SB Nation DC - Mariners Vs. Nationals: Vamos Ramos! Wilson Ramos Hits 3-Run Walk Off To Give Nationals The Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-06-22T09:44:34-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19997882011-06-22T09:44:34-04:002011-06-22T09:44:34-04:00Chain Reactions: Washington Nationals Rolling, Washington Wizards Prepare For 2011 NBA Draft
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<p>This week's Chain Reactions hits on the Nationals giving fans a reason to stay tuned, why Michael Morse is an all-star, the Wizards with lots of options on draft night and Donovan McNabb's final shot at the Shanahans. </p> <p><i>In this week's edition of Chain Reactions: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> are giving fans a reason to come to the yard; the team's first baseman should be all-star bound; the Washington Wizards have endless options in Thursday's 2011 NBA Draft; and Donovan McNabb direct messages the Shanahans via YouTube.</i></p>
<h4><b>Nationals' Walk Off Winner </b></h4>
<p>When it comes to baseball, I usually don't like to get too excited until a team is at .500 (Nats 36-37). The division (the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> are not losing sleep with that lead) and wild card races (Washington is five games back) are not won in the pre all-star schedule. But they can be lost. Keeping that in mind, it is great to see the Nationals' season is not a lost cause before the break.The Nats have won nine of the last 10 and are 13-6 in June.</p>
<p>On Tuesday night, the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/22/ramos-bomb-seals-nats-5-run-ninth-inning-rally-ove/">Nats won in walk-off </a>fashion thanks to<b> </b><span>Wilson Ramos</span>' ninth inning home run. </p>
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<p>"I think that was my best hit in my career," said <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/topics/wilson-ramos/"><font color="#164a6e">Ramos</font></a>, whose blast sealed the biggest ninth-inning comeback in Nationals history.</p>
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<p>While it may still be too early to buy playoff tickets, it is also too early to dismiss this year's edition of the Nats.</p>
<h4><b>Nationals' First Baseman All-Star Worthy </b></h4>
<p>The Nationals never got a chance to see if <span>Adam LaRoche</span> was the right call at first base after letting <span>Adam Dunn</span> walk via free agency. They also have played without a true lead-off hitter all season, and for much of the season, they have been without <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> or the type of production they hoped to get from Jayson Werth. So how are they just a game below .500 going into Wednesday night's action? Pitching, for one, but also, the <a href="http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110621&content_id=20807050&vkey=news_was&c_id=was">emergence of Michael Morse</a>, who the Nationals acquired for outfielder <span>Ryan Langerhans</span> on June 28, 2009. Morse is making Mike Rizzo and his staff look real smart, batting .308 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs.</p>
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<p>"It felt good to get that opportunity again, to come out and play every day and knowing you are going to be in the lineup," Morse said. "I just keep telling myself, 'I'm going to out there and I'm going to get three hits. I'm going to drive in runs. I'm better than this pitcher. There is no reason that this guy should get me out.' I think having that mentality is helping me a lot."</p>
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<p>Morse has been the Nats' best offensive player and should be rewarded with an All-Star appearance, which may be more likely now that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> first baseman <span>Albert Pujols</span> is sidelined for 4-6 weeks.</p>
<h4><b>Wizards Have Endless Draft Options </b></h4>
<p>Who will the Wizards pick on Thursday night's NBA Draft? Will they get another building block on the rebuilding road? They better. This is not a draft the Wizards can afford to mess up. There may be no franchise changing players, but there will be plenty of players that can help John Wall and the Wizards on the road back to respectability. Choosing that player is will be the tough part for Ernie Grunfeld and his staff.</p>
<p>The options <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2011/6/21/2236012/nba-draft-2011-rumors-washington-wizards-enes-kanter-cavaliers">are endless as Bullets Forever points out. </a>The Wizards could trade up get Enes Kanter, or stand pat hope he slips to them. They could also end up with a choice of San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard, Jan Vesley from the Czech Republic, or Lithuanian Center Jonas Valanciunas if they stand pat at the No. 6 spot. Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld, who does not say much this time of year, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-focusing-on-front-court-to-build-around-john-wall/2011/06/21/AGBzE4eH_story.html">did admit size will matter</a>.</p>
<blockquote>"We’re probably looking for a bigger player if possible," Grunfeld said after the team conducted two workouts on Tuesday morning. "But you never know. If somebody slips to us — and it could be a guard that we have ranked a lot higher — it could be somebody that we take a close look at. But in all likelihood, we’ll be looking for a front-court player if possible."</blockquote>
<p>It would be great to have Kanter fall into the Wizards lap, but if he doesn't, Kawhi Leonard would be a solid choice with his Ron Artest-type skill set without the craziness. With the 18th pick, here's hoping Morehead State's Kenneth Faried the nation's best rebounder, is available.</p>
<p><b>Is Slimmed-Down Jordan Williams A First-Rounder? </b></p>
<p>I still think Maryland's Jordan Williams should have stayed in school for another year. However, he is in the draft. The question is, has he done enough to be a first rounder? If nothing else, Williams has showed a hunger to be great by dropping some <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-jordan-williams-nba-draft-0622-20110621,0,5381794.story">serious weight </a>in preparation for the draft.</p>
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<p>"The first thing he did was get in great shape and essentially transform his body, losing roughly 18 pounds [from his original 261]," said Andrew Moore, the program coordinator and director of player development for Impact Basketball. "And he really lost a lot of body fat and put on strength."</p>
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<p>For what it is worth, Williams still appears to be more like a second-rounder than a first-rounder at this point, if you buy into what the Mock Drafts are saying. Williams might be worthwhile for the Wizards at 34 if they can not find a post players in the first round.</p>
<h4><b>Donovan McNabb Sends Message To Redskins </b></h4>
<p>It appears we are getting closer to the end to the owner-imposed NFL lockout, and the first or second (depending on Albert Haynesworth) order of business for the Redskins will be their divorce with Donovan McNabb. Everyone knows he is history, and that includes General Manager Bruce Allen, who essentially accused the media of making stuff up. Really? Anyway, Bruce has a job too do, I get it, but Sonny Jurgenson has a better chance playing QB for the Redskins this year. McNabb, meanwhile has a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/mcnabb-to-doubters-ill-prove-you-wrong/2011/06/21/AGBkfKeH_blog.html">message </a>for his critics.</p>
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<p>"For my Facetime: 2011 is different than 2010," he said. "For those who wanna sit back and dwell on what happened last year, so be it. But 2011's gonna be a special season. A season in which I feel that I've prepared myself well - not just conditioning and strengthwise, but most importantly getting back to the fundamentals. And I look to display that in the 2011 season. And for those who feel like it can't be possible: I'll prove you wrong."</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, for Redskin fans, it is a catch 22 kind of situation ahead. Sure you want football, but do you want Rex Grossman or John Beck at quarterback ? I thought there wouldn't be scab players? Anyone have Ed Ruppert's phone number? </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/6/22/2236847/washington-nationals-nba-draft-2011-washington-wizardsScott Jackson2011-06-22T09:17:09-04:002011-06-22T09:17:09-04:00Mariners Vs. Nationals: Washington Reacts To Wilson Ramos' Walk Off Home Run
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<p>For about two hours and 45 minutes, last night was one of the worst Nationals games of the year to watch. Doug Fister had held them down, only allowing three hits in eight innings work. And when they did get anyone on base, Ryan Zimmerman was there to hit into a deflating double play. But then the ninth inning came around, and everything just started to feel a little bit different</p>
<p>Something about their luck just started to change. Jayson Werth used an error to get to second as the first batter of the game. Then Michael Morse hit a ball off Mariners closer Brandon League, reaching first base and knocking him out of the game at the same time. When Wilson Ramos strolled to the plate, I had a better feeling about the outcome than I normally do when the team is down two with one out left. I wasn't the only one who was confident. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/nationals-vs-mariners-wilson-ramos-hits-walk-off-home-run-to-cap-washingtons-five-run-rally-in-ninth/2011/06/21/AGNQPAfH_story.html">According to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post</a>, the Nationals never gave up hope.</p>
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<p>“We never put our heads down,” Ramos said. “We thought we could win the game.”</p>
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<p>For Jayson Werth, it started when the Mariners pulled Fister out of the game.</p>
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<p>“You kind of a take deep breath,” Jayson Werth said. “It’s like, ‘He’s gone. Let’s get this guy.’ When the inning started, we felt pretty good about it.”</p>
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<p>However you slice it, and whatever circumstances led to them completing the comeback, it speaks volume about this team's character. There were some questions about how they would respond after their win streak was broken on Sunday. I think they answered those questions pretty well.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/6/22/2236930/mariners-vs-nationals-wilson-ramos-walk-off-home-runJordan Ruby2011-06-22T08:16:20-04:002011-06-22T08:16:20-04:00Washington Nationals Celebrate Like Crazy After Incredible Ninth-Inning Rally
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<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/746337/224989_Mariners_Nationals_Baseball.jpg"><img alt="224989_mariners_nationals_baseball_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/746337/224989_Mariners_Nationals_Baseball_medium.jpg" height="194" width="290"></a></p>
<p>The best part of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>' improbable comeback win over the the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> may have been what ensued after <a href="http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16145921">Wilson Ramos' walk-off three-run home run</a>. OK, so that's probably a stretch, but it's not too much of a stretch.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16153681&partnerId=aw-9092609951017318159-1047">We all know how it ended</a>. Things looked dire when <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> grounded into his third double play of the game, but Jerry Hairston and <span>Danny Espinosa</span> singled home runs. Then, Ramos stepped up, hit his home run, and set off a fun celebration.</p>
<p>First, we have to note Ramos' home run trot, since it's been an issue before. This one was slow, probably as slow as the one in Arizona. Of course, the purpose was different, but clearly Ramos has two speeds on his home run trot.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/642673/Picture_151.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Picture_151_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/642673/Picture_151_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>Then, there was the celebration, one that featured normally-despondent <span>Jayson Werth</span> even being happy. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/wilson-ramoss-walkoff-home-run-celebration/2011/06/21/AG6WpFfH_blog.html">Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post</a> chronicled all of that here brilliantly. Finally, there's Ramos <a href="http://www.natsenquirer.com/2011/06/michael-morse-botches-wilson-ramos-gatorade-shower.html">skillfully avoiding Michael Morse</a> trying to pour Gatorade on him during the postgame interview.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/642677/Picture_150.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Picture_150_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/642677/Picture_150_medium.png"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/746343/6a00d8341c562353ef01538f59060e970b-500wi.jpg"><img alt="6a00d8341c562353ef01538f59060e970b-500wi_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/746343/6a00d8341c562353ef01538f59060e970b-500wi_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>These are the signs of a happy team, one that's now in third place.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/6/22/2236862/washington-nationals-wilson-ramos-home-run-celebrationMike Prada2011-06-21T22:26:11-04:002011-06-21T22:26:11-04:00Mariners Vs. Nationals Final: Wilson Ramos Helps Nationals Walk Off In Style 6-5
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> had complete control of Tuesday night's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>. Pitcher <span>Doug Fister</span> held the Nationals off with an eight inning, one run on three hit performance and the Seattle offense roughed up <span>Livan Hernandez</span> to take a commanding lead into the ninth-inning. With the final play of the game finished, Seattle has to be wondering what happened as the Nationals pulled off an astounding five-run rally in the ninth to win 6-5.</p>
<p>Down to their final out of the game, <span>Wilson Ramos</span> stepped to the plate for the Nationals with two men on. Seattle reliever <span>David Pauley</span> came into the game after reliever <span>Brandon League</span> left the game after a <span>Michael Morse</span> line drive hit his leg. Pauley served Ramos a change up on the third pitch of the at-bat and Ramos made contact with the ball, dropping his bat and raising his arms in response because he knew the outcome: a three-run walk-off home run over the left field wall. It was the icing on the cake of a five run rally in the last inning of the game. <span>Jerry Hairston Jr.</span> and <span>Danny Espinosa</span> also collected RBi singles in the inning. <span>Roger Bernadina</span> also had an RBI in the game.</p>
<p>Tuesday's walk-off gave Nationals starter Livan Hernandez a sigh of relief. Hernandez followed up his complete game performance against St. Louis with a rotten egg against Seattle. He gave up five runs on 10 hits and surrendered a lead off hit in all four innings he pitched.</p>
<p>The Nationals return to being one win away from .500 with a 36-37 record and are third in the NL East.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/6/21/2236365/washington-nationals-seattle-mariners-drop-gameAndrew Kinback2011-06-21T20:40:31-04:002011-06-21T20:40:31-04:00Mariners Vs. Nationals Score: Nationals Can't Stop The Runs, Fall Behind 5-0
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> starter Livan Hernandez just can't seem to keep the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> off the board and the Nationals offense have not been able to solve <span>Doug Fister</span> as the Nationals have fallen into a deep hole by the score of 5-0 going into the sixth-inning.</p>
<p>After pitching a three-hit complete game shutout in his last outing, Hernandez is not looking like the same pitcher. He only lasted four innings giving up five runs on 10 hits against Seattle. Hernandez gave up lead-off hits in every single inning he pitched and gave up two runs in the very first inning. The Nationals themselves have only been able to garner two hits. <span>Jayson Werth</span> and <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> have each collected a single. The Nats have committed one error thanks to Jayson Werth attempting to bare hand a single.</p>
<p>Things are not looking good for the Nationals Tuesday night. The offense is going to have to put together a remarkable final three innings to get back in this game and hope the bullpen can plug the hole Hernandez left behind him.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/6/21/2236239/washington-nationals-seattle-mariners-fall-behindAndrew Kinback2011-06-21T16:21:38-04:002011-06-21T16:21:38-04:00Mariners Vs. Nationals: Washington Looks To Starbuck Seattle In Interleague Play
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> travel from the land of rain, grunge rock and Starbucks to the Nation's Capital to duke a series out with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> in interleague play on Tuesday night. Seattle ranks sixth in overall interleague play with a record of 140-113 and will be looking to build on that record against the Nats. The Nationals, coming off their first loss in nine games, will be gunning to start a new winning streak at the expense of the Mariners.</p>
<p>Washington has had a lot of momentum lately after an eight game win streak, battling themselves close to .500 and suddenly finding the team name in talks about the Wild Card. However, they hit a bump on Sunday as they lost a sloppy game full of miscues against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a>. How the team reacts Tuesday night will say a lot about how much has changed in the Washington organization and its character.</p>
<p>To get them back on the winning track the Nationals turn to their veteran, Cuban right-hander <span>Livan Hernandez</span> <span class="stats">(4-8, 3.77 ERA)</span>. Hernandez is coming off one of the best starts of his career, a three-hit complete game shutout of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a>. He will be opposed by Seattle's <span>Doug Fister</span> (<span class="stats">3-8, 3.53 ERA)</span> who gave up four runs in the first inning of his last outing before settling down and pitching six scoreless innings afterwards against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a>.</p>
<p>There is only a 30% chance of rain tonight in Washington so it looks like the game is a go for a 7:05 P.M. start time.</p>
<p><b>Nationals Line-Up</b></p>
<p><span>Jayson Werth</span> - RF<br> <span>Roger Bernadina</span> - CF<br> <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> - 3B<br> <span>Laynce Nix</span> - LF<br> <span>Michael Morse</span> - 1B<br> <span>Danny Espinosa</span> - 2B<br> <span>Wilson Ramos</span> - C<br> Livan Hernandez - SP<br> <span>Ian Desmond</span> - SS</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/6/21/2336872/mariners-vs-nationals-washington-looks-to-starbuck-seattle-inAndrew Kinback