The day began with promise, with thoughts of a wealthy owner guided by a respected team president. The Nationals, or at least their fans, could dare to dream.
Until that dream turned into a nightmare. These days, that nightmare is called reality. It’s become an ugly intruder on Washington’s quest to become a quality major league team.
And the reality is that Washington has established a few things in the early going of this season: it can’t hit in the clutch and it can’t win at home.
The Nationals are now 1-8 at their unfriendly confines of RFK Stadium after Wednesday night’s 6-5 loss to Florida that took an excruciating three hours, 55 minutes to play.
Florida, which entered with five straight losses, won the game on Hanley Ramirez’s pinch-hit single in the ninth off closer Chad Cordero. The Nationals’ bullpen, though, was strong all night in relief of ineffective starter Tony Armas, who lasted 2 1-3 innings.
So much for any momentum generated by finally having an owner. Here’s what Ted Lerner has bought: a club that can’t hit in the clutch. Despite eight walks, Washington could not do more than score five runs.
Different hitters took turns failing in the clutch. Jose Guillen grounded out with two runners on in the first; Royce Clayton popped out with the bases loaded in the third; Alfonso Soriano and Nick Johnson struck out and popped out, respectively, with two on in the fourth; Marlon Byrd grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the fifth.
Etc., etc., etc.
It’s a season-long problem that Washington (9-19) has shown no signs of correcting. At least two struggling hitters had good nights: Guillen and Brian Schneider.
Guillen had two hits and drove in two runs. Schneider had two hits, including a game-tying homer in the seventh, and three RBI.
Long before he deposited a ball over the right field fence, and drove in three runs, Schneider sat at his locker and discussed the topic of the day.
“It’s definitely a relief,” Schneider said. “This has been going on for a long time.”
He obviously was talking about the Nats’ ownership saga. He could also have been talking about his hitting woes.
Whether or not Schneider is emerging from his season-long slump remains to be seen. Schneider entered with a .198 batting average; he’s hovered around that mark all season.
As for the Nats, since they’re 50-31 start last season, they’re 40-69.
But at least they have an owner.
