| Page 2 of 2 < |
Road Work Pays Off For Nats
Chad Cordero enters the game in the ninth inning to face the last batter of the game and gets two outs for his ninth save this season and the 100th of his career.
(Jonathan Newton - The Washington Post)
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  |
"I feel good," Zimmerman said.
Lopez, conversely, hadn't felt good for several weeks, and he entered Tuesday in a 2-for-37 slump. Acta moved him from first to second in the order, and Lopez told his manager he needed to be more patient. He was, drawing three walks -- including the two-out pass that preceded Zimmerman's homer -- and hitting a two-out double that broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth.
"He just felt he was being overly aggressive, and he was going to be ready to snap out of it," Acta said.
Throw in Schneider's two-run shot in the fifth that drove Cabrera (5-7) from the game -- a first-pitch fastball that the catcher knocked out to right -- and the Nationals had more than enough for Bowie (3-2) and four relievers. The Orioles' offense, which excels at being stagnant, had nothing for the lefty after Mora's homer. Over Bowie's final 16 batters, he allowed only a walk, a hit batter (who was erased on a double play) and an error by Church in left.
In 15 previous career starts dating from 1999, Bowie had only twice thrown as many as six innings, and had never thrown more.
"I'll take that every game of the year," Bowie said. "This is a small ballpark, and the ball gets out."
Which is why, even after relievers Saul Rivera and Jon Rauch retired six of seven batters in the seventh and eighth, there still were some anxious moments. Colome allowed Miguel Tejada's solo homer to lead off the ninth, and eventually -- after he gave up a single and a walk -- the Orioles had the tying run at the plate. Enter Cordero.
"I knew it could be my 100th," he said, "but when you're out there, you just throw your pitches."
So he did, getting Paul Bako to ground into a game-ending double play. After celebrating, the Nationals carried their bats back to the clubhouse. They will draw them out again Wednesday, another chance to relax, hit homers and pad the stats. RFK Stadium awaits next Monday, but they have five more games -- two here, then three in Toronto -- between now and then.
