Nationals Schedule

The battle of the Titans had been postponed once due to weather but this clash finally occurred on a hot, humid summers evening. Many sub-plots made the match-up more intriguing, as Ace Ed Klieman would toe the rubber against long-time teammates from the 52 Indians. The Bash Brothers Lezotte were reunited as Dave finally aged enough to join Steve who had assembled an impressive group of players to challenge the 47-1 Nationals over the past two plus years.

After two ground outs to begin the game, singles by Monticello and Baratta sent the message that the Pirates were here to compete. Pirate starter LaFontaine was HBP to fill the bases and put pressure on Klieman who responded by recording his third GO of the inning thanks to stellar play by the Nats infield. Perhaps reeling from the HBP, Pirate pitcher LaFontaine began the bottom of the inning by walking the first two Nat batters before Jim Cuthrell rifled a double to CF scoring both base runners. Another walk and smart base running by the Nats plated a third run to end the first inning.

The Pirates would not score until the fourth, the Nats had plated two more runs in the second on a lead off triple by Jeff Britton, the sound off the bat heralded what was an impressive drive that was eventually fielded up against the LF fence. Howland, always clutch, drilled an RBI single as the next batter. The second run would score on a fielders choice as the Pirates unsuccessfully attempted to double up the speedy McHenry. The Nats were held scoreless for the next three innings while the Pirates recorded two in the fourth and broke through in the sixth starting with a lead off single by Rod Ritter for an additional 5 runs and a Pirates 7-5 lead. The Nats now trailed late in a game for the first time all season.

The heat and humidity of the day now gave way to a cooling evening breeze blowing out to right. Steve LeZotte was now on the rubber and was keeping the Nats off balance going into the bottom of the sixth. That’s when the sub-plots played out with more twists than a Hitchcock mystery. Sub-plot #1 Ed Klieman versus his old teammates: Ed, known for his speed, blasts an absolute rocket to deep, deep, yes that deep Centerfield. Triple to lead off the inning! The Nats are now inspired, Cuthrell scores Klieman; Carter and DiGiovanni reach base and Wolcott singles to score two. Nats lead 8-7. Boyd SAC bunts to move the two base runners up. Which brings us to Sub-plot #2: Britton (he of the monster triple) is at the plate . The Pirates, remembering the blast, decide to walk Britton to set up a force play, perhaps an inning ending double play. Clutch Howland is up next, HOF’r who lives on Ribbies (usually with lots of Sweet Baby Rays.) The Pirates remembered the triple but not the hitter who drove him in earlier.  Jimmy does Jimmy and blast a single to left field scoring two. Nats 10-7. Singles by Bowers and McHenry drive in 2 and 1 respectively. Nats 13-7.

Brian Wolcott, always a gamer, with an  arm gifted from God, picks up the closer role and finishes the game with a K. The Pirates give notice and the Nationals respond with an announcement of their own! The King is not Dead, Long Live the King! Big Effort! Big Comeback! Big Win! 

In the post-game press conference sponsored by Labatts, Ed Klieman identified he didn’t have his best stuff on this evening. The results of the contest between the undefeated, now 8-0 Nationals and the speedy, talented Tigers reinforced that 80% of Ed Klieman is better than 100% of most pitchers. Ed’s struggle to find the curveball early was offset by a stellar defensive effort by the Nats fielders. The middle fielders Mike Carter and Jeff Britton both displayed quickness and arm strength in crucial moments to stymie the upset hopes of the Tigers. Not to be outdone, Klieman recorded several 1-3 outs in another Gold Glove performance on the mound. After the second inning the curve started working and the “K’s” began to accumulate with Ed recording at least one strikeout in each of the last four innings and two in the final frame. Ed, had special incentive to reach back, after feeling some discomfort in his motion, to finish the final inning when he saw McHenry warming up to relieve. With only a 14-3 lead and two outs Ed  was worried about his “W.” Credit Manager Mark Henderson, the master motivator, with Ed’s complete game by making sure Ed heard “Kenny warm up quick!”

The Tigers were resilient creating havoc on the bases after recording two outs in several innings. Keenan Brown was masterful on the mound, recording 8 K’s and a 1-3GO for 9 of the 12 outs in his four innings as the starter. The play of the game occurred in the 5^th inning when Nats Gary Murawa hit a deep fly ball to left. Tiger Glen Therrien positioned himself to catch and throw knowing the fleet-of-foot McHenry would be tagging at third. Glen of the golden arm executed a perfect one hop dime to catcher Sam Adragna who was blocking the plate thinking “catch it, tag and brace yourself” as McHenry was flashing down the line thinking “what is the technical definition of Manslaughter?” After the tag out, denied the Sac Fly RBI, Murawa was thinking “fleet-of-foot??!!?”

The Nats Bats do not disappoint! Bill Harper, Mike Carter, Joe Fioroni and Ken McHenry all recorded perfect 3/3 evenings, with Carter and Fioroni providing the muscle with the only two extra base hits in the game. Carter’s double in the top of the first would plate the initial two runs of the game and send the signal the Nats are ready to play. In the top fourth with the Tigers clinging to a 3-2 lead, Fioroni would contribute his bases loaded, bases clearing two bagger. Joe’s much anticipated return from the DL did not disappoint!  Jack DiGiovanni and Jim Howland continued to pound the ball with 2/3 performances while playing first base (someday a tape of their glove-work should be preserved in the Smithsonian, art has many forms.) Willie Boyd and Jim Bowers also went 2/3 and contributed in key moments in the field along with Doug Bima. Gary Parsons called a great game behind the plate and kept the runners from advancing often, putting his arm on display by sending a bullet to third to nail a speedy Tiger attempting to advance.

Ron Forbes kept score, had the courtesy runners prepared, pinch hit and did not return my pen.

Next up the Lugnuts fresh off their first victory of the season. Go Nats!

In a pre-game interview Rick Birch, starting pitcher for the Zug Island Lugnuts expressed he was the chosen “lamb being led to the slaughter” as he prepared to face the dominant and undefeated Nationals. His outlook was affirmed by the drubbing the Lugnuts received from the Nationals’ Bashers in the previous outing just four days prior. The Lugnuts may not always post a “W” in their games but they are a most resilient team with a group of players that always shows up to compete. The Lugs enjoy a status in the league built on respect for their spirit and camaraderie.  Today would be a Lugnut effort to be proud of as they avoided the cataclysmic “Lugnut Inning” and played flawlessly behind Birch who would turn out to be a wolf in sheep clothing.

The Nationals are undefeated for a reason. Today that main reason would be the stellar performance on the bump by Mel Neely. A pitching duel was about to take place. Lug, Rick Birch rocked and delivered heat, high and away, with pin point accuracy. His off speed pitch consistently stymied many of the Nationals (and leagues) best hitters. Nats Neely, of the smooth wind up, commanded three pitches today. As the innings progressed he and first time battery mate Jeff Britton became of one mind, interspersing location and speeds making it a tough day at the plate for most of the Lugs. The duel was even until the top of the third when Gus Morris singled to drive in Ira Strickstein for the Lugnuts first score. In the bottom of the third trailing 1-0, the wolf in sheep clothing on the mound, Birch, would now be facing a “poked bear” as the Nats trailed for one of the few times all year. Singles by Doug Bima and Jim Bowers and a walk to Bill Harper loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the third. Power-hitter Joe Fioroni then hit a difficult ball to the right side scoring Bima from third to tie the game and advancing the two lead runners on the force. Next up was clutch slugger, Mike Carter, always hyper focused with runners in scoring position, Carter roped a long gapper to Leftcenter for a double to score Bowers and Harper easily. Nats lead 3-1.  

The pitching duel of Neely and Birch would continue with scoreless innings until Mike Carter and Jack DiGiovanni led off the sixth inning with singles. Brian Wolcott then delivered a bomb far over the already deeply positioned Leftfielder’s head, one massive double - two more runs. Next up the always dangerous Jim Howland singled home Wolcott.  Nats up 6-1.  The Lugnuts were not about to “go gently into that good night” as they threatened in the top to the 7^th with Gregg Housey picking up an RBI after the first three batters; Rick Birch, Jim Rossi and Randy Stark all singled. The Nats defense prevailed and Neely struck out the final batter to end a well played ball game.

The game recap wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the games Shortstops, Nats Mike Carter and Lugnuts Gus Morris. Both displayed range and skill in fielding their positions and each made several critical plays that took them into the outfield. Good baseball was played today!

Next up the pesky Pirates!