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Rookie Perez Has Big Night For Nats
Nationals second baseman Jose Vidro rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning, his seventh of the year and first since July 14.
(By Toni L. Sandys -- The Washington Post)
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Perez received plenty of help from a Nationals lineup that had been silenced in the series opener a night earlier. Nick Johnson celebrated his 28th birthday with a second-inning home run, his 23rd of the year. Ryan Zimmerman, struggling at the plate, returned from a rare day off to contribute two hits. Austin Kearns added two hits, and Jose Vidro smacked a two-run homer in Washington's most lopsided victory since a 9-1 win over Florida on July 3.
After Johnson's leadoff homer to right-center, the Nationals rallied again an inning later against rookie Chuck James (10-4). Kearns's double to the left field corner brought in Zimmerman and moved Johnson to third. Vidro was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Harper's sacrifice fly was just deep enough to bring in the sliding Johnson.
Vidro expanded the lead to 5-0 in the fifth with a homer to left, his seventh of the year and first since July 14.
"We swung the bats well and put some runs on the board," Johnson said. Added Robinson, "Everyone got involved."
Including recent call-up George Lombard, who pinch-hit for Perez in the sixth, walked, stole both second and third, and trotted home on Zimmerman's double.
The Braves finally scored in the seventh against Saul Rivera to make it 6-1, but the Nationals busted it open in their half on Nook Logan's RBI single and Alfonso Soriano's two-run double -- his 39th of the season to move him to the brink of becoming the first player in major league history to accumulate 40 home runs, 40 steals and 40 doubles in one season.
With the game out of hand, Braves Manager Bobby Cox offered a series of pinch hitters in the eighth against reliever Ryan Wagner, with Pete Orr's grounder knocking in the team's second run.
By then, though, Perez and Washington's hitting had ensured victory.
"We knew after the first inning what he was doing," Cox said. "Pretty simple: just move it in and out."
Perez is hoping last night's effort will leave a lasting impression on Robinson and the front office.
"It was my job to go out there, and I wanted to show them that I could be a starter, especially for next year, that I could be up here," he said. "It's nice. I feel good."
