Nationals @ Orioles, Game 3

[2k6nats]

June 14, 2007 - Camden Yards, 7:05

Jeremy Guthrie 3-1, 2.70 ERA	Jason Simontacchi 3-4, 5.44 ERA
Brian Roberts (2B) Melvin Mora (3B) Nick Markakis (RF) Miguel Tejada (SS) Aubrey Huff (DH) Jay Payton (CF) Jay Gibbons (LF) Kevin Millar (1B) Paul Bako (C)	Cristian Guzman (SS) Felipe Lopez (2B) Ryan Zimmerman (3B) Dmitri Young (DH) Austin Kearns (RF) Brian Schneider (C) Ronnie Belliard (2B) Robert Fick (1B) Ryan Langerhans (CF)

_______________________________________ _________

Simontacchi, who missed the first month of the season with a groin injury, looks to win his second straight game against an American League foe. He rebounded to win for the first time in three starts Friday in Minnesota, allowing six hits, striking out two and walking one. He consistently kept his fastball down and away to get ahead of Minnesota hitters, and his curveball was as sharp as it has been all year.

Guthrie's breakout season gained even more momentum in his most recent start, when he allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over eight innings against Colorado. Guthrie has thrown at least seven innings in six straight starts and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any appearance this season. In addition to striking out six batters in his last outing, Guthrie displayed outstanding stamina, as his fastball hit 96 mph in the eighth inning after 112 pitches.

LINEUPS UPDATED

[kimnat]

OKAY!!! LET'S GET THAT SWEEP BOYS!!

[2k6nats]

If we get the sweep, the Nats and O's will have the same record.  How SWEET would that be?

[The Chief]

More importantly, we would win the '07 Beltway series rather than merely tying it.

[2k6nats]

More importantly, we would win the '07 Beltway series rather than merely tying it.

Didn't we tie it last year?

[The Chief]

Didn't we tie it last year?

Yep.  We went 2-1 at home and 1-2 at Camden.  This year has been exactly the opposite so far.

[ronnynat]

Church is starting, right?

[The Chief]

Church is starting, right?

Apparently not.  Fick-Langerhans-Kearns in the outfield.

[ronnynat]

Apparently not.  Fick-Langerhans-Kearns in the outfield.

Well that's just weird. Well, at least Zimmerman's at third <--get used to me saying this

[fanofrickshort]

Rhymes with sleep and little bo peep; it's not a sheep, it's a...

...clean up, boys! 

[PC]

Guzman needs a couple of his tonight.

[kimnat]

Well that first half inning sucked!  What was up w/ Guz and the ump.. Guz doesn't mouth of much and the ump seemed to be looking for a fight.

[Dave B]

ray night is full of crap regarding the grass

[Dave B]

church has tightness in the quad

[The Chief]

ray night is full of **** regarding the grass

What did he say about the grass?

[nyexpofan]

church has tightness in the quad

did they say how many days he has to rest it?

[nyexpofan]

they gave dmitri a hit on that - 9 game hitting streak - and our hottest hitter is up - go Kearns!

[nyexpofan]

ach! old kearns there - at least the wp prevented the DP

[Dave B]

What did he say about the grass?

he was talking about how the different pattern of the mow has a large effect on a bunt. i beg to differ.  like it was a putting green or something

[The Chief]

he was talking about how the different pattern of the mow has a large effect on a bunt. i beg to differ.  like it was a putting green or something

Guess you don't subscribe to chaos theory then

[The Chief]

I would be very interested to see how our "runs scored" this year stacks up to our "first time through the lineup" stats on a game-by-game basis.

[kimnat]

wow.  lots of chatter here tonight....

[nyexpofan]

gotta love the DP

[fanofrickshort]

No kidding. lol.

[fanofrickshort]

Well, at least Guz worked the count that time. Good sign.