Final
Clippard strong as Nationals top Mariners
Jun 15, 2008 - 6:16 AM By Christopher Hester PA SportsTicker Contributing WriterSEATTLE (Ticker) -- Tyler Clippard's return was a success for the Washington Nationals, who posted a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night at Safeco Field.
Recalled from Class AAA Columbus to replace injured lefthander Odalis Perez in the starting rotation, Clippard worked into the seventh inning and allowed two runs and seven hits for his first victory with Washington.
The righthander - who allowed fourth-inning blasts to Jose Vidro and Adrian Beltre - walked three and struck out two in just his second start for the Nationals, whose offense started quickly for the second night in a row with a run in the top of the first inning.
"I was able to get ahead of guys, (I had) better command of the fastball tonight (and I) kept my pitch count down," Clippard said of his performance. "It was a good night."
The prize for his solid outing will be a return trip to Columbus the beginning of the week.
"He did a very good job for us. He was very aggressive with his fastball and was able to throw some good curveballs," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He'll get another chance (to start in the big leagues), but he's going to be optioned down so we can bring up Paul Lo Duca is his spot."
Clippard didn't appear to upset after hearing the news that he would return to the minor leagues.
"I want to be here and I feel that I should be here, but that's out of my hands," the righthander said. "I just want to pitch well every time out, whether it's here, or Triple-A, or softball, it doesn't matter."
Elijah Dukes singled and advanced to third on Dmitri Young's double.?? Jesus Flores followed with a run-scoring base hit to right field.?? Young didn't even bother to slide as he was thrown out at home plate by Seattle right fielder Wladimir Balentien, preventing the Nationals from doing more first-inning damage.
Washington added another run off Seattle starter Erik Bedard in the fourth inning, when Ronnie Belliard and Felipe Lopez opened the frame with back-to-back doubles off the Seattle lefthander. But Bedard escaped further damage by striking out Wily Mo Pena and Kory Castry before inducing Christian Guzman's pop out to
catcher Jamie Burke to end the rally.
Bedard worked six innings, allowing two runs and nine hits while walking a pair and striking out eight before turning a 2-2 game over to Miguel Batista and Seattle's bullpen.
"It was just one of those days you can't put it all together," the lefthander said following the outing. "It was a hard six innings. Sometimes, you just do what you can and you??just try to throw strikes and you can't pinpoint exactly what's going on."
The game didn't stay tied for long as Batista, banished to the bullpen after posting a 3-7 record with a 6.16 ERA in 13 starts, walked Dukes to lead off the seventh before Flores connected on a two-run home run into the Nationals' left-field bullpen to give Washington a 4-2 lead.
"I didn't know that the ball was out of the park," Flores said of the shot that just cleared the glove of left fielder Raul Ibanez. "I though he caught it."
"I just have to keep working hard and keep doing what I've been doing," Flores added.
Flores has a hit in 13 of his last 14 starts, hitting .340 (17-for-50) with six doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI after his three RBI-night Saturday.
"He's playing very well, driving in runs" Acta said of his young catcher. "We've won three of the last four games, and the kid has been part of it."
Jon Rauch worked the ninth inning, striking out the side on 10 pitches, for his 15th save of the season.
- ML
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 10 1
SEATTLE 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 6 15 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: WAS - SHAWN HILL, SAUL RIVERA (6TH), JOEL HANRAHAN (8TH), JON RAUCH
(9TH) AND JESUS FLORES
SEA - R.A. DICKEY, RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH (2ND), SEAN GREEN
(6TH), MARK LOWE
Jun 14 1:12 AM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JOSE LOPEZ SCORED YUNIESKY BETANCOURT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, I SUZUKI ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
SEATTLE 6 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J VIDRO (.223, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
Nationals 7, Mariners 6 Bot 8, 0 OutsJun 14 12:49 AM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KENJI JOHJIMA SCORED RAUL IBANEZ AND ADRIAN
BELTRE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, K JOHJIMA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
SEATTLE 5 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: W BALENTIEN (.198, 1-FOR-2)
Nationals 7, Mariners 5 Bot 5, 0 OutsJun 13 11:48 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADRIAN BELTRE SCORED JOSE LOPEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A BELTRE ON FIRST, R IBANEZ ON SECOND, J
VIDRO ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
SEATTLE 3 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R SEXSON (.215, 0-FOR-1)
Nationals 7, Mariners 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 13 11:15 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSE VIDRO SCORED ICHIRO SUZUKI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J VIDRO ON FIRST, J LOPEZ ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
SEATTLE 2 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.263, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
Nationals 7, Mariners 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 13 11:11 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RONNIE BELLIARD SCORED DMITRI YOUNG AND JESUS
FLORES.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, R BELLIARD ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
SEATTLE 1 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: F LOPEZ (.243, 1-FOR-1)
Nationals 7, Mariners 1 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 13 10:47 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JESUS FLORES SCORED WILLIE HARRIS AND ELIJAH
DUKES.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J FLORES ON SECOND, D YOUNG ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 5
SEATTLE 1 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R BELLIARD (.215, 0-FOR-1)
Nationals 5, Mariners 1 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 13 10:46 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO DMITRI YOUNG SCORED WILY MO PENA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D YOUNG ON FIRST, E DUKES ON SECOND, W
HARRIS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
SEATTLE 1 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: J FLORES (.323, 1-FOR-1)
Nationals 3, Mariners 1 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 13 10:45 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ELIJAH DUKES SCORED FELIPE LOPEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E DUKES ON FIRST, W HARRIS ON SECOND, W PENA
ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2
SEATTLE 1 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: L MILLEDGE (.251, 1-FOR-1)
Nationals 2, Mariners 1 Top 2, 0 OutsJun 13 10:41 PM - ML
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY RAUL IBANEZ SCORED ICHIRO SUZUKI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LOPEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
SEATTLE 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.222, 13 HR, 28 RBI)
Nationals 1, Mariners 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsJun 13 10:31 PM - ML
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 1 1 3 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - SHAWN HILL
SEA - R.A. DICKEY
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.288, 3 HR, 17 RBI)
J LOPEZ (.292, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
J VIDRO (.222, 4 HR, 32 RBI)
Nationals 1, Mariners 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsJun 13 10:21 PM
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