The season started as advertised. Which is not what the Nationals wanted, considering how they’re being advertised around the league.
Their starting pitching failed. Their hitters mounted few rallies. And they rewarded 40,389 fans on a warm spring day with an ugly loss, dropping a 9-2 decision to visiting Florida.
Even worse: two starters exited with injuries. Shortstop Cristian Guzman left in the fifth with a mild left hamstring strain. Center fielder Nook Logan left in the fourth after hyperextending his left foot making a running catch against the fence. Their status is uncertain, though it appears Guzman’s injury is the more serious of the two. Both players will be re-evaluated today.
If Guzman can’t play, the Nationals could shift Felipe Lopez from second to short and start Ronnie Belliard at second.
But all of this made for a difficult opener, the last at RFK Stadium.
“It will be a rollercoaster for us,” third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. “Sometimes we’ll play well; sometimes we won’t play so well.”
Monday proved to be the latter sort of day, especially for starting pitcher John Patterson. He’s supposed to be the staff ace, but he had not pitched in a real game since July 9. The rust was evident as his fastball never snuck above 90 mph. And that meant his curve was slower than desired. Oh, and his command was off, too.
And that meant his pitches were more desirable than ever to Florida.
By the end of the fourth inning, Patterson was out and the Nats were losing 6-1.
“I didn’t have any life on my fastball today,’’ said Patterson, who allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings. “I kept trying to get the ball to jump and get some life on it and it just wasn’t there.’’
The Nationals reminded all that it was only one game — and the first one at that. But even some of their players knew it was not a good tone-setter.
“It doesn’t carry over,’’ Patterson said. “But it’s not how you want to start the season. There’s so much doubt about us … people can say, ‘I told you so.’ We can’t pay attention to that.’’
Said catcher Brian Schneider, “No one wants to start a season like this.’’
First-year manager Manny Acta certainly doesn’t, but he also realizes the long road ahead. And he knows the way he must approach this season.
“We’re tied for second with the rest of the league,’’ Acta said. ‘’That’s the way we have to look at it.’’
