4/4/07 “Have They Lost You Already?” -Asked By Natshater Here On DC Daily!! and Now My Response…

Hanley Ramirez flies out to right field where Austin Kearns closes the glove on the first recorded out in the Major League career of the Washington Nationals left-handed starter Matt Chico, who debuts on the mound this afternoon against the visiting Florida Marlins here in Washington, DC in the third of this season opening three game series. Felipe Lopez catches a Dan Uggla pop up over his shoulder deeper in left than you could imagine. Chico fooled Uggla with the offspeed pitch. Miguel Cabrera singles on an 0-2 fastball. (Cabrera is now 6-8 so far this season!) Josh Willingham flies out to Kory Casto in left field, and Matt Chico and the Nationals both have their first scoreless innings of the season.

     Mike Jacobs puts a wicked spin on the ball he grounds foul of third, and Jacobs forgets to run even as the ball spins back into play, so Ryan Zimmerman attempts to field and thr…but can’t pick it up, as Jacobs reaches even with the late start. Cody Ross. BANG! Deep to left on a letter-high fastball over the plate from Chico. 2-0 Fish.

     Hanley Ramirez triples to start the third, into the gap and all the way to the wall, Ramirez slides in safe at third, and then tags and scores on Dan Uggla’s sac fly. 3-0 Marlins. Miguel Cabrera homers to left, into the rim below the upper deck but high above the field of play. 2nd HR, 6 RBI’s, and at this point 7 of 9 in the series. 4-0 Fish. Mike Jacobs homers to right. 5-0 Fish.

     Austin Kearns doubles to start the Nationals fourth, moves to third on Dmitri Young’s ground out and scores from third on Brian Schneider’s ground out to second. 5-1 Marlins. 3 RBI for Schneider without a hit in the third game of the season.
     The Marlins Josh Willingham doubles in Hanley Ramirez to stretch the Marlins lead to 6-1 in the fifth. Matt Chico is done after 4.0 IP, 8 hits, 6 ER, 3 K’s, 3 HR’s, and a high ERA…

Clap your hands if you want the Nationals to survive…

     A lot of people must be clapping in DC. Two two-out singles in the sixth from Dmitri Young and Brian Schneider. Ryan Church comes the plate. Ch-Ch-CHURCH!!! Deep to right and gone, goodbye, as the Nationals finally get to Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez in a significant way. 6-4 Marlins.
     The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History Jon Rauch is on to pitch with one out in the top of the ninth after Ray King gets the first out of the frame for the home team Nationals. Hanley Ramirez goes down looking. Uggla’s down swinging. On to the ninth. Rauch Rules.

     The Marlins new closer Jorge Julio is on to save the sweep for the Fish. Ronnie Belliard, today’s starting second baseman. doubles to left. Robert Fick singles, Belliard scores. 6-5 Marlins. Felipe Lopez lays down the sac bunt. Fick safe at second. Kory Casto puts one off Hanley Ramirez’s chest and into the outfield. Fick SCORES! CASTO ties it! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! And Zim bloops it into right. Casto moves to third. Austin Kearns walks as Julio loads the bases. DY to the plate. DY DY DY!!! DY-EEEP enough to score CASTO…Willingham tries to let it go foul…but the ball has other ideas…CASTO SCORES!!! CASTO SCORES!! THE COMEBACK KIDS ARE BACK!! I BELIEVE IN ACTA!! Manny Acta’s first win as a Manager comes in dramatic fashion…the DC faithful start to bounce! THE NATIONALS WIN!!! 7-6 Nationals in the ninth!

Nationals now 1-2.