Washington Nationals win 2-1 against St. Louis Cardinals in close game - MLB Update
Washington Nationals’ second baseman, Danny Espinosa, takes them to a 2-1 win against St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida on April 1, 2012 in their Grapefruit League encounter.
In a tight game, Nationals scored winning run in ninth before narrowly escaping the run over by the Cardinals in bottom of the inning. Cardinals had sent runners on base with two outs and thus the stage was set to re-instate the lead. However, thanks to
Nationals’ closer, Ryan Mattheus, batter will be out before helping runners to reach the plate.
Both team saw valuable contribution coming from their starters. Gio Gonzalez, starting for the Nationals, threw five innings and struck-out seven in the process.
As he had looked a bit rusty in last game and had concerned the fans as a result, he returned to his best quickly.
For Cardinals’ starter, Jaime Garcia transpired in the game and as he went on to pitch six innings, he struck-out three and walked once. Only one homer coming off his throws was hit by Espinosa.
Garcia is excited to lift his side in the season by showing consistency.
"Everybody is healthy, everybody is ready to go," Garcia said. "Hopefully we can carry that momentum into the season."
Cardinals’ manager, Mike Matheny, in a rare Baseball scene, took to the field arguing with home plate umpire regarding last run that the Nationals completed. He maintained that the catcher had tagged out earlier than Espinosa made to the plate.
"I just didn't see how that was physically possible," Matheny said. "Every game is the same for me. I don't try to put more weight on one or the other, but this was today and right now I don't like it, especially how it went down."
All-in-all, he is happy with the preparations and pins high hopes on his pitchers, who kept things tight for hitters throughout the game.
As Nationals are showing strength in many areas with players like Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg troubling batters and Ian Desmond, their shortstop, showing control on the plate, they appear set to win the Division Championship this year. Only thing that
they will look to uphold is keeping the momentum going.
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