SB Nation DC - Nationals Vs. Orioles: Stephen Strasburg Stellar Yet Again In 9-3 Win

Nationals Drop 2 Of 3 In First Real Battle Of The Beltways

2012-05-21T15:21:45Z

There was no Baltimore Orioles fan invasion. They're already here. They live among us. They're living next door. They're walking the streets of Washington, D.C. in their Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken and Nick Markakis jerseys. Some of them have been here for years, decades, cheering for the closest major league team during baseball's three decade absence from the nation's capital. Not all of them abandoned their allegiance to the O's upon baseball's return to D.C. That person next to you on the Metro could be an Orioles fan. That girl or guy you're flirting with at the bar. Your co-worker. That fan in the seat next to you in Nationals Park...

There was no marketing campaign designed around the idea of taking back the home field advantage from the Nats' nearest neighbors to the north like there was when Philadelphia's fans "invaded" Nationals Park two weeks back. There was, however, plenty of black and orange in the stands, there were louder than usual "O's" during the national anthem in all three games this weekend, and for the first time in years, there was a 1st place Orioles team on the field, playing a second-place Nationals team in games that seemed to finally have some significance aside from regional bragging rights.

The Nationals entered the weekend series with a 23-15 record in second place in the NL East a .5 game behind the Atlanta Braves. The Baltimore Orioles, who might be the biggest surprise in baseball so far this season, started the series in the midst of a three-game win streak with a 25-14 record and a 1.0 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

"It's kind of fun it actually means something for the first time pretty much since I've played here I guess you could say," Ryan Zimmerman explained in an appearance on ESPN's The Scott Van Pelt Show on Friday afternoon. "But it's good for the cities. It's good for both fanbases. Obviously the Orioles' fanbase has been around for a long time, and our fanbase is fairly new, but they're both very good fanbases and we look forward to [continuing to grow]."

"To be honest with you," the Nationals' first 1st Round pick said, "The first few years here it was way more of [their fans]. It's kind of evened out, even more our fans now. Up there it's still their fans. But it's one of those kind of dueling fanbases where I wouldn't say it's very hostile, it's more of a, I don't know, it's friendly rivalry I guess you could say. But it's fun, it definitely makes it interesting now that we're both good."

In 2006, according to Baseball-Reference's attendance figures, there were a total of 94,974 fans in attendance for the three-game inaugural Battle of the Beltway series. 82,317 fans watched the Nats and O's in 2007. The '08 series drew 115,133 fans. 85,269 fans watched the Orioles and Nats in '09. 85,203 in 2010. 107,615 fans turned out in 2011. This year, 36,680 turned out for Friday night's game, 42,331 on Saturday, which combined with Sunday's announced crowd of 41,918 for a Battle of the Beltways high of 120,929 fans in Nationals Park for the three game series. The "Take Back the Park" series with the Phillies this year drew 106,931. The O's and Nats only play six times each year, so there's not as much of a heated rivalry, but clearly the fans were interested in seeing two of the best teams the Mid-Atlantic region has had in years go head-to-head.

Nats' skipper Davey Johnson told reporters on Friday afternoon that the series was a big one for the Nationals, and not just because of his own personal history with the Orioles franchise. "I love coming back and playing Baltimore," the one-time Orioles' player and manager said, "I spent so many years as a player [with the Orioles], and I mean, I picked them when I signed, when I could have signed with any other team. So, I've always followed the Orioles and whatever was going on with them ever since I was a teenager, and that's a long time."

"But I'm really happy that they're playing great," Johnson continued, "[They're] on top of their division, it's a tough division. We're getting ready to go in our division [with Philadelphia] right after we finish with them, so I think it's only perfect that we tune up hopefully on the Orioles." It didn't exactly work out that way, the Orioles took two of three, winning game one in extra innings thanks to a strong start by right-hander Jake Arrieta and an 11th inning HR by Markakis. On Saturday the O's jumped on Ross Detwiler's fastball early and hung on for a victory in spite of the Nationals battling back from a 6-0 deficit to make it a tight one-run game. The Nationals salvaged a win on Sunday, with Stephen Strasburg throwing five strong innings and hitting his first MLB HR as the Nats battled back from down 3-0 to claim a 9-3 victory.

It didn't turn out exactly as Davey Johnson had hoped though, but as he told reporters Sunday night, he was happy to get the win in the series finale. "I think it's real important," Johnson said, "The Orioles are playing as good as any team in baseball right now. And they beat us a couple ballgames and they owed us something, and to come back and score nine runs against their pitching staff says a lot. My guys over there have a lot of confidence and that rally that we had [Saturday night] when were six down did a lot for us. And I like the way the guys were swinging, it was a big win though, shoot."

The series played out mostly without incident, no HBP hit to teach Bryce Harper a lesson, no bench clearing brawls, injured catchers or hard slides at any of the bases, but Johnson did manage to plant a little seed of a rivalry with a throw-away comment at the end of Friday's post game press conference, when he raised a question about the way O's right-hander Jake Arrieta was licking the fingers of his pitching hand on the mound. "[Arrieta] made some good pitches," Johnson said, "At certain times we took fastballs right there. He had a little slider and decent curve ball. I complained early on because he'd go to his mouth two or three times and I didn't see a real good wipe. I wasn't accusing him of throwing a splitter, but I said, I'd like to see a better wipe. I didn't realize he was that fidgety, he's got all kinds of moves out there..."

Fairly innocuous, right? But then... on Sunday morning, Arrieta responded wryly via Twitter:

Workin on my spitter in the pen today..
— Jake Arrieta (@JArrieta34) May 20, 2012

Real bitter rivalries have started over less.

Orioles Vs. Nationals Recap: Stephen Strasburg Does It All In 9-3 Win

2012-05-20T21:04:02Z

Stephen Strasburg put in another stellar performance on the mound against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday afternoon, while also getting it done at the plate, leading the Washington Nationals to a 9-3 win Sunday afternoon.

Strasburg allowed just four hits and one earned run in five innings while fanning eight batters. After allowing an earned run in the first, he would not receive help from his defense early in the game, as an error led to two Orioles runs in the second to make the score 3-0.

The Nationals would then go on to score nine unanswered runs,fueled by a two-run triple by Bryce Harper in the bottom of the third. Harper would then score on a groundout to tie the game at 3-3. Back-to-back home runs by Jesus Flores and Strasburg broke the tie, and the Nationals would never look back. The home run for Strasburg was the first in his MLB career and drew a curtain call from the fans at Nationals Park.

Danny Espinosa added a two-run homer in the eighth to go with an Adam LaRoche sac fly to round out the scoring.

The Nationals return to action on Monday where they travel to Philadelphia for another series with the Phillies.

For more on this series and all things Washington Nationals baseball, please head over to Federal Baseball. You can also check out Camden Chat, SB Nation's Baltimore Orioles blog, for some perspective from the other dugout. As always, check out the SB Nation Major League Baseball hub page for more infer on this and all MLB series.

VIDEO: Stephen Strasburg's First Career Home Run

2012-05-20T20:31:45Z

The Washington Nationals had lost the first two games of their weekend interleague series against the Baltimore Orioles, but Nationals fans felt good about Sunday's game, because Stephen Strasburg was on the mound. Strasburg not only delivered from the bump, striking out eight and allowing only four hits, but the youngster hit his first career home run as well on Sunday. Check out the solo Strasbomb after the jump.

Video via MLB.com:

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We'll have plenty more on this series throughout the weekend here on SB Nation DC, so keep it locked to this StorySteam for all the latest news and updates as they become available. For more on this series and all things Washington Nationals baseball, please head over to Federal Baseball. You can also check out Camden Chat, SB Nation's Baltimore Orioles blog, for some perspective from the other dugout. As always, check out the SB Nation Major League Baseball hub page for more infer on this and all MLB series.

VIDEO: Capitals' Jason Chimera Throws Ceremonial First Pitch At Sunday's Orioles Vs. Nationals Game

2012-05-20T20:19:57Z

The Battle of the Beltways has been a rousing success at Nationals Park this weekend, providing fans of both the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals with compelling and exciting ballgames. A high-profile interleague series also means special guests for the ceremonial first pitch, and on Sunday Washington Capital Jason Chimera had the honors. Chimera's first pitch attempt, though likely a ball, was a solid effort, and certainly better than recent attempts by other, unmentioned Washington athletes.

After the jump, check out Chimera moonlighting as a right-handed long reliever.

Video via Russian Machine Never Breaks and CSNWashington.com:

Orioles Vs. Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Hits First Career Home Run

2012-05-20T19:31:56Z

Stephen Strasburg has terrorized opponents with his pitching, but on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, he was getting it done at the plate, connecting on his first career MLB home run.

The homer came in the fourth inning off of Wei-Yin Chen. The homer was the second in a back-to-back combo, as it came right after Jesus Flores took Chen deep.

PHOTO: Baltimore's Adam Jones Sports 'Let Teddy Win' Button

2012-05-20T16:50:48Z

If "Knope 2012" can be successful, why can't the "Let Teddy Win" campaign find equal success this season, perhaps even today when the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles wrap up their three-game interleague set. Racing President Teddy Roosevelt has suffered too long, the fans want to see him win, even players from the other team are now campaign supporters.

After the jump, check out Adam Jones of the Orioles showing his support for our country's 26th President, now an over-sized lovable loser in daily mascot races.

Picture via the ever-hopeful @LetTeddyWin website:

Nationals Vs. Orioles, Lineups: Davey Johnson To Try Danny Espinosa In Leadoff Spot On Sunday

2012-05-20T15:19:33Z

A day after resting Danny Espinosa and batting rookie Steve Lombardozzi in the leadoff spot, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson will swap Espy for Lombo. Ian Desmond remains in the fifth spot on Sunday, and Bryce Harper will again bat second. Both Xavier Nady and Tyler Moore are getting the start on Sunday

Stephen Strasburg takes the hill for the Nationals looking to stop the streaking O's. Baltimore has won the first two games of the series, and the Orioles have now won five games in a row, and nine straight on the road.

Today's Washington starting lineup, via Amanda Comak of the Washington Post:

#nats lineup: Espinosa 2B, Harper CF, Zimmerman 3B, LaRoche 1B, Desmond SS, Nady RF, Moore LF, Flores C, Strasburg P
— Amanda Comak (@acomak) May 20, 2012

Nationals Vs. Orioles: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Hope To Salvage One Beltway Series Win

2012-05-20T12:48:59Z

The so-called Battle of the Beltways this weekend at Nationals Park has been a tad one-sided, as the Baltimore Orioles (27-14) have come to Washington and taken the first two games of the three-game set, with the third and final matchup scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday. Baltimore has no won five straight games, including nine straight victories on the road.

The Nationals (23-17) hope Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 2.25 ERA) can shut down Baltimore on Sunday afternoon. The young righthander is among the National League leaders in ERA and strikeouts, though he is coming off his roughest outing of the year, allowing four runs in four innings to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in a 6-1 loss.

Baltimore will run pleasant surprise Wei-Yin Chen (4-0, 2.45) out to the mound on Sunday. The 26-year-old rookie from Taiwan has allowed two runs or less in six of his seven starts this season.