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Nats Pummeled by Marlins
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As it turns out, even Ryan Zimmerman couldn't make a difference. The first-round draft pick got his first start of the season, despite Robinson's declarations of two days prior, when the manager said he wouldn't play the 20-year-old at shortstop because it wouldn't be "fair."
But there Zimmerman was yesterday, playing short. Robinson's explanation for his change of heart: "From day to day, things change."
Then, too, there was the matter of facing Willis, and there were two problems with that. First, he has dominated the league for much of this season. Worse, he has historically trumped the Nationals. He is now 8-2 against the franchise -- be it in Montreal or Washington -- all-time, including 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA this year.
"Sometimes," Robinson said, "certain pitchers just have your number."
So, in part, came the rationalization for sticking Zimmerman in the lineup.
"Why not?" Robinson said. "We don't do anything with this guy anyway."
Zimmerman started well, lashing a one-hop double over the wall in the second off Willis. But by the end of the night, he had committed a pair of errors at short, was retired in his final three at-bats, and was listening to Robinson in the dugout, talking about calming down a bit.
"It was fun," he said. "I wish I could've done a little better."
The only bright spot: a solo homer from career minor leaguer Rick Short, his first in the majors. Other than that? Toss it out. A mismatch, from start to finish. And if the Nationals don't provide a different outcome again tonight, they may not play another meaningful game this season.
