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Nationals' Sweeping Promises
Manager Manny Acta congratulates young catcher Jesus Flores after he scores. Flores went 2 for 3 with two RBI.
(Photos By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)
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But the Marlins' four-run sixth inning was sparked by a fly ball lost in the sun by left fielder Ryan Church, a bloop that turned into a double. The talk in the clubhouse afterward wasn't about how the Marlins came back, but how Simontacchi handled himself.
"He's a pro," Manager Manny Acta said. At no point was that more apparent than in the Nationals' five-run second. After he reached base on an error by Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, Simontacchi charged to second on a grounder hit by Felipe Lopez. He slid hard into Florida second baseman Dan Uggla, preventing the double play from being turned, allowing a run to score. The play led to Cristian Guzman's two-out, two-run triple that made it 5-0.
"I just try and play the game of baseball the way it's supposed to be played," Simontacchi said.
That's exactly what Flores is here for -- to learn how the game is supposed to be played. Yesterday was only his seventh start, but he has seized every day as an opportunity to, as starter Brian Schneider said, "be very studious about it." When Schneider is catching, Flores peppers him with questions. "What was the strikeout pitch?" he'll ask. "How do you pitch that guy?"
"I don't care that much what I can do hitting," Flores said. "The most I care is calling the game, a good game. The other guys can do the rest."
So his effort started yesterday by being there for Simontacchi. The veteran pitcher said he had to shake off the sign from his rookie catcher just two or three times.
"It's just him knowing the game, and knowing the pitchers and being professional about it," Simontacchi said. "It's a gift, I'm sure. But at the same time, he works hard."
His work paid off yesterday. He drove in Washington's first run with a single in the second, then -- after the Marlins had climbed within 5-4 -- he scored Church with a two-out single that, as Acta said, "kind of brought the momentum back to our side."
Which is what the weekend did for the Nationals. It included those rain delays, that late night that turned into morning. But it also included three wins, and a couple of glimpses of players that might be here when sweeping series is more common than getting swept.
