Washington – In a cramped clubhouse, far away from the mound at RFK Stadium, Ubaldo Jimenez went high tech before his team short-circuited against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old rookie sat at his locker with a DVD player, watching every member of the Nationals’ lineup hit, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Information downloaded, Jimenez turned on his iPod and jammed to his favorite music in the hours leading up to his first start.
It was everything Jimenez has promised the past two months in Triple-A. There were flashes of brilliance and puzzling lapses of command, but ultimately, and most importantly for a tight-budgeted team trying to contend, there was no win, Brad Hawpe’s fielding error the crucial mistake in a 5-4 loss in 10 innings at RFK Stadium.
After Hawpe’s mistake tied the score at 4-all in the eighth, D’Angelo Jimenez created a celebratory mosh pit on the field when he lined a game-winning single to center in the 10th. Jimenez was 1-for-25 as a pinch-hitter before the decisive at-bat against LaTroy Hawkins. It ended a three-game winning streak and represented Colorado’s first loss ever in Washington.
Ubaldo Jimenez’s statistics amounted to point/counterpoint – he worked five innings (not good), struck out five (solid), walked three (dangerous), allowed two runs (admirable) and needed 107 pitches (too many). Jimenez, who hit 99 miles per hour on the radar gun and showed off two different curveballs, didn’t figure in the decision because of a forgettable eighth inning. With the Rockies leading 4-2 after Matt Herges cleaned up Tom Martin’s mess in the sixth – Martin was removed with a lefty coming to the plate, a vote of no confidence – Jeremy Affeldt attempted to secure the win.
After the game Martin was designated for assignment, giving the team 10 days to trade or release him.
Said Martin, “I have nothing but good things to say about this organization. You can’t pitch like I was and expect to stick around.”
Triple-A reliever Ramon Ramirez was called up to replace Martin.
Ryan Church reached on a single and Austin Kearns was hit by a pitch, bringing up Rule V draft pick Jesus Flores with one out. Nationals manager Manny Acta knew of the 22-year-old Flores when both were with the Mets last season. Prior to the game, veteran reliever Ray King praised the kid’s poise.
On cue, the backup catcher lined a single to right field that went through Hawpe’s legs and into the fence. By the time Hawpe retrieved and fired the ball in, the tying runs had scored.
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
