Nats 2, Kansas City Royals 1
A win is a win. The Nats (32-39) still can’t score. They have 20 hits in their last 38 innings and just seven runs during that stretch. But after six losses in a row they’ll take a 2-1 victory any way they can get it. Solo home runs by Michael Morse and Cristian Guzman provided the only offense. And while Washington manager Jim Riggleman sounded an optimistic note afterwards – hard hit balls by Adam Dunn, three walks by Ryan Zimmerman – it rings a little hollow with runs so hard to come by lately. Lucky for the Nats the starting pitching – save for John Lannan, of course, who was sent to the minors after Sunday’s poor outing – has been excellent three of the last four games. This time it was Livan Hernandez (6-4, 2.82 ERA) bouncing back from his worst game of the year last week at Detroit. Hernandez has now posted a quality start in 11 of his 14 games this season. And at Nationals Park he is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA (8 earned runs in 48 1/3 innings).
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You want a true optimistic note – aside from that performance from Hernandez? Morse is it. Riggleman – and, let’s be honest, the front office, too – is intent on playing Roger Bernadina in right field as often as possible, especially against right-handed pitching. They need to see what they have from the 26-year-old and he’s holding his own with a .783 OPS and a penchant for spectacular catches.
But Morse, 28, is showing them some things, too. In 20 games since being re-instated from the 15-day disabled list on May 16. Morse is 15-for-35 (.428 batting average) with a double, three homers and six RBI. As a starter, Morse is 12-for-28 (.428). But there’s the rub – Morse has started just nine games in 2010. Those 35 at-bats in five weeks are pretty paltry, also. But for now he must content himself playing mostly against left-handed pitching and with whatever sporadic starts Riggleman can find him. In recent days Morse is taking advantage. Since June 6 he is 10-for-20 with a double, three homers, six RBI and two walks. He has struck out just three times and scored three runs. Keep that up for a decent amount of time and he’ll start changing some minds.
“You always think about that – if you played more,” said Morse, who earned the silver Elvis wig as player of the game for his work on Monday night. “But that’s why we have coaches, managers. Let those guys deal with all that. Until otherwise, I know my job and I’m going to play it to the best of my ability.”
Morse said he wants to leave Nationals Park after every game – whether or not he actually appeared in that night’s game – so mentally tired that he feels like he played. That focus, Morse believes, helps him recognize pitches when he finally does get a chance. So far, so good.
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