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Nats Are Looking Spiffier After Homestand
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Since Redding was called up from Class AAA Columbus last July, he has been, as pitching coach Randy St. Claire said, "that steady guy, the guy who's always right there." In 22 starts for Washington -- 15 in 2007, seven this season -- he has never given up more than five earned runs. Only four times has he allowed more than three. If the Nationals had to pick one pitcher who could all but guarantee he would keep them in a given game, they would almost certainly select Redding.
"He gives me a lot of peace of mind every five days," Acta said.
Still, the Nationals might not have won yesterday's game without Rivera. With one out and a runner on first in the seventh, LaRoche doubled to deep right-center, putting runners on second and third, threatening the Nationals' 3-1 lead. Acta replaced Redding with Rivera, a decision Redding called "a great move by Manny."
Rivera's first task: Retire Pirates third baseman José Bautista, who came into the at-bat 7 for 13 with three homers in the series. "I wanted to strike him out," Rivera said. Instead, "He made some great pitches on the corners," Lo Duca said. With the count 2-2, Bautista bounced a ball back to Rivera. He held the runners, and recorded the second out.
Next up came pinch hitter Doug Mientkiewicz, an aggressive left-handed swinger. Lo Duca called St. Claire to the mound. The plan: Be careful, but try to get him out with something down and away. Rivera fell behind 3-0, got him to foul back a 3-1 pitch, and then induced another comebacker. The lead was safe.
"If this was football," Redding said, "he'd get the game ball."
If this was football, the Nationals wouldn't even be to Week 4.
"We still got more work to do," Lo Duca said. "We want to be there in September -- with a chance."
