Despite heading into the final third of the game with the lead in Saturday night’s game, the Nationals’ bullpen allowed the Giants to come back and eventually get on top to win 10-5
Tyler Clippard was charged with four runs in the seventh which represented the game tying and go-ahead runs. Clippard only managed to get one out in the seventh on a strikeout to Pat Burrell. A home run by Aaron Rowand and an RBI single from Buster Posey pegged the loss squarely on the shoulders of Clippard.
“Tyler was just struggling,” Manager Jim Riggleman said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
After Clippard’s departure from the game, a two RBI double from Juan Uribe all but sealed the deal for San Francisco. Clippard had an uncharacteristic ugly pitching line upon his exit from the game. He just pitched a third of an inning and was charged with four earned runs.
Pitching Coach Steve McCatty pointed out after the game some of the differences in Tyler Clippard from earlier this year and now since he has been struggling of late.
“The changeup’s not consistently down. He’s just not making pitches,” he said. “He might be in a little bit of a rut right now. It looks to me he may be over-throwing a little bit.”
The Nationals closed out the seventh inning with “Lets Go Giants!” chants smattered throughout the crowd.
A contested ninth inning home run from Buster Posey was just icing on the cake as the Giants had finished their offensive barrage at ten runs for the game. The home run was reviewed by the umpires after it appeared that a fan had reached over and grabbed the ball.
The call stood, but in the end it hardly mattered since the Giants’ bullpen finished off its five inning scoreless streak.
The Nationals had finished their scoring when they took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning. After that the San Francisco bullpen shut them down the rest of the way.
The Nationals had a great start to the game, particularly the first inning. In the top of the inning, starter Craig Stammen shut out the Giants. This is only impressive because it was the first time in 10 games that they had not allowed a run to the opposition in the first.
In the bottom half, they got off to a quick start putting two runs on the board-a lead that Stammen quickly relinquished the next inning. Perhaps it was a sign of things to come for Washington as they jumped out to a two run lead in the fourth only for that to disappear too.
“The second inning killed me,” Stammen said. “It kind of killed the game a little bit. That resulted in me getting out of the game sooner and the bullpen has to pitch more innings and getting worn out.”
The Giants had the opposite problem as their starter, Jonathan Sanchez, was knocked out of the game early on. The San Francisco bullpen stepped up and went five and a third innings without giving up an earned run.
You can reach this staff writer at slindauer@theeagleonline.com.
