Two outs later, Jason Bay, who appears set to be employed in a left-field platoon, singled to left, drawing mocking cheers from the crowd.
Gardner is trying to avoid falling into a left field platoon, and his persistence against Beckett's heat surely helped his cause.
After the game, Bay sat down with Manager Terry Collins and was informed that he would be employed in a left-field platoon, playing mostly against left-handers.
Perhaps he secretly savored more his left-field platoon of the right-handed-batting Gary Roenicke and left-batting John Lowenstein, since they presented an irritating little difficulty for the other manager when making out his starting lineup.
Starter Yovani Gallardo was dealt for prospects, left-handed platoon first baseman Adam Lind was acquired from Toronto and left-handed middle relieve Neal Cotts was signed.
Or would they send down Nick Evans, who shares the left-field platoon with Daniel Murphy?
They have spent this month as a left-field platoon since Murphy was called up from Class AAA New Orleans on Aug. 2.
Gardner has spent the past three months doing the unexpected: avoiding a left-field platoon, leading the team with a.398 on-base percentage and playing himself into consideration for All-Star game selection.
In 1979, for example, his left-field platoon of John Lowenstein and Gary Roenicke, two middling players, combined for 36 home runs and 98 runs batted in, All-Star figures for any outfielder.
They both are right-handed hitters, meaning the Nationals will not have a natural left-right platoon, and could each benefit from a lighter workload in the back half of their careers.
