West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Little has come easy or been predictable for the Nationals this year. Tuesday night's elimination game versus the Kingpins was no different. Shortly before game time the team learned that starting CF Erik Dunn would be unable to play after turning his ankle. In one quick moment, Dunn joined a long list of Nationals outfielders to have been sidelined this season. Though hurt by his loss, the team did as it has done all year, patching together an alternative lineup. Jim Dettman, assumed the CF duties despite having played there very little this season. The Kingpins capitalized immediately. After starting pitcher, Nick Kibler walked Rick Lopez to start the game, second basemen, Nate Miller smoked a line drive to center that Dettman misplayed into a triple. Three hits and a hit batsmen later, the Kingpins had a 3-0 lead. Kibler escaped with no further damage but the Nationals failed to respond in their half of the first inning. Kibler then took control. The veteran righthander struck out two of the three men he faced in the second inning and followed by setting the side down in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings as well. Kibler's command allowed the Nationals offense to get the team back in the game. Consecutive singles by Tom Donovan and James Herkowski were followed by a Brian Gibson RBI double and the team had its first tally. Unfortunately, Herkowski was thrown out at the plate on the play and the rally was halted prematurely. Not to worry. Mike Wajerski led off the following inning with a bunt single, stole second, and moved to third on a ground out before Alex Franson drove him home for the team's second run. James Herkowski's leadoff homer in the fourth tied the game 3-3 and Nationals appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open. Brian Gibson followed with a single and Jim Dettman walked, but the rally fizzled with no further damage. The fifth inning saw the Kingpins bring their ace righthander to the hill. Rebounding from a 145 pitch effort on Saturday, Nick Witthuhn promptly walked Alex Franson and beaned Trevor Koepp to give the Nationals runners on first and second with no outs. Witthuhn responded, however, by striking out Donovan, Herkowski, and Gibson in order to end the fifth inning threat. The game remained deadlocked at three until the bottom of the seventh inning. With the count 3-2 and two outs, James Herkowski fought off an inside fastball for a single over the first basemen's head. The Nationals had their first lead at 4-3. An RBI groundout by Alex Franson in the bottom of the eighth gave the team a security run, but the Kingpins were not finished. Nick Witthuhn led off the top of the ninth with a triple to left center field and scored on a single by Kevin Miller to cut the lead to 5-4. Alex Franson then made a key play, picking Miller off first base after a botched attempt at a sacrifice bunt. A lazy fly to Trevor Koepp ended the game and the Nationals escaped with a 5-4 series clinching victory. Next up is the Milwaukee County Championship series versus the National Division Champion Milwaukee Angels (18-5). The Nationals (20-9) and Angels last squared off in June when the teams split a doubleheader. The Angels, no doubt, will be looking to avenge last season's playoff losses to the Nationals. The Best of Three series begins Saturday night August 16 with a doubleheader starting at 6PM at Zirkel Field in McCarty Park.