Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Ian Desmond’s Error Part Of Tough Loss For Max Scherzer
By Ricky Keeler
Jun 9, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) singles to right allowing two runners to score during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
An Old Nemesis Hurts The Nats
One of the main reasons why the Yankees won the game last night was former Braves catcher, Brian McCann. McCann is 7-for-19 with four RBI’s in the month of June, but he did have three hits on the night along with rookie left fielder Ramon Flores.
In the second inning, he took a 2-2 curveball from Scherzer and hit a double to left center, but was left stranded in the second inning. In the fourth, Scherzer won the battle by going with a changeup in the dirt after three straight fastballs in order to get the strikeout.
In the sixth, McCann was down 0-2 in the count, but did enough with a 96 mph fastball as he hit it to right center for a base hit. He should have had a RBI, but Mark Teixeira stopped halfway and could only reach third.
One inning later, Matt Thornton had the task of trying to get McCann out after walking Teixeira. Yes, Teixeira could beat you from either side, but New York’s catcher with the bases loaded on a two hit night was not the best idea. McCann made the Nats pay for that decision with a two-run single down the right field line to break the game open and make it 4-1 Yankees.
McCann has three RBI’s in three games against the Nats this season and is a career .265 hitter against them with 16 home runs and 70 RBI’s. However, it wasn’t just McCann who hurt the Nationals.
Stephen Drew, who is only hitting .175 this season, had two home runs to right field, including one off of Scherzer in the bottom of the third. While Drew’s average is low, he is tied for third on the team with McCann in home runs (nine).
The Nationals saw first hand a Yankees offense that has homered in 15 of their last 17 games and leads the American League in home runs with 11 in the month of June. The Nats have hit five, which is tied for the fewest in the National League. The Nationals have to be hoping their offense gets on the roll that the Yankees are on right now real soon.