SB Nation DC - Nationals Vs. Cardinals: Nationals Split Day-Night Doubleheader With Cardinalshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-04-20T23:20:27-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18866772011-04-20T23:20:27-04:002011-04-20T23:20:27-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Nationals Win Streak Ends At Four As Cardinals Win 5-3
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> had a break down in pitching, their offense ran out of gas and had an inability to completely capitalize on three St. Louis errors which lead to the Nats losing to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> 5-3 at Busch Stadium in Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader. The Nationals won the first game that took place earlier Wednesday afternoon 8-6.</p>
<p>Nationals starter <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> was able to get two quick outs in the bottom of the fifth, but then walked <span>Albert Pujols</span>. The Cardinals hit three straight singles afterwards to score two runs and break a 3-3 tie. The Cardinals never looked back as the Nationals could not offensively move forward as the Cardinals relief corps shut them down the rest of the way. Zimmermann went six-innings giving up five runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out three while taking the loss.</p>
<p>Wednesday night's game saw the return of Nationals reliever <span>Collin Balester</span> who pitched two-innings with one hit, one walk and a strikeout. Balester also balked and hit a batter on consecutive pitches, but no damage was done during the inning.</p>
<p>The Nationals face a Rubber Match with the Red Birds on Thursday at 1:45 P.M. EST. The Nationals are now 9-8 and are in third place in the NL East.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/20/2124021/nationals-vs-cardinals-score-finalAndrew Kinback2011-04-20T21:21:04-04:002011-04-20T21:21:04-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals Score: Nats Searching For Offense While Down 3-1
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<p>Going into the fifth-inning, the score is 3-1 in favor of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> and the St. Louis at Busch Stadium. Pitchers Jordan Zimmerman and Jaime Garcia were both pitching hot until the bottom of third-inning when the Cardinals drew first blood on a Colby Rasmus RBI single.</p>
<p>The Nationals answered back in the top of the fourth when outfielder <span>Rick Ankiel</span> took advantage of a Cardinals error to get to third base. <span>Jayson Werth</span> came to the plate and was able to bring Ankiel in on a RBI groundout. The Cardinals have committed two errors in the game while the Nationals have committed only one. Shortstop <span>Ian Desmond</span> was the culprit and coupled with the error he had in Game 1, Desmond now leads the Nats with errors with five.</p>
<p>However Zimmermann ran into trouble again in the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a <span>Lance Berkman</span> double to score Matt Holliday who had a lead off walk, followed by Nick Pinto singling in Berkman.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/20/2123808/nationals-vs-cardinals-scoreAndrew Kinback2011-04-20T19:03:15-04:002011-04-20T19:03:15-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals: Streaking Nats Look To Make It Two In St. Louis
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<p>The 9-7 <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Nationals</a> are the National League's hottest team right now, rolling with a four-game winning streak into the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader with the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. They took the first game of the doubleheader early Wednesday afternoon by the score of 8-6.</p>
<p>The Nationals are hoping starter <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> (1-2, 2.45 ERA) throws plenty of smoke tonight, as a lot of their bullpen options were exhausted in Game 1. Pitcher <span>John Lannan</span> continued the streak of Nationals pitchers that have pitched five or more innings in each game of the season so far in 2011, and Zimmermann looks to continue that success. Going against Zimmermann will be <span>Jaime Garcia</span> (2-0, 1.35 ERA), who has won two of three of the games he has pitched this season and has only given up three runs.</p>
<p>Catcher <span>Wilson Ramos</span>, outfielder Michael Morse and third baseman <span>Jerry Hairston Jr.</span> will be fresh bodies to oppose the Red Birds, as they were held out of the first game so they might face the left-handed Garcia. In relief, the Nationals have <span>Brian Broderick</span> and <span>Collin Balester</span> ready and waiting for their chance to shut down the Cardinals offense.</p>
<p>A victory Wednesday night would mark the second time this season the Nationals have swept a doubleheader this season. It'll also put them in second place in the NL East behind the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Phillies</a>.</p>
<p><b>Nationals Line-Up</b></p>
<p><span>Danny Espinosa</span> - 2B</p>
<p><span>Rick Ankiel</span> - CF</p>
<p><span>Jayson Werth</span> - RF</p>
<p><span>Adam LaRoche</span> - 1B</p>
<p>Wilson Ramos - C</p>
<p>Michael Morse - LF</p>
<p><span>Ian Desmond</span> - SS</p>
<p>Jerry Hairston Jr. - 3B</p>
<p>Jordan Zimmermann - SP</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/20/2123559/nationals-vs-cardinals-score-previewAndrew Kinback2011-04-20T17:44:15-04:002011-04-20T17:44:15-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals Final Score: Bullpen Struggles, But Nats Hold On For 8-6 Win
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<p>It wasn't as easy a victory as it probably should have been, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> have taken the first game of a day/night doubleheader over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. The Nationals scored six runs in the third inning and held on to pick up an 8-6 victory. It's the Nationals' fourth straight win and it puts them at 9-7 on the season.</p>
<p><span>John Lannan</span> ended up getting the win, pitching 5+ innings and allowing just two earned runs. <span>Danny Espinosa</span> went 3-5 on the day, and <span>Laynce Nix</span> had two RBI and a solo home run. </p>
<p>The Nationals sent 10 men to the plate in the third inning, as seven straight hitters reached base. But their bullpen struggled, allowing the Cardinals to score three runs in the sixth inning. An error by <span>Ian Desmond</span> eventually led to all three runs, as <span>Chad Gaudin</span> struggled mightily to recover. However, Tyler Clippard came in to retire <span>Albert Pujols</span> with two on and two out, and the Cardinals never seriously threatened again.</p>
<p>Game 2 is scheduled for 8:15 Wednesday night.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/20/2123436/nationals-vs-cardinals-final-score-john-lannanMike Prada2011-04-20T15:57:38-04:002011-04-20T15:57:38-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals Score: Danny Espinosa, Nationals Up 7-2 Early
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<p>The first game of a day/night doubleheader has been good for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>, as they lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> 7-1 after five innings. Six of the seven runs happened in the third inning, when the Nationals sent 10 men to the plate and rocked Cardinals starter <span>Jake Westbrook</span>. Leadoff hitter <span>Danny Espinosa</span> has three hits to lead the charge.</p>
<p>The Nationals reached base seven consecutive times in the second inning. Espinosa led off with a single, <span>Rick Ankiel</span> walked and <span>Jayson Werth</span> singled home Espinosa. After <span>Adam LaRoche</span> walked to load the bases, <span>Ian Desmond</span> slammed a two-run single to score Ankiel and Werth. <span>Laynce Nix</span> then singled to drive in LaRoche, and Desmond stole home on a successful double-steal attempt. <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> knocked in the final run of the inning with a double to score Nix.</p>
<p>The Cardinals have their runs on solo home runs by <span>Albert Pujols</span> and <span>Colby Rasmus</span>. Otherwise, <span>John Lannan</span> has pitched well, and the Nationals have played good defense, turning several double plays to get out of jams. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/4/20/2123208/nationals-vs-cardinals-score-danny-espinosaMike Prada2011-04-20T11:52:21-04:002011-04-20T11:52:21-04:00Nationals Vs. Cardinals: John Lannan Starts In Game 1 Of Day-Night Doubleheader
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<p>After rain forced the cancellation of the first game of a three-game series between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a>, the two teams will do battle in a day/night doubleheder on Wednesday. The first game is at 2:15 p.m., and will pit <span>John Lannan</span> against Cardinals starter <span>Jake Westbrook</span>.</p>
<p>Due to it being a doubleheader, Nationals' manager Jim Riggleman has made a couple changes to his starting lineup. <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> will start at catcher, as Riggleman has decided to save <span>Wilson Ramos</span> for Game 2. In addition, <span>Laynce Nix</span> will start for Michael Morse in left field.</p>
<p><span>Danny Espinosa</span> will remain in the leadoff spot after putting up some big numbers over the weekend in D.C. against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a>. Here are the complete lineups.</p>
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<p><b>Nationals</b></p>
<p>1. Danny Espinosa, 2B</p>
<p>2. <span>Rick Ankiel</span>, CF</p>
<p>3. <span>Jayson Werth</span>, RF</p>
<p>4. <span>Adam LaRoche</span>, 1B</p>
<p>5. <span>Ian Desmond</span>, SS</p>
<p>6. Laynce Nix, LF</p>
<p>7. Ivan Rodriguez, C</p>
<p>8. <span>Alex Cora</span>, 3B</p>
<p>9. John Lannan, SP</p>
<p><b>Cardinals</b></p>
<p>1. <span>Ryan Theriot</span>, SS</p>
<p>2. <span>Colby Rasmus</span>, CF</p>
<p>3. <span>Albert Pujols</span>, 1B</p>
<p>4. <span>Matt Holliday</span>, LF</p>
<p>5. <span>Lance Berkman</span>, RF</p>
<p>6. <span>David Freese</span>, 3B</p>
<p>7. <span>Gerald Laird</span>, C</p>
<p>8. <span>Tyler Greene</span>, 2B</p>
<p>9. Jake Westbrook, SP</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/4/20/2333854/nationals-vs-cardinals-john-lannan-starts-in-game-1-of-day-nightMike Prada