CHICAGO -- Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals were cruising along until it all
fell apart.
wholesale nfl nike jerseys . Then, a slow
roller bailed them out. Denard Span scored the go-ahead run on pinch-hitter
Chad Tracys grounder in the 13th inning, and the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs
5-4 on Thursday after Strasburg blew a three-run lead in the ninth. Span doubled
leading off the 13th against Michael Bowden (1-3). He moved up on a sacrifice
bunt by Steve Lombardozzi and came around on Tracys roller to the first-base
side of the mound. "We got to do better than that. I mean, that gave me a heart
attack," manager Davey Johnson said, smiling. "Its a good thing we had a track
star down on third base. But a win is a win." Craig Stammen (7-5) worked two
innings and earned the victory. Drew Storen secured his third save in eight
chances. Storen deflected Dioner Navarros liner toward Lombardozzi to start a
game-ending double play after Anthony Rizzo reached on a throwing error by the
second baseman with one out. After a two-hour rain delay at the start, Strasburg
was one out away from a complete game with a 4-1 lead before Chicago rallied to
tie it. Junior Lake had an RBI single, and Donnie Murphy hit a two-run homer to
make it 4-4. Rafael Soriano gave up a double to Brian Bogusevic before
Darwin Barney lined to left, sending the game to extra innings. Before the
rally, Strasburg and the Nationals were sailing along. Ryan Zimmerman and
Lombardozzi homered, and Strasburg added two hits, including an RBI single, as
Washington built a 4-0 lead against Travis Wood. Strasburg was aiming for his
second shutout in three starts before Chicagos Brian Bogusevic homered leading
off the eighth. When the Cubs struck again in the ninth, Chicago spoiled the
aces dominant outing. "Ive seen him pitch all the time, but I never got to face
him," said Murphy, a 30-year-old journeyman with eight homers in 16 games since
joining the Cubs about three weeks ago. "Going in there and him K-ing me three
times before getting the last hit was pretty cool." Strasburg gave up seven
hits, struck out eight and walked two after the shortest start of his career. He
was ejected in the second inning at Atlanta last week for throwing two
consecutive pitches behind Andrelton Simmons back. Strasburg acknowledged he was
tired toward the end of Thursdays game. "If we get more consistent and I throw
the same amount of innings, I feel like I get stronger, especially in the later
innings," said Strasburg, who was surprised to bat in the ninth. "But that
26-pitch debacle last game kind of set me back a little bit as far as stamina."
He sure looked good for most of the day, though. Wood, meanwhile, settled down
after allowing a solo homer to Zimmerman in the first and two runs in the
second. But that drive by Lombardozzi leading off the seventh gnawed at him.
"That homer by Lombardozzi in the seventh kind of stings, especially the way we
battled back and ended up putting up four there in the ninth. The game would
have been over," said Wood, who allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2-3
innings. NOTES: The Nationals held SS Ian Desmond out of the lineup because of a
back problem. His back tightened up during batting practice on Wednesday, and he
stayed in until the fifth inning of that game, when he was replaced by
Anthony Rendon as part of a double switch. ... Cubs OF Ryan Sweeney, on the
60-day DL because of a broken left rib, is scheduled to start a rehab assignment
in the Rookie Arizona League on Saturday. 3B Luis Valbuena (strained muscle on
right side) will head to Arizona to take batting practice from the minor league
coaching staff. RHP Scott Baker, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is
scheduled to start Friday for Class A Kane County. ... Cubs manager Dale Sveum
said he doesnt envision SS Javier Baez being called up in September, although he
has been impressed with his play. Baez is hitting a combined .286 with 33 homers
and 100 RBIs for Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. ... RHP Edwin Jackson
(7-13, 4.89 ERA) starts Friday for the Cubs at San Diego, with RHP
Edinson Volquez (9-10, 5.72) going for the Padres. Washington visits Kansas
City, with LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-6, 3.38) starting for the Nationals and LHP
Bruce Chen (5-1, 2.20) pitching for the Royals.
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performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot.
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Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton
easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to
the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the
west London club was held to 2-2 at home.LOS ANGELES -- Edinson Volquez has
signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander was in
the bullpen Friday night for the opener of a three-game series against San
Diego. Volquez was the Padres opening day starter this season for the second
straight year. He went 9-10 with a 6.01 ERA in 27 starts before getting released
Tuesday, two days after the club designated him for asssignment.
Cheap nfl nike
jerseys. To make room on the roster, the NL West leaders optioned
rookie reliever Chris Withrow to Triple-A Albuquerque. The 30-year-old Volquez,
an All-Star in 2008 with Cincinnati, is 53-50 with a 4.77 ERA in the majors. He
has pitched for the Padres, Rangers and Reds. Withrow has had two stints with
the Dodgers this season, going 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 17 appearances.
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