Baseball's finally back in Washington!

[jaykno14]

Houston (3-2) vs. Washington (5-1)

GAME 1: See Above Article.

GAME 2: Game two: Well after a big win in game one we have a day off and head into game two of the series. We send out Tomo Ohka and they send out south paw Andy Pettite in hopes of tying the series at 1. Last time out, Ohka pitched six innings and gave up two runs, while Pettite pitched six innings and gave up four runs, but only two were earned. In the top of the first, Ohka gets them to go down 1-2-3. In our half of the inning Jose Guillen gets a two out base hit and is driven in by Vinny Castilla's second home run of the year and ninth run batted in. Nick Johnson then came up and singled to right field. Jose Vidro then came up and took a 1-1 fastball to left field that just cleared the wall and put us up 4-0! Finally Termmell Sledge grounds out but not after four runs are scored, all with two outs and we lead by that many. Tomo Ohka again retires the Astros 1-2-3 and we go into the bottom of the second inning. Brad Wilkerson is able to take a two out pitch to center field that hits off the top of the fence but is stranded as Cristian Guzman lines out to first base. After another 1-2-3 inning from the arm of Ohka, out fielder Jose Guillen leads off with a single to the gap and he was stranded as three straight outs are recorded, the last one being a nice catch out in center field on Vidro. The perfect game, no hit, and shut out bid are all ruined as Craig Biggio leads off the fourth inning with a homer to left field that curled right around the foul pole. After that Ohka settled down to retire the rest of the side. Catcher Brian Schneider is able to get it going again as he hits a one out double to the right field corner that puts a man in scoring position. Unfortunately, Tomo Ohka was next up and struck out looking and that was followed up by Wilkerson who popped up to the catcher. After that there was no action until the top of the seventh inning when Ohka led off the inning by hitting Adam Everett and that was followed up by Jeff Bagwell hitting a single to right which advanced Everett to third base. Next up is Morgan Ensburg and the second pitch is way over his head and it gets to the backstop as Everett scores and Bagwell moves to second. Just when we thought we had a play on a groundball to third base from Ensburg, Vinny Castilla bobbles the ball and allows Bagwell to advance to third and Ensburg gets to first. Finally something goes right as Mike Lamb grounds it up the middle and we turn the 6-4-3 double play, although the run scored. Jason Lane hit a single after the double play and the Astros weren't quiting yet. Finally Luke Scott grounds into a fielders choice to end the inning. In the bottom of the seventh I pinched hit for Ohka with J.J. Davis who is 3-3 in PH situations so far this year. He continues to rip the ball as he hits it into the left field corner for a standup double with only one out. That is followed by Brad Wilkerson who grounds out to short stop and fails to even advance the runner. Cristian Guzman gets robbed of a single and the inning is over and the score remains 4-3. In the top of the eighth I bring in Joe Horgan who is 2-0 on the year in two games. The inning is led off with a single from Humberto Quintero. Eric Bruntlett then pinch hits and fails in two attempts to bunt the guy to second base. He then singles a 2-2 fastball to right field to advance Quintero to second base with the top of the order coming up. At that I decide to bring in Antonio Osuna because we can't afford to give up the lead. Osuna is able to get Biggio swinging on a changeup and there is one down. He then gets Adam Everett to pop out to the second baseman for two down. Jeff Bagwell is unable to come up in the clutch and flies out to end the scoring threat against the Nationals. Chad Qualls comes in for the Astros to pitch. Jose Guillen leads off with a single and that is followed up by Vinny Castilla who walks. Nick Johnson is next up and strikes out. Jose Vidro is up next and grounds it to the pitcher. He is only able to get one so the inning stays alive as guys are on first and third with two outs. Termmell Sledge battles for 10 pitches but is unable to drive in the two baserunners as he grounds out to first. In coming for another save is Chad Cordero. This is his sixth game and he has given up two hits, all outings were one inning affairs. 1-2-3 and this game is over as we go to 7-1 and remain in first place.

GAME 3: So the Nationals are again going for a sweep and they have already won their third straight series. Livan Hernandez will be going up against Brandon Backe. Backe got a no decision in his first start of the year giving up four runs in seven innings of work. Hernandez will already be working on his third game of the year and hasn't done so hot to begin with. He has given up nine earned runs in eleven and two thirds innings of work. I decided to give J.J. Davis the spot in left today in place of Brad Wilkerson since he is four for four in all pinch hit situations so far this year. When the game finally did start, the first inning went uneventful for both teams. In the top of the second the inning was led off by a walk and then Biggio hit a double to left field. Luckily for us, Luke Scott only got to third. We brought the infield in because of the weak hitter in Quintero. He grounded weakily to second and both runners could not advance on the out. So two down and up next is the pitcher. He fouled out and we got out of the inning. In the next half innning Vinny Castilla led off with a walk and that was followed up by the hot hitting Jose Guillen who hit a single. I decide to pull a rabbit out of my hat and bunt with the .188 hitting Nick Johnson. Damn. He bunts it to third, too hard and the lead runner is forced out. Next up is Brian Schneider. He was able to hit a three run homer that gave us the lead and washing away the feeling of that lost bunt for Johnson. The rest of the inning went uneventful and we went into the third inning leading 3-0. Adam Everett led off the next inning with a double down the line. Ugh. That was followed up by Jason Lane's second home run of the year to bring the Astros back within one of the lead at 3-2. Luckily the rest of the inning went uneventful. The next half inning was led off by J.J. Davis who doubled to left center. That was followed up by Ryan Church taking a walk to put guys on first and second for arguably our hottest hitter, Jose Vidro. F*CK! Grounded to second. Luckily they only got one so there are guys on first and third with one out. Vinny Castilla is the next batter and singled in Davis from third and Vidro advanced to second. Two batters later, the slumping Nick Johnson came up. Here's the call: Johson has really struggled as of late. Earlier today he tried bunting over two runners only to get the lead guy out. Backe looks on as Johnson waits. Heres the 3-1 pitch...Big fly to right field. It has a chance and it is...GONE! The Nationals lead 7-2 and Johnson just may have broken out of that slump! The next guy was recorded for the last out, but we were able to get four runs to put the score at 7-2. The Nationals were able to get a run back the next inning on three straight singles, the last coming from the catcher Quintero. Chris Burke pinched hit for Brandon Backe and strikes out looking foolish for the first out. That was followed by an RBI single from Jason Lane with two outs two pull the Astros within three at 7-4. Next up Jeff Bagwell. Gone to right field. F*CK! F*CK! F*UCK! F*UCK! Tie game at 7. The next batter is Morgan Ensburg who doubles to the left field corner, and that is when I decide to bring on someone from the bullpen. I decided to bring in John Patterson who was suppose to get the start anyway today. Another freekin RBI single and the Astros took the lead! Luke Scott is next up and he too singles to advance the guy to third base! Yes, that's right, another single this time by Craig Biggio to score the guy from third and it advances Scott to second. Just when I thought we were out of the inning with an 0-2 pitch to Humberto Quintero, Patterson hits him to load the bases. Chris Burke, who pinched hit for Backe earlier in the inning, finally flies out to center to end the inning. But, not after the Astros take the 9-7 lead. Russ Springer is the next pitcher for the Astros. He sends us down 1-2-3. After a lead off single from Adam Everett, Jason Lane hits an RBI double to drive him in and make the score 10-7. Jeff Bagwell singled to left, but a lucky break for us, Lane is thrown out at home. The rest of the inning surprisingly went along smoothly and it was 10-7 after 4 1/2 innings. After a one out single and walk from Biggio and Quintero, Eric Bruntlett is up to pinch hit. He flew out for the second out. Next up was Everett who grounded easily to Guzman. Except Guzman made a bad throw in the dirt and they couldn't get him out so the bases are loaded. Jason Lane is next up. Oh God. Thank you lord he grounded out to short and the easy throw was made and this inning was over. The Astros decided to bring in John Franco to pitch the sixth. After Cristian Guzman was hit by a pitch I decide to pinch hit for John Patterson with Termell Sledge. He flew out to end the inning. Our new pitcher is Luis Ayala. Finally a 1-2-3 inning. After three guys get on with two outs Nick Johson is able to single up the middle for two RBIs and the we were back in it at 10-9. We weren't able to get the lead after that as Brian Schneider grounded out. After another 1-2-3 inning we pinched hit for Luis Ayala in the bottom of the eighth with Brad Wilkerson. Wilkerson wasn't able to get the bat on the ball and struck out swinging for the second out. That was followed up with a walk from J.J. Davis and he was followed by Ryan Church who singled Davis over to third. Unfortunately, Jose Vidro couldn't get a hit and grounded out. At pitcher we brought in Joe Horgan. He was able to work through the inning 1-2-3 and we went into the bottom of the ninth down by one run. The innning was led off by Vinny Castilla who received his fourth walk. Next up was Jose Guillen and here's the call: Well the Astros walk the leadoff man and here comes Jose Guillen. Guillen is in a hole at 1-2 and this could be big. Here's the pitch. He puts a charge in that one down the left field line! It's gone if it's fair and it is...FOUL! Ohh so close. UGH. I about jumped out of my chair there. Two pitches later Guillen grounded out, luckily the only out was at second and there was only one down. Nick Johnson was next up and grounded again to third this time he again went around the horn and again they were only able to get one out. So with two outs that brought up Brian Schneider. Striiike three on a curveball and we are only able to take two out of three in a very eventful game.

Series Scores

Game one : Houston 2, Washington 4
Game two : Houston 3, Washington 4
Game three : Houston 10, Washington 9

Player of Series: SP Esteban Loaiza/Tomo Ohka: 14 innings pitched, 7 hits, 5 runs, 0 walks, 15 strike outs, 3.21 earned run average.

[canadiancreed]

Bush looks like an escaped retirement home inmate

[jaykno14]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Bush looks like an escaped retirement home inmate

[jaykno14]

Sorry for the slowness of updates I am just really busy with school winding down. I may be able to get a few series in within the next three weeks, but then after that I am hoping that this dynasty really takes off. Hang in there!

[jaykno14]

i have decided to take a new format and create something that is more unique and not so much like ud's. i am going to just post game by game, but i will still include the series reports at the end and i may even add a few things to that. hope this format works out for my readers...

Florida (5-4) vs. Washington (7-2)

There are times when it seems that nothing can go wrong. It's when pretty much everything goes how you want it. Of course there are the times when it looks like something could go wrong again and then the unthinkable happens and it continues. Well, nine games into the season that is how the 2005 Washington Nationals are feeling. We won our first series at home. 35,000 plus fans are coming to the park every game. No one has gotten injured. Nothing can go wrong right? Well we'll just have to wait and see.

Florida will send out the hot Josh Beckett who is 2-0 with a 0.69 earned run average. He has pitched 13 innings and only has given up one run. Opposing him will be Zach Day. Day isn't doing so bad either with a 1-0 record and a 2.35 earned run average. Even though it is only a one game sample. We shall see who can win the battle between these two pitchers. Hoping that I didn't jinx the team with the statements above, I watch the first play (a grounder to short) being dropped and the leadoff hitter, Juan Pierre, get on base. SH*T! Luis Castillo comes up next and grounds it to short. I pray for a double play, but it is only half answered as we get one of the two baserunners (Pierre). On the very next pitch Castillo attempts to steal and Schneider guns out his fifth baserunner (out of nine attempts) and there are two down. The inning isn't over yet as Mike Lowell lines it to left center for the two out single and that brings up youngster Miguel Cabrera. Day is able to get him to strike out to end the inning. In the top of the second after Jeff Conine laced a single to the left field gap, Alex Gonzalez doubled to left field to advance the runner to third. Loduca is next up and grounds out to short stop for the second out but the guy on third scores and it is 1-0 Florida. Our offense is finally able to get a hit when Jose Guillen doubled to the left field corner and that was followed by Nick Johnson's walk. We aren't able to get anything going as the next three guys go down in order to end the inning. All is silent until the top of the fourth when Carlos Delgado hits a one out solo shot to right field to put up the bad guys 2-0. Beckett was just dealing with eight k's in five innings until the bottom of the sixth when we finally got a double from Jose Vidro to lead off the inning. We were able to get Vidro over to third when Vinny Castilla grounded out to second and there was one down. Jose Guillen singled to drive in Vidro from third and that made the score 2-1. That brought up Nick Johnson who ****ing grounded to short into a double play to end the inning. F*CK! In the bottom of the seventh I decided to pinch hit for Day, who pitched a quality game, with J.J. Davis, who is hitting .625. Beckett recorded his ninth strikeout with Davis and that ended the inning. I brought in Joey Eischen to work the rest of the game most likely. They pinched hit with Josh Willingham in the top of the eighth and that was it for Beckett who had ANOTHER great start. Willingham struck out swinging. The Marlins brought in setup man Antonio Alfonseca to try and retire us to give the ball to Guillermo Mota. Brad Wilkerson was the leadoff guy and singled up the middle. With Ryan Church I decide to bunt to get Wilk into scoring position. F*CK! Church can't even get a bunt down and strikes out. Guillermo Mota entered the game after that. Since I couldn't get him to second on a bunt, I try something more risky in a steal with Wilkerson. He was able to steal second base! The batter, Vidro, singled to right and I decided to send Wilkerson. Damn. Out at home. Vidro was able to get to second but there are two outs. It all rested on Castilla's shoulders for this inning and he grounded out and we headed into the ninth. In the top of the ninth, to make it even worse, Jeff Conine hit a two run home run to make the score 4-1. Eischen gets the hook and I bring in Antonio Osuna to pitch to Alex Gonzalez. Strike three. After two runs in the ninth, the work was even harder for us to come back in the bottom of the ninth. The inning began with a single from Jose Guillen, his third hit of the game. The next batter, Nick Johnson, struck out on a check swing for the first out. Instead of using Mota to close out the game, the Marlins brought in Jim Mecir to get the final two outs. He was able to get Brian Schneider to strike out, but then gave up an infield single to Cristian Guzman. Termell Sledge is the pinch hitter for Osuna. Ground out to third and the game is in the books. So we lose 4-1 and fall to 7-3 while Florida goes to 6-4 and they are only a game behind us. Josh Beckett goes to 3-0 and Day goes to 1-1.

w: josh beckett (3-0)
l: zach day (1-1)
s: matt perisho (1)

highlights: jose vidro 4-4 with a double and one run; jose guillen 3-4 with a double and one rbi

[jaykno14]

florida (6-4) vs. washington (7-3)

Well as you see (from the game before) I jinxed the team by saying that nothing could go wrong for us. I knew it was "dangerous" to say what I said, but I decided I would take a shot and say it anyway. Damnit. Anyway, today I will not say anything other than we are only one game ahead of New York and Florida. Yikes a lot on the line today.

We have sent out Esteban Loaiza who has a complete game and a 1.69 earned run average already this year. He is also 2-0. They send out A.J. Burnett who hasn't done as well and has a 1-1 record with a 4.91 earned run average. In his first game he pitched 6 innings and only gave up one run with eight strike outs but last time out he pitched five innings and gave up five earned runs. Here's to hoping that the second A.J. Burnett comes and not the first one. Speedy Juan Pierre led off the game with a double to the center/right field gap and puts Loaiza in a hole quickly. Luis Castillo walked and that brought up Mike Lowell who singled to left and scored Pierre and then Lowell advanced to second on the throw home. Ryan Church stole a double from Miguel Cabrera on a diving catch and because they were running on the hit, the runners weren't able to advance. So with one down and guys on second and third that brings up Carlos Delgado. Delgado provides another much needed punch in the Marlins lineup and with his addition, they are able to have a premier 3-4-5 punch. Now back to the game. Another great catch by Church spoils another double but this time the runners are more smart and tag up to score a run while Lowell stayed at second. Jeff Conine was able to single with two outs to score Lowell to make the score 3-0. Next Alex Gonzalez doubled to left center to bring in Conine who had stole second base to make the score 4-0. Finally Paul LoDuca grounded out to second base. In the bottom of the first inning Ryan Church singled with one out four our first hit. After that Vidro and Castilla both struck out swinging. Juan Pierre hit a one out single in the top of the second and then stole second and scored on Mike Lowells two out single to make the score 5-0. Damnit! With one out in the bottom of the second both Nick Johnson and Brian Schneider hit singles to put men on first and second. That brought up Cristian Guzman singled on a 2-0 pitch to left but no runs were able to score so the bases are loaded for the pitcher. Here comes a big decision. Do I let the pitcher hit and risk him getting the second out or do I pinch hit for him and go for the runs.........I decide to let him hit and pray that he allows Wilkerson to come up with hopefully less than two outs but for sure with at the most two. I decide to let him swing away because of his rating of two for sacrifice bunts I can't trust him to make contact with the ball for a squeeze play. THANK YOU. He gave me a scare as he grounded to short but Gonzalez bobbled the ball and wasn't able to get any out so the bases remained loaded and it was 5-1. Brad Wilkerson struck out swinging for the second out and that brought up Ryan Church. On the first pitch he flied out deep to right and that ended the inning. 5-1. After a one out walk to Carlos Delgado f*cking Alex Gonzalez doubled to the left field corner to make the score 6-1. To make it even worse A.J. Burnett doubled with TWO outs to score Gonzalez. Finally we got the last out from Juan Pierre as he grounded out. 7-1. Jose Vidro singled to begin the bottom of the third and then advanced to third on a steal and then an overthrow. He was driven in by Jose Guillen on a single to right field with one out. Nick Johnson was next up and doubled, I mean double played to end the inning. In the top of the fourth I brought in T.J. Tucker and placed first baseman Tony Blanco in the pitcher's spot. First batter, Luis Castillo, solo home run. Alex Gonzalez was able to drive in Miguel Cabrera and advance Conine to third. Surprisingly they put in Brian Moehler to relieve A.J. Burnett, but he was able to escape a hit and get through the inning with no damage. In the bottom of the fifth Ryan Church hit a solo homer to put the lead at 9-3. The top of the sixth was led off with two straight singles from Mike Lowell and Miguel Cabrera and then Delgado hit a three run homer to right field to make the score 12-3. After that Tucker was able to get the rest 1-2-3. In the bottom of the sixth we pinched hit for Tucker with J.J. Davis and he got on on an error. Moehler was able to mow down the next three guys to end the inning. As Jose Vidro struck out to end the game, I wake up from my deep three inning sleep and notice that the score is still 12-3. Ugh. What a long game. At least we can say no one got injured but that's about all that came out of this game and we are tied with Florida at least and maybe New York for first place.

w: brian moehler (1-1)
l: esteban loaiza (2-1)

highlights(or lowlights?): ryan church 2-5 with one run batted in and one home run; jose vidro was 1-4 with a run

[jaykno14]

Florida (7-4) vs Washington (7-4)

Similarily to Craig's "blizard" post earlier today, I am going to have to say that after the past two games it's hard to be positive. When you lose by combined scores of 16-4 in front of your on friends, it's very hard to be positive. Pitching is pathetic right now. We can't hit worth a damn. We can't FIELD worth a damn. Can anything go right?

I send out Tomo Ohka to be the stopper for us today and he will go up against Al Leiter who has lost his only decision and has a 5.11 era. Ohka is 1-0 with a 3.46 era. With the lefty on the mound, Termell Sledge gets the nod over Church and will bat seventh today. After Juan Pierre flies out for the first out, Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell both hit two singles to put men on first and second for Miguel Cabrera. Ohka gets him to fly out for the second out, but then Carlos Delgado singles to right to drive in Castillo from second and Lowell goes to second. Finally we get Juan Encarnacion to fly out and the inning ends with Florida having another early lead at 1-0. Brad Wilkerson leads off the bottom of the first with a walk to put the leadoff guy on. That is followed up by Cristian Guzman, who flies out on a 2-0 pitch. Next up is Jose Guillen and he extends his hitting streak to nine with a two run homer to left field to put us up 2-1. Wow I can't believe my eyes. The next two batters, Vinny Castilla and Nick Johnson, both single to put guys on first and second with only one out for Jose Vidro. Vidro grounds into a fielder's choice and guys are on first and third for Termell Sledge with two outs, but all he can do is line out to first base. Juan Pierre leads off the third inning with a 2-2 triple into the left field corner and after that Castillo walks to get to first and there are no outs for Mike Lowell. All Lowell can do is fly out but deep enough for Pierre to score so the score is tied up again at 2. Cabrera is next up and bombs a 450 foot homer to center field to make the score 4-2. Damnit. Just when I thought we could pull one off it seems to get further and further away. After two straight singles from Delgado and Encarnacion, Paul LoDuca singles to drive in another one and the chance to win gets smaller and smaller. Nothing new right? Well in the top of the fourth the first guy is retired but then Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell get on and one batter later Castillo is driven in by Cabrera to make the score 6-2 and Cabrera gets to second on the throw home and Lowell goes to third. That's when I decide to bring in Joe Horgan to relieve Ohka after ANOTHER poor starting pitcher outing. Carlos Delgado is intentionally walked to load the bases for Juan Encarnacion. He grounds to the pitcher for the 1-2-3 double play to end the innning. Heading into the bottom of the fifth we haven't had a hit since the first inning in which we only had three hits. It stays the same. Juan Pierre leads off the top of the sixth with a single and just when I think we will get out of the inning, Cristian Guzman bobbles the ball and commits another error to put guys at first and second with no outs. The next batter Mike Lowell, grounds to second and this time we make sure we make the play and we get two for two outs with a guy at third. The inning ends with Cabrera striking out. Now...LET'S GET SOME F***ING RUNS! Apparantly they listen to me...well sorta. Guillen leads off the inning with a walk and after Castilla grounds out and he advances to second, he goes to third on a Nick Johnson single. Next up is Jose Vidro, who grounds into a fielder's choice and Guillen scores to make the score 6-3 with two outs and a guy on first. Next up is Termell Sledge and on a 2-0 pith I pull off a hit and run with Vidro and Sledge singles as Vidro goes to third. With Brian Schneider coming up I decide to pinch hit for him with J.J. Davis. After Sledge steals second, Davis K's looking and the inning is over. I put in Gary Bennett in the pitchers spot and I put Joey Eischen in the eight spot so that he can pitch a couple of innings. He is able to get the Nationals 1-2-3 and into the bottom of the seventh inning. Gary Bennett leads off the inning with a full count single to left. That brings up Brad Wilkerson who has walked in all three plate appearances today. They bring in Nate Bump to pitch to Wilkerson and that ends Leiter's night. Wilkerson flies out to left on a full count pitch for the first out. Cristian Guzman aka "The Rally Killer" is next up and grounds into a double play to end the inning. As Eischen again gets them to go down, we go into the bottom of the eighth hoping to score some runs off of Antonio Alfonseca. Jose Guillen and Vinny Castilla don't start anything up and both ground out for the first two outs. The inning isn't over yet though as Nick Johnson doubles the opposite way for his third hit of the day to keep the inning alive and that brings up Vidro. Vidro hits a "loud" flyball to left but it is caught for the out and the inning is over. Chad Cordero, who is leading the league somehow with 6 saves, comes into the game to get the last two outs of the ninth and we head into the bottom of the ninth with only three outs to spare, to avoid the sweep. Termell Sledge leads off the inning with a single. Carlos Baerga is the pinch hitter for Cordero and he doesn't help at ALL. He grounds into a double play. Next up is Gary Bennett who surprisingly grounds it up the middle for a single to lead off the inning. Wilkerson then grounds it to the left side and it makes it through for another single and that puts guys on first and second. Shoot. Up next is The Rally Killer. He lives up to his name and whiffs on a full count pitch to end the game and complete the sweep for the Marlins. We are now 7-5 and they are 8-4 and in first place.

w: a leiter (1-1)
l: t ohka (1-1)
s: j mecir (1)

highlights: nick johnson 3-4 with a double; jose guillen 1-3 with two runs and two rbis

[jaykno14]

Well about one word can sum up this series and that word is YIKES. We're going to just have to stick that one in our back pocket and go on with the season and forget about it because that was a horrible three game stretch.

Player of the Series
Jose Guillen: 5-11 (.455), 1 home run, 4 runs batted in, 2 runs, 1 double

Here are the standings for the NL East as of 4/18/2005:

Team W L GB
Florida 8 4 --
New York 7 5 1
Washington 7 5 1
Atlanta 6 6 2 
Philadelphia 5 7 3

Florida
Record: 8-4
Past Series: 3-0 @ Washington
Next Series: @ Philadelphia (2 games)

New York
Record: 7-5
Past Series: 2-1 vs. Atlanta
Next Series: vs. Washington (2 games)

Washington
Record: 7-5
Past Series: 0-3 vs. Florida
Next Series: @ New York (2 games)

Atlanta
Record: 6-6
Past series: 1-2 @ New York
Next Series: @ Houston (2 games)

Philadelphia
Record: 5-7
Past Series: 2-1 vs. Arizona
Next Series: vs. Florida

[jaykno14]

Washington (7-5) vs. New York (N) (7-5)

As you read one post before this one, the Mets come in on a little hot streak after taking two out of three against the Braves. As for us, well we're just a dirty old sock. We have lost the last four games that we have played and we are in danger of falling only one game ahead of last place. At a time like this it is very important to stay positive . Right? It's sure tough. Anyway on with the show:

We send out Livan Hernandez. Yes the one who gave up 8 runs in just under four innings. Also he's the one with a 9.98 earned run average. His colleague will be Victor Zambrano, who just like Hernandez is searching for his first win. But at least he has a better era at 3.75. Gary Bennett gets the nod over Schneider at catcher while Jamey Carroll gets the start over the Mendoza like hitting Vinny Castilla at third. Unfortunately we go down 1-2-3 to start off the game. It's too hard to stay positive. Finally batting second in the top of the second inning we get our first hit from Jose Guillen who extends his hit streak to 10 games. With the first hit we still aren't able to get anything going and the rest go down. Facing the drowning possibility of being the third out, Brad Wilkerson doubles to the right field gap. Ryan Church then walks to put guys on first and second and the runners advance on a "58 foot curveball" and it is 2-1 on Vidro. He strikes out looking. The Mets aren't able to get their first hit until the second time around the order when lead off hitter Cliff Floyd singles to right field with two outs. It is my unfortunate duty to tell you that that is followed up by Jose Reyes' first home run of the season to make the score 2-0. Typical Nat baseball. Next up is Carlos Beltran who walks and he is followed by David Wright who singles to put men on first and second. Mike Piazza is not alble to do the same and we get out of the inning. It looks as if the Nats will have to come from behind again. To lead off the fourth inning Jamey Carroll singles past a diving David Wright at third. Jose Guillen then singles for the second time in the game to right field that moves Carroll over to third base with cero outs. The hot hitting Nick Johnson just misses a home run on a 1-2 pitch that curls around the foul pole and he instead gets hit by the pitch to load the bases. All catcher Gary Bennett has to do is watch five pitches and walk after receiving only one strike. 2-1. Cristian Guzman is himself and grounds into a double play to score a run (he has to make getting a run as painful as he can). On the first pitch Livan Hernandez singles to right field and Nick Johnson scores from third base to make the score 3-2 in favor of yours truly. Finally Zambrano is able to get Wilkerson swinging to end the inning. The very next half inning Hernandez gives up a home run to Victor Diaz, who collects his only second hit of the season, to make the score 3-3. The next half inning Jamey Carroll avoids being the dreaded third out and singles to right field. I decide to try and steal and just my luck Carroll is thrown out to end the inning. Victor Zambrano is taken out to begin the sixth and a man by the name of Bartolome Fortunato. He gives up a run after Johnson doubled and he was driven in by Cristian Guzman to give us the lead at 4-3. The very next inning Hernandez gives up a home run to David Wright to make the score 4-4. Unbelievbably with two outs in the top of the seventh, Jose Vidro singled and Carroll walked to bring up Jose Guillen: "Guillen is 2-3 today with a run scored...both hits are singles. He is in a hole against Fortunato here down 1-2. Here's the offering...swung on and a hiiigh fly ball to left field! This one has a chance and it isss...GONE!!! Guillen comes up in the clutch and makes the score 7-4 in favor of the Nationals! YEEEAH!" He sure did surprise me. After giving up a lead off double to pinch hitter Juan Castro I decide to pull Hernandez and put in Osuna. He is able to get the top three guys of the order without giving up a hit to keep the score 7-4. The next inning I pinch hit for Osuna with Carlos Baerga and Guzman on second (he singled then stole). On a 2-0 hit and run Baerga singled and drove in Guzman to make the score 8-4. T.J. Tucker came on for the bottom of the eighth. He is able to get through without any runs. We go down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth and head into the bottom of the ninth. Tucker gives up a lead off double to Mientkiewicz but he retires the next three guys and I am proud to announce WE WIN! (He shall dance)

w: l hernandez (1-1)
l: fortunato (0-1_

highlights: jose guillen was 3-4 with two runs and three rbi and don't forget the memorable home run...jamey carroll filled in for mendoz-I mean Castilla nicely going 2-4 with a walk and two runs

[UngratefulDead]

Enjoying it so far, I like the new format.

[jaykno14]

Jennings pitched his first no hitter of his career

NO-NO!!!

Great things can happen when you throw strikes. And thats what happened to 26 year old Jason Jennings today in his first no hitter of his career against the Arizona Diamond Backs.

Jennings (3-0) won his third straight decision. He struck out 7 and walked three and issued 66 of 107 pitches for strikes. "I felt like I was on top of my game early and fortunately I was able to continue that for the whole game," he said after the game. "It's a great feeling."

Jose Piedra was 3-4 with two homers and provided the offense for the Rockies. Colorado score 11 runs on 11 hits.

"It was a lot of fun to go out there and help the team against a division rival," said Jennings. "I just want to continue pitching well for the rest of the year.''

[jaykno14]

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

Enjoying it so far, I like the new format.

Thanks happy that you like it. I was trying to find something more unique that what I was doing.

[UngratefulDead]

Did Jennings throw that no-no at Coors? 'cause that would be impressive.

[jaykno14]

Yeah that was at Coors. That is impressive should have added that.

[jaykno14]

Unfortunately (how many times have I done this) I am ending this dynasty. I seem to never find a right format that I enjoy our I never enjoy writing about the teams I right about. It is really my fault for not really prewriting the dynasty to the point that I can enjoy it. If I do write out another dynast I will definitely make sure I do that. I want this to be the last tdynast I hang up so if I ever do start another dynasty thread expect it to actually stay up for a while. For my few readers out there I am sorry I stopped it so early.