Friday, April 20, 2018

Series Thread (Games 18-20), April 20-22 vs. Nationals


  • Friday 4/20 7p: Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 1.73) vs. Max Scherzer (3-1, 1.33) WSH 5, LAD 2
  • Saturday 4/21 6p: Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0, 2.87) vs. Stephen Strasburg (2-1, 3.08) LAD 4, WSH 0
  • Sunday 4/22 5p: Alex Wood (0-2, 3.91) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 3.86) LAD 4, WSH 3

After weeks of stumbling through the NL (and AL) West, and finally getting the groove back in San Diego (outscoring the Padres 30-10 in the three-game series!), we finally meet a formidable opponent from another division predicted to go to the playoffs...and they too are one game below .500. The Nationals have spent this year getting swept by the Mets and losing three of four to the Rockies, both of which came at home. But Bryce Harper is still mashing home runs (a league-leading 8 on the year), even when he breaks his bat in the process; and they are throwing two of their best arms against us in this series.

But we're rolling now too, right? Grandal is batting .352 with a 1.046 OPS; Matt Kemp is .347 and does look better at the plate than expected; and Corey Seager, 4-for-5 Wednesday vs. the Padres, finally looks locked in. Even Max Muncy got into the action with a 2-run HR on Wednesday; he's batting .400 with a 1.500 OPS, a small sample size, and a large waistline. Hey, we'll take it.

In personal news, I'll be at the Stadium tonight to watch the fireworks fly. It's set to 80's music. I'll be right at home.

Oh, and for all the rest of you: be careful out there.

Finally, some tips on what to do with pesky gNats (it's amazing what you learn when searching things on google):

84 comments:

Orel said...

GAME 1
Taylor CF
Seager SS
Grandal C
Bellinger 1B
Pederson LF
Utley 2B
Puig RF
Muncy 3B
Kershaw P

Orel said...

Is it the tennis ball or the Vaseline that the gnats hate?

Steve Sax said...

At the game, mofos!!!

karen said...

Bryce went down so dainty he earned a soft little forehead "Did baby go boom?" rub like my mom did for me when I was 3.

Orel said...

One out in and we're losing!

Orel said...

15 pitches for Kershaw in the 1st

Orel said...

Corey takes one for the team!

Orel said...

Are we really going to strand a leadoff triple?

Orel said...

It looks like we're really going to strand a leadoff triple.

Orel said...

We really stranded a leadoff triple.

karen said...

Orel...Yep.

Orel said...

D'oh.

Orel said...

3-0 Nats in the 5th

Orel said...

4-0 Nats in the 6th

karen said...

Now would be a good time for that first homer Yasiel

karen said...

Maybe Grace needs a kiss on his boo boo.

karen said...

Crap. You never know which Baez you're going to get.

Steve Sax said...

Oh, I know what Baez I’m getting. And it sucks

Orel said...

GAME 2
Taylor 2B
Seager SS
Grandal C
Bellinger 1B
Pederson CF
Kemp LF
Puig RF
Muncy 3B
Ryu P

Orel said...

We lead 1-0 on a solo homer by Joc in the 2nd

Orel said...

Bellinger strikes out with the bases loaded and no out in the 6th. Still 1-0

Orel said...

Joc strikes out with the bases loaded and one out in the 6th. Still 1-0

Orel said...

Kemp strikes out with the bases loaded and two out in the 6th. Still 1-0

Orel said...

Kiké saves! 2-0 Dodgers

Cliff Beefpile said...

KEEKAY!

Cliff Beefpile said...

Cody pops on his bobblehead night!

Cliff Beefpile said...

That might have left the Stadium on a hot day. Damn!

Orel said...

Cody Bobblebomb in the 8th! 4-0 Dodgers

Cliff Beefpile said...

Kenny Lee breaks Harper's bat with a cutter...this is more like it.

Orel said...

Kenley is...fixed?

Orel said...

WIN

Cliff Beefpile said...

That felt like a 2017 win.

Steve Sax said...

Go Dodgers! Nice to even the series up

Orel said...

GAME 3
Taylor CF
Seager SS
Grandal C
Bellinger 1B
Pederson LF
Puig RF
Utley 2B
Muncy 3B
Wood P

QuadSevens said...

Shadows!

karen said...

If it's a National game, they're talking about the shadows.

Orel said...

We strand two in the 1st. SURPRISE

QuadSevens said...

I really dislike ARod's commentary.

karen said...

I hate national games. It's like having strangers in my bathroom.

Orel said...

ARod is being praised for his reinvention as a commentator, but let's not forget what a weasel he was as a player

Orel said...

Noted slugger Michael A. Taylor hits a HR off Wood. 2-0 Nats in the 4th

karen said...

Not loving Matty's hair.

QuadSevens said...

Utley just took a pitch by fake bunting and then jumping so the pitch went between his legs and I laughed out loud.

QuadSevens said...

So far, that has been the most enjoyable part of this game.

Orel said...

GAME 3 HIGHLIGHTS
• Karen doesn't like Matty's hair
• Chase jumping

Orel said...

CT3 one-out double in the 6th

Orel said...

Grandal 2-run double!

Steve Sax said...

Clutch hit for Yaz. 3-2 Wash.

Steve Sax said...

I’m not watching. What’s with matt’s hair?

Orel said...

Cornrows?

Orel said...

Cody with the RBI double and slick slide into second!

Steve Sax said...

Codes!

karen said...

Cody Pop ties it at 3-3.

QuadSevens said...

The 6th inning has been enjoyable.

Steve Sax said...

Missed opportunities there but at least it is tied

karen said...

@Orel and Saxy 7:12....I'm just grateful it isn't a tomahawk.

karen said...

I mean mohawk!!!

Orel said...

Seager RBI makes it 4-3 in the 7th!

Cliff Beefpile said...

Big Blue leads 4-3!

Cliff Beefpile said...

Things I now know about Karen:

Don't show up in her bathroom unannounced
Say NO to mohawks!

QuadSevens said...

Nats challenge a stolen base call. It's really close. Taylor on second for now.

QuadSevens said...

The challenge ends our inning. Taylor called out.

Steve Sax said...

Corey sac fly puts us up 4-3, but cheapie challenge overturns CT3’s SB for the third out. Oh well

Orel said...

Cingrani Ks Harper. Impressive, most impressive.

Orel said...

@Cliffy, 7:46p: Hahaha!

Orel said...

Baez almost coughs up the tie

Steve Sax said...

I’ve got a bad feeling bout Baez here

Orel said...

Do we root for Baez to fail now so Dave will stop using him in high-leverage situations or do we root for him to fail later so he gets released?

Orel said...

Geico please

Orel said...

Grandal pulls a Puig and gets picked off first

Steve Sax said...

And here we go for KJ

Cliff Beefpile said...

9th inning, here we go.
spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch...

Orel said...

Kenley gives up a leadoff single

Orel said...

Had to google that, Cliffy!

Orel said...

Kenley gives up a second single

Orel said...

Ks Stevenson!

Cliff Beefpile said...

@Orel HA!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqXZ9YoRD50

That's the best explanation really

Orel said...

Ks Turner!

Orel said...

@Cliffy: That's gold!

karen said...

THAT WAS A STRIKE UMP!!!!

Orel said...

Phew! WIN

karen said...

WE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QuadSevens said...

Win!

Cliff Beefpile said...

WIN! We're finally average! 10-10!