Nationals 7, Mariners 6

Finally, the much anticipated weekend series between the two worst teams from either league!

I’m sure the schedules were released, it was expected that the Mariners would have a reverse record and that Nats would, well, be the Nats, and the M’s would have an easy June weekend slapping around the boys from D.C. Obviously, that is not the case.  Instead, it appears that the Nationals’ roster comprised of other teams’ rejects is nearly on par with  the Marienrs’ talent level, as evidenced by last night’s 7-6 Nationals’ victory.

The M’s brain trust prior to the game realized that Miguel Batista was capably filling the “sucky starting pitcher” void that was opened by the absence of Jeff Weaver and Horacio Ramirez. (It’s debatable whether he also filled that position last year, regardless of leading the team with 16 wins.) As a result, they swapped Batista out as the starter and replaced him with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who was making his second start of the season after allowing just one earned run over his last 18 relief innings. However, nobody informed Dickey that batting practice had ended a couple hours prior to the game, as he proceeded to be shellacked by the National League’s weakest line-up.

When a knuckleballer is on and his offerings fluttering around the strike zone, he is untouchable, explaining Dickey’s 18-inning streak, marred only by a J.D. Drew solo home run.  When they are off, however, it’s about as challenging as a little league pitcher lobbing balls into major league hitters’ comfort zone.  Things got off to an auspicious beginning in the top of the first inning when, after two quick ground ball outs, Dickey wasn’t able to put the Nationals away as they picked up a run by stringing together four straight singles.  The National hitters’ timing was further honed against Dickey’s offerings in the second inning, resulting in the following:

- F. Lopez singled to left center

- W. Pena singled to right center, F. Lopez to second

- W. Harris walked, F. Lopez to third, W. Pena to second

- C. Guzman popped out to right

- E. Dukes singled to right, F. Lopez scored, W. Pena to third, W. Harris to second

- L. Milledge struck out swinging

- D. Young walked, W. Pena scored, W. Harris to third, E. Dukes to second

- J. Flores doubled to deep left, W. Harris and E. Dukes scored, D. Young to third

- R. Belliard singled to center, D. Young and J. Flores scored, R. Belliard to second advancing on throw

- R. Rowland-Smith relieved R. Rowland-Smith

- F. Lopez grounded out to second

Yep, only the second inning, and the Mariners’ other long-man had to step in for who Dickey, who would be an option to come out of the bullpen in such a situation.  Rowland-Smith performed admirably with the mess he inherited, tossing three and a third innings of hitless and scoreless relief, but the damage had been done.

Surprisingly, the M’s made a game out of it.  Despite averaging little more than four runs a game- meaning the Nats’ six-run second inning deflated any chances of the M’s win probability in yet another early-game blowout- the M’s battled back, compiling as many runs in nine innings against Nationals pitching as they did over 27 innings in their prior series against the Blue Jays.  Almost makes you wonder what it would be like if the M’s had a pitching staff that didn’t include three black holes sucking away any chance of winning.

The M’s compiled 15 hits in last night’s losing cause, with five members of the line-up getting multiple hits, including three by Ichiro.  Still, only four went for extra base hits- doubles by Ichiro, Betancourt, Beltre, and Johjima- as the Mariners’ patented “single attack” was not enough to avoid suffering their fourth one-run loss of the month.  The M’s offensive output could be explained- partly- by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn’s expanded strike zone. Reyburn forced the M’s to expand their comfort zone by continually calling strikes on pitches well outside the strike zone- which nipped a third-inning rally in the bud when Richie Sexson was called out on a third strike well outside the zone after the M’s had strung together five straight hits and a couple of runs.  After Sexson’s questionable punch-out, Johjima meekly grounded into a double play, and that took care of the M’s chances to push more runs across, thanks to Reyburn’s lack of depth perception.  Hey D.J.: just because Richie is a big guy doesn’t mean pitches that are inches off the plate are strikes!  He has no problem striking out, and doesn’t need any help on that end!

Regardless of the fact that a visually-challenged umpire didn’t make things easier for the Mariners, I have to ask about the line-up that Johnny Mac trotted out last night.  Batting Sexson and Johjima- two black holes in their own right- back to back is a guarantee for failure!  We all know of Sexson’s struggles- he may have raised his average 17 points since May 26, but all eleven of Sexson’s hits during that span have been singles- and although Joh seems like a great guy, he is simply one of the worst offensive catchers in the game, with only Jose Molina, who is backing up Jorge Posada for the Yankees, putting up worst numbers.  Having Sexson and Johjima bat back-to-back will result in many more rallies killed similar to the third inning last night, with help from the umpire or no.

Tonight’s match-up pits Erik Bedard against Tyler Clippard.  Bedard held the Nationals to one run on three hits while striking out twelve over seven innings in his only start versus Washington, which resulted in a no decision as the Orioles’ offense provided little run support against the Nationals’ pitching staff.  As the Mariners’ are providing Bedard with an average of 3.84 run support so far this season,- including being held to one run or less four times out of his eleven starts-it remains to be seen how much of a challenge they will mount against Yankees’ castoff Tyler Clippard, who is making his career debut against the Mariners.  (Again, it never seems to work in Seattle’s favor when they’re facing a pitcher for the first time.)

Clippard is fresh off his first start of the season, allowing three runs in four innings in a 3-2 loss to the Giants, which indicates nothing more than the fact that lousy line-ups can score just enough runs to beat Clippard.  Throughout his professional career, Clippard has compiled a .500 record, though he has exhibited impeccable command, with a near 7:2 strikeout to walk ratio over 670 career minor league innings.  Hopefully, the M’s will be as aggressive as they were last night, resulting in another batch of hits (With maybe a couple going over the wall? Its been eleven games since the M’s last had a multiple-home run game.) instead of strike outs.

Expect a low-scoring affair, and the M’s to come out on the wrong end of another one-run loss.  Final call: 4-3, Nationals.