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With the Trash Flying, Nats Take Out Mets
Washington Nationals' Odalis Perez hits an RBI single as New York Mets catcher Brian Schneider looks on during the sixth inning of their baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York, Monday, May 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Ed Betz)
(Ed Betz - AP)
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"It was a battle to stay in there for six innings," Pérez said. "I had a chance to get through a tough time, and I did, and I stayed in long enough to get the 'W.' "
Even in this game's early stages, the Nationals found ways to take advantage of Mets miscues. Washington's third run, which tied the game at 3, was unearned and unsightly. With Rob Mackowiak on third because of a walk, Washington second baseman Felipe López hit a dribbler back to the mound.
By the time Figueroa gloved the ball, Mackowiak already had broken for home, dead as a Tyson chicken.
But instead of nailing Mackowiak at the plate, Figueroa launched the ball several feet wide of his catcher, Brian Schneider. The ball rolled toward the backstop, and Mackowiak scored.
Thanks to such help, it scarcely mattered that the Nationals lacked the kind of refined baseball that typically ends losing streaks.
It scarcely mattered that a Moisés Alou pop-up fell within the unguarded first-second-right field triangle, hitting the earth as first baseman Nick Johnson covered his head with his glove. It scarcely mattered that Pérez surrendered a 430-foot home run to Mets backup second baseman Damian Easley, homer-less since last August. It scarcely mattered that Washington stranded 11 runners, or that its key offensive player was a guy who entered the season with two hits.
"A struggle," Pérez called the game.
