| Page 2 of 2 < |
Armas Can't Take The Fifth in Loss
Jose Guillen slides in safely to beat the tag from Toronto's Gregg Zaun in the third inning Sunday.
(Jamie Squire - Getty Images)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Hudson gave his team the lead for good when he belted a two-run home run, his sixth of the season, in the eighth off reliever Luis Ayala, who picked up the loss in one inning of work in which he gave up two hits and two earned runs.
Robinson said Ayala (6-4) got the ball up a little too much, and the pitcher concurred.
"I thought I could throw a slider away and I hung it," Ayala said. "I paid the price."
Castilla had two hits. Second baseman Junior Spivey hit his seventh home run. The Nationals, who had reached a season-best 14 games over .500 after Saturday's victory, saw their pitching slide yesterday. Robinson used five pitchers. The Blue Jays' pitchers were not much better. Starter Gustavo Chacin threw 83 pitches through four innings. Reliever Justin Speier picked up the victory, his first of the season, while pitching just two-thirds of an inning.
Closer Miguel Batista earned his 14th save of the season.
Fifteen of the Nationals' last 21 victories had been come-from-behind wins.
Robinson said before the game that he takes particular pride in their home success this season and they believe they can overcome virtually any obstacle in their ballpark. Yesterday looked as if it might turn out to be a typical Nationals comeback.
"The way it has been going, it's out of character," left fielder Marlon Byrd said. "But that's the game of baseball."
