Nats 10, Phillies 2
Maybe they should have a meeting every day. Just after batting practice ended, Mike Wallace – the clubhouse manager at Nationals Park – yelled for media and any assorted guests and visitors to clear the room. The Nats had business to take care of. After the game starting pitcher Jason Marquis simply called it “a reinforcement” meeting.” It’s also something that stays in the clubhouse – unless a team is imploding – so he wasn’t dishing any details. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” Marquis insisted.
Whatever was said, the Nats had a 5-0 lead over Phillies ace – yes, that team has a couple of them – Cliff Lee by the third inning before cruising to a 10-2 win. Read the details in our game story here. Danny Espinosa (3-for-4, two home runs, four RBI) and Michael Morse (3-for-5, double, two RBI) continue to swing hot bats. Ian Desmond again walked twice – that’s an encouraging sign – and singled. Jayson Werth had a sac fly and an RBI double. Makes you dream about this lineup once Ryan Zimmerman gets back from rehabilitation after last month’s abdominal surgery, possibly by the middle of June.
“You look forward to that. Losing [Zimmerman] is a big part of this team and a big part of thelineup,” Werth said. “When all those cylinders are clicking this is a very potent lineup. It’s young and a little inexperienced. But I think as time goes on we’re going to be fine.”
Just to beat the Phillies had to mean something – though Werth demurred when asked how much a 10-2 beating of Philadelphia helps his own team’s mental state. The Nats were 1-6, after all, in the first seven games of the season series and have had oh-so-many unpleasant memories against that team since moving to the District in 2005. How about watching the Phillies clinch three separate N.L. East division titles in person, for starters, including last year at Nationals Park. Werth was on those teams. He was the one jumping into piles on the field and spraying champagne afterwards. Now on the other side he understands that Philadelphia is a measuring stick for his new club.
“They’re the team to beat. Just ask J-Roll,” Werth cracked, taking a light-hearted shot at former teammate Jimmy Rollins, known for putting high expectations on his club before the season. “They’re a good club. Everybody knows who the Phillies are. To get a win against them is a big one.”
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