A few players drank beers. Others quietly grooved to hip-hop music. Some simply showered and dressed. The Nationals have their first win. They’re still working on how to celebrate.
Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle for the second time in his career and Jose Guillen hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the Nationals to a 7-3 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday night at Philadelphia in their second game.
“It’s a special day to get the first victory,” said Wilkerson, who was 4-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. His first cycle was against the Pirates on June 24, 2003.
Vinny Castilla was 4-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI for Washington, which hadn’t celebrated a victory by a major-league team since the expansion Senators left for Texas following the 1971 season.
`But I’m on the DL . . . ‘
Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was ejected in the fifth inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Giants–even though he’s on the disabled list.
Gagne apparently had been heckling home plate umpire Bill Hohn from the Dodgers’ dugout about balls and strikes.
A moment after Odalis Perez’s low pitch to Deivi Cruz was called a ball, Hohn pointed at the dugout and ejected Gagne.
3 Pirates farmhands nabbed
Three Pirates minor-leaguers were suspended for failing drug tests last year, with Triple-A pitcher Brian Mallette drawing a 30-game penalty as a two-time offender.
Outfielder Jon Nunnally, also with Pittsburgh’s Indianapolis farm team, was given a 15-game suspension as a first offender, as was infielder Tom Evans, who plays for Double-A Altoona.
Mallette and Nunnally were with other organizations when the tests were conducted before signing minor-league contracts with Pittsburgh. Both attended the Pirates’ spring camp as non-roster players.
Extra innings
Reds utility player Ryan Freel, who later apologized to his teammates and fans, pleaded not guilty in Newport, Ky., to drunken driving just hours after Monday’s season opener. . . . Rockies outfielder Dustan Mohr was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf, an injury that occurred Monday when he jumped out of the team’s dugout to celebrate Clint Barnes’ game-winning homer. . . . Braves second baseman Marcus Giles returned to Atlanta, where an MRI found a bone bruise on his left knee, and catcher Johnny Estrada was held out of Wednesday’s lineup because of a bruised right hand. Both starters were hurt early in Tuesday’s loss at Florida. . . . After clearing unconditional-release waivers, Rick Ankiel signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals and will continue work on his conversion to an outfielder.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Milwaukee 10 at Pittsburgh 2
W: Davis (1-0)
L: Wells (0-1)
Carlos Lee had HR and 4 RBIs and Doug Davis gave up 1 run and 4 hits in 6 innings as Brewers took 2nd straight from Pirates, who were outscored 19-4 in season-opening 2-game series.
St. Louis 1 at Houston 4
W: Qualls (1-0)
L: Tavarez (0-1)
S: Lidge (1)
Andy Pettitte allowed only solo HR to Reggie Sanders in 6-inning season debut and Mike Lamb’s 2-run triple in bottom of 8th helped Astros break 3-game losing streak to Cardinals.
Atlanta 2 at Florida 1
W: Bernero (1-0)
L: Bump (0-1)
S: Kolb (1)
Chipper Jones, who drove in both Braves runs and finished 4-for-6, hit HR on 1st pitch of 13th inning by Nate Bump, and 7 Atlanta pitchers shut out Marlins for final 11 1/3 innings.
Washington 7 at Philadelphia 3
W: Eischen (1-0)
L: Worrell (0-1)
Pat Burrell’s 2-run HR off Nationals starter Zach Day gave Phillies 3-2 lead in 6th, but Washington rallied vs. Tim Worrell with 4 runs and 4 hits in 8th. Worrell retired just 1 batter.
N.Y. Mets 5 at Cincinnati 9
W: Milton (1-0)
L: Glavine (0-1)
Joe Randa provided encore to opening-day walk-off HR, hitting bases-loaded single and grand slam to power Reds to 2nd win over Mets. Ken Griffey also had bases-loaded single among 3 hits.
San Diego 14 at Colorado 6
W: Hammond (1-0)
L: Jennings (0-1)
Brian Giles hit HR for 2nd straight game and had 5 RBIs and Padres battered Rockies’ bullpen for 7 runs in 7th inning. Sean Burroughs had 3 of San Diego’s 13 hits.
Los Angeles 10 at San Francisco 4
W: Od. Perez (1-0)
L: Rueter (0-1)
Dodgers’ Jose Valentin hit a 3-run HR and Olmedo Saenz drove in 3 runs. Valentin, Milton Bradley added run-scoring triples. Giants’ Moises Alou left game in 5th with tightness in his right calf.
