Announcement
On a night dominated by pitching, it was only appropriate that small ball decided the outcome. After a lead off single to start the 10th inning, the Kings loaded the bases when consecutive sacrifice bunts were mishandled. With no one out, Jason Dennis then hit a sacrifice fly to left to give the Kings their first and only lead of the game, 2-1.
Erik Martwick walked with two down in the bottom half of the inning and it appeared the Nationals would tie the game when Matt Soderlund smoked a liner to the right side. Unfortunately, the ball was flagged by the second basemen who then threw to first to end the game.
The real story of the game, though, began and ended on the mound. Jimmy Jungbauer and Kings pitchers, Randy Johnson and Eric Schumacher, put on masterful displays while keeping each of the potent offenses at bay.
Jungbauer pitched all 10 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. The run that proved to be the winner in the 10th was unearned.
Johnson went the first 6 for the Kings, allowing only three hits while striking out 9. Schumacher went the rest of the way, holding the Nationals hitless and striking out 3 to earn the win.
Both sides had opportunities to score. The Nationals left 10 on base during the first 6 innings; the Kings, 4.
The Nats pushed their lone run across in the third inning. Kyle Kalkopf led off the inning getting hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Jared Stengel. After a walk to Brandon Hall and a popout by Dean Mlachnik, Curt Pryal drove Kalkopf home with a ground out to second.
Kalkopf led the Nationals by reaching base 4 times; 3 times after getting hit by a pitch and once on a single. Jimmy Jungbauer added a single to help his cause.
The Nats and Kings meet again on Thursday at Simmons Field in Kenosha. First pitch is set for 7:30pm.
