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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Monday, September 8, 2008

GB&U: Extra Innings, Extra Effort Over the Weekend

RESULT: Nats take two from Braves over weekend; Saturday 8-5 in 10 innings, Sunday 7-4 in 14 innings.

GOOD: Saturday -- Elijah Dukes! 4-for-5, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 2 runs. Ryan Zimmerman. 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Guz! Ho-hum, two more hits. Ryan Langerhans! Pinch-hit homer in the 10th. Wee Willie also hit his 13th homer of the season.

Sunday -- Dukes! 1-for-7 (ouch), but three-run double in top of the 14th. Boy, Oh Boy Alberto Gonzalez. 3-for-4 with a walk, his first home run and 3 RBIs! THE BULLPEN!!! 8 innings of shut out ball, including five in extra innings. Very solid.

BAD: Saturday -- Joel Hanrahan. The dreaded "blown-save-win". 3 hits and 2 walks in one inning allowing two earned runs. He got bailed out by Langerhans, et al.

Sunday -- Collin Balestar. There will be days like these. 11 hits and 2 BBs in just six innings. Pretty amazing he only gave up four earned with that many base runners.

UGLY: Saturday -- Emilio! 0-for-5. Haven't had too many of those lately though, as his average is up to .254 including the O-fer.

Sunday -- Luke Montz. Sorry kid. 0-for-7, five runners stranded. There's an underlying reason he wasn't a prospect entering the season.

NEXT GAME: Off on Monday, the guys can probably use the rest. Tuesday it's up to New York to face the suddenly struggling Mets. Opening Day Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.14) faces some guy named Jonathon Niese (0-0, 15.00 in 3 IP).

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