May 29, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
The Nationals (25-26, .510) had a busy holiday weekend, playing a three-game series against the Phillies before facing the Baltimore Orioles for the first time this season.
The Beltway rivals faced off on Memorial Day, with Gio Gonzalez (3-3) pitching for Washington and Josh Hammel (7-2) taking the mound for the Birds. The Nats won two of three against the Phillies, but a string of losses in California pushed them four and a half games behind the first-place Braves.
While the Nats were hoping to gain ground in the standings, the Orioles had other plans. Baltimore (28-23; .549) was fresh off a ninth-inning 6-5 loss to the Rays, and looking for redemption.
While the Nationals southpaw struggled, Hammel was impressive, allowing two runs over eight innings. He improved to 6-0 in career starts against Washington, and 4-0 at Nationals Park.
Gonzalez, who went 21-8 last year, gave up four runs in under six innings. He kept the Orioles at bay during the first few despite giving up a few walks, but began to lose control in the fourth. He walked Chris Davis, who was promptly followed by a string of Oriole hitters. By the end of the inning, Baltimore had a 3-1 lead.
Despite adding another run in the sixth, Washington’s limp offense could not overcome Hammel. Without Bryce Harper, who was sidelined with a swollen left knee, the Nats managed just two runs on eight hits and left six men on base, going two for eleven with men in scoring position.
The 6-2 loss to their regional foe guarantees one thing: Manager Davey Johnson’s facial hair will remain intact for another day. Johnson has vowed not to shave until his team’s bats come alive, hoping to give them some motivation. While the Nats scored six runs against Philadelphia on Sunday, it looks like Johnson is looking for more before he breaks out his razor.
At just one game above .500, the Nationals are not living up to the expectations of World Series winners that were placed on them before the season began. While it is not even the All-Star Break, it’s worth noting that, at this point last season, the Nationals were 28-19 with a two-and-a-half-game lead in the division.
“There’s a lot of season left, but we need to get going,” third basemen Ryan Zimmerman told reporters after the game.
The Battle of the Beltway will continue with three straight games, moving to Baltimore on Wednesday. The Orioles are three and a half games back in the American League East, and a streak of wins could move them closer to the top.
