Washington on Thursday June 23, 2011 Jason Marquis halts Seattle as Nationals win 1-0
Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman resigned from the red-hot Nats. During a press conference, we quote, “I felt the franchise wasn’t committed to me over the long term.” Jim Riggleman quit because Washington was not willing to pick up the option on his contract for next year, reinforcing his – and we quote “feeling that he was merely a placeholder manager until the team could find someone better”. He had been working on one year deals since taking over in July 2009. Washington has a 38-37 record, the first time ever it is above .500. The Game: Jason Marquis and the Mariners starter Michael Pineda were linked up in an old fashioned 0-0 pitching duel for 7 innings, until the 6 ft 7 inch Mike Pineda was removed for a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th. Seattle brought in ace reliever David Pauley (1.52 ERA) who silenced Washington bats in the 8th. Seattle reliever and losing pitcher Chris Ray (3-2 ) came in with the score still 0-0 going into the last of the ninth. Nationals pinch hitter Laynce Nix stroked a sacrifice fly to score from third Danny Espinosa and end the ballgame. Jason Marquis allowed just 3 hits, 3 BB, 4 Ks thru 8 innings. Tyler Clippard (1-0 with a 1.85 ERA) pitched the ninth and picked up his first win of 2011. Jason Marquis has a 3.53 ERA. Nats rightfielder Jayson Werth drew 2 walks and ripped his 14th double and first baseman Mike Morse lined two singles. Baseball Historian On this Day in Baseball June 23, 2011 |
