Every year when I cover the Cardinals in our Nations’ Capital, I stay with my friend Trace Wood and his family. Trace is a good friend and a fine baseball writer and as such, it gives me another reason to anticipate this trip.
Yet I feel badly that I head off to the ballpark every day when here while Trace remains home, following a number of games simultaneously on MLB Extra Innings.
Even before my laptop’s monitor died on this trip, I suggested to Trace that we attend one of the four-game series as fans. That would allow us to talk more baseball together.
The designated day was today, Saturday, made even more appropriate given my machine malfunction made working at the ballpark impossible anyway. (OK, so I did take my camera with me and will share those shots once I am back to equipment normalcy.)
As we approached Nationals Park, Trace pointed out an underpass and street where parts of the Peter Sellers movie Being There were filmed. The lead character, Chance the Gardener, a.k.a. Chauncey Gardiner is one of my all-time favorites, hence this post’s title.
As it has all three games so far, rain threatened, but stayed away. While warm and humid, the cloudy skies kept the temperature bearable.
If only Saturday’s game had been as pleasant.
We sat in the third row, between the screen behind home plate and the Nationals dugout – excellent seats. It also afforded me a clear view into the Cardinals dugout.
Other than Albert Pujols and injured Khalil Greene, the Cards sent out their best men into battle. Chris Duncan moved to his “natural” position, first base, while Colby Rasmus manned left.
It was Hispanic Heritage Day at the park. I found it most coincidentally interesting that the battery was Joel Pineiro and Yadier Molina with Angel Hernandez the home plate umpire. Of course, many more Hispanic players competed in the game.
Among those seated in the $375 per person Lexus Champions seats right behind home plate was former Cardinal Bobby Bonilla, now an exec with the MLB Players Association. He shared a long conversation with Nats employee and former Blue Jays outfielder Devon White. White’s Toronto World Series ring was most visible.
The story of the game was starting pitcher Shairon Martis of the Nats, who first came into prominence when pitching a no-hitter in the 2006 World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands.
This game was all about the fifth inning.
Relying almost exclusively on a changeup and a fastball that topped out at 93 mph, Martis had pitched 4 2/3 perfect innings before Yadier Molina shot a clean single up the middle.
In the bottom of the inning, Molina made a stellar defensive play on a bunt by Martis. Yadi fired to second, nailing the runner Anderson Hernandez. Shortstop Brian Barden did a great job holding on after the hard, but clean slide.
Still in the fifth, Nick Johnson blasted a ball to deep center. Rick Ankiel had trouble adjusting to the slice as he ran full speed toward the track, Catching the ball to his left, then crashing into the wall, Ankiel was almost able to double the runner off first.
With two out, Ryan Zimmerman’s easy pop foul was dropped by Duncan. That opened the door for Adam Dunn’s three-run home run launched majestically into the second deck which gave the home team a four-run lead.
The Cards got onto the board with Colby Rasmus’ first career home run, a line drive shot that traveled as far as Dunn’s blast, though not as high. Sadly for the Cardinals, the bases were empty. It was on Martis’ first pitch of the seventh.
St. Louis had another chance in the eighth. With Joe Thurston on second, Khalil Greene pinch hit for Pineiro. The shortstop’s scorching liner to the left side was stabbed and turned into a double play.
Austin Kearns had a triple in the bottom of the inning off P.J. Walters as Ankiel inadvisably dived at a ball he couldn’t have reached. The ball rolled to the wall, giving Kearns another base. The runner on first scored easily. Kearns scored on an Anderson Hernandez single afterward.
By my count, the game would have been 2-1 with a better defensive showing. The three runs following Duncan’s drop were unearned and the second of the runs charged to Walters could have been avoided.
Still, you have to tip your cap to Martis. Despite only having two pitches working, he tossed the first complete game by a Nats pitcher since August 2006. Martis fanned six and walked no one in his 110-pitch gem.
Played in just two hours, seven minutes, despite its outcome, I liked to watch.
We have our hands full tomorrow too Brian. I’m looking for a tough game from the lefty. Pujols won’t see a pitch. Todays starters made that a obvious tactic. Pen ought to be fresh.
Brian,
The fast pace of that game today made me yearn for the old days when Gibson would regularly pitch complete games in under two hours. Glad you were able to be there with a friend, even if the outcome was less that hoped for.
WC, exactly what did today’s starters show you that Pujols will not be pitched to? He wasn’t even in the lineup today. On Friday, the Cards number 2-3-4 and 5 hitters all went yard. That kind of offense makes it hard to pitch around somebody. You really come up with some strange statements.
The Rookie starter toying with Albert on the first at bat…….. he’s burned. Duncan crowds the plate and the rookie tries a belt high fastball away…….he burns…..hangs a slider to Luddy…… he burns, finally pissed Thurston off pitching him in side, ball tails away….he burns.
With out Pujols they discover theres no fire. All mistakes can be remedied, including toying with dangerous creatures. This is their opening day guy. Not a bad pitcher at all. They won’t offer to Albert making a show of it, pressuring whom ever is 4 today. Good tactic. I’m guessing Lohse gets reached today for at least 3 by Zimmerman or Dunn …….We need 4 then. Lets get them.
WCBW………..strange statements???????????
WC, I think the game of baseball has plenty of drama but you seem to try to inject some more into every pitch and every twitch on and off the field.
These guys are MAJOR LEAGUE players and they are competing. They didn’t get to this point by a lottery. They are good at what they do. Sometimes the hitter wins but more often than not, the pitcher prevails. I would hate to think that Ludwick, Duncan or Ankiel went up to the plate yesterday with the idea they had to do a little more than normal because Albert was resting. They need to make every plate appearance a quality AB, regardless of who is in the lineup or on the mound. That’s part of the TLR philosophy of playing a hard nine.
The youngster Martis that beat them yesterday has a solid background and a bright, bright future. He’s barely 22 years old and already has ano-hitter on a big stage, the 2006 WBC.
Don’t hate your self to think Dizzy!!! Of course they did try to do a little more. These aren’t Rhodes scholars. Colby Rasmus doesn’t even think to disguise his self interest. We are very vulnerable here. Lets hope we get a rain out, least we defame ourselves before the Phillies come to dinner. Lets get on the plane at 2/3…….. And that lineup…Krike!!!!
Over his career, John Lannan has been more effective against right-handed hitters than against lefties, who have slugged .521 against him. Maybe Duncan and Ankiel can hit a couple into the bullpen.
Why in the world would you wish for a rainout against perhaps the worst team in MLB?
Just a hunch……… its good if I’m wrong……… Looks like Tony likes Duncan over Rasmus on a wet field?
The scratch of Lohse is smart. That means Tony is betting against getting a complete game in. Go hard at the Phillies tomorrow. Smart and timely.
I agree that not starting Lohse is a good idea. Of course, if he’s expecting a lengthy rain delay and the radar shows a window of opportunity after that, he may plan on using Lohse in a “long relef” role.
Lohse has had success against the Phillies. They fear him somewhat. If they can win those two, it sets us up against both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
WC was right – Pujols didn’t see a pitch all day!
Sure he did. He watched baseball on the clubhouse TVs like everyone else.
A stopped watch is right twice per day.