
3B-Jason Wood (in for a resting Jose Castillo)
C-Mike Rabelo
P-Scott Olsen

[Rod_Carew29]

Play Ball!

Top of the 1st:

After a 7-pitch AB, Nook Logan singles to center. That extends his hit streak to 9 games. Felipe Lopez singles to left.

Nick Johnson up. Logan and Lopez try a double steal. Logan was cut down on a very, very close play at third, 2-5. Lopez made it safely to second. The reply showed that Logan was safe. He sqwaked at the third base ump for a bit and then walked off the field.

Johnson singles to left, and Lopez stops at third. Wily Mo Pena drives a SF to center, Lopez scores and the Nats take a 1-0 lead.

Austin Kearns lines out to Willingham in left and the side is retired.

David Price is about to make his major league debut......

[Rod_Carew29]

The Bottom of The First

I am nervous, no lie...lol

First batter, Hanley Ramirez...who has been a royal pain in the *** to my Nats ALL season, STRIKES OUT swinging.

Next batter, Dan Uggla, slams a longgggggggggg double off of the right center field wall. I thought it was gone from the sound off of the bat. Kearns cleanly fielded if off of the rebound and JUST MISSED nailing Uggla (whose not the fastest baserunner) at second. Damn!

Price can't get his slider over (which is his best pitch) and walks Mike Jacobs. Cody Ross hits a sharp single to left, but because of Pena's arm, Uggla holds at third.

(EARLY gut check time)

The bases are loaded and I'm like getting frustrated and thinking about what could go wrong. The one thing that I kept hearing in my head was, "there's a big difference pitching in the minors vs. the majors."

Josh Willingham, on a 2-0 count, hit a chooper towards second. Belliard ran in to the lip of the grass, fielded the ball, turned and fired to Lopez at second for the second out. Lopez FIRED the ball to first on the mark for out number three! Price gets out of his first Major League inning without being scored on. And he gets out of his first pitching jam! Whew!

[Rod_Carew29]

The Nationals Go On The Attack

Top of the 2nd:

Ryan Zimmerman walks. Ronnie Belliard smacks a double to right center...right at the 385' mark. It's an RBI double with Zimmerman scoring all the way from first. The Nats now lead, 2-0.

Jesus Flores flies out to Maybin in left center. Belliard tries tagging up to third. He's out 8-6-5.

David Price, in his first Major League AB, flies out surprisingly to deep left. Willingham making the catch.

[Rod_Carew29]

Bottom of The 2nd

Price retires Maybin, Wood and Rabelo, 1-2-3.

[Rod_Carew29]

The Nationals Get That BIG Hit

with two outs, and two runners on, Austin Kearns blasts a 3-run opposite field homer to right (384'). The Nats now increase their lead to 5-0.

Belliard grounds out 4-3 to end the half inning. At this point, with this 5-0 lead, I'm saying to myself that I just HOPE Price can get me 5 innings....I want him to win, but I'm cautious.

[Rod_Carew29]

Bottom of The 3rd

Price once again, retires the side, 1-2-3. This time it's Olsen, Ramirez and Uggla. He's looking very good so far. And his confidence (meter) is almost maxed right now for his slurve...in addtion to his 4-seam fastball.

[Rod_Carew29]

Top of The 4th

Nothing across...the Nats still lead 5-0. Price has the 3, 4 and 5 guys coming up in the bottom of the 4th.

[Rod_Carew29]

Is David Price Gonna Be The Left Handed Version of Dwight Gooden?

My God! As he's gone through the innings, he's gotten better. Make that better with a big exclamation point (!) after it.

Mike Jacobs-strikes out swinging

Cody Ross-takes a called strike three

Josh Willingham-strikes out swinging

Price strikes out the side...nothng across. Going to the top of the 5th, it's 5-0 Nationals.

[Rod_Carew29]

Top of The 5th

Nats do not score. Going to the bottom of the 5th, 5-0 Nats.

[Rod_Carew29]

Bottom of the 5th

Cameron Maybin strikes out looking. That's 4 strikeouts in a row.

Jason Wood hits a liner to center. Nook Logan misplays the ball. The ball bounces right past him and by the time he chases it and throws the ball back in, Wood is credited with a triple. That is the FIRST hit by the Marlins since the FIRST inning.

Rabelo flies out to shallow right. Kearns' throw home keeps Wood from even trying it.

Newly acquired Jose Castillo, is up to pinch hit for Scott Olsen. First pitch swinging, he hits a long drive to the wall in left. Pena catches it for out number 3.

Heading to the top of the 6th, it's still the Nats 5, Florida 0.

[Rod_Carew29]

The Nationals Make a Little Noise in The Top of The 6th

(Armando Benitez in the game)

With one out, Belliard hits a sharp single to right. With Jesus Flores at the plate, Belliard steals second. Flores then raps an RBI single to right. The Nats are now up, 6-0. David Price trying to sacrifice Flores to second, bunts into a 1-6 force. Nook Logan grounds out 5-3 for the final out.

[Rod_Carew29]

Bottom of The 6th

Nothing across by the Marlins. Heading to the top of the 7th, it's 6-0 Nats

[Rod_Carew29]

Nationals Make Some More Noise

Top of the 7th:

Felipe Lopez singles to center. Nick Johnson singles to left. Runners on first and third. Pena walks. The bases are loaded and Sergio Mitre comes in.

Kearns strikes out. Ryan Zimmerman smacks a 2-run single past a lunging Jacobs at first. The Nats do not socre any more, so heading to the bottom of the 7th, it's 8-0 Nats.