Bad breaks cost Detwiler in lengthy first inning (Nats back in it)

The way I see it, Ross Detwiler recorded five outs in the first inning. Unfortunately, a couple close calls that didn't go Detwiler's way now leave him, and the Nationals, in a four-run hole. Detwiler gave up four runs in the top of the first on Ryan Ludwick's second career grand slam, but the Nats lefty probably feels like he should've been off the mound long before Ludwick came to the plate. With two outs in the inning, Scott Rolen was called safe at first base on a close play, but a play in which it appeared Adam LaRoche came down and touched first base before Rolen got there. First base umpire Mike Everitt called Rolen safe, however, and shortstop Ian Desmond was credited with an error. Here's a still shot of the play at first from the MASN broadcast, courtesy of SBNation's Chris Mottram. One batter later, with the count full, Detwiler appeared to have struck out Jay Bruce with an offspeed pitch up in the zone, but the pitch was called a ball and Bruce was given a walk instead of an inning-ending strikeout. Here's a still shot of the pitch, also courtesy of Mottram. The next batter was Ludwick, who also appeared to have taken a called third strike, only to see a pitch at the knees get called a ball. He cashed in on the second chance by smashing a grand slam over the left-center field wall, giving the Reds a 4-0 lead. Detwiler was forced to throw 38 pitches in the first, including 18 after the blown call at first base. I have a feeling Detwiler won't ask home plate umpire Laz Diaz if he wants to grab a drink after the game. Update: Detwiler allowed one more run in the fourth on a Ryan Hanigan RBI single, but the Nats battled back in the bottom half of the inning, pushing three runs across. Adam LaRoche got the job done in a big spot yet again, delivering a bases loaded two-run single to right, and Mark DeRosa brought another run in on an RBI groundout. It's 5-3 Reds here in the fifth, as the Nats have done a nice job to get back in the ballgame.



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