and the laroche boys can hit. adam is a lefty and andy is a right-hander and they're both good line drive hitters. he's 2-3. brandon moss, the hitter, 1-2 with an rbi. >> rob: nick doubled in that game in florida. he was thrown out trying to stretch it. >> bob: he was? i saw where he was oh-fer one, had been on base once early in the game. they have him batting in the number two hole tonight and the marlins are trailing the cubs 5- 3, bottom of the fifth. >> rob: he knocked in sanchez, an rbi double. >> bob: the braves beat the dodgers this afternoon. and they have a chance tonight if florida loses to be back within a game of the marlins for second. and the phillies are at san francisco later tonight behind joe blanton. >> rob: by the way, cliff lee, the first win with the phillies last night. they beat the giants. >> bob: lincecum for san francisco tonight. that's a swing and a foul. the count is 1-# on brandon moss. -- 1-2 on brandon moss. a.j. burnett starts for the yankees today and they lost 14-4. they were i

pearce, young, laroche coming up.ad 8-3 pa announcer: final boarding call... all passengers... each with an average speed of 590 mph... almost as fast as you. nothing's gonna hold you down. grab your bag . it's on™west so our low fares stay low. ( ding ) book now at southwest.com.  >> bob: pirates in the bott of the 8th against a new nats pitcher. mr. sosa. how about mr. johnson. he is 10-2. in his they're a 343 e.r.a. against the nats. martin got the loss. last start at milwaukee. jd is looking for his first win. nats extra with byron kerr and ray knight. >> rob: keep throwing strikes. >> bob: mar lips have the night off tonight. that he will come to the town with a 55-50 record. five games behind the phillies and two up on atlanta as former braves. the second nats appearance. came into a two run game in the 7th. gave up a homerun leading off to young. then after a base hit. there was a vikeout. a foul out. that controversial play at first base when will nieves through out laroche who wondered too far off the b

can't believe he's been called out. perry hill can't believe t laroche is claiming heil nieves kept that ball ce enough that there was uncertainty on the part of th runner. >> rob: one thing i love abt belliard, he is passionate n he's in the field, and that -- just dropped the tag down, he swipes it as hard as he can. >> bob: did the nats get another break at first base? >> rob: i hope so. the bar doesn't get far from nieves -- the ball doesn't get far from nieves. great recovery. laroche caught it between. here's the throw. and the quick tag. good-bye. yeah, looked like he got his hand in there, but we'll take it. >> bob: he was tacked on  body while his -- tagged on the body while his hand was on th bag. 3-0 on cedeno. >> rob: tagged the hip, the han got in there. but 9 angle of the umpire behind the plate, he can't see that. >> bob: and wil nieves has thrown out three base runnes today. >> rob: what you see is the quick tag getting back ther i don'

. final hope for 9 pirates is andy laroche. laroche, 1-3 today. and the 1-0 pitch. macdougal throws the strike. the count is even 1-1. target away from wil nieves. fastball, up and in. 5-3 nats, two outs, bottom of the 9th. ball 3. thing you don't want to do is walk anybody and give them the tieing run in the batter's bo brandon moss has hit five home runs this year. it won't be a 1, 2, 3 night.  mike's previous six saves, i remember one being the one, t, three 9th inning. again, sosa, they are just stil down by a run. you don't want to put a guy o and bring the tieing run to the plate. >> bob: nationals play behind the runner, and macdougal mis way outside. maybe just a matter of time before laroche goes down to second. moss 1-3 with a base hit today. and there's a strike. wil nieves picks it be a short hop. 2-1. hot stop. watch the backhand of wil nies >> he's young, but as he ge older, you have to work to ma it look like it got by yo

what a play by andy laroche!be the first guy we've seen throw out morgan on a bunt down the third-base line. that was really good. >> rob: andy laroche right here with the barehand play as good as you can do it takes a hit away from nyjer morgan. that is beautiful. nice stretch by pearce at the end. >> bob: can't tell what you a good play that was. wow. sheer guzman, base hit last time on -- here is guzman a base hit last time. the nats are going quickly and quite leer here. nats six consecutive hitters and make itself registering eight outs for ross ohlendorf. he's dominating the nats right now. >> rob: don't think he got one right off the left shoulder. a lot of protection over there. >> bob: 4-1 pirates, top of the sixth. ohlendorf getting outs way too quickly right now. the nats have one hit since the third and only two since the second. that's a great fastball. >> bob: breaking ball, guzman gone. nationals gone in the top of the sixth inning. where's the offense we saw in milwaukee? it's not in pittsburgh ye

andy laroche made a great play on him last night.d have much better success dragging the ball down the first baseline, but it seems like his bunting forte is laying it down the third base way. he'll pull that one. they know they've got to hurry. that's a base hilt -- base hit. he almost committed to second base and now he goes back. >> rob: i talked to rick eckstein about nyjer morgan's game and he is is kind of caught the between whether or not to put the balls down on some bunts or try to slap the ball either way. he's got really good bat control. but part of his game, it is a speed game. he just has to put the ball there, down on the turf, and run. there you see cedeno can't come up with it. that's just some bad baseball. >> bob: look out, ump! mark wagner getting out of dodge. >> rob: delwyn young. >> bob: here is guzman. this is always interesting because with guzman, a very impatient hitter. morgan has to steal northwesterly the count if he is going to get to second base. guzman has walked nine times this year in 359 at-bats. b

andy laroche. deep right field. that's gone. solo home run. and you could -- say that sosa is just a wee bit upset. laroche, two homers on the night. fast forward, top of the ninth. mike gonzalez. closing out the game. and sends the hot shot up the middle. check out the reaction. what an amazing catch. and almost takes his head off. instead he cches it for the out. and beat the nationals 6-2. preseason game, one for the redskins. in baltimore tomorrow night. don't blink because if you do, you won't see the starters. they won't play long. several of them, won't play at all. it will be a chance for the young guys, veterans, fighting for a roster spot to make an early impression on the coaches while they're in the line of fire. so to speak. also the first time the new look redskins defense will face live competition. and that is actually wearing another uniform. and haynesworth won't play. and get some snaps. first pro game. they're a couple of the reasons that some think this could be, perhaps, the best defense in the nfl. defensive coordinator

laroche. that's a good fastball. 3-2. fastball away. a base hit. up the middle. that will bring up cedeno. >> rob: trying to hit it up the middle. getting it by guzman. super cedeno is up. >> bob: high strike to cedeno. flared out to gonzales the first time. >> rob: and break minus two and the vertical break was minus zero. >> bob: you are reading the auxiliary score board again. [ laughter ] >> bob: you didn't figure that out on your own. a broken bat. a one hopper. guzman himself. he will run in and lead off in the top of the 4th. nats down 3-0. t... we bring fiber optic all the way to the home. um... which gives you more bandwidth than cable. so you can upload faster. so it's like comparing a horse and buggy to a sports car. am i the, uh, horse? (announcer) it's a whole new internet. makes uploading as easy as downloading. because your internet's not fast unless it's two-way fast.  >> bob: the nats are still much in the game. mock put a couple of zeros on the board. they are on the verge with morton. >> rob: settling down the first inning, figuring it ou

laroche, came up. he was hung up. you see a quick tag by belliard. he got a start at first base. three assists. we have known that will can swing the bat. he call as good game. and he has not had much of a chance to play because bard swung that the well. now that he has gone down and not producing giving him a chance to play. it may be a good tail back. >> yes. >> he can move there. well let's get a taste of pnc and debbi taylor checking in now. you know, it is fun to go in and talk with will, always smiling and willing to chat with you ted tell you how things are going. >> he is the best, he brings energy to the club. and he was great yesterday. he had been inconsistent offensively but since july 1, he is hitting .303. here is more from will. >> i think that i just not trying to hit too much, trying to hit the ball the other way and recognize the pitches. the last couple i every hitter, you know, getting into slumps and i think that they come out of slumps faster than others. and just i'm feeling good i'm just trying to take the same approach every time i'm in the lineup. >> wer

adam laroche had a pair of home runs last night including a go-ahead solo shot in the 7th. nats lose 6-2 and begin a four- game series in cincinnati tonight. >>> our time is 6:24. >>> ahead a check on the virginia gubernatorial race one candidate talks tax and the other talks crime. >>> and a special living smart report. a local woman takes on head lice ans mad kea big career out of it. kenny burns is watching our traffic. >> good morning. i'm watching the sousa bridge in the district. as you can see it is all clear. kim, how about the weather. >> i'm watering the plants for a good reason today. you want to do the same thing. we will talk about the forecast and look in to the week, as well. you are watching 9 news now. there's the beautiful capitol dome cethis thursday morning. we'll be right back. hmmm... well... naaa... yeah! calculating for getaway. ♪ find your way to a perfect destination at busch gardens... and water country usa... where family-fun surrounds you... and world-class rides astound. start at buschgardens.com. when morning comes in the middle of the night..

in lane, 2ndinning, anderson had a solo home run for the privileges and then adam laroche with another homer, just two batters later. now, washington's ronnie belliard tied the game with an rbi hit in the 7th but the nats bull pen gave up another homer to adam laroche and they fall 6-2. washington starts the four- game series in cincinnati tonight. >>> in baltimore, the athletics taking on the orioles. in the 8th, a pitch gets away from mark hendrickson and the a's score. baltimore goes on to lose 6-3. >>> the wizards made what might be their final off season move on wednesday. the team signed 6'10" center from argentina. he gets a one year deal worth $2 million and is hoping for another trip to the postseason. >> in the playoffs. just be interesting. work hard, be ready for when we have a chance to show what we can do. >> we felt we still needed one piece to our puzzle and that is to get a better and big man. someone with a lot of playoff experience and someone that can give us added depth at the forward position. >> reporter: in a world cup qualifier u.s. and mexico tied in the 82nd

this lineup, save for make laroche, he didn't know anything about, -- save for adam laroche, he dentt them. that's not what his forte is. he puts that ball down and in, back to the corner of the plate. that ball was down. ball hit off him. he made sure to field the ball, but there's the hanging breaking ball. he wasn't thrown five of them in any of his outings. so just a real simple thing, location. fastball away, but it's hit off the end of the bat. couple of bloopers, but that mixed with some bombs, and balls finding homes made for a short day -- finding holes, made for a short day. >> we saw the pitching coach trying to get him straight. afterwards, mick catty had words for the entire staff. >> i didn't make the pitches when i needed to, didn't really throw too many competitive pitches out there, you know, and got beat. the coach told me this happens at every level, and that was back at the low levels of the minors, and they're embarrassing, and unacceptable. but you have to learn to bounce back from and deal with it. >> so very interesting stuff there that was talked about after

the pirates' andy laroche makes a one handed pickup on the slow roller to third but the throw goes to home plate, the dugout. he missed first base by a whole base. that is when you know, still it was a good pickup on the bare hander. worst haircuts those given by the cowboys veterans to their rookies. that one they call the shark fin. you think the girls will dig that? probably not. worst motorcycle jump, x games, they land on each other. i'm not hip on the x games but are they supposed to do that? is that part of the act? i know it's extreme. probably not what they are supposed to do. let's go to the ugly. most unfortunate foul ball attempt. this gentleman in pittsburgh in the right field stands who reaches over the railing, loses his balance and lands on the old melon. it didn't turn out well for him. he is all bloodied up. look at albert pujols trying to care for him, poor guy. they carted him off but he will be okay. hybrid between horse racing and nascar, through the windshield. that horse did not see the car coming. imagine you are the driver of that car. all of a sudden out of

. >> laroche is hitting .500, since joining atlanta. what impact has he had. >> immediate impact.o months, he would add more power, than kotchman, and he didn't know about the average. he's going to be more than power. he has -- immediately, strengthened that lineup, and, the power was there, in july. but, this is a guy who has been, one of the games best, top second-half players, and he is showing that he's -- he might be, putting that together, again this year. >> what do you think will be the one single key for the braves to grab that wildcard slot. >> they're going to have to get on a roll. they'll have to, win 10- 12, a couple times. they play the marlins, i believe, 13 more times. tied, now, and have to have the giants and rockies beat up on each other, and cardinals, and cubs. and, you know, they're going to have to continue to pitch the way they have. and maybe get a little better work from their bullpen. pitching will be the key down the stretch. >> mark, thanks so much for being with us, on "espnews". >> thank you. >> all right. update from pn c park, good game foreigned

adam laroche hit two solo home runs and the braves dowd the nationals 6-2. the nats have now last two in a row after that great eight-game winning streak. >>> wizards brass now thinks they have the final piece to the puzzle in place for a deep playoff run. yesterday, oberto introduced the newest member of the team. the former spur will wear number 21. >>> in soccer, team usa just can't win on mexican soil. the united states down in mexico for world cup qualifying, and although they started strong, they couldn't snap their south of the border funk. the u.s. falls to mexico 2-1. they are now 0-23-1 in mexico, date back to 1937. >>> that's your sports minute. i'm dan hellie. everybody have a great thursday. >> all right. let's take a look at what kind of thursday it will be as far as the weather goes. here's meteorologist tom kierein. he is up in storm center 4. tom? >> hi. we had some nocturnal thundershowers that have sce temperates.edur erndaround the region o i arlow0nto the low 70s. montgomery,s.70n m arlington, fairfax,ri nt whehe i ttesies. n thehefa the

adam laroche showed up an hour before the game.2-3 in his debut. >> brett favre probably spent today riding around on the tractor on his farm in mississippi. he may have been drinking a cold beverage on the porch when he went inside and turned ton tv. that's when he heard the news. vikings quarterback tarvaris jackson got hurt in practice today. maybe favre will change his mind and come out of retirement after all. jackson sprained the m.c.l. on his left knee after getting tangled with a defensive lineman. for now jackson is day to day but it depends on how bad the sprain is. john clayton says a one or two will dictate if theth viks call numbermb four. >> good news from the vikings standpoint, they believe, although it's still early in the process, may only be a first degreeey m.c.l. sprain which pus the day-to-day range. if it was aul second degree that possibly could take it four to six weeks. that is concerning because an m.c.l. is not one you can go in and surgery repair it and have him back in a week or two. but i guess the go

straight win against his former team, the dodgers in the atl on top. 3-2 2-1: matt dias, and adam laroche in the second inning. manny ramirez had some struggles. manny ramirez has an r.b.i., his fourth ribbie over the last three games after having none in his previous ten. our top stories tonight. john smoltz roughed up again. 3 and a third. 8 earned. nine hits. his era8.32. first time the red sox have lost to the yankees this year. our postgame coverage continues with terry francona. >> e., i think there's a lot of frustration. you know, it's not a lack of effort on his part. we know that. we do some things different tonight. he didn't have his hands over his head in his delivery. a little lower arm spot. he tried to get some people off the plate. and first couple of innings looked good. melky hit the ball. we did a great job on a replay. got a throw at the plate. when it went, it went fast. game got out of hand, it was tough all the way around. >> it's a team, he left 15 on base. how tough is it to not capitalize on this? >> when you're down that much. a lot has to go right. we had some

now adam laroche and matt diaz have homer -- homers and the braves lead the mets 14-2.he marlins under way in houston. they are in the 3rd inning 3-2 houston. there's the base bunch, gonzalez at third hilt by a pitch. helton the infield hit off valone and the walk to tulowitzki. the count is 0-2 to brad hawpe. that's a good breaking ball. too bad he didn't bounce it fair. hawpe hitting below .260 again left-handers this year. that's why riggleman wanted lefty lefty here. .there 21 versus right-handers. most of his power off righties. 13 homers versus 4 lefty lefty. and the 0-2 pitch again. swing and a miss! and for the third time tonight, the rockies have stranded the bases loaded. 10 in the game, it's a 4-3 contest into the bottom of the 6th. @x@0@p@0@6p)@)@)p,  everybody having fun tonight  trying to squeeze a couple more evenings of fun out of what's left of summer here. quite a ball game, 4-3. the nats coming up. the bullpen and except for one swing when river heir gave it the home run. bottom line, bullpen doing the job. it's time for offense to bail

. >> on the flip side, there's a backlash going on and laroche was up in west chester county with peopleto leave it there. geraldine ferraro and rick santorum, we appreciate it. stunning developments from the moment you see here on the screen, this horrible plane crash when this chopper collided with a piper, the air traffic controller was on the phone. what was he talking about? we'll tell you seconds before the crash. and what's coming up? >> well, today i'm going to tell you how to climb a ladder, not the oesh ladder or ladder of success, but an actual ladder and how to get the right ladder and use it safely. ♪ bicycle, what are we waiting for? the flowers are blooming. the air is sweet. and zyrtec® starts... relieving my allergies... 2 hours faster than claritin®. my worst symptoms feel better, indoors and outdoors. with zyrtec®, the fastest... 24-hour allergy medicine, i promise not to wait as long to go for our ride. zyrtec® works fast, so i can love the air™. >> all right. welcome back here to "fox & friends." you know, last weekend, a theory that the giant water slide video was a