Final/10
Davey Johnson takes the reins for Nats in Anaheim
Jun 27, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - They say winning breeds stability, but leave it to the Washington Nationals to do things their own way.Despite being two games over .500 and recording their first winning month of June since 2005, the Nats will be led by a third different manager in five days this evening when Davey Johnson assumes the role for the opener of a three-game set with the hosting Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Washington has won 13 of its past 15 games and has won five consecutive series following Sunday's hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The Nationals are also 16-6 in the month of June, but that hasn't stopped some turmoil from reaching the club.
It began last Thursday when Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned following a three- game sweep of the Mariners because the team couldn't pick up his contract option for next season. That led to bench coach John McLaren taking over for the weekend series with the White Sox, with Washington winning two of three in the set.
Though it wasn't easy, the Nationals sent McLaren, who is now set to become a West Coast scout for the club, out a winner on Sunday. Though Washington only had three hits in the game, including two by Jerry Hairston Jr., Danny Espinosa hit a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning to key the victory.
Hairston broke up Chicago's no-hit bid with a single to lead off the sixth inning and Livan Hernandez pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, striking out nine.
"I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the moment," McLaren said. "The John McLaren era is over in Washington. I am glad we won the series, I am happy for everybody and I'm going home."
Taking over is Johnson, who signed a three-year consulting contract with the club and will also participate in the hiring of his successor after the season, assuming he doesn't serve the role again in 2012. The 68-year-old Johnson last managed in the big leagues in 2000 with the Dodgers and took the Mets to the 1986 World Series. He also won two championships as a player with Baltimore and has a career managerial record of 1,148-888 over 14 seasons.
"We could have absolutely no better choice to lead the Nationals at this time than Davey Johnson," Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. "He knows the game, he knows our players, he knows our fans, he knows the Washington, D.C. area, and he knows exactly what we need to be doing to build the Nationals into a contender."
Getting the call in Johnson's debut is the red-hot John Lannan, who has been excellent since giving up six runs in a loss at Baltimore on May 21.
The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.15 earned run average in six starts following that defeat and is coming off a victory over the Mariners on Wednesday. Lannan gave up a run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings without a walk in the 2-1 decision.
The victory evened Lannan's season record at 5-5 to go along with a 3.40 ERA in 16 starts. The 26-year-old has never faced the Angels, but is 4-5 with a 4.46 ERA in 12 interleague starts.
The Angels return home after a tough 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Dodgers on Sunday. Vernon Wells had put the Angels ahead by a run with a solo homer in the top of the ninth, but the Dodgers rallied for a pair of runs off Jordan Walden in the bottom of the frame.
Anaheim ended a season-long 12-game homestand 8-4 and is two games back of first-place Texas in the American League West, though Jered Weaver did his best to give the club a victory on Sunday. He gave up one run over seven innings, but was outdueled by Los Angeles' Clayton Kershaw.
"You have to tip your cap to Kershaw," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We didn't play well enough to finish that game out."
Ervin Santana hopes his bad luck didn't follow him back to Anaheim as he tries to avoid a fifth straight losing start in a row. Santana is just 3-8 with a 4.22 ERA in 16 starts this year, with the Angels scoring just eight runs in his setbacks.
He gave up just two runs on five hits over five innings at Florida on Tuesday, but still dropped a 5-2 decision.
"I don't have control over [run support]," Santana said on Los Angeles' website. "I just do what I can to keep my team in the ballgame."
The 28-year-old righty, who hasn't won since May 25, has faced the Nationals twice in his career and has pitched to a 3.65 ERA without a decision, striking out 15 over 12 1/3 innings.
The Nationals won two of three when the clubs last met in Washington in 2005, though the Angels returned the favor by winning a series at home in '08.
- WASHINGTON: 3
LOS ANGELES: 4
Final/10
Jun 28 1:11 AM - Maicer Izturis single to center scored Alberto Callaspo with one out to end the game.
Nationals 3, Angels 4 Bot 10, 1 OutJun 28 1:11 AM - Danny Espinosa two-out, solo Home Run (15) to right. Wilson Ramos due up.
Nationals 3, Angels 3 Top 9, 2 OutsJun 28 12:43 AM - Bobby Wilson single to left scored Alberto Callaspo with two out. On the play, Peter Bourjos advances to third. Runners on first and third and Maicer Izturis due up.
Nationals 2, Angels 3 Bot 6, 2 OutsJun 27 11:48 PM - Peter Bourjos single to right scored Vernon Wells with two out. On the play, Alberto Callaspo was thrown out at third, right to third to end the inning.
Nationals 2, Angels 2 End 4Jun 27 11:14 PM - Alberto Callaspo single to left scored Bobby Abreu with two out. On the play, Vernon Wells advances to second. Runners on first and second and Peter Bourjos due up.
Nationals 2, Angels 1 Bot 4, 2 OutsJun 27 11:10 PM - Ryan Zimmerman lead-off Home Run (3) to left. Laynce Nix due up.
Nationals 2, Angels 0 Top 4, 0 OutsJun 27 10:54 PM - Michael Morse lead-off Home Run (15) to center. Danny Espinosa due up.
Nationals 1, Angels 0 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 27 10:30 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 27 10:08 PM
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