Most Important Nationals Hit: Ryan Zimmerman’s two-run double (+0.179)

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, starter Dan Haren doubled and Jayson Werth singled to put runners on the corners for Bryce Harper. In what might be the ultimate sign of respect, the White Sox intentionally walked Harper to load the bases and get to All-Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Suffice it to say, they jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. Zimmerman launched a two-run double to right field, giving the Nationals a 6-3 lead and knocking White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod out of the game after just 3.2 IP. After the came, when asked about White Sox manager Robin Ventura’s decision to walk Harper, Davey Johnson said: “Well that’s their decision. Harp’s swinging pretty good. I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions.”

Most Important Nationals Pitch: Alejandro de Aza’s RBI single (-0.152)

Trailing 3-1, the White Sox had runners on first and second after a Dylan Axelrod single (AL pitcher hit alert!). De Aza’s hit scored a run, cutting the lead to 3-2, and put the White Sox in great position to score again, with runners on first and third with only one out. Jeff Keppinger would knock in another run with a single to tie the game, but Dan Haren ended the threat by getting Alex Rios to ground out and Adam Dunn to fly out.

Apr 11, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) hits a two run RBI double during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Champ of the Game: Ryan Zimmerman (+0.200) did most of his damage with the two-run double, but also walked twice, although he scored no runs. For Chicago, de Aza was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Chump of the Game: Dan Haren would take this prize if we looked only at his pitching (-0.109), but he was actually the team’s second most valuable player on offense (+0.163), going 1-2 with a double and scoring the tie-breaking run. Instead the distinction falls on Danny Espinosa (-0.061), who went 0-3 with a strikeout before being removed from the game in a double switch, replaced in the field by Steve Lombardozzi.

Apr 11, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Dan Haren (15) throws during the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals finished their interleague series against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park with a win, sweeping the series from the Sox.

Dan Haren pitched his second game as a Nat, and his outing was much better than his first one against the Reds. Haren got through five innings, giving up three runs and recorded his first win as a National. Dylan Axelrod started for the White Sox, and didn’t get out of the fourth inning. Both pitchers gave up numerous hits and had base runners on in almost every inning, and both pitchers ran up high pitch counts early. Axelrod threw 103 pitches in four and 2/3 innings, and Haren was over one hundred pitches by the time he finished pitching the fifth inning. The game featured 10 hits by the Nats and 13 hits by the White Sox.

The Nationals got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning when Jayson Werth got a single, Ryan Zimmerman walked and Adam LaRoche hit an RBI single. The White Sox answered right back in the top of the second on an RBI groundout by Tyler Flowers after Paul Konerko had singled and Conor Gillaspie doubled.

The Nats broke the tie in the bottom of the third scoring two runs on an RBI single by Bryce Harper, walks drawn by Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche, and a sacrifice fly by Ian Desmond. Once again Chicago answered right back with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth on a single by Gillaspie, a bunt single by the pitcher Axelrod, and RBI single by Alejandro De Aza and an RBI single by Jeff Keppinger. That tied the score 3-3.

The score changed again in the bottom of the fourth when the Nats went ahead for good. Dan Haren helped his own cause by cracking a double, going to third on a single by Werth and scoring on a wild pitch thrown by Axelrod when he was facing Harper. Axelrod then intentionally walked Harper to pitch to Ryan Zimmerman. White Sox manager Robin Ventura wanted the right on right matchup against Zimmerman. Ryan made Ventura pay for that decision. The wind was blowing in all night, and fly balls were getting knocked down in the outfield. No one hit a home run. Zimmerman laced a line drive down the right field line, keeping the ball down below the jet stream for a double and two RBI’s. That ended Axelrod’s night.

With the Nats ahead by three runs, Haren came out to pitch the fifth inning to try to get the win.
He got through the inning without allowing a run and was in line for the win. Ryan Mattheus came in to pitch the sixth for the Nats. He allowed a single to De Aza and walked Alex Rios, then gave up an RBI double to Adam Dunn. Mattheus had not pitched for awhile, and he is a pitcher that has better control with regular work. Consequently, when Mattheus came out to pitch the seventh, he had better control of his pitches and had a three up, three down inning.

Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth inning, throwing eleven pitches to get three outs. Rafael Soriano notched his fifth save of the season, getting through the heart of the White Sox order in the ninth without damage.  Ryan Mattheus received a shaving cream pie in the face during his post-game interview courtesy of Drew Storen.

Next Game: Friday April 12th at 7:05 p.m. The Nationals home stand continues when the Atlanta Braves come to town for a three game series. The Nats send Ross Detwiler (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while Atlanta’s starter will be Julio Teheran (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

Most Important Nats Hit: Bryce Harper‘s solo home run (+0.144 WPA)

Much like last night, the Nats trailed 1-0 after a run scored in the top of the first. After a few more scoreless innings, Harper obliterated a Gavin Floyd pitch to the upper deck in the fourth to tie the game. As it goes with WPA, runs that tie the score or break a tie tend to be the most important. For example, Danny Espinosa‘s tie-breaking single shortly afterwards was +0.141 WPA.

Apr 10, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a broken bat single during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Most Important Nats Pitch: Alex Rios‘ first-inning double (-0.086 WPA)

Curiously enough, this play didn’t even score a run. The double put Jeff Keppinger on third base with one out, allowing him to score on an Adam Dunn groundout in the next at bat. That play was only -0.007 WPA, which speaks to the importance of not only scoring runs, but also being in position to score more runs. The expected runs value, on which WPA calculations are based, of second and third, one out, appears to be only slightly less than that of one run in, runner on second, two outs.

Champ of the Game: Harper (+0.192) was 2-4 overall, with a single in addition to his pivotal and monstrous home run. Alex Rios (+0.055) was 2-4 with an RBI for Chicago.

Chump of the Game: After breaking out of his slump, Adam LaRoche (-0.105) got another hit, but was just 1-4 with two Ks and a GIDP. For the second straight game, Chicago’s starter was hot at the outset but fell apart at the end, and Gavin Floyd ended with a -0.319 WPA.