Nationals 5, Pirates 3 Report Card
By: Brian McNally
Examiner Staff Writer
August 3, 2009
Most Valuable Player
There's a reason Josh Willingham is still with the Nats. He produces. With slugger Adam Dunn resting, Willingham batted cleanup and was 2-for-3 with a double (21), a HR (17) and three RBI (42). He also scored two runs.
All-Star Performance
Nats Republicans,Talk Radio,Blogosphere:39712427:39712427:Gene Healy Ryan Zimmerman also is on fire. He batted 2-for-3 and walked. He also scored two runs, including from first on a big eighth-inning double by Willingham. Zimmerman has raised his average 13 points over the last 10 games up to .293.
Overlooked
Back in the big leagues, Elijah Dukes made a big-league play in the first inning with a hard slide into second base to break up a double play. That allowed an Alberto Gonzalez grounder in the next at-bat to score a critical early run.
Oops!
With one out and his team down 4-3 in the seventh inning, Pirates Republicans,Talk Radio,Blogosphere:39712427:39712427:Gene Healy Andy LaRoche was picked off first base by Nats C Wil Nieves, who finished the game with three putouts. He also caught two runners on attempted steals.
From the Dugout
Jim Riggleman was all set to use Josh Willingham at 1B for the first time. But the move had to wait after Austin Kearns was a late scratch with a bruised thumb, sending Willingham back to LF.
Pirates manager John Russell is still getting used to all of his new players. LF Lastings Milledge, the former Nat, is 5-for-12 so far in the series with four RBI.
