WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson left the dugout in the fourth inning Friday night after feeling lightheaded and did not return. The issue was blamed on dehydration.
“I’ll survive,” the 70-year-old Johnson told D.C. reporters after the Nats’ 3-2 loss.
Rice-Bryce: Scott Rice inherited two runners from Dillon Gee with a one-run lead and two outs in the eighth. Rice then issued three straight balls before ultimately getting Bryce Harper to ground out on pitch No. 5.
Daniel Murphy said he was impressed Rice did not give in and throw a fat fastball after falling behind in the count, 3-0.
Rice said that’s his mentality anyway, but particularly so with a base to play with. Scott Atchison would have entered to face Jayson Werth had Rice walked Harper.
“I’m going to go out there and I’m going to throw aggressive pitches and not give in,” Rice said. “You don’t think about the counts as much as you just think about making quality pitches. I’m going to make the same pitch.
“My whole philosophy with my sinker is on 0-0 I’m thinking it’s a 3-0 pitch anyway. I’m trying to get a lot of the plate and let it move and trust my stuff that it’s going to go down and be where I need it to be.”
Said Terry Collins: “Of course, when you wait 15 years to get here, you’re not fazed by much.”
Extra gear: Murphy raced home without hesitation from second base for the Mets’ third run, on Andrew Brown’s infield single to third base.
Collins and Murphy credited Tom Goodwin’s baserunning coaching for instilling that type of mentality.
“Once I thought [third baseman Ryan] Zimmerman was going to throw it to first, I felt like I could make the play at the plate,” Murphy said.
What would have happened if Zimmerman held onto the ball?
“If he puts it in his pocket, I’m dead,” Murphy said.
Said Collins: “Ryan fakes, we’re done. That’s a chance you’ve got to take once in a while.”
Deep thoughts: Ike Davis had this to say about his two-run, opposite-field homer: “I haven’t hit a lot of home runs, period. It’s nice to see it leave the yard no matter where it goes.”
