Nats drop 5th in a row
Let’s make it five straight for the offensive struggling Washington Nationals.
Nats fell 3-2 last night to the St. Louis Cardinals, despite a stronger performance from starter John Lannan. Lannan gave the Nationals 6 quality innings, scattering 5 hits and allowing 2 runs. Tyler Clippard (7-3), who started the season out on fire, has dropped his 2nd straight decision. In his last 10 games, Clip has a 4-3 record, but has given up 6 runs and 1 hits in 7.2 innings. Prior to that, Clip carried an ERA of 0.45.
Christina Guzman added 3 hits for the struggling Nationals offense going 3 for 5. Guzman is 18 for 40, .40, over his last 12 games. Ian Desmond was 2 for 4 with a run drive in. Will Nieves hit his first home run of the year. Desmond has 7 hits in his last 12 at bats and has raised his average to .279.
The Nationals 5 game losing streak drops then to .500 at 20-20. Nats send Livan Hernandez to the mound tonight to face the Mets.
Nats System:
Syracuse Chiefs (AAA)were postponed again for rain. Stephen Strasburg continues the wait for his third AAA start. Harrisburg Senators (AA)won 5-4. Erik Arnesen (2-2) pitched 7 innings allowing 6 hits and 3 runs with 5 strikeouts to earn the win. Danny Espinosa was 1-2 with a triple and RBI. Chris Marrero was 2 for 4 and is struggling a bit at .231. Mike Martinez was also 2-3 with a double, run, and RBI. Potomac Nationals (A)Got swept in a double header by Frederick. In Game 1, Robinson Fabian tool the loss, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. The Nats only managed 2 hits the whole game, both coming from Boomer Whiting. They dropped Game 2 by a score of 3-2. 2009 draftee Evan Bronson pitched 5.2 shut out innings, striking out 6, but Marty Beno (2-2) could not hold the lead out of the bullpen, getting shelled for all 3 runs in just .1 inning. Michael Burgess was 1-3 and hit his 4th homer. He is hitting .297. Derek Norris was 1-1 with a double and an RBI. He is hitting .286 in his 10 game since returning from injury in the off-season. Hagerstown Suns (A)were opposite Potomac, sweeping a double header last night. In Game 1, Mitchell Clegg (4-0) pitched 5 innings allowing 7 hits and 1 run to stay perfect on the season. Dean Weaver picked up his 7thsave pitching 2 scoreless innings. Suns only managed 2 hits. Jose Leon and Steve Souza drove in 2 runs each. In Game 2, the Suns won 1-0 behind great pitching from Paul Applebee, Kyle Morrisonn, and Patrick Arnold (2-0). Applebee threw 3.2 scoreless innings. Morrisonn threw 2 scoreless innings and struck out 5. Again, the Suns struggled at the plate, only managing 3 hits, but walked away with the win on a 7thinning RBI single by Destin Hood.
