Results tagged “adamdunn”

• Nationals 5, Reds 4:: Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Ryan ZImmerman provided all the offense Washington needed to overcome a four-run fifth inning from the Reds and win their first series on the road since the middle of June. The three sluggers had big games in support of John Lannan, who looked incredibly average for the second straight start. Willingham delivered the most impressive blow, a towering two-run homer in the fourth inning with Dunn on base. Not to be outdone, Dunn was an on-base machine, reaching base four times (two doubles and twice hit by pitches) -- while Zimmerman's hit was the most timely of them all, a single which pushed both Dunn and Willingham home to retake the lead. The pen also came up big again: Jorge Sosa (2-1) got five outs in relief for the win, and Mike MacDougle picked up where Sosa left off and got the last four outs for the save, his 13th. The Nationals are off on Monday -- it's probably a good thing, as the team will be focusing all its efforts towards signing Stephen Strasburg before the midnight deadline.
• Liberty 60, Mystics 59: Not a typo there, folks -- this game really was that offensively-challenged. Washington couldn't carry over its momentum after a big double-overtime win against Connecticut two days ago, dropping this ugly one to conference doormat New York. To blame? If dismal shooting from beyond the arc and at the free throws line wasn't enough to assure the loss, fouling the opposition's best player -- Janel McCarville, who had 19 points -- on a final shot McCarville herself called "ugly" certainly did the trick. This one hurts: in a three-way tie for second at the beginning of the night, the Mystics fall all the way to fifth place after the loss.

• Nationals 6, Marlins 4: Remember what we said about big innings? Well, the Nationals sure got one last night -- a six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth which led them to their first win of the season against the Marlins. Adam Dunn put the exclamation point on the late rally with a two-run homer which had nearly 20,000 at Nationals Park up and rocking. While we're obviously big homers for the Nationals, Florida starter Josh Johnson's performance should not be overlooked. Johnson retired 20 straight Nationals between the first and the eighth inning, but was still charged with four runs after Washington got five hits in the eighth to reverse the lead. Again, a starter failed to impress, as J.D. Martin couldn't get past the fifth inning (and with 16.1 IP in four games this year, he's barely averaging more than four innings per start) -- but reliever Ron Villone (4-5) was the lucky recipient of the late outburst, and Mike MacDougal retired Florida in the ninth for his third save in three days. Recently traded ex-Nat Nick Johnson did go 2-for-4 in his return to D.C.
• United 1, Firpo 1 (5:4 pens): Despite giving up a goal in the first half on a penalty kick, the Black-and-Red got the away goal that they desperately needed from an expertly-struck Christian Gomez free kick in the 43rd. The second-half found both teams keeping it tight and unsuccessfully diving (Firpo, especially) in hopes of penalties. Extra time loomed large, but thirty minutes of tired football wasn't going to settle anything -- so it was on to penalties to decide the tie. The first six spot kicks were elementary, but defender Manuel Salazar missed Firpo's fourth, and destiny was in United's hands. Christian Gomez grasped the chance and put in the final penalty past Firpo keeper Juan Jose Gomez. It wasn't the easiest time in hostile San Salvador, but with that, United punch their ticket for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League -- and get a positive boost before their friendly against Real Madrid on Sunday.

>> Nationals 13, Padres 1: Well, the Nationals started about as well as they could have: a triple from Nyjer Morgan and a home run by Ryan Zimmerman staking them to an early two-run lead.

We mentioned it briefly at the end of the day yesterday, so by now you've heard that the Washington Nationals have signed outfielder/firstbaseman Adam Dunn, breathing a bit of off-season life into what's been a fairly tepid winter for last year's worst team in baseball. Dunn theoretically adds some much needed pop to the anemic Nats offense. The left-handed power hitter has hit 40 homeruns in each of his last 5 seasons, and has reached over 100 RBI in 4 of those.

UPDATE (4:10pm): Nuthin! Per Barry Svrluga, the Nats passed the trade deadline without making a move, despite a flurry of late rumors. While they might make minor moves in August (like last year with Livan), they decided against moving Rauch or Cordero. Let's hope Chief's feelings aren't hurt and he strikes out Dunn for the save tonight! UPDATE (2:35pm): The Red Sox, rumored to have sought after Cordero since last winter, have reportedly filled their...

News and notes surrounding Washington's loveable cellar-dwellers: Belliard Signs Extension: Though he was widely considered the Nats most moveable commodity, he and the team agreed to a 2-year, $3.5 million extension to keep big Ron in D.C. Belliard’s versatility makes Manny Acta’s job much easier for the next few years with his ability to play multiple infield positions, his willingness to be a bench player when needed, and his veteran leadership. In the meantime, his...