Who's On First?

[lz477]

Is it still a tie in the east lz?

Right now I'm tied with the Mets for the NL East lead. Atlanta is one game back and Philly is 1.5 out. It's going to definitely come down to the wire.

[lz477]

August 19th

Game 122: Mets (63-58) at Nationals (63-58)

Glavine Leads Mets Over Nationals For Career Win 301

Left: Chris Coste puts the tag on Jose Reyes, trying to stretch his leadoff double into a triple to start the game. Right: David Wright gets up after sliding safely at home on a sacrifice fly by Shawn Green.

New York Mets starter, Tom Glavine gave up one run off six hits over six innings and struck out nine en route to picking up his 11th victory of the season and the 301st of his career. The win also gave New York a one game lead over the Nationals, who came into Friday nights contest in a tie with Washington for first place in the National League East.

New York's victory didn't come without a cost however as starting center fielder Carlos Beltran, who ended the day 2-3, exited in the sixth inning after breaking up a double play attempt at second base. Shawn Green came in to pinch run and finish out the game in place of the shaken up, Beltran. After the game, the Mets announced Beltran would be out for at least a weeks worth of games due to a minor concussion.

All of this came after the Mets took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, thanks to a two-run homerun off the bat of David Wright, his 20th long ball of the year. A solo homerun in the fourth by Scott McClain put Washington on the board, but that would unfortunately be all the runs the Nationals would be able to muster in the game.

Washington did manage to put runners on first and second with just one out in the sixth inning, but back to back strikeouts of Jolbert Cabrera and Augie Ojeda got Glavine out of his final inning unscathed.

The Nationals starting pitcher, Jason Simontacchi, who exited after the seventh inning, allowed two runs off 10 hits and struck out one and would be charged with his eighth loss of the year.

Up 2-1 in the eighth inning, the Mets took complete control of the game offensively beginning with an RBI triple by Wright, followed by a sacrifice fly from Green and culminating with a solo homerun by Moises Alou to give New York a 5-1 lead.

A solo homerun by relief pitcher, Duaner Sanchez in the ninth inning, completed the Mets scoring and embarrassing victory over the Nationals. Though the scoring ended, the fireworks were not over yet, as Jose Reyes came up after Sanchez and proceeded to steal second after singling. Relief pitcher, Marty McLeary obviously frustrated with having given up a homerun to the opposing teams pitcher and witnessing the next hitter get on and steal a base, hit New York's number two hitter, Paul LoDuca with a pitch. The beaning prompted a warning to both benches from the home plate umpire. Back to back fly ball outs ended the Mets inning, but a three-up-three down Nationals half ended the game, allowing Sanchez to pick up a rare three-inning save and give New York the win and a one game lead in the NL East.

After the game, McLeary responded to questions regarding hitting LoDuca with a pitch, saying, "I'm not going to say I meant to hit the guy, but we're not going to let a team run over us like that." "You're up five runs in the last inning and you wanna steal a base?" "I don't think so," the righty reliever added.

Game two of the three game set is scheduled for tomorrow night. Orlando Hernandez (11-6) will make the start for the Mets, while the Nationals will counter with Stephen Randolph (7-6).

Boxscore: NYM 6 - WAS 1

[lz477]

August 20th

Game 123: Mets (64-58 at Nationals (63-59)

Orlando Outstanding In Win Over Nationals

Left: Moises Alou drills a solo homerun to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Right: Jose Reyes came all the way around to score on a triple and an error in the third inning.

Orlando Hernandez out dueled Stephen Randolph Saturday night, pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs off seven hits and striking out seven to lead the New York Mets over the Nationals for a second straight night to pick up his 12th victory of the year and give his team a two-game lead over Washington in the National League East.

Randolph was hit hard, giving up five runs, four earned off nine hits and striking out two, en route to this seventh loss of the year.

New York scored first on a solo homerun by Moises Alou in the second inning. The Nationals came right back to tie it in their half of the frame after Roberto Petagine scored on an RBI single by Chad Mottola.

In the third inning, the Mets took back the lead when Jose Reyes hit a two-out double, then scored after Jolbert Cabrera made a bad relay throw to third base, allowing Reyes to advance and score the go ahead run.

New York solidified it's lead in the fifth inning when Paul LoDuca smashed a two-out homerun, followed by a David Wright single and Carlos Delgado's 25th homerun of the year to give the Mets a 5-1 lead.

Hernandez got into trouble in the Nationals half of the seventh, when Matt Erickson smacked a two-run single to shrink the Mets lead to 5-3. Hernandez then exited after striking out pinch hitter Scott McCLain as New York manager, Willie Randolph went to Duaner Sanchez to get out of the inning. He did so after Erickson was thrown out at the plate by right fielder, Carlos Gomez, while trying to score on a single by Hiram Bocachica.

The Nationals would go quietly from then on, thanks to scoreless eighth and ninth innings pitched by the Mets power relievers Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner, who picked up his 26th save of the year.

Prior to that, New York would add their sixth and final run of the game in the ninth when Shawn Green came in to score on a base hit by LoDuca.

The Mets and Nationals will duel it out in the final game of the series Sunday, with Mike Pelfrey(1- for New York and Washington's Travis Smith (14-6) making the start for their respective teams.

Boxscore: NYM 6 - WAS 3

League News

Diamondbacks, (SP) Randy Johnson out 10 days with minor concussion.

Red Sox, (DH) David Ortiz out 11 days with pulled hamstring.

[lz477]

August 21st

Game 124: Mets (65-58) at Nationals (63-60)

Nationals Salvage Series With Extra Inning Win

Left: David Wright knocks down Hiram Bocachica's hard ground ball up the third base line, but can't make a play. Chris Coste would tie game with a three-run homerun two batters later. Right: The Nationals celebrate at home plate after Matt Erickson's game-winning homerun in the bottom of the 11th.

It has been a season long struggle for New York starting pitcher, Mike Pelfrey, who came into Sunday's contest with a discouraging 1-8 record on the season. In the final game of the three game series against the Nationals Pelfry was a whole different pitcher, giving up just two runs off five hits, while striking out four and walking two over seven innings. Despite the strong start, neither he nor Washington starter, Travis Smith, who lasted six innings, giving up five runs, four earned off nine hits, would be credited with a decision, as the Nationals pulled out a 6-5 win in the 11th inning thanks to a game-winning homerun by Matt Erickson.

The Mets jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, when Paul LoDuca, who finished the day 3-5 at the plate, blasted a solo homerun over the left field wall. In the second inning, Anderson Hernandez reached third on a triple, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Pelfrey. Jose Reyes then added to that total in the very next at bat, when he hit a ground ball deep in the hole between shortstop and third base, instigating a nice play, but a poor throw by Erickson. Reyes was able to advance all the way to third on the play, then came in to score, when Jolbert Cabrera made another bad throw over Danny Ardoin's head. The second straight night, Reyes has come around to score on a ground ball and multiple errors by the Natioanls infield.

In the sixth inning, New York took a 4-0 lead when David Wright smashed his 21st homerun of the year over the left field wall, one of his four hits on the day. The Mets would go up 5-0 when Carlos Gomez scored on a single by Hernandez and it looked at though Pelfrey was on his way to his second victory of the year and a series sweep for New York. The Nationals had other plans however, and finally got on the board in their half of the sixth, when Chris Coste absolutely crushed a Pelfry fastball for a two-run homerun to make it 5-2.

Coste would strike again with his second homerun of the game in the eighth inning, a three-run shot to tie the game at 5 apiece. Coste's second blast came off Aaron Heilman, who had owned the Nationals for the majority of the season.

Reyes reached first on another error by Erickson in the ninth inning. He then stole second, but was thrown out at home by Doug Clark, trying to score on a single by LoDuca, sending the game into extra innings.

In the 11th, a leaping grab against the wall by Clark, robbed Julio Franco of a base hit, but a one out solo homerun by Erickson in the next half-inning off Duaner Sanchez won it for Washington.

Marty McLeary who pitched two scoreless innings picked up the win, his eighth of the season.

"I was just trying to redeem myself after making those two errors," said Erickson after the game about his walk-off blast. "He threw me that hard slider and I just got enough of it to put it out and give us the win, but if it hadn't been for Chris (Coste) we wouldn't have even been in it," the Nationals infielder added.

When asked about his team dropping two games at home to divisional rival New York, Washington Manager Manny Acta said, "I'm just glad we were able to pull today's game out." "It was a hard fought win and I think I owe Chris a steak dinner," Acta jokingly added.

The Nationals will head back west, where they have had little luck this season, to take on the Astros in Houston for four games, before venturing to the thin Rocky Mountain atmosphere to challenge the Rockies in Colorado for a three game weekend series.

Boxscore: NYM 5 - WAS 6

League News

Braves, (SP) Chuck James out for season with torn knee meniscus.

[philliesphan18]

Hopefully September goes better for you than August and we see you in the playoffs.

[lz477]

Week 20 Standings and Stats

Player of the Week

Hiram Bocachica

.370 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 2B, SB for the week.

[lz477]

Hopefully September goes better for you than August and we see you in the playoffs.

Yea, it's been a rough couple of weeks for me. That road trip out west hurt me at the start of the month and I've totally squandered a good opportunity to gain some ground this past week against the Phillies and Mets. Lucky for me no one else in the division is pulling away, making it a red hot race.

[lz477]

August 22nd

Game 125: Nationals (64-60) at Astros (66-58)

Houston Decks Nationals With 8-4 Victory

Left: Mark Loretta rounds the bases after his third inning homerun. Right: Brad Ausmus sixth inning homerun lands just out of Doug Clark's reach over the right field wall.

Chris Coste knocked in Jolbert Cabrera with an RBI double in the third inning, but that would be all the runs Washington would get that inning, despite putting runners on second and third with just one out and the meat of the Nationals order at the plate.

That missed opportunity would come back to haunt Washington as the Astros came right back in their half of the inning, starting with a mammoth 460 foot two-run blast off the bat of Mark Loretta to put Houston ahead 2-1. Two more runners would score later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Lee and a poor throw from center fielder Hiram Bocachica.

Bocachica meanwhile, was robbed of a base hit in the fourth inning by Loretta, when the Astros second baseman made a diving stop up the middle. Earlier in the game, Bocachica was robbed of yet another hit when he bashed a deep drive to the warning track in left centerfield that Lee was able to get back and make the catch on.

Up 4-1 in the fifth inning, Houston missed an opportunity to add to their lead when they loaded the bases but a foul out by Craig Biggio ended the inning and prevented the Astros from scoring.

Washington took advantage of the Astros in-ability to score and shrunk the lead down to two when Danny Ardoin blasted his 23rd homerun of the year in the sixth. Doug Clark followed with a single, but was then picked off stymying any attempt at a rally by the Nationals.

Houston took complete control of the game in their half of the sixth inning when they took an 8-2 lead over the Nationals. Washington manager, Manny Acta made a similar move to the one he made last month, when he took Chad Mottola out of the game in the middle of the inning after the left fielder failed to play a deep drive off the bat of Mike Lamb that ended up banging off the top of the wall, allowing Lamb to reach second base easily. Jim Rushford came on to finish the game in Mottola's place.

Brad Ausmus, who has tortured Nationals pitching this season took advantage of the two runners already on base in front of him and blasted a three-run homerun to give Houston 7-2 lead. Ryan Zimmerman added to that two outs later with his 21st homer of the year. A solo shot put the Astros up 8-2.

Coste got two of those runs back in the seventh inning after Houston reliever, Chad Qualls threw five straight sliders to the Nationals third baseman, before Coste sent a 3-2 fastball way out to left center for his 14th homerun of the year and cut the Astros lead to 8-4. Qualls then struck out the next three Washington batters to get out of the inning. Qualls would come back out the next inning to pitch a scoreless eighth and Dan Wheeler closed out the ninth to secure the win.

Houston's starter, Wandy Rodriguez picked up his third victory of the year, giving up two runs off eight hits, walking four and striking out eight over six innings.

Jared Fernandez, who started for the Nationals and was hit hard was charged with the loss. Fernandez finished the day with four runs allowed off nine hits over five innings. Washington's starter may have been hit hard, but not near as hard as reliever Marty McLeary, who also allowed four runs off five hits over just two innings.

Washington optioned struggling knuckle baller, Fernandez back down to Triple-A Columbus after Monday's game and called back up starting pitcher, R.A. Dickey. Dickey, who was the Nationals opening day starter was sent down to the Clippers early in the season after going 0-5, with a whopping 9.96 ERA. Since being optioned down to Triple-A, Dickey had worked at perfecting his pitches and had been solid as of late on a struggling Clippers squad, going 6-9 with a 4.07 ERA.

The Nationals and Astros will meet up again Tuesday night, with Washington sending Chris Michalak (8-5) to the hill to face Houston's Roy Oswalt (15-5).

Boxscore: WAS 4 - HOU 8

League News

Indians (RP) Joe Borowski out 10 days with pulled groin.

[lz477]

August 23rd

Game 126: Nationals (64-61) at Astros (67-58)

Oswalt Over-Powering Against Nationals

Left: Andy Tracy is punched out looking in the first inning, the first of seven strikeouts in the game for Oswalt. Right: Ryan Zimmerman adds to the Astros lead in the sixth innning with a two-run homerun to left.

Houston starter, Roy Oswalt was dominant against the Nationals Tuesday night, allowing one run off just three hits and striking out seven over seven innings, en route to his 16th victory of the year.

The Astros victory was not without some bad news however, as outfielder, Chris Burke was injured with a strained left forearm after breaking up a double play at second base on a ground ball from Craig Biggio in the second inning. Biggion would eventually get to second, then score on a infield single by Adam Everett for the first run of the game.

In the Nationals half of the fourth inning, Washington managed to get a runner on, but a hard line drive hit right back at Roy Oswalt's head was snared by the pitcher, ending the inning and preventing the Houston starter from leaving the game from an almost certain concussion.

Oswalt took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but a one out single by Hiram Bocachica put an end to the no-no bid. Up 1-0 in their half of the inning, the Astros, Ryan Zimmerman smashed a two-run homerun to add to their lead and provide valuable insurance runs to the cause.

Zimmerman's homerun proved to be in-valuable as Danny Ardoin blasted a solo homerun over 450 feet out to left off Oswalt in the eighth inning, to put the Nationals on the board and prompt Phil Garner to go to Dan Wheeler in the bullpen. Wheeler would end the inning by striking out the side and hold the lead, enabling Brad Lidge to come on in the ninth and pick up his 29th save of the season.

Game three of the four game set between Washington and the Astros will be played tomorrow, with Jason Simontacchi (6- taking the ball for the Nationals, while Houston will counter with Woody Williams (7-9).

Boxscore: WAS 1 - HOU 3

League News

Giants left fielder, Barry Bonds hit a game-winning homerun in the bottom of the 10th inning to give San Francisco a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The homerun was number 755 of his career, tying him with Hank Aaron as the all-time leader.

[sportnut1486]

lets go nationals! hopefully you can pull out the wildcard. good luck!

[lz477]

lets go nationals! hopefully you can pull out the wildcard. good luck!

2 1/2 back of the Mets in the NL East, 4 back of the Wild Card leading 'Stros. I want the division title.

[lz477]

August 24th

Game 127: Nationals (64-62) at Astros (68-58)

Coste Clobbers Two Long Balls In Victory Over Houston

Left: Chris Coste rounds first base after his second homerun of the day. Right: Carlos Lee watches his 21st homerun of the season leave the yard in the seventh inning.

After dropping their first two games in Houston to the Astros, the Nationals finally pieced together enough offense to take game three of the four game set. The majority of that offense accumulated came courtesy of Chris Coste's bat.

Coste, who had bashed five homeruns in his previous three games continued his hot streak at the plate by adding an additional two homeruns to that total Wednesday night. Both long balls came in the third baseman's first two at bats. The first a solo shot coming in the first inning and the second a two-run blast in the third to put Washington up 3-0.

Andy Tracy added a fourth run to the lead in the sixth with his 12th dinger of the year, a line drive just over the right field wall.

All of the Nationals homeruns came off Houston starter, Woody Williams, who finished with four runs allowed off six hits, with two walks and five strikeouts over six innings.

Meanwhile, Washington's Jason Simontacchi, shut out the Astros until the seventh when Carlos Lee smashed a solo homerun to put Houston on the board. Simontacchi exited after the seventh, finishing with one run allowed off five hits over seven innings, while striking out three en route to his seventh victory of the year. Chad Paronto and Lee Gardner pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to hold the lead and give Gardner his major league leading 40th save of the year.

The two teams will wrap up the four game series Thursday, with Stephen Randolph (7-7) making the start for the Nationals, while Jason Jennings (14-7) will be on the hill for the home team Astros.

Boxscore: WAS 4 - HOU 1

[philliesphan18]

Way to get back on track there Iz!

Also, the next thing I want to see under "League News" is "Barry Bonds tears ACL - Out for season."

[lz477]

Way to get back on track there Iz!

Also, the next thing I want to see under "League News" is "Barry Bonds tears ACL - Out for season."

Wouldn't that be nice? He's still at 755 by the way.

[lz477]

August 25th

Game 128: Nationals (65-62) at Astros (68-59)

Nationals Hold On To Defeat 'Stros In Slugfest At Minute Maid

Left: Geremi Gonzalez catches Lance Berkman's toss and steps on first, just beating Chris Coste to the bag in the fourth inning. Right: Coste ties the game at 9-all with his second homerun of the day in the sixth.

Both teams starting pitchers exited early in Thursday night's contest. One because he was hit hard by the opposing team. The other because of a season-ending injury.

The Astros came into Thursday's game with a two-game lead over the Braves in the National League wild-card race, but Houston got some bad news when one of their most consistent starters, Jason Jennings left the game on a 1-1 pitch to Chris Coste, complaining of a sore shoulder. An MRI after the game revealed a torn rotator cuff and the Astros announced Jennings would be out for the rest of the season, putting a strain on Houston's post-season hopes.

Geremi Gonzalez came on to relieve for Jennings in the first inning after his early exit, but Coste gave him a rude introduction to the game when he homered on the first pitch from the reliever, giving Washington a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Roberto Petagine drilled a base hit off the right field wall, but was thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double to end the inning.

In the Astros half of the first, Houston quickly loaded the bases after the first two hitters singled and third baseman, Andy Tracy failed to hold onto a throw from shortstop, Luis Figueroa in an attempt to get the lead runner on a ground ball by Lance Berkman. Carlos Lee then hit a deep drive to right-centerfield, that Doug Clark dropped allowing two runs to score and tie the game. Craig Biggio followed that with a two-run double to give the Astros the lead and Mike Lamb capped the scoring in the frame with a two-run homerun to give Houston a 6-2 lead, all before Nationals starting pitcher, Stephen Randolph was able to make the first out of the inning.

Randolph would get those three outs to end the inning and did his part offensively in the next half to help get his team back in the game. Danny Ardoin and Doug Clark each doubled to start the inning and give Washington another run, all before Randolph added a double of his own a batter later to cut the Astros lead to 6-4. Hiram Bocachica would follow that with a single, putting runners on the corners with just one out and two of the Nationals big hitters in Coste and Tracy due up.

Houston's pitcher, Gonzalez, would bear down and get out of the inning by striking out Coste and inducing a harmless groundball out from Tracy, keeping the Astros lead intact for the time being.

The Nationals would make it a one run game in the third inning when Figueroa hit an RBI single up the middle to score Chad Mottola, who singled earlier in the inning. With runners on the corners again, Stephen Randolph would smash a 3-1 fastball to deep right field, that Biggio would catch on the warning track to end the inning.

In the next half-inning, Houston would get that run back after Brad Ausmus doubled in Lamb. A ground rule double by Gonzalez in the next at bat would give Houston an 8-5 lead.

In the fourth inning, Coste smashed a 3-1 fastball just to the left of the left field foul pole before hitting a hard line drive off Gonzalez on the next pitch. Berkman made a play on the deflection and threw to Gonzalez covering the bag just in time to get Coste running to first.

Carlos Lee added to to the Astros lead with a solo homerun in the fourth inning prompting and exit of Washington starter, Randolph after the last out of the inning. Randolph finished the day with nine runs allowed, five of which were actually earned off nine hits and left the game on the losing end of a 9-5 deficit.

Homeruns from Mottola and Ardoin in the fifth inning made it 9-7. Ardoin's homerun was a mammoth 450 foot blast off the train tracks in left center field. Phil Garner would call on reliever, Chad Qualls in the sixth inning after Gonzalez gave up a leadoff triple to Bocachica. Unfortunately, for the Astros, Coste would give the second straight Houston pitcher a rude welcome to the game, when he knocked a two run homerun over the left field wall on the first pitch he saw from Qualls, tying the game at 9 apiece.

The Nationals would take the lead two batters later after Tracy singled and Mottola tripled near the same place on Tal's Hill in centerfield, that Bocachia did earlier in the inning. Mottola would then score on a ground ball out to the shortstop off the bat of Roberto Petagine to give Washington an 11-9 lead.

Ryan Zimmerman cut that lead to one when he mashed a solo homerun in the Astros half of the inning, but Houston's bat's had run out of gas and Bryan Corey, Chad Paronto and Lee Gardner all teamed up to pitch a scorelss seventh, eighth and ninth inning to hold the lead.

The Nationals would add an insurance run in the seventh, when Scott McClain added his 14th homerun of the year on a curveball out over the plate, the pinch hitter was able to get the bat on and hit just over the short left field wall.

Washington, now a game and a half behind the Mets and a half game back of the Braves in the National League East, will travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies at Coors field for three games starting Friday.

Boxscore: WAS 12 - HOU 10

[philliesphan18]

Nice victory Iz! (Although "Onto" in the headline really should be two words)

[lz477]

Nice victory Iz! (Although "Onto" in the headline really should be two words)

Sure 'nough. Thanks for the catch.

[philliesphan18]

No problemo. -- Keep up the amazing job on this dynasty!

[lz477]

August 26th

Game 129: Nationals (66-62) at Rockies (61-67)

Rockies Win, But Lose Star Outfielder

Left: Chris Coste makes a diving stop and throw to first in time to beat Todd Helton by a step at first base. Right: Matt Holliday's base hit up the middle ties the game a 1-1 in the eighth.

Colorado punched out 10 hits Friday night against the Nationals, but only managed to score two runs. That would prove to be just enough however to come away with the 2-1 victory.

Both teams starting pitchers had strong starts. Washington's Travis Smith pitched seven shutout innings, allowing seven hits and striking out five. The Rockies, Taylor Buchholz also lasted seven innings, giving up one run off four hits and striking out three. Neither pitcher would factor in the decision however as the Nationals held the lead they took on a Adam Hyzdu single in the fifth inning all the way to the eighth, when Matt Holliday singled in Jamey Carroll to tie the game at 1-1.

In the very next at bat, Brad Hawpe hit a ground ball to shortstop, that Matt Erickson fielded and threw to second base to get Matt Holliday on the force play, but Jolbert Cabrera couldn't get a throw off to first to complete the double play as Holliday made a hard slide into the bag breaking up the potential play and allowing Willy Tavers who pinch ran for Todd Helton after he singled earlier in the inning, to score. Unfortunately, Holliday was slow getting up at mid-field and didn't return for the ninth inning.

Brian Fuentes took the hill for Colorado in the ninth and retired the first three hitters he faced to pick up his 27th save and secure the Rockies victory.

After the game, the Rockies announced that Holliday had a concussion and would likely miss the rest of the season with the injury, putting a damper on Colorado's off-season hopes at a wild card birth.

"That's tough losing one of your team leaders", said Rockies manger Clint Hurdle after the game. "This teams got a lot of heart and hopefully we can make a push to the playoffs where Matt might be able to rejoin us there," Hurdle added.

Washington and Colorado will meet up for game two at Coors Field tomorrow, with R.A. Dickey (0-5) scheduled to make his first start with the Nationals since he was optioned down Triple-A Columbus earlier in the year. The Rockies will send Byung-Hyun Kim (0-2) to the hill.

Boxscore: WAS 1 - COL 2

[MrDudleyDoWright]

12-10

Nice win lz

[lz477]

August 27th

Game 130: Nationals (66-63) at Rockies (62-67)

Washington Wallops Rockies

Left: Jolbert Cabrera puts Washington on top in the first with a hit and run single to score Hiram Bocachica. Right: R.A. Dickey pitched six strong innings to pick up his first win of the year.

The Nationals jumped out to an early lead in the fist inning of Saturday's game, when Hiram Bocachica scored from first on a hit and run single by Jolbert Cabrera. Chris Coste followed that with a two-run homerun to put Washington up 3-0 all before Colorado spot starter, Byung-Hyun Kim was able to record an out. The Nationals would put one more run on the board later in the inning when Danny Ardoin rapped an RBI double into the right centerfield gap to score Chad Mottola who had singled in the previous at bat.

Washington would eventually pound out 15 hits in their 8-3 pounding of the Rockies. Eight of those hits and five of those runs coming at the expense of Kim, who finished with four innings of work and was charged with his third loss of the year.

Doug Clark blasted a homerun into the right field upper deck in the fourth to cap the scoring off Kim, who did come back out in the fifth inning, but Colorado manager, Clint Hurdle quickly went to the pen and Rodrigo Lopez, after Kim loaded the bases with no outs. Lopez was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run after he struck out two and allowed a harmless infield fly out.

Meanwhile, the Nationals starter, R.A. Dickey was solid over six innings of work, allowing two runs off five hits, while walking one and striking out five, en route to his first victory of the year.

"It feels good to get that monkey off your back," Dickey commented about his win. "It was a long time coming and there were a lot of struggles and even a move down a level before I finally got it, but I worked hard in Columbus to get back here and hopefully they'll be plenty more W's to come." "I just want to do whatever I can to help this team get into the playoff's," Dickey added.

Josh Fogg came out to pitch the sixth inning for the Rockies and ended up allowing two runs off a double by Chris Coste, after the Nationals third baseman fouled off several pitches before ripping the base hit off the right field wall. The runs were RBI's three and four of the game for Coste, half of the total number of runs Washington would collect as a team, Saturday.

Down 7-0 in their half of the sixth, the Rockies finally were able to get on the board when Todd Helton drilled his 26th homerun of the season over the left field wall. Brad Hawpe followed two batters later with his 18th long ball of the season.

Colorado's John Mabry added a third run to the Rockies comeback cause in the eighth inning with a homerun of his own, but that would be all the runs Washington's bullpen would allow. A leadoff homerun by Chad Mottola in the ninth would capped the Nationals scoring in their 8-3 victory over the Rockies.

Washington and Colorado will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow. Chris Michalak (8-6) and Aaron Cook (10- will each make the start for their respective teams.

Boxscore: WAS 8 - COL 3

League News

Red Sox, (RP) Jonathan Papelbon out 15 days with pulled hamstring.

Cardinals, (SS) Tyler Greene out 14 days with inflamed left shoulder.

[lz477]

August 28th

Game 131: Nationals (67-63) at Rockies (62-68)

Aaron Cook "Serves Up" Strong Start To "Take-Out" Nationals

Left: Aaron Cook pitched the Rockies to a 5-4 victory and series win. Right: Scott McClain cut Colorado's lead to one with a two-run homerun in the eighth.

Colorado starter, Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings, Sunday afternoon, allowing just two runs, one allowed off three hits while walking five and striking out four en route to his 11th victory of the season.

The Nationals starting pitcher, Chris Michalak meanwhile, held the Rockies scoreless the first three innings, before allowing Colorado to put four runs on the board in the fourth. Clint Barmes started the scoring with a two-run triple after Ben Broussard doubled and Brad Hawpe singled. Cory Sullivan followed with a line drive homerun over the right field wall to put the Rockies up 4-0. Michalak would finish with five runs off nine hits and one strikeout over five innings.

Andy Tracy picked up the Nationals first hit off the game off Cook, when he singled off the right field wall in the fifth inning. Chad Mottola would follow by reaching first base on a walk, but despite getting the first two runners on base with no one out, Washington would not be able to score after Danny Ardoin flew out and Jolbert Cabrera hit into an inning-ending double play.

Todd Helton would add to the Rockies lead with an RBI double in Colorado's half of the fifth to put them up a 5-0.

Trent Durrington managed to get to third base after reaching on a walk to lead off the sixth inning, but a rocket line drive by George Lombard was snagged by Cook to end the inning and keep the shut-out in tact.

Washington did finally manage to get a run across in the seventh inning, when Andy Tracy walked to leadoff the inning, then scored on a single by Cabrera. The Nationals would eventually load the bases and then leave them jammed to end the inning with just one run scored.

In the eighth inning, Hiram Boacachica led off with high chopper that Cook fielded on the third base side of the mound, then threw wide of first base allowing Bocachica to reach second on the play. Southpaw reliever, Fabio Castro then came on to face lefty-hitting George Lombard, who laid down a perfect bunt single, advancing Bocachica to third. Chris Coste then hit a deep fly ball to the warning track off Shawn Camp, allowing Bocachica to score on the sacrifice fly-ball. Scott McClain then blasted a two-run homerun to shrink the Rockies lead to one at 5-4.

In the ninth inning, Durrington reached first on an error, then was thrown out trying to steal second. After retiring the first two hitters in the inning, Colorado closer, Brian Fuentes exited the game after complaining off a sore elbow during Luis Figueroa's at bat. The Rockies announced after the game that Fuentes would be out 15 days with elbow tendonitis.

Ubaldo Jimenez came on to relieve and induced a fly ball out to Figueroa to end the game and pick up his second save of the year.

The Nationals will head further west to take on the Dodgers in Los Angeles for three games starting Monday, before heading back home to take on the Giants in D.C..

Boxscore: WAS 4 - COL 5

[lz477]

Week 21 Standings and Stats

Player of the Week

Chris Coste

.333 AVG, 6 HR's, 15 RBI for the week.

[DannyMac910]

how do you get that shadow in the backround?

[lz477]

how do you get that shadow in the backround?

If you're using Photoshop, make your canvas a little larger than your picture(s), then color the background the same grey color as the message board with the paintbucket tool. I think I just took a screen shot of the message board, then once I imported the picture into photoshop, used the eyedropper tool to select the color of the background. After you do that, add a drop shadow to your photo.