Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman handed in a line-up card that can only be described as "Spring Training Leftovers," but the line-up he put out on the field at Nationals Park tonight has so far held their own against Joe Blanton and a powerhouse Philadelphia Phillies line-up. The Nationals lead the Phillies 5-1 through five, thanks to a Danny Espinosa sac-fly in the second and a big fourth-inning that found outfielder Jayson Werth declaring he is a Washington National.
Werth produced a double and then scored on a Wilson Ramos RBI double. Joe Blanton then got rattled as he loaded the bases and gave up RBI singles to Laynce Nix and Jerry Hairston Jr. and Nats pitcher Livan Hernandez helped his own cause by sac-bunting which allowed Nix to score. Werth then added to the damage and the silence of the boo birds with a home run in the fifth.
Livan Hernandez has kept the Phillies on ice since the second inning, when he gave up a solo home run to Ryan Howard. So far, Hernandez has only given up three hits and one run, issuing no walks with five strikeouts.
If this line-up holds up and the Nats win, it might be one of the larger surprise victories since Levale Speigner beat Johan Santana in 2007.