Nats at Mets

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Mock versus Mike Pelfrey in Game 1 at Citi Field. The Nats' speed might come in handy in this gigantic pitchers' park, although Rod Barajas has a good arm.

The Mets are still without Jose Reyes, fortunately. As well as Carlos Beltran.

It all starts with the Nats' starters...

Day games on Saturday and Sunday with Lannan and Hernandez opposing two lefties, Perez and Santana. Will be interesting to see if Riggleman uses Tavares or Morse for those games in RF.

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Nats lose Game 1 8-2. Mock, like every starter before him, was bad. He didn't give up a ton of runs or anything--he just couldn't last four innings thanks in part to five walks allowed. Didn't get the loss as it was tied 2-2 when he left. The guy will never be any good without control.

Batista was better, giving up only a run in 2.2 IP, but took the loss. Bergmann, English, and unfortunately Tyler Walker, who had started well this year, got rocked.

Barajas and Francoeur had two homers a piece for the Mets. The only runs Mock gave up were solo shots to those two, but he had to be bailed out by Batista in the fourth with lots of men on base.

Jose Reyes is back today for the Mets in an early afternoon game. Tavares starts in right and bats eighth, while Guzman starts at second at bats second.

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Ray Knight just ripped Garrett Mock making excuses for not throwing strikes on the pregame show.

Said in 40 years he's never heard anyone mention the wind as a factor in doing that...

LOL.

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Maybe that RF platoon isn't so bad after all...

Tavares with a 2-run triple in the second--Nats lead 2-0.

Hit it deep on an 0-2 fastball he probably had no business swinging at hard like that....but Washington'll take it!!!!

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Tied 2-2 now.

Routine ground ball to Ian Desmond with first and second, none out in the third--he boots it to load up the bases with no out. His third error of the year.

This could be a deal breaker, especially with Francoeur up hitting the ball well.

Lannan with three walks already. Gotta love the Nats' non-power pitchers who can't throw strikes.

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Francoeur hits it two feet on a ball in the dirt for a 2-3 double play. LOL.

Still in this thing.

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4-3 win in game 2 with Tavares driving in all the Nats runs...probably can't count on that every time...

Clippard pitched a scoreless three innings (6,7,8) tying a career high and striking out seven batters. He's been frickin' amazing. Capps let the first man in the ninth on base but pitched out of it for his second save.

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Actually, I should say Willie Harris' catch saved the Nats, more so than Capps pitching out of it. Webgem of the day on ESPN, and there were some good ones.

http://www.ganges.com/Harris_Catch_Save ... _v7269079/

Video was OK for me, although my norton warned me about it as an unsafe site.

In any case, Zimmerman probably won't play Sunday, because of a tweaked hammy. Might be out a couple of games according to Riggleman. That's too bad because Washington needs him against Santana.

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Sick bomb by Josh Willingham in the first, and the Nats lead Santana and the Mets 4-0.

Willingham's fifth career grand slam.

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Wow, Jeff Francoeur just showed his arm and gunned Adam Dunn on a sac fly to right which Ian Desmond hit fairly well.

Granted Adam Dunn ain't Carl Lewis, but it was still impressive.

Nats up 5-0. A win and a 3-3 record would be great, especially going into Phily minus Zimmerman, who might be out till Wednesday.

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5-0 Nats into the eighth with Bruney on, and Hernadez done after seven scoreless innings.

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Still not impressed with Bruney as he gives up two runs before Bergmann finishes the eighth. Capps goes 1-2-3 to close out the 5-2 win.

Man, its nice to get seven innings out of a starter, forget about the shutout...

NATS AT .500!!!! (subject to change)