+2
Ryan Zimmerman's consecutive game streak of reaching base safely has come to an end at 29. Zimmerman was 0-for-4 in Wednesday night's game.
Washington Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez is going hot, but the offense still is ice cold as the Arizona Diamondbacks took advantage of a Nationals error and took the lead in the fourth, 2-0.
Hernandez has given up two runs on five hits in six innings of work. He has walked none and struck out five. He pitched three scoreless innings before the fourth where a Jonny Gomes error lead to a D-Backs run and Chris Young scored on a Lyle Overbay RBI single. The Nationals offense still has not cracked Arizona's Daniel Hudson. Shortstop Ian Desmond is 2-for-3 while Second baseman Danny Espinosa and first baseman Michael Morse are 1-and-2, but there has been not much else from the near perished offense.
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has yet to collect a hit Wednesday (he is 0-for-3) which puts in jeopardy his hitting safely in consecutive games streak. It currently sits at 29 as the game is in the bottom of the seventh.
The Washington Nationals suffered their 13th shutout of the season on Tuesday night at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks and as it always seems to be, the culprit was an offense unable to drive in runs when it really needs to. The Nats were only able to scrape together six hits against Ian Kennedy and they stranded 21 runners on base. On top of that, the offense left pitcher Jordan Zimmermann hanging (around too long) after a spectacular pitching performance, one of his last of 2011.
The Nationals will look to get their heads back on straight and pump up the energy against the Snakes as Livan Hernandez (7-11, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound against Daniel Hudson (12-9, 3.83 ERA). The Nationals offense is more than capable of hitting pitchers hard, but lack consistency. Perhaps the most consistent player in the line-up right now is third baseman Ryan Zimmerman who reached base safely for the 29th consecutive game on Tuesday.
Right fielder Jayson Werth has been looking much more comfortable at the plate recently, but unfortunately the Nats will be without his heated up bat as he suffered a mild groin strain on Tuesday during play and will be out of the line-up Wednesday. Taking his place will be outfielder Laynce Nix in right field while Jonny Gomes mans left.
First pitch is at 7:05 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up
Ian Desmond - SS
Rick Ankiel - CF
Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
Michael Morse - 1B
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Laynce Nix - RF
Jonny Gomes - LF
Wilson Ramos - C
Livan Hernandez - SP
Diamondbacks Vs. Nationals Final: Back-To-Back Homers Not Enough In Nationals 4-2 Loss
Washington Nationals outfielders Laynce Nix and Jonny Gomes jacked back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Arizona Diamondbacks bit the Nats with a 4-2 loss at Nationals Park on Wednesday night. The D-Backs take a 2-to-1 game lead in a four game series between the two teams.
Starter Livan Hernandez went seven innings giving up four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out five. It was a relatively strong performance from Hernandez, but there is a feeling he was perhaps left in a little too long. Nats manager Davey Johnson took responsibility for the loss in his post-game and confessed he felt he "balked" on how Hernandez was left in the game.
Nix and Gomes, both former Cincinnati Reds reunited, hit back-to-back solo home runs in the eighth inning and doing the only damage the Nationals would do against the Arizona pitching corps.
It is the second loss in the row for the Nationals as they fall to 62-66 on the year.
Aug 24 10:18p by Andrew Kinback