'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
All night the Washington Nationals couldn't get anything going. They scored no runs and finished with just five hits and a loss.
As the home team prepared to bat Monday night in the bottom of the eighth at Nationals Park, the video screen flashed a favorable update from the Braves-Pirates game. A rousing cheer rose from the slightly-chilled crowd of 35,387 fans, one of the few chances they had all evening to fully exercise their vocal chords.
The sight was one no member of the Washington Nationals wanted to witness. After so many injuries had been put behind them, after they’d cobbled things together and persevered – even thrived – without so many of their key components, their lineup was finally all healthy.
Adam LaRoche homered twice, Danny Espinosa hit a three-run shot in Washington's six-run eighth inning, and the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 10-7 on Saturday night.
If there has been anything truly surprising about Bryce Harper's first week in the major leagues, it's the way he's been pitched. How exactly is that? "Like he's Babe Ruth," one scout said.
Philadelphia right-hander Kyle Kendrick agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Phillies on Sunday.
Ryan Zimmerman has now done it eight times, and it never gets old.
Colorado's Jason Giambi has homered in his first three at-bats against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.
Philadelphia Phillies rookie reliever Michael Stutes was removed after throwing only three pitches in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Injured Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is going to extended spring training and pitcher Roy Oswalt is going to the doctor.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick has been sent to the minors, a day after giving up three home runs in one inning.
"I wasn't going to let him beat me," Kendrick said. "He's swinging it well now, that was the scouting report."
Kendrick all but said that was a more pleasing matchup than one with the kid who had five major league games of experience.
