BOTTOMFEEDER BASEBALL BLOG

Dedicated to the constructive criticism of the Washington Nationals.

ALL ARTICLES AND PICTURES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ARE (C) DAVID W. NICHOLS

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Sunday, August 3, 2008

GB&U: This Ain't So Hard

RESULT: Nats come from behind to beat Reds 10-6.

GOOD: Austin Kearns! 3-for-5 and an RBI. Emilio Bonifacio! 2-for-5, swinging bunt double, triple to straight-away right field. Alberto Gonzalez. 3-for-5, two runs. Ronnie Belliard! Pinch-hit 2-run homer! PETE ORR!!! Pinch-hit two run single.

BAD: Jason Bergmann. Six runs--five earned--in six innings on six hits and three walks. Gave up five runs in the second putting the Nats in a hole tonight, but recovered and kept 'em in it for a while until the bats heated up.

UGLY: Elijah Dukes hit his calf with a swing in the eighth inning and had to be helped off and left the game. It was described as a cramp, and he's day-to-day. The Nats can't afford him to be hurt again. Dukes did not start due to arriving late for the game today, and Manny has very few rules, but the first one is: Be On Time. Hopefully Dukes got the message today and this doesn't linger.

INJURY UPDATE: Guzman entered the game at short, with Gonzalez moving to third and Harris to left field when Dukes hurt himself. Guz did not handle a ball, but at least we know who's closer to returning, him or Zimmerman. Zim was a DNP.

NEXT GAME: Sunday matinee. It's a battle of rookie pitchers, as Colin Balestar (1-3, 5.13) takes on Johnny Cueto (7-10, 5.02).

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