Orioles 8, Nats 3
Maybe momentum really is as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. For the Nationals, the glory of Friday night’s 17-run offensive explosion against the Orioles gave way to a back-to-reality 8-3 loss at Camden Yards on Saturday afternoon. Read the details in our game story here.
Washington’s best chance to get back into the game was in the sixth inning. With runners at first and second and one out, designated hitter Matt Stairs anticipated a change-up from Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie. He guessed right. But that isn’t a pitch Stairs should be swinging at unless Guthrie leaves him an absolute meatball over the plate. His 4-6-3 double play killed the Nats’ last, best rally. What was Guthrie trying to do?
“Get me out,” Stairs deadpanned before turning serious. “I actually thought along with him the proper way. He hadn’t thrown me a change-up all night and I sat change up. And instead of just waiting to see if it was up in the zone I tried to hit it. I hit his pitch. Being the fastball hitter that I am I tried to hit his pitch, he made a good pitch and I rolled over into a double play. Sucks, but it’s part of the game and I’ll come back tomorrow.”
That’s been Stairs’ motto all season. But you wonder if time is running out for the 43-year-old Canadian. The Nats hope Rick Ankiel can return from a right wrist injury sometime in the next 10 days. Outfielder Roger Bernadina began the year at Triple-A Syracuse, but if he continues to show well enough to earn significant playing time it’s unlikely he’ll go back. Maybe utility infielder Brian Bixler is the odd-man out there. But then there is the looming return of star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (abdominal surgery), who isn’t expected back until mid-June at the earliest.
Can Stairs survive the return of both players? Because despite his eighth-inning double on Saturday, he is now just 3-for-30 (.100 batting average). Stairs wasn’t sure if he’d be back in the lineup at designated hitter on Sunday against Baltimore. The multiple at-bats playing in an American League Park are certainly beneficial. But it’s a short-term bonus for a player who has been almost exclusively a pinch hitter.
“I wish I could say I’m locked in,” Stairs said. “It is nice knowing that after your first at-bat you’re going to have a couple more. Yesterday I didn’t feel very good, but today I felt a little better, saw some pitches and worked the count a little bit better. Just have to get locked in tomorrow and then I’ll have a happy travel day.”
Stairs was happy that he saw around 15 pitches on Saturday – a sign that he’s being more patient. That just wasn’t evident in his double-play at-bat when he jumped at Guthrie’s first pitch. Stairs also felt like he had the right approach in his second at-bat. He wanted to go to right field, but just got under the ball and flew out to Nick Markakis instead of lacing the ball to right for a single. Any more adjustments Stairs could make?
“Yeah, I wish I could hit the two-seamer away. I never could and I wish I did,” Stairs cracked. “You figure after 22 years I’d figure it out and be able to hit that ball. But I think the biggest thing is my game plan tomorrow I have a very strong game plan for tomorrow. I won’t reveal what that is. But I’m a fastball hitter and that’s what I’m going to sit on until I have two strikes. I think I’ve been trying to hit too many pitches that weren’t mine, [pitches] out of the zone.”
Washington’s other hitters weren’t upset with the team’s approach against Guthrie, either. Pretty tough to do much when a guy throws 70 strikes on 108 pitches. Guthrie’s seven strong innings lowered his ERA to 3.45. Needless to say, he’s pitched well against a lot of teams this year.
“A pitcher like that, when he starts getting in a rhythm he’s definitely tough to beat,” said Nats outfielder Jerry Hairston. “He’s been around for a while and he’s got good stuff. I think Guthrie, velocity wise, that’s probably as good as I’ve seen him throw. He touched 97, I heard 100 too. So I guess he felt good today.”
I’m going to go ahead and call shenanigans on Guthrie hitting 100 miles per hour with a pitch. Or even 97 – no offense to Hairston. But he is a good pitcher and the Nats couldn’t figure him out on Saturday. They get another chance to take the Battle of the Beltways series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. with Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 4.12 ERA) on the mound. He is opposed by the Orioles’ Chris Tillman (2-3, 5.35 ERA). Immediately after that game is a flight to Milwaukee for a three-game series with the Brewers.
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
