Tag Archives: Chicago Cubs

Chris “Crush” Davis on pace to pass Maris, Orioles win 7-4

WP – S. Feldman (1-1) LP – J. Johnson (1-5)

S – J. Johnson (33)

The Baltimore Orioles continue to win behind the big bat of Chris Davis, who hit his 37th homerun going into the All Star break, putting him on pace to hit 62 homeruns on the season.  Davis went 2-for-4 on the day, with a double and the homerun, driving in four RBIs.  Adam Jones also added a homerun and drove in two to help the Orioles to the win.

Scott Feldman went seven and a third for the win in only his second start for the Orioles since coming over in a trade from the Cubs.  He gave up three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Josh Johnson went six innings, giving up all seven runs to take the loss for the Toronto Blue Jays. Johnson continues to struggle this season since coming over in the trade from the Miami Marlins last year falling to 1-5 over twelve starts.

Tommy Hunter pitched two thirds of inning, giving up three hits, allowing an inherited runner to score in the eighth and another run in the top of the ninth before being relieved by Jim Johnson, who picked up his 33rd save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Orioles improved to 53-43 on the season going into the All Star break.

Former National John Lannan keeps the Nationals grounded, Phillies win 3-2

WP – J. Lannan (2-3) LP – D. Haren (4-10)

S – J. Papelbon (19)

John Lannan, like most other left-handers this season, baffled the Washington Nationals for eight innings.  He struck out four while scattering four hits and two walks to keep the Nationals scoreless.

Jonathan Papelbon came on for the ninth and ran into the only challenge Nationals hitters posed on the night.  He allowed Bryce Harper to single up the middle and a double to Ryan Zimmerman before Jayson Werth came up just a couple feet short of tying the game with a blast to centerfield.  Both runners tagged, scoring Harper.  Zimmerman scored on a sacrifice fly by Adam Laroche to center and with two outs pinch hitter Chad Tracy hit a little fly ball to center to end the game.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored early on Dan Haren, getting two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Haren again struggled with control, allowing one of the runs to score on a bases loaded walk.  He allowed two or more base runners in three of the five innings he pitched.

The Phillies would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth against Fernando Abad on a single by Jimmy Rollins to center field.  Ben Revere pestered Nationals pitching all night, going 3-for-5, with a stolen base and two runs scored.

The Nationals this season have had consistent problems with left-handed pitchers that throw a variety of off speed stuff.  The biggest problem is that the Nationals hitters seem to fail to adjust in the batter’s box to be able to consistently hit the off speed pitch on the outside half of the plate with any power.  Lannan induced fifteen ground balls from the Nationals tonight keeping them off balance on what pitch was coming all night.

Additional:  The Nationals completed a trade with the Chicago Cubs today for Scott Hairston and a player to be named later for a minor league pitcher and a player to be named later. 

The Nationals fall to 46-43 on the year, and 5-32 in games that they score less than three runs.

Robert Peterson lives in the Washington DC Metro area and has been covering the Nationals since the team moved to the area in 2005