Johnson on the closers, Zimmerman out of Nats lineup after fouling ball off foot
Brad Lidge or Henry Rodriguez?
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With closer Drew Storen out after elbow surgery, that has been the question for the Nats. Lidge, a 35-year-old with 225 career saves, and Rodriguez, a 25-year-old with electric but erratic stuff, had been used in alternate fashion in save situations until Friday night, when Rodriguez got the call for the second straight time. Both pitchers were rested. Neither worked in Thursday’s 11-4 loss to Houston.
“I wanted to really test Henry,” Nats manager Davey Johnson said. “Henry has done such a great job so I threw the cookie his way and he handled it.”
Well sort of. Rodriguez overcame a fit of wildness (two walks, wild pitch) and yielded a shot to left to pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs, which was fortunate to be hit right at Xavier Nady. Rodriguez posted his fourth save in four tries and third in five days. Lidge is 2 for 3 in save situations. Earlier this week, Johnson revealed that Lidge suffers from vertigo. Johnson said Lidge was fine on Friday night.
With Rodriguez’s arsenal of fastball, change, Johnson said that he may lean more toward Rodriguez in situations where there are more left-handers to face. Lidge throws an excellent slider, which is generally tougher for right-handed hitters.
* As for today’s game, the Nats are throwing Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.42 ERA). Miami pitches Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 2.92 ERA). In 17 starts, Sanchez has a 7-0 career record against the Nats with a 2.06 ERA. In his last 20 innings against Washington, Sanchez has allowed 10 hits, two earned runs, and fanned 25.
* Mark DeRosa starts at third for Ryan Zimmerman and will bat third. This morning, Johnson said he would give Zimmerman Sunday off to recuperate from fouling a ball off his left foot on Friday night. No word yet on the extent of the injury.
