7/28/07 I Want To See Shea Crumble...

Former Met Mike Bacsik will be on the mound for the Washington Nationals in the first of four in Queens, NY’s doomed Shea Stadium. Former Expo Moises Alou will makes his return to the New York lineup playing in left behind Mets starter Jorge Sosa. Former Mets coach Manny Acta is now managing the Nationals, who face a lineup put together by former Expos and now Mets GM Omar Minaya. Each starter issues one walk a piece in their respective first’s, but neither team plates any runs.
     Alou gets tested early when DY drops a double in front of the left fielder to lead off the top of the second. Alou fails to make the play, but passes the first test of his injured shoulders and groin. An increasing familiar site next, as Ryan Church lines a double to left and scores DY from second for a 1-0 Nationals lead. Austin Kearns lines out to Damion Easely at second. Brian Schneider lines to left, Church scores, as Schneider comes in standing at second. 2-0 Nationals. Jorge Sosa’s fastball and slider are getting hammered. Nook Logan hits a ground rule double, one-hop and into the bleechers in left center. Schneider scores. 3-0 Nationals.
     Moises Alou doubles to the gap in left in his first at bat in sixty-six games to lead off the Mets second. Paul LoDuca lines a single to left advancing Alou to third. Lastings Milledge grounds into a double play, Alou scores from third. 3-1 Nationals.
     Ryan Ch-Ch-Ch-CHURCH hits another line drive on a fastball down the pipe, and this one has the distance and it is GONE!!! Church’s first homer since June 12th lands .380 ft out in right center. 4-1 Nationals. Mike Bacsik gives up a line-drive single to Carlos Delgado, but works his way through the fourth and holds the 4-1 lead.
     Ryan Zimmerman takes a one-out walk in the fifth, and moves to third on a line drive single to left, DY tries to take second, but Alou nails him trying to take the extra base. Church pops out to end the scoring chance. Still 4-1 Nationals. Zimmerman jumps and steals a line drive single from Jose Reyes, and dives glove first at the bag trying to double up Shawn Green. Green gets back safely. Damian Easely gets a hold of one and drives it to right to score Green. 4-2 Nationals after five...
     At that point my old friend Runner invited me over to watch the second half of the game on 42 inches of HDtv. Never one to pass up a crystal clear view of the Nationals whipping on Runner's favorite Mets, I listened to an inning on 660 am on my way over...
     AK!!! Austin Kearns takes Sosa deep to left, "Too High!!" "What does that even mean? Too high?" Kearns bounces it off the netting on the fair side of the foul pole. 5-2 Nationals. Bacsik lasts 7.0 IP, giving up 8 hits, 2 runs, both earned, and 1 walk. A two out walk in the eigth, puts Austin Kearns in a position to add to the lead. Kearns steals second uncontested, and scores when Brian Schneider singles to through first. 6-2 Nationals. Luis Ayala completes two scoreless for the Nationals win.
Final score 6-2. Two games tomorrow and one on Sunday. Tomorrow night the MLB debut of Joel Hanrahan.

Nationals now 44-58.