Washington – This city breathes politics. It is a place that knows more about a good spin than a club DJ.
But there’s no way to put a good face on what happened to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium.
As the Nationals fled the clubhouseafter a stunning 3-2 loss, their look had been significantly altered.
They are division leaders in name only, perhaps not even contenders after a shocking postgame announcement. Ace Livan Hernandez told reporters he’s planning to have season-ending surgery on his troublesome right knee.
“It’s nothing official. I am going to make my decision. It’s (nobody’s) decision but mine,” said Hernandez, who had not yet consulted Nationals management, creating a bizarre question- and-answer session with the media. “I am 99.9 percent sure that I am not going to pitch anymore (this year).”
Hernandez’s health trumped the finger injury suffered by Rockies starter Jason Jennings, which is likely to cost him his next start. And it overshadowed Colorado’s first series win on the road since Sept. 3-5 at San Diego.
Given the place and the team – the Nationals have been bullies at home this season with a penchant for ruling in close games – it was arguably the Rockies’ biggest victory.
“It does seem like it has been forever since we won a series out here,” second baseman Aaron Miles said. “But the way our pitching has been going, they are giving us a chance every night. We need to keep this rolling.”
The Rockies were chugging toward another demoralizing defeat when catcher JD Closser influenced the outcome with one sixth-inning swing of the bat. The rookie blasted a Hernandez fastball into the Rockies’ bullpen for the only home run of the series. That gave Colorado a one-run lead closer Brian Fuentes secured when pinch-hitter Vinny Castilla lined to shortstop for the final out.
“When you hit a flyball here, you put your head down and run hard because you don’t expect it to go out,” said Closser of RFK, which the Nationals players insist has mislabeled dimensions, saying they believe the gaps are 395 feet, not 380. “It was a good feeling.”
Jennings’ solid outing was draped in pain, tinged in frustration. He extended his solid two-month run but wasn’t around for the decision. Attempting to break up a force play on a sacrifice bunt in the sixth inning, Jennings slid awkwardly, catching his right hand on the bag. His middle finger and ring finger were bent back violently, forcing the right-hander to leave the game.
He will undergo an MRI today in Pittsburgh. The Rockies have available replacements in Zach Day and Jose Acevedo, who muzzled the Nationals for five outs despite turning his right ankle.
“I am a guy who wants to make every start,” said Jennings, who has missed only two assignments in his career, due to illness two years ago. “I have slid a thousand times. It was just one of those freak things.”
Washington was bathing in the surreal after its most devastating loss. Pitching has long camouflaged a flawed offense, whose single strength – a late-inning magic touch – has vanished. The Nationals have dropped five straight one-run games.
That the most recent two came against the Rockies, a team challenging baseball’s road abyss, left the Nationals numb. And that was before Hernandez opened his mouth.
“You look at it on paper and this series should have been easy,” veteran Brad Wilkerson said. “If we don’t find a way to score more runs, we are going to continue to struggle for the rest of the season regardless of who’s pitching.”
ROCKIES RECAP
Machado, Quintanilla to get look at shortstop
Any doubt the Rockies are aggressively trying to trade Desi Relaford was eliminated Wednesday. The Rockies claimed Anderson Machado, who will join the team today, off waivers from Cincinnati. Colorado plans to take a flier on the 24-year-old, who would have been the Reds’ opening-day shortstop if not for a knee injury. Relaford started for the first time in 11 days Wednesday, committing an error. If Machado is healthy, he will play shortstop, spelling Luis Gonzalez. Omar Quintanilla will also soon get a look, given his Triple-A performance.
“First we want to make sure Machado is healthy, then see what he can do,” said general manager Dan O’Dowd, who unsuccessfully tried to acquire Alfredo Amezaga. “There’s no risk for us.”
To make room for Machado, the Rockies will either option out a reliever for the remainder of the road trip – possibly David Cortes – or a utility player such as Eddy Garabito.
Chacon update
Shawn Chacon pitched Tuesday at the big ballpark and imparted advice to Jason Jennings, who turned in another solid outing. No teams called on Chacon after his outing, and trade talks are not expected to heat up until late next week.
Getting a breather
Because the Rockies are in a stretch of 34 games in 34 days, manager Clint Hurdle has begun resting players. He sat Garrett Atkins Wednesday, and Todd Helton might rest during one of the Pittsburgh games.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
