Sleeping Monsters AWAKE!!

Nats320
On, by far, the HOTTEST MUGGIEST NIGHT OF THE SEASON, the Nationals put together one of their most complete, decisive, victories with a 9-1 blasting of the Florida Marlins before nearly 25,000 steamy hot fans at RFK Stadium. With the humidity in the 80% range and temperature in the low 90's to start the game, the Nationals came out slugging against Marlins rookie right hander Ricky Nolasco. Alfonso Soriano, embedded in his worst slump of the year, 2 hits in his last 33 at bats that lowered his batting average from .302 to .263, lead off the game with a towering blast off the left field green wall for a quick 1-0 lead. His first Home Run since June 11, and one day after being named a starter in the upcoming All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. The Nats continued to slam away at Nolasco in the 2nd when Marlon Anderson Walked, Royce Clayton singled to left. And, Brian Schneider, also in a terrible slump, batting .222, slammed a single to right that Marlins outfield Jeremy Hermida had trouble handling, scoring Anderson, moving Clayton to 3rd and Schneider to 2nd on the error. Soriano came to the plate with 1 out, and Nolasco, totally unsteady, unleashed a very wild pitch to the screen behind home plate, Clayton scored easily and Schneider moved to 3rd. Soriano got Schneider home on a sacrifice fly to left making the score 4-0. Pedro Astacio got the start for the Nats tonight after being on the 60-day disabled list all season. Even in rehab starts Pedro had never thrown more than 33 pitches and actually had told Frank Robinson he did not want to pitch, that he wasn't ready. But, our Nats, needing anyone to start, threw him in anyway. Astacio looked fairly sharp, never reaching higher than 89MPH on any of his pitches, but his location was excellent. In 5 innings of 3 hit ball, his only real mistake was a CRUSHING HOME RUN by the Marlins Reggie Abercrombie into the upper deck, section 446, in the top of the 5th inning, making the score 4-1. But it really didn't matter, because in the bottom of the 5th, the Nats bats awoke with 2 more homers. Soriano unloaded again on Nolasco with a 2 run shot into the left field bullpen. His 26th of the season. The SECTION 320 Faithful went into a rousing Rendition of "ALFONSO" "SORIANO"!! Vidro and Zimmerman followed with singles and Nolasco was replaced by Matt Herges. Nick Johnson popped to left, but Jose Guillen, 3-10 with 4 rbi in his last 2 games, BLASTED a 3-0 Pitches into the upper deck just inside the foul pole in left for a 3 run shot and 9-1 lead and this game was over. SECTION 320 Again with a FABULOUS "JOSE, Jose, Jose JOSE!!" both before and after the home run. Saul Rivera and Jason Bergman mopped up the game.

Section 320 was in prime form tonight, with MickNats, Say Hey Klib, NatsDelNegro, KentuckyRob, CanadaJim, Sohna, Andy, ScreechesBestFriend, and tonight a CHORUS of additional voices. IT WAS VERY VERY LOUD!!. Even my main man SCREECH, came by twice to receive praise and love. Then was, in no uncertain terms, told to move along.

This game will not mean much, in the long term, other than make Soriano and Guillen easier to trade, but it was a FUN, HOT NIGHT AT RFK!!