Game Recap #11 Tampa Bay Rays @ Washington Nationals

For years, the Tampa Bay Rays have had to use what they've been able to cultivate in their own system to stay competitive in the AL East. The Washington Nationals are just figuring out what their young phenoms are able to do. Today, the two youth-driven teams met in the nation's capital. Scoring started early, as Washington starter Chien-Ming Wang surrendered early base-runners, setting up a Tampa Bay run as B.J. Upton singled in Desmond Jennings, both coming out of the Rays' prospect pool. Tampa Bay starter David Price faced a similar fate, as a Carlos Pena error led to the young Nationals-grown second baseman Danny Espinosa scoring when Michael Morse got on base in the first inning. Espinosa had gotten in position for the run after the game's only stolen base. The Nationals added on to take a second inning with a solo home run by shortstop Ian Desmond, a product of their system as well. The Rays charged back to the lead in the third inning, giving Wang more trouble as Pena made up for his earlier defensive miscue with a two-run home run that also scored Jennings, and then an Elliot Johnson triple forced in both super-utility man Ben Zobrist and catcher Jose Lobaton. Wang would get into the fourth inning before the Nationals bullpen took over, mainly Ross Detwiler, who tossed 1/3 more innings than Wang did, as well as Michael Gonzalez and Ryan Mattheus. Wang left after scattering seven hits and five runs, all earned, along with three walks and only one strikeout. The Nationals bullpen kept Tampa Bay's offense in check throughout the rest of the game. Price was not as lucky, as the game turned into a close, one-run battle in the sixth inning after Morse hit a two-run home run, also scoring star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, another home-grown talent. He lasted another inning before handing things over to Joel Peralta, Jake McGee, and closer Fernando Rodney. Peralta was controversially removed, accused of using pine tar on his glove in one of the more odd things we've seen so far, while McGee got a hold and Rodney shut the door for a 5-4 win. Price's line was seven innings, six hits and a walk, four runs, three of them earned, with four strikeouts. Out of all the home-grown talents in this game, one that was kept silent happened to be teenage superstar Bryce Harper, who turned in an 0-3 with a walk today, a small blemish on what has been a good season so far for him and the Nationals, as well as their opponents too.