Thursday, May 05, 2005 |
DC Livan Large, But Dodgers Strain At Nats: Nationals 6, Dodgers 2
The last game I attended at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers played a singularly strange videotape on Dodgervision just before the game started. J.D. Drew announced that "This is LA baseball" in his syrup-thick south Georgia accent; the disconnect apparently affected no one else, but the modern game is full of disconnects.
My! People come and go so quickly here!I should also mention that I want my magic tickets back, but magic tickets can't be sought, they must seek you. They're a gift, and like all gifts, need to be given freely. As of yesterday's game, I'm 1-3 on my own tickets, which is why I'm slightly bitter about it, but there's lots of chances yet.-- Dorothy
OP pitched brilliantly through six, even excuting a remarkable defensive play on Terrero's bunt attempt, but he collapsed in the seventh, surrendering four runs that inning and five overall. His four strikeouts I thought a bit thin, and sure enough, looking at his career K/9, it took a noticeable dip last year, and he's about in line with his 2004. Losing a point off his strikeout rate isn't a good thing, and I expect more of these kinds of struggles throughout the remaining time on his contract.
Probably the biggest news of the day, outside of the announcement that Jose Valentin will miss 8-10 weeks of the season from his knee injury, was the foul ball Izturis took off his foot. Sidelining him after the fifth, Tracy then moved Nakamura to short and newcomer Mike Edwards got to play a few innings at third. Edwards even picked up a hit in his first at bat this year (also his first at-bat in a National League uniform), but got erased when Choi grounded into a fielder's choice.
On the opposite side, Livan Hernandez pitched well, surrendering only two runs and seven mostly scattered hits on 131 pitches in the complete game effort. Offensively, Nick Johnson starred for the Nats, homering, doubling (albeit with two strikeouts). Veteran and Giants castoff Jeffrey Hammonds collected two hits, as did the hitherto light-hitting callup, Endy Chavez.
The Dodger attack needs some help right about now, but that's something I warned about after the Rockies series; stricken with the A's disease, they can walk but they can't hit -- or if they do, they blow big chances (as did Choi with the bases loaded).
One last comment on the Nats before I leave here: consider attendance in Washington, where they're averaging 30,672, total on the year 398,741. That puts them just ahead of Atlanta and Arizona, but just behind Seattle and San Diego. Last year Montreal averaged 9,356 fans per game, about as much as a good AAA club. Does anyone else think their improved record this year might have something to do with actually having a fan base?
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