Washington Nationals Countdown To Spring Training: 14 Days
The off-season is almost over. Less than three weeks until Washington Nationals pitchers and catchers report to Viera. To celebrate this fact, we here at DistrictOnDeck will commence a countdown of sorts pointing out interesting facts about numbers.
We continue today with number 14.
September 21, 2011; Philadelphia, PA USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (3), left, gets congratulations from teammate Chris Marrero (14) after hitting a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
A little bit of a mixed bag with the number 14 today as there are a bunch of fun facts with the number.
First, 14 was the number of home runs it took to lead the team twice. Once in the strike-shortened season of 1995 when Moises Alou, Sean Berry and Tony Tarasco did it and once as the Nationals in 2008 when Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge led the team in dingers.
It was also the most runs that the franchise had ever had in an extra innings game, it was a 14-13 win on August 13, 1999 at (where else?) Colorado. It was actually the first game of a double header (the second game was an 8-6 Montreal win).
The two starting pitchers were Mike Johnson for Montreal and Jamey Wright for Colorado. The game was actually 1-1 after four but teams traded five-run fifth innings and then Montreal scored six in the sixth to take a 12-6 lead, but Colorado came right back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 12-11. The Expos added a run in the seventh but the Rockies scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to force extra innings. In the end, the Expos were able to pull it out as both teams (who were a combined 94-132 entering the game) tried to balance winning with saving pitchers for the second half of the twin bill.
Fourteen was also the most extra base hits the Expos ever had in a game back on July 30, 1978 against the Atlanta Braves. The game was a 19-0 blowout with the Expos getting 28 hits in total. Eight of the 14 extra base hits were home runs with the rest being doubles. Larry Parrish had three of those home runs plus a double, Andre Dawson had two home runs and Gary Carter had two doubles.
Atlanta only used three pitchers, Tommy Boggs (2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER), Craig Skok (2.2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER) and Mickey Mahler (4.1 IP, 11 H, 6 ER).
Woodie Fryman had the complete game shutout for Montreal and added a double and RBI for good measure.
Notable players to wear 14 with the Expos/Nationals: Roy Face, Ned Yost, Andres Galarraga, Hideki Irabu, Eddie Rodriguez, Manny Acta, Rick Eckstein, Chris Marrero