Chris Narveson Is Human After All, Nationals Beat Brewers 4-3 In 10 Innings

W: Chad Gaudin (1-1)
L: Zach Braddock (0-1)

HR: Rickie Weeks (4)

MVP: Carlos Gomez (+.215)
LVP: Zach Braddock (-.368)

FanGraphs Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting

After back-to-back starts where he pitched like an ace, Chris Narveson looked more like a #5 starter tonight. His scoreless streak came to a somewhat ignominious end in the second inning, RIFT Platinum as he walked the #8 hitter and the pitcher with the bases loaded to force in the first two runs of his 2011 season. He recovered to put together a decent outing, though: He allowed three runs on five hits and four walks over 5.2 innings, striking out five. He threw exactly 100 pitches.

Rickie Weeks helped the Brewers close the gap a bit with a two run homer in the fifth inning, but that was all the Brewer bats could muster until the ninth. rift gold In fact, in the first seven innings of this game the Brewers only reached second base one time. Finally, in the ninth inning Carlos Gomez singled home Rickie Weeks to tie the game, but was thrown out trying to take second on the play, sending the game into extra innings.

The Brewer bullpen kept the team in the game for 3.1 innings tonight, as Sergio Mitre, RIFT Platinum Mitch Stetter and Sean Green combined to hold the Nationals scoreless through regulation. Unfortunately their luck ran out in the tenth as Jayson Werth reached and took second on a Yuniesky Betancourt error, stole third and came home on a walkoff fielder's choice.

In other notes:

Zach Braddock pitched the tenth inning tonight and hit 93 on the gun, so his velocity appears to be back up. Rift Gold He lost the game and gets LVP tonight despite not allowing a hit.
With Narveson on the mound, Wil Nieves (who had caught both of his prior starts) got the start at catcher tonight. He went 1-for-3 with a double before being lifted as part of a double switch when Narveson left the game.

With the Brewers facing a lefty for the second straight day, Erick Almonte made back-to-back starts for the first time all season. He went 1-for-4 with a single.