Gameday Thread: Nationals @ Padres, Game 2 (L)

[Senators2005]

...............vs...............
Mike Thompson; 3-3, 4.34 ERA.....Pedro Astacio; 2-1, 5.33 ERA

The Washington Nationals ' top two hitters in the lineup have played together for less than a month, but they've already produced a chemistry that has resulted in a resurgence.

Led by Alfonso Soriano and Felipe Lopez , the Nationals (49-60) continue a three-game weekend series against the NL West-leading San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Soriano and Lopez helped the last-place Nationals end a five-game losing streak against San Diego with a 6-2 victory on Friday. Soriano had an RBI double and Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

''I hope we stay together for a long time,'' said Lopez, who was acquired on July 13 from Cincinnati as part of an eight-player trade in which the Nationals also got slugger Austin Kearns . ''I have a lot to learn and (Soriano) is a great player. We can only get better.''

In the past 13 games, Soriano has hit .373 (19-for-51) with four homers and 11 RBIs, and Lopez has batted .429 (21-for-49) with a homer and seven RBIs. Washington is 9-4 in that span.

''(Lopez) know how to play the game,'' said Soriano, a free agent after the season. ''When he sees me run, he takes some pitches. He then can get a base hit to get an RBI. We have a very good communication and very good timing.''

After missing most of the season with a strained forearm, Washington's Pedro Astacio (2-1, 5.23 ERA) will try to reach double digits in career wins against San Diego.

The right-hander has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts, but struggled in his last outing. Against San Francisco on Monday, Astacio got the win despite allowing four runs and a season-high 10 hits in a 10-7 victory.

That came after he gave up two earned runs over 6 1-3 innings against the Giants on July 26.

''He was pretty good. He wasn't as sharp as he was the last time out,'' Nationals manager Frank Robinson said.

Astacio also wasn't sharp in a 5-2 loss to the Padres on July 8. He gave up five runs and nine hits over 3 2-3 innings en route to his first loss of 2006.

San Diego (56-53) has lost six of eight, but still has a one-game lead over second-place Arizona. The Padres hope rookie right-hander Mike Thompson (3-3, 4.34) can help extend that lead.

Since beating Texas on June 20, Thompson is 0-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts. That loss came Sunday after he was recalled from Triple-A Portland when he gave up three runs, six hits and three walks in six innings of a 3-1 defeat to Colorado.

''Mike gave us all we asked of him. Unfortunately, we were shut down offensively,'' Padres manager Bruce Bochy said.

Thompson, who has never faced Washington, has no record and a 3.72 ERA in three home starts.

Padres shortstop Khalil Greene , who sprained the middle finger on his left hand swinging on Thursday against Houston, did not play Friday and may miss the series. Geoff Blum started in place of Greene and went 1-for-3.

WASHINGTON
1.  A. Soriano LF .291
2.  F. Lopez SS .276
3.  R. Zimmerman 3B .291
4.  N. Johnson 1B .297
5.  A. Kearns RF .275
6.  R. Church CF .252
7.  M. Anderson 2B .266
8.  B. Schneider C .223
9.  P. Astacio P .000

SAN DIEGO
1.  D. Roberts LF .301
2.  B. Giles RF .267
3.  M. Cameron CF .263
4.  M. Piazza C .297
5.  A. Gonzalez 1B .306
6.  M. Bellhorn 3B .198
7.  G. Blum SS .256
8.  J. Barfield 2B .293
9.  M. Thompson P .188

[tomterp]

Green's out again, darn shame.    :wink:

[hammondsnats]

Green's out again, darn shame.    :wink:

 

[sportsfan882]

Sounds good!  I have heard good things about this Thompson guy, hopefully we can keep the Offense rolling.  Astacio has to be careful because the Padres as a team have hit him very well in his career.  Looks like we'll get a look at Brandon Harper tomorrow.

[JMW IV]

Green's out again, darn shame.    :wink:

OH THE HORROR!!!!!

[hammondsnats]

if you ever think life sucks being a nationals fan ... poor indians.  lost ANOTHER game tonight on a walk off.  poor bastards.

[wpa2629]

if you ever think life sucks being a nationals fan ... poor indians.  lost ANOTHER game tonight on a walk off.  poor bastards.

And we thought our bullpen gave us fits ... that's nothing compared to what Cleveland endures every night.

[Senators2005]

ewww ugly 1st inning...too easy for pads.  

[wpa2629]

ewww ugly 1st inning...too easy for pads.  

Thank God they play 9!

[wpa2629]

ewww ugly 1st inning...too easy for pads.  

Thank God they play 9!

If this was the world cup, it be over now ...

[sportsfan882]

Oh, boy.  The Padres players have owned Astacio over his career

[hammondsnats]

not a good way to start the game ... c'mon turn two pastacio.

[Senators2005]

Dave Roberts is so freakin fast... :x

[sportsfan882]

a little high on the throw, but close

[wpa2629]

How about a little love for Marlon Anderson, he's done a very good job at 2nd and at the plate ...

[Senators2005]

ewww ugly 1st inning...too easy for pads.  

Thank God they play 9!

If this was the world cup, it be over now ...

Yeah soccer    90 minutes of nothing and usually ends up in a tie.  

[wpa2629]

Dave Roberts is so freakin fast... :x

Not fast enough for Fonsie ... !

[wpa2629]

ewww ugly 1st inning...too easy for pads.  

Thank God they play 9!

If this was the world cup, it be over now ...

Yeah soccer    90 minutes of nothing and usually ends up in a tie.  

Or worse, it ends up with some Sally taking a dive in the box and getting a penalty kick ... the absolute worst ...

[hammondsnats]

i hate dave roberts.

[Senators2005]

Or worse, it ends up with some Sally taking a dive in the box and getting a penalty kick ... the absolute worst ...

I am so with you on that...the dives really make me want to puke...what a bunch of sissies.

[hammondsnats]

pastacio, c'mon bud.

[Senators2005]

C'mon Pedro...keep it together buddy.  Two outs now...stop walking people!

[hammondsnats]

oh no.

[wpa2629]

Sigh ... heavy, heavy sigh ...

[sportsfan882]

ughh.. He had him down 0-2 and then walks him.  Another Astacio-killer is up, A-gon.