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Hernandez Threatens to Have Surgery
Nats second baseman Carlos Baerga is hit by a pitch in the 9th. Washington has lost 10 of 14 and its lead in the NL East is a half-game over the Braves.
(By Joel Richardson -- The Washington Post)
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"I love my teammates. I love this team. You know I would never quit. Never. Because I am not a quitter. Everybody knows me. I go over there and do my best."
Even the potential loss of Hernandez could be badly unsettling to a team that is anchored by its starting rotation. Hernandez, in turn, is the anchor of that rotation. His last win came July 1 in Chicago, when he brilliantly outdueled the Cubs' Mark Prior. The Nationals went on to sweep that series, giving them a six-game winning streak and a 5 1/2 -game lead in the division. Since then, they haven't won back-to-back games.
Last night's loss was more than just about Hernandez, and there were some in the organization who felt that the ace pitcher's remarks were made simply out of frustration that the Nationals couldn't score enough runs to support him. Seven times the Nationals came up with runners in scoring position, and seven times they failed.
In the eighth, for instance, with the Nationals trailing 3-2, Jamey Carroll led off with a walk, and Jose Vidro successfully bunted him to second. That brought up third-place hitter Brad Wilkerson and cleanup man Jose Guillen, each with a chance to tie the game against Rockies reliever Doug Miceli.
Wilkerson, though, struck out on a 3-2 pitch, his 100th strikeout of the year. And Guillen, who has just three RBI in seven games since the all-star break, followed by popping lazily to center field.
"I've been missing my pitches," Guillen said. "It's tough. I don't know how many guys I've been leaving on base. I know when I come to bat with people on base, they expect me to drive in the runs. But sometimes, it's not going to go my way. It's a tough sport. It's a tough game."
The Nationals had one last chance, when Ryan Church hit a two-out double in the ninth, moved to third on a wild pitch, and Rockies closer Brian Fuentes hit Carlos Baerga with a pitch. That brought the announced crowd of 32,381 to its feet, hoping pinch hitter Vinny Castilla -- badly hobbling on his ailing left knee -- could come through.
Castilla hit the ball solidly, but it was right at Colorado shortstop Desi Relaford. A dramatic end.
But then, the real drama -- Hernandez.
"When I come to the stadium tomorrow, I will see," Hernandez said. "I go to sleep tonight, I'm going to think about it. And that's it."
