Seattle (37-35) @ Washington (35-37)

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Doug Fister (3-8, 3.53) vs. Livan Hernandez (4-8, 3.77)
Erik Bedard (4-4, 3.16) vs. John Lannan (4-5, 3.52)
Michael Pineda (7-4, 2.64) vs. Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.86)


Wow. I had no idea that the Nationals were doing so well, and that their starting pitching was so quality this season. Every pitcher in this series has an ERA under 4.00. Craziness.

I will simply be happy with a series win here on the road.

[Rafael122]

Nats fan here, really looking forward to watching that Pineda/Marquis matchup. And yes, Nationals pitching has been solid this year mostly because our defense has been good as well. Livo is in the same position as most of your pitchers, he gets no run support, so that 4-8 record...he should have 5-6 by now.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Oh that Livan and his 50 mph breaking ball.

Even though he doesn't get his due on a national level, Erik Bedard has been this teams BEST PITCHER since his first few struggling starts. He should be the guy the Nats watch out for most.

Washington's best chance at a win is Game 1. I really like our chances in the final two games. A sweep would be terrific.

I don't think I've ever seen the Nationals play, so looking forward to it.

[TTown]

2 runs and 4 hits off Hernandez in the 1st. Ackley's batting 5th today behind Smoak, he drove in an RBI single.

[Jeff23]

Nice one by Fister, up 4-0.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

I hope Eric Wedge dies in a fire tonight. What a **** joke.

I don't care if our bullpen imploded. Why the **** do you take out Doug Fister? WHY!? "League needs some work"? WHY!? Let the starter, who is cruising, and has only thrown 95 pitches, get the **** complete game.

**** Wedge!

And if you go to the bullpen, don't go to the closer in a non-save situation! Ugh! And maybe if Smoak doesn't make the error, we are fine. Whatever. Worst loss in a long time, especially with Texas possibly losing.

[Bulltalk]

WTF! We're up 5-1 at the end of the 8th. I go outside to cook dinner on the porch. I come back in not long after, check things out, and we EFFING LOST!

Poor Fister. This guy just can't win.

[TTown]

Well that was frustrating.

[Sweezo]

I don't fault Wedge for putting the closer in there. League's the best RP in the roster right now and he's been lights out. So what if he's the closer...he's been used in all kinds of situations as a relief pitcher over his career. He'd pitched 14 innings in a row without giving up a run and he's been a groundball machine.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

I sure do get angry after bad losses.

Well; I still don't like taking out Fister, especially when he just had an easy 8th inning and his pitch count is under 100. Keep him out there for the 9th, and if he shows some fatigue by walking a guy or giving up a hard hit, go to the pen.

Really though; Bullpen should be able to hold the lead. And Brandon League actually didn't pitch that bad at all. Bad breaks. Smoak makes the error, then he walks the next guy (had him 0-2 as well. Ugh.), double play ball, RBI hit up the middle (again after having the guy 0-2 and went to 3-2), but then the Morse ball which, if it doesn't hit League, is a routine groundout to Ackley.

Oh well. These type of losses happen a couple times every year. So frustrating though.

[Jeff23]

What a joke that 9th inning was. I thought Wedge should NOT have taken out League. The rangers won again, the astros are terrible.

[TTown]

To take something away from last night, Fister was awesome and Ichiro got another two hits. 18 hits total during this 9-game hit streak, in which he's batting .462. He's up to 84 hits through 73 games; at about 45% of the way through, I'd guess he's on pace to get right around 200. This could be a year like 2002 (208 hits) or 2005 (206 hits) where he nabs 200 dangerously late in September.

[Sweezo]

Hell of a game for Figgins...an early error leads to a run, and he took three called strikes in a row down the middle of the plate to end the game. He. Is. Worthless.

[Bulltalk]

Hell of a game for Figgins...an early error leads to a run, and he took three called strikes in a row down the middle of the plate to end the game. He. Is. Worthless.

I feel you, man.

Bedard is smoking hot, 2.94 ERA now. God damn! We need hitting. As Harry Carey used to say, nobody's ever won a zero to zero game. It's not quite that bad...but come on. We can't come up with 3 runs against the Nats?

Bad stretch this past week or more. Thank God the Rangers are sucking it up too, and that we're only 2 games back. It could be a lot worse.

PS> When I look at Figgens, and think about our hitting woes, it's still irks me that we didn't take Rendon. I know what Hippie said, but...God it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

There is no reason for Figgins to ever play again. Christ. He's had enough opportunities.

1. Ichiro (RF)
2. Ryan (SS)
3. Smoak (1B)
4. Olivo (C)
5. Ackley (2B)
6. Halman (LF)
7. Kennedy (3B)
8. Carp (DH)
9. Gutierrez (CF)

That's actually not a bad lineup, but my God, we would be so much better offensively with just ONE really solid bat to put in the middle of the order. I actually like Ackley in the #5 spot.

Pieguero is also trash. If a right-hander is going, use Carp.

[Jeff23]

That was impressive by Pineda to close out the 4th. This kid is a stud.

[TTown]

We are being no-hit by the Nationals in the 5th.

[Jeff23]

I could watch Pineda pitch 24 straight hours. I cant wait to see this guy in 2-3 years.

[TTown]

Pineda breaks up the no-no in the 6th with a bloop single.

[Jeff23]

I officially have a mancrush on mister pineda.