Nationals vs Dodgers, Game 1

[Air Zimmerman]

I don't know why Manny would try to squeeze another inning out for Simontacchi.  He hasn't pitched into the 7th inning since he's been up. Why try to do it in a close game?

thank you.

[spidernat]

That was a huge error by Zimmerman.

[spidernat]

I guess if we're going to lose we may as well do it in style.

[wpa2629]

Guzman is just getting abused out there ... brutal ... there goes Simon's era ... yuck ... oh well ... might as well leave Abreu in, take one for the team and save the pen ... come back tomorrow with maybe a little more pop in the bats ...

[sportsfan882]

9-0.  First time the Nats have gotten flat out punished in a few weeks.  Simontacchi's pitch count was very low going into the 7th and he was facing the 8-9-1 hitters. Our bullpen is well overworked so anytime when you have a pitcher who can possibly go 7, you let him attempt to do it.  Did you all really think that Penny was going to smash a double down the left field line? 

[PANatsFan]

Yuck ... that was ugly .. sigh ... 5 runs might as well be 10 with Penny cruising the way he is ... yuck

Time to watch House

[wpa2629]

OH NOES! ... 9 - O ... yikes ... I'm glad I'm going to the game tomorrow instead of tonight ... yikes ...

[spidernat]

That's why Abreu is so afraid to throw that flat fastball of his.

[PC]

Well that's really it.

[Air Zimmerman]

w/e, realistically this game wasn't winnable.

I do love this lineup though. Belly should start @ 1B everyday, and Young should be our bench player/pinch hitter.

[joker]

"rout is on"

[wpa2629]

Time to watch House

Time to switch to the NBA ... ugh ...

[sportsfan882]

Abreu showing why he is a career minor leaguer 

[PC]

The Dodgers average 4.2 runs per game.  They're not a great run scoring team.

[nats2playoffs]

Prior to the road trip, Nationals pitchers were handling top hitters fairly well.  With Pujols and now Juan Pierre, it's as if they had no plan.  Zimmerman's 9th error results in 2 runs instead of 1 or a putout at home.  I think the intentional walk was a managing error.  The next batter has a higher strikeout rate.  These guys studied Abreu.  Homer.  Game over, for all practical purposes.

Nationals 0
Dodgers 9

I expected to lose this game because of Penny's 2007 performances. 

[joker]

w/e, realistically this game wasn't winnable.

I do love this lineup though. Belly should start @ 1B everyday, and Young should be our bench player/pinch hitter.

yeah it has really done alot today        

[Air Zimmerman]

yeah it has really done alot today       

i think it has more to do with Penny being on absolute tear this year, then our lineup.

[spidernat]

Simontacchi and Abreu pitched like idiots in that inning but then again with the lack of run support I suppose it doesn't matter anyway.

[wpa2629]

i think it has more to do with Penny being on absolute tear this year, then our lineup.

I would agree with that ... Belliard came up very large against the Cards afterall ... Penny is just dominating .. meh ... tonight's a stinker ... first blowout in a long, long time ... shake it off, come back tomorrow ... that is the beauty of 162 games afterall ...

[spidernat]

i think it has more to do with Penny being on absolute tear this year, then our lineup.

We have struggled against fire throwers and we have struggled against junk pitchers so hopefully we'll hit everyone else in between 

[sportsfan882]

lmao.. Church looks at 2 straight meat fastballs and then chases a ball in the dirt

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Let's at least get some runs here and not have a complete embarrassment.

It sucks to have to wait until Tuesday to get a game and then get this.

[wpa2629]

Simontacchi and Abreu pitched like idiots in that inning but then again with the lack of run support I suppose it doesn't matter anyway.

At first the dodgers hit into a lot of good luck with all the bloopers, etc., then the errors - then the hits - then the BIG hits - way too much to overcome ... particularly with Penny as sharp as he is ... I dunno, I'd almost be inclined to sit the starters ... at least Zim and Lopez and Kearns and come back tomorrow ...

[spidernat]

We're barely working our way through our 3rd time in the lineup and it's the 7th inning..

[spidernat]

At first the dodgers hit into a lot of good luck with all the bloopers, etc., then the errors - then the hits - then the BIG hits - way too much to overcome ... particularly with Penny as sharp as he is ... I dunno, I'd almost be inclined to sit the starters ... at least Zim and Lopez and Kearns and come back tomorrow ...

You know what, you're correct. Early on it seemed as if the Dodgers were catching breaks with some of their cheap hits but JS just had too many stressful innings.

Let's at least get some runs here and not have a complete embarrassment.

It sucks to have to wait until Tuesday to get a game and then get this.

I know, I had been eagerly looking forward to this game.