EARL WEAVER WOULD APPROVE Ian Desmond erased a 2-0 deficit by hitting Washington’s first 3-run homer in nearly 6 weeks and it sparked a 9-2 win over the Rangers on Fri. at Nationals Park…Des- mond became the first National to hit a 3-run home run since Apr. 16, when Jayson Werth connected off Jose Fernandez with 2 runners on base at Marlins Park...Ste- pehen Strasburg yielded only a pair of unearned runs and struck out 9 in 6.0 strong innings to pocket his first win in 4 starts...Washington went 4-for-12 with RISP. BULLISH ON THE NATIONALS’ ‘PEN At 2.21 (42 ER/171.1 IP), Washington relievers pace MLB in bullpen ERA...beyond Washington, only SDP (2nd, 2.34) sports a sub-2.50 bullpen ERA. NO LONGER TAILING THE DONKEY With his game-changing 3-run shot on Fri. night, Ian Desmond passed Adam Dunn and assumed 2nd place on the Nationals’ all-time home run list...a closer look: RK PLAYER (SEASONS IN DC) HOME RUNS AS A NATIONAL 1. Ryan Zimmerman (2005-present) ................. ................. . 181 2. Ian Desmond (2009-present) .................. .................. .......77 3. Adam Dunn (2009-10) .................. .................. ................. ..76 POWER FROM THE PIVOT The Nationals pace MLB in home runs (18) hit by middle infielders (COL is 2nd with 15)...11 of these 18 middle-infield homers have been hit by shortstops (Ian Desmond 10, Zach Walters 1), 7 by second basemen (Danny Espinosa 6, Anthony Rendon 1). • The 32 home runs hit by Washington infielders (8 from 1B, 7 from 2B, 6 from 3B, 11 from SS) this season rank 4th in MLB...only the infields of the Blue Jays (36), Rockies (34) and Giants (34) have hit more homers than Washington’s. SCORE 4 = WIN MORE The Nationals are 22-2 when scoring 4 or more runs and, conversely, just 4-25 when limited to 3 or less runs by opposing pitchers. ATTENTION SPAN With 3 more hits on Fri. vs. TEX, Denard Span is hitting .367 (18-for-49) the last 10 games, during which he has registered 7 multi-hit efforts...Span also leads the Na- tioanls with 11 extra-base hits (9 doubles, triple, home run) in the month of May. STOP THIEF Nationals catchers, with a little help from Steve McCatty’s pitching staff, currently rank 2nd in MLB having gunned down 12 of 31 (38.7%) would-be basestealers this year (pitcher caught stealings excluded)...in all of MLB, only the Cardinals (46%, 13 of 28) have posted a higher percentage this season than Washington. • Last year, Washington ranked 29th out of the 30 clubs by throwing out just 14 percent (15 of 110) of would-be basestealers. STOLEN MOMENTS While Washington’s batteries have kept opposing running games in check, the Na- tionals lead the NL/2nd in MLB in stolen-base efficiency at 86.7 percent (26 SB, 4 CS)...only OAK (88.2%) has been better...in 9 previous DC seasons, the Nationals have posted a top 10 stolen-base e fficiency just once, in 2013 (9th, 88-for-116, 76%). BETTER LATE THAN NEVER While the Nationals have run up a 20-run first-inning deficit (24 for, 44 against) this year, Washington has outscored its opponents, 86-49, from the 7th inning on. • The Nationals pace MLB with a +37 run differential after the 6th inning (a.k.a. 7th-inning+)...at +30, the Athletics rank 2nd in this category behind Washington. MEET MATT WILLIAMS Matt Williams, 48, was named the 5th field manager of the Nationals on Oct. 31, 2013...the managerial position is the first of his career...joins the Nationals organiza- tion after spending the previous 4 seasons on Kirk Gibson’s coaching staff in ARI... Williams hit .268 (1878-for-7000) with 338 2B, 378 HR, 1218 RBI and 997 runs i n 1866 games spanning 17 decorated seasons with ARI (‘98-03), CLE (1997) and SFG (‘87- 96)...Williams was a 5-time All-Star (‘90, ‘94-96, ‘99) and a 4-time recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove (‘91, ‘93-94, ‘97) and Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger (‘90, ‘93- 94, ‘97) awards...his 359 career homers as a third baseman ranks 5th on the all-time list (Mike Schmidt 509, Eddie Matthews 486, Chipper Jones 389, Graig Nettles 368). • Williams reached the postseason on 6 occasions, won 3 pennants and claimed a World Championship (2001 Diamondbacks)...in all, played in 51 postseason games/18 World Series contests...sports previous managerial experience gained with the Salt River Rafters (AFL division title, ‘12) and the Double-A Mobile Bay- Bears (skippered final 5 weeks of ‘07 after Brett Butler suffered a mild stroke)... Williams’ baseball DNA traces back to his grandfather, outfielder Bert Griffith, who was a member of the 1924 World Champion AL Nationals...born in Bishop, CA and a native of Carson City, NV, Wi lliams is an alum of UNLV. NATIONALS WIRE Texa s Rangers (28-27) @ Washington Nationals (26-27) RHP Nick Tepesch (2-0, 2.95)| RHP Doug Fister (2-1, 3.42) Saturday, May 31 Game #54 / Home #30 Nationals Park Washington, DC May 31 2008 - The D-Backs tops the Nationals, 4-0, at Chase Field as J ason Berg- mann allows 4 solo home runs. However, in doing so, Bergmann snaps MLB’s longest complete-game drought (261 games between complete games) by becoming the first National to go the distance since Pedro Astacio turned the trick against ATL on August 15, 2006 at RFK. DATE IN DC BASEBALL HISTORY SCHEDULE & PROBABLE PITCHERS MAY 31 Washington Nationals Dream Foundation Gala - Nationals players and guests will “Take the Field” at this fun and glamorous black tie event made possible by new presenting sponsor, the Marriott Marquis Wash- ington, D.C. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by a seated dinner and program. Proceeds from the annual Gala will benefit the Dream Foundation. IN THE COMMUNITY TEXAS RANGERS Following the ‘71 season, the expansion Senators left town to become the Texas Rangers...the 2nd incarnation of the Senators went 740- 1032-1 in 10 seasons in DC (1962-71)...on Sept. 30, 1971, the 10,852nd and seemingly final game played in Washington, DC ended in a forfeit win for NYY...the Senators led, 7-5, with 2 outs in the top of the 9th when fans stormed and trashed the field, thus forcing umpires to call the game...Anthony Rendon (Houston) and Scott Hairston (Fort Worth) are the only 2 current Nationals born in the Lone Star State...Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr hit .294 in 15 games for the 2000 Rangers. THE SERIES The Rangers return to The District for the 2nd time since 1971...TEX took 2 of 3 here, June 20-22, 2008...Washington’s lone win came in the opener, a 14-inning 4-3 victory as Elijah Dukes become the franchise’s first player to notch 5 hits, including the game-ending safety...the Na- tionals last played in Arlington, June 17-19, 2005 (lost 2 of 3 games)... Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams’ best season as manager came in hi s mana- gerial debut, as his 1969 Senators won 86 games...he then completed his managerial career as the Rangers’ first skipper in 1972. 2014 / BY THE NUMBERS 2014 W-L ..........................................................1-0 (1-0 in DC) Streak ..........................................................................Won 1 Aggregate Score / 2014 ...................Nationals 9, Rangers 2 Home Runs Hit / 2014 ...................... Nationals 1, Rangers 0 ALLTIME SERIES / BY THE NUMBERS W-L / Nationals .................................................................3-4 W-L / Franchise (Nationals + Expos) ...............................6-4 W-L / Nat ionals Park (2008-present) ................ .............. 2-2 2014 AGAINST THE RANGERS DATE RESULT WIN-LOSS-SV TOGDATE RESULT WIN-LOSS-SV TOG 5/30DC W9-2 Strasburg-Lewis- NONE 2:45 5/31DC 6/1DC OPPONENT RECENT TRANSACTIONS 5/9 ..... Recalled from rehab and reinstated RHP Doug Fister from the 15-Day DL. 5/11 .... Placed 1B Adam LaRoche on the 15- Day DL (retro to 5/10) with a right quad strain...recalled 1B/OF Tyler Moore from Syracuse. 5/16.... Optioned C Sandy Leon to Syracuse...selected contract of 1B Gr eg Dobbs...re- called OF Eury Perez from Syracuse and placed him on the 60-Day DL with a left toe fracture. 5/18.... Placed LHP Gio Gonzalez on the 15-Day Disabled List (left sho ulder)...recalled RHP Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse. 5/21 .... Optioned RHP Ryan Mattheus to Syracuse. 5/22 ... Recalled RHP Blake Treinen from Syracuse. 5/25 ... Optioned INF Zack Walters to Syracuse...recalled from rehab and reinstated 1B Adam LaRoche from 15-Day DL. DISABLED LIST PLAYER INJURY 15/60 DL PLACED / RETRO REINSTATED #GAMES E.Davis R Elbow Sprain 60 Feb. 13 53 R.Ohlendorf R Lumbar Strain 60 Mar. 26 53 J.Kobernus L Hand Fracture 60 Apr. 12 43 R.Zimmerman R Thumb Fracture 15 Apr. 13 42 B.Harper L Thumb Sprain 15 Apr. 27 / Apr. 26 29 E.Perez L Toe Fracture 60 May 16 13 G.Gonzalez L Shoulder Inflam. 15 May 18 12 D.Span Concussion 7 Apr. 12 Apr. 19 7 S.Hairston L Oblique Strain 15 Apr. 6 May 5 26 W.Ramos L Hamate Fracture 15 Apr. 2 / Apr. 1 May 7 32 D.Fister R Lat Strain 15 Mar. 29 / Mar. 23 May 9 34 A.LaRoche R Quad Strain 15 May 11 / May 10 May 25 14
