Nats rip Astros 14-4, Oswalt gets tossed
May 31, 2010
HOUSTON (AP)—Carlos Maldonado(notes) and Ryan Zimmerman(notes) hit three-run homers offChris Sampson(notes), long after Roy Oswalt(notes) was ejected, and Washington put togetherthe highest scoring inning in Nationals’ history for a 14-4 win over the HoustonAstros on Monday.
Washington Nationals pitcher L… AP – May 31, 2:39 pm EDT Was-Hou Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init(); Series at a Glance Washington 14 Houston 4 Mon, May 31 – Final Washington at Houston Tue, Jun 1 – 8:05 pm ET Washington at Houston Wed, Jun 2 – 8:05 pm ET
Zimmerman and Adam Dunn(notes) drove in four runs apiece and both chipped in duringa nine-run seventh, the team’s biggest inning since relocating from Montrealbefore the 2005 season.
Rookie Luis Atilano(notes) (5-1) allowed three earned runs on six hits in 6 2-3innings, his longest outing of the season.
Dunn broke a 1-all tie with a three-run double off Oswalt in the third.Oswalt (3-7) gave up more than three earned runs in a start for the first timethis year.
And then Oswalt lost his cool after missing the strike zone with a 2-2 pitchto Josh Willingham(notes). He turned his head toward the first base line and yelledsomething. It was unclear if Oswalt was snapping at home plate umpire Bill Hohnor chastising himself, but Hohn took off his mask and barked back to the mound.
The Astros ace responded, “I ain’t talking to you!” Hohn ejected Oswaltanyway, catcher Humberto Quintero(notes) confronted the umpire and Houston manager BradMills(notes) came out to join the conversation.
Oswalt has acknowledged his frustration with the Astros’ dismal start andabout two weeks ago, his agent asked the Astros to try and deal him. He walkedto the dugout as Mills argued with Hohn.
Gustavo Chacin(notes), a left-hander recalled from the minors on Friday, replacedOswalt. In the bottom of the third, Chacin homered down the right-field line,his first hit in eight career at-bats.
The Nationals tacked on another run in the fifth, then blew it open in theseventh.
Jeff Fulchino(notes) relieved Chacin and gave up a leadoff walk to Nyjer Morgan(notes).Zimmerman doubled to center and Morgan scored on Dunn’s infield single.Willingham walked to load the bases and Desmond drove in two with a single foran 8-2 lead.
Washington was just getting started.
Sampson relieved Fulchino, and Maldonado homered off the left-field foulpole. Maldonado’s contract was just purchased by Washington last week, afterIvan Rodriguez(notes) was injured.
Cristian Guzman(notes) and Morgan singled to keep the inning alive, and Zimmermanhomered to right for a 14-2 lead. Washington reached its highest run total sincea 14-6 win in Colorado on May 13.
Houston scored two runs off Altilano in the bottom of the seventh, andAlberto Gonzalez(notes) relieved.
NOTES: Oswalt was ejected for the first time since getting tossed twice in2004. Hohn ejected him once that season, for hitting Chicago Cubs’ C MichaelBarrett(notes) with a pitch. … Washington manager Jim Riggleman moved regular leadoffman Morgan to the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Morgan came in hitting .202 in May(20 of 99). “He’s not been getting on base leading off, so really just tryingto get him a different feel,” Riggleman said. … Brian Moehler(notes) (0-2, 7.29 ERA)will start Thursday’s series finale in place of Bud Norris(notes), who’s on thedisabled list with bursitis and right biceps tendinitis. … Two fans ran acrossthe outfield and were apprehended by security personnel at different points inthe game. The first fan came out of the right-field stands in the seventh andclimbed over the center-field wall. The next fan ran across the outfield fromthe opposite side of the field in the eighth.
