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The veteran Cuban workhorse is now on the sidelines for the rest of the 2011 season as the Nationals take a look at their younger arms. Sunday's game might have been the last game Hernandez played in Nationals uniform.
The Washington Nationals dropped the Rubber Match game against the New York Mets 6-3 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. It was Nationals starter Livan Hernandez's last start of 2011 and perhaps as a Nationals player and he did not help the odds of victory himself.
Hernandez pitched two solid innings before giving up a two-RBI single to Ruben Tejada in the third. The Nationals were able to take the lead in the third thanks to a Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos hitting RBI doubles and Chris Marrero hitting his first MLB RBI, a ground out that scored Rick Ankiel. Hernandez then fell apart in the sixth inning after Lucas Duda hit a solo home run. Hernandez ended up loading the bases before being pulled by manager Davey Johnson for Todd Coffey. Coffey would allow three of the inherited runners to score.
Hernandez's final line was five innings pitched, six runs on eight hits, one walk and one strike out. Hernandez no doubt wanted to go out guns ablazing, but unfortunately he blazed towards his 13th loss of the season.
The Nationals fall to 64-74 on the season.
If New York Mets outfielder Lucas Duda didn't make a "dud" of a play in the third inning, the score might be a little different Sunday, but the Washington Nationals capitalized and have taken a 3-2 lead over their NL East rivals at Nationals Park.
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa launched a Mike Pelfry pitch deep into right field, but Duda made a bad read on it and the ball sailed just over his glove. The botched play allowed center fielder Jayson Werth to score and get the Nationals offense going. Holding onto a 2-1 lead in the same inning, first baseman Chris Marrero grounded out, but scored Rick Ankiel for Marrero's first Major League RBI. Later, catcher WIlson Ramos snuck a bullet down the third base line past a diving David Wright for a RBI double.
Starter Livan Hernandez, in his final start of the 2011 season, has so far done well going five innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He has walked one and struck out one.
The Washington Nationals wild, walk-off victory against the New York Mets Saturday night was the franchise's 350th victory game against the Mets on Saturday, their most against any Major League club. On Sunday afternoon, the Nats will be looking for 351.
If playing with numbers is your thing, then you will like Washington's choice of starting pitcher because Livan Hernandez (8-12, 4.29 ERA) has been racking up numbers his whole career. The 36-year old threw his 50,000th Major League pitch his last start and will toe the mound against the Mets for the 40th time in his long career, the most starts against any team he has ever had. Sunday will also mark the last time the Cuban workhorse will start for the Nationals in 2011 and, depending on the climate in the organization and its choices, it may be his last start as a member of the Nationals. Nationals.com:
"I thank God every day for giving me a chance to throw all of my career. It's nice," said Hernandez. "It's hard to stay healthy every five days. ... I'm the type of guy that tries to take care of myself every fifth day.
Hernandez has said he would love to return to the Nationals next season and is even willing to take a long relief role with the team. His opponent Sunday will be Mike Pelfry (7-11, 4.65 ERA).
The Rubber Match kicks off at 1:35 P.M.
Nationals Lineup
Ian Desmond, SS
Roger Bernadina, LF
Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
Jayson Werth, CF
Rick Ankiel, RF
Danny Espinosa, 2B
Chris Marrero, 1B
Wilson Ramos, C
Livan Hernandez, SP
Pondering Washington Nationals Legacy Of Livan Hernandez
by Andrew Kinback
Nationals starter Livan Hernandez pitched his last game of 2011 on Sunday and perhaps his final inning as a member of the Washington Nationals. What will the Cuban's Washington legacy be?Continue reading »
Sep 05 10:57a