Washington Nationals Pre-History: Ken Griffey Jr. And Mike Piazza Vs. Expos/Nats
By Ricky Keeler
Piazza Vs. Nationals
Toward the latter sages of Piazza’s career, he played three seasons against the Washington Nationals (2004-2006). He hit four home runs and drove in 18 RBI’s over the course of 34 games. While the catcher hit .140 against the Nats in 2005, two of his seven hits were home runs and he drove in nine runs.
Both of those home runs came in Game 1 of a doubleheader at RFK Stadium on September 25. Piazza hit a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run home run in the fourth against John Patterson. New York won that game, 6-5. He had a game winning hit that season against Washington when he singled off Luis Ayala in the top of the 11th to defeat Washington, 3-2 on July 7.
In 2006, Piazza was with the Padres, but still found a way to hurt the Nationals. He only hit one home run in five games that season vs. Washington, but it was a game-winning home run.
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On July 9 of that season, Chad Cordero came on to get the save for the Nats as he tried to hold a 9-6 lead. However, Cordero gave up three straight hits, including a RBI double to Adrian Gonzalez and a two-run home run to Khalil Greene to tie it at nine. Three batters, Piazza would pinch-hit for Scott Cassidy and hit a solo home run to left to give San Diego the lead and ultimately the win, 10-9. Whether he was with the Dodgers, Mets, or Padres, one of the greatest, if not the greatest hitting catcher of all-time, still found a way to hurt the Expos and Nats repeatedly.