Still, pitcher looks OK in a loss to the Dodgers These are relatively meaningless late-season games for the Nationals, who long ago fell out of contention for a playoff spot. But the stakes are still high for pitchers like Chien-Ming Wang, whose final few starts of 2011 will help shape his future with the organization.
Wang pitched the first game in Thursday’s scheduled matinee doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He shook off a difficult start and — though let down by his defense — managed a respectable six-inning outing in an eventual 7-4 loss.
The second game was postponed because of rain. The Dodgers do not return to the East Coast this season, so it is unlikely the game will be made up unless Los Angeles is somehow still in contention for a playoff berth and needs to complete its schedule. That’s nearly impossible at this point with a 70-72 record and 19 games left.
| Nationals notes |
| » Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse each drove in a run in the third inning with a double off Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley. |
| » Jayson Werth followed with a two-run homer in the third. He also walked and twice hit balls to the wall in right. Replays showed one of those fly outs actually hit the scoreboard first and should have been ruled a hit. |
| » The Nats dropped to 65-76 with the loss and have dropped 12 of their last 15 overall. |
Wang, a free agent at the end of the season, is still fighting his way back from the 2009 right shoulder surgery that almost ended his career. After spending two years rehabbing from that injury, he finally made his debut with Washington on July 29. The eight starts since have served as an evaluation period — for Wang himself and for the club.
Thursday wasn’t his best game. Wang gave up three hits in the first inning, including two doubles, and the Nats quickly found themselves down 2-0. In the opening frame of his eight starts, Wang has now allowed a combined 11 earned runs (12.38 ERA) on 16 hits with six walks, three stolen bases and a wild pitch. Yet for the most part he has survived those early troubles and did so again Thursday. The reasons why, however, are unclear.
“I’m going to try to get down to the [bullpen] for warmup earlier and try to get myself in a game situation earlier,” Wang said through his interpreter. “Hopefully, I can be better.”
Other than another hiccup in the third inning, Wang was solid after Los Angeles’ two-run first. He pitched six innings total with seven hits allowed, no walks and three strikeouts. He also retired 10 of the last 11 Dodgers he faced. In the two-run third inning, Wang faced runners at first and second with one out. A line drive to left appeared to be an easy second out. But Michael Morse came in too far, and the ball sailed over his head. The play was ruled a double for Juan Rivera, but either way it cost Wang a pair of runs.
A combined six relievers for the two teams kept the game tied at 4-4 until the ninth inning, when Nats closer Drew Storen imploded. With one out, he hit a batter, gave up a single and eventually a two-run double to Tony Gwynn Jr. Another base hit and a walk spelled the end for Storen in one of his worst performances of the year.
“I just think it was one of those outings,” Johnson said. “[Storen] hadn’t had a whole lot of regular work here in the last part of the year. We haven’t had a whole bunch of leads, so his work has been spotty. And sometimes that can cause a little command problem.”
