SportsLog

Basketball
Trailing 1.5 games out of first place, the Washington Mystics tried to stay in second place when the played the Indiana Fever Saturday night at Verizon Center. The Mystics were down the whole game, so a comeback fell short as time ran out. Final score: 78-73. Wednesday brought a special 11:30 a.m. start for kids’ camp day – 14,000+ saw the Mystics crush the Atlanta Dream 82-72. Next up for the Mystics comes Tuesday. They play the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, about 40 miles north of New London. The Mystics return home Thursday to face off against the San Antonio Silver Spurs.

Soccer
D.C. United won its friendly match 4-0 vs. Portsmouth FC at RFK Stadium Saturday night. Three of those four goals came by Danny Allsopp. United gets back into MLS play as they take on Real Salt Lake in Utah.

Baseball
After the MLB all-star break, the Nationals finally return home after a 3-7 road trip. The Nats made stops in Florida, Cincinnati and Milwaukee. Tuesday, July 27, Stephen Strasburg makes his 10th major league start against the Atlanta Braves. Tuesday is also a “T-Shirt Tuesday” for the first 10,000 fans through the turnstiles.
After the three game series vs. Atlanta, the Nats host a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. The first 15,000 fans on Saturday, July 31, get a Nyjer Morgan bobble head.
Off the field, Bill Ladner reported on MLB.com last Friday that Nationals manager Jim Riggleman is expected to coach the team next year.

Football
Redskins upside: July 29 – Aug. 19 is training camp. The Redskins training camp is held at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Virginia. Redskins downside: after a 10-year pro career, tackle Chris Samuels retired this week.

That’s this week’s D.C. sports news. Check back for next week.

Written July 12, 2010; YDC regrets the posting delay
Wow, the first half of the Major League Baseball season is over. With the All Star games under way, the Nationals have one representative. Matt Capps the closer for the Nationals will be a member of the National League team and will make an appearance at the All Star game Tuesday at Angels Stadium in Los Angeles California.
As of right now the Nats stand in last place in the NL East division with a record of 39-50 and are 13 and ½ games behind the first place Atlanta Braves.
As I write this post, Stephen Strasburg is 3-2 and holds a 2.32 ERA and will make his next start after the all star break away at the Florida Marlins on July 16. That game is scheduled for a 7:10 first pitch and will be aired on MASN 2.
First basemen Adam Dunn is currently tied for first place in the majors with 11 game winning RBI’s on the season. Also, he has 22 home runs on the season and 59 RBI’s. Lastly, some other Nats news: they recalled outfielder, Justin Maxwell from AAA Syracuse and sent down right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano.
D.C. United’s last match on July 10 against the New York Red Bulls was a 0-0 tie. United returns to RFK Stadium July 15 for a 8:00 p.m. kickoff with the Seattle Sounders FC. The next friendly match will be on July 24, United vs. Portsmouth F.C. at 7:30 at RFK Stadium.
The Mystics are currently riding a four-game win streak going into the WNBA All Star game. Their first game in the second half of the season is at the New York Liberty with a 12:00 p.m. start. The Mystics return home Sunday July 18 against the Chicago Sky.
Let’s see what the Nats do in the second half of the season and see if they can push their lead in the division and try for a spot in the playoffs.