Don’t be upset, Craig Stammen — both Tyler Clippard and LoganKensing also allowed homers to that 5’11”, 175 pound guy.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
- Pirates 11, Nationals 6: Man, things were going so well for the Nats. The team had won four in a row, the bats were hot, and the pitching staff actually looked somewhat credible. That was four days ago — much happier times. Now, the Nationals have lost four straight, capped off with last night’s loss in Pittsburgh where Pirates centerfielder Andrew McCutchen — all 5’11” and 175 pounds of him — took Nats pitching deep three times, doubling his home run total for the season. McCutchen can straight out fly on the bases, but any team that allows him to homer three times in one game has some serious issues. Craig Stammen (3-6) allowed six runs and was pulled after only 44 pitches on the mound. Washington’s top third of the lineup had eight hits — but the remainder of the team couldn’t get runners around, leaving 12 men stranded, and only batting 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Former Nat Lastings Milledge also had two RBI for the Bucs just to rub some salt in the fresh wound. Young Collin Balester will attempt to halt the Nationals’ losing streak this afternoon, while Paul Maholm will take the hill for Pittsburgh in Sunday’s matinee.
- Dynamo 4, United 3: The good news: United finally broke their long scoreless drought at Houston’s Robertson Stadium with a three-goal outburst. The bad news: They only did so after allowing three Dynamo tallies in four minutes in the first half. D.C.’s road woes struck again, and it was difficult to attest which was hotter: the temperatures in south Texas (it felt like 98 on the pitch), or Houston’s strike force, especially Brian Ching. The big Hawaiian had a brace in two minutes on a couple of bulldozing strikes which left keeper Josh Wicks breathless. Two tallies from Luciano Emilio and a nice long distance strike from Fred made the game interesting, but Stuart Holden’s 66th minute penalty kick ultimately proved too much to overcome. With the win, Houston leaps back into first place in the race for the Supporters’ Shield — the Black-and-Red remain a tenuous third in the East.
