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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- John Lannan did what he's done for most
of the last two months, but for a change, the Washington
Nationals' offense actually gave him some help.
Lannan worked six strong innings and pinch hitter Jesus Flores
delivered a three-run homer Wednesday as the Nationals posted a
5-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rookie Kory Casto had two RBI to help Washington end a six-game
losing streak and give Lannan (5-9) his first win since May 18.
The
lefthander limited the Diamondbacks to two hits and three walks
in six innings, ending an eight-game winless drought - a streak
which saw him compile a 3.83 ERA but receive little help from
his teammates.
Lannan entered Wednesday with the worst support in the major
leagues, getting just 1.6 runs per game over his first 17
starts. In nine of his outings this season, he left the game
with his teammates having scored one run or less.
With his changeup and curveball betraying him, Lannan succeeded
Wednesday relying mostly on a two-seam fastball.
"I didn't have anything, really," said Lannan, who threw only 43
of his 85 pitches for strikes. "I was making some good pitches
at times that could've went either way. I was throwing balls.
I just had to make pitches in the right situations and I got a
couple of double plays. I just went out there and battled today
without my best stuff."
The Nationals again struggled to support Lannan, providing just
one run for the rookie through five innings. However,
Washington finally found some offense as Dmitri Young and Paul
Lo Duca each drew a walk, ending an excessively wild night for
Micah Owings (6-8), who yielded just one hit in 5 2/3 innings
but walked five and hit three batters.
Connor Robertson replaced Owings, and Casto greeted him with an
RBI double to increase Washington's lead to 2-0.
Not taking any chances with his struggling offense, Washington's
Manny Acta lifted Lannan for pinch hitter Flores, who made his
manager look smart by driving a 1-2 fastball from Robertson into
the Diamondbacks' bullpen beyond the left field wall for a 5-0
bulge.
"It means a lot for me," said Flores, who had not had an
extra-base hit in 64 at-bats prior to the home run. "What else
can you ask when the manager is giving you the opportunity to
play every day and even those chances to pinch hit? That's big
for me. Being that I'm still young, I feel really sure of
myself."
Joel Hanrahan and Luis Ayala worked the seventh and eighth,
respectively, before turning the ninth over to closer Jon Rauch,
who tossed a flawless inning to preserve the win.
Arizona managed just three hits and did not advance a runner
past first base, in large part due to four double plays turned
by Washington.
"All our guys were frustrated," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said
of his offense, which is batting just .245 this season - the
second-lowest mark in the National League. "You obviously have
to give credit to Lannan. He's pitched well all year, and his
record would not indicate how well he has pitched. We couldn't
seem to get decent swings, let alone decent at-bats tonight."
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