Game 12: Astros at Nats, April 17, 2012

Gio Gonzalez tossed his first HOV-3 of 2012.
Getty Images/Greg Fiume

Gio Gonzalez had an impressive performance and earned his first win as a Nat, and Brad Lidge saved it for him.  The Nats spun another shutout in 2012 and beat the Astros 1-0.  For their efforts, the club improved to an astounding 9-3 and guaranteed that, once again, they would not lose a series.

Second Inning: It has been reported that the Nats’ starters are very competitive with one another.  If that is true, then Gonzalez did his best to keep up with Edwin Jackson.  After Jackson pitched the first HOV-3 by a starter three days prior, Gonzalez threw his own.  He sat down Chris Johnson, Travis Buck, and Chris Snyder to keep pace.

Game 9: Reds at Nats, April 14, 2012

Edwin Jackson recorded the first HOV-3 by a starter.
AP/Susan Walsh

Edwin Jackson tossed the first complete game of the young season and earned his first win.  The Nats ran their record to 7-2 and won their third straight series.  Jackson sent nine more batters down K Street.  Just another day in Nats Town.

Third Inning: Jackson sent his counterpart, Homer Bailey, and ex-Nat Willie Harris down K Street to get his first HOV-2 of the night.

Sixth Inning: Apparently Bailey didn’t get to enjoy the view quite enough because he decided to stroll down K Street on his very next at-bat.

Game 8: Reds at Nats, April 13, 2012

Craig Stammen tossed his second HOV-3 in two days.
US Presswire

Craig Stammen earned his second consecutive victory by pitching another HOV-3 in extra innings.  The Nats improved to 6-2 by beating the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in thirteen innings.  Jordan Zimmermann started with seven strong innings, but he was a victim of no run support because Bronson Arroyo pitched just as well as Zimmermann did.

Second Inning: Zimmermann started the second inning by getting Jay Bruce to strike out swinging.

Fifth Inning: Zimmermann set down Drew Stubbs to end the fifth inning.

Game 7: Reds at Nats, April 12, 2012

Craig Stammen in the middle of tossing an HOV-3 in the tenth.
The Washington Post/John McDonnell

The Nats followed up their fifteen-strikeout effort with twelve Ks in ten innings to win their home opener against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and run their record to 5-2.  Gio Gonzalez struck out seven Reds in seven innings and ran his HOV-2 count to four.  Craig Stammen earned the win after throwing an HOV-3 in the tenth inning.

First Inning: Gonzalez began the game by striking out Drew Stubbs looking and followed it up by ringing up Joey Votto to earn his first HOV-2.

Third Inning: Zack Cozart swung his way onto K Street to end the third inning.

Game 2: Nats at Cubs, April 7, 2012

Henry Rodriguez congratulated after his HOV-3.
AP

A second game, and a second win for the Nats as they downed the Chicago Cubs 7-4 and claimed their first series win of the 2012 season.  Gio Gonzalez grinned through his Nats debut, but Ryan Mattheus got the win over Kerry Wood.  Hot Rod Henry Rodriguez got the save, and the pitching staff sent thirteen Cubs down K Street.

First Inning: Gonzalez wasted no time by striking out Reed Johnson to record his first out as a Nat.

Second Inning: Gonzalez introduced his Cubs counterpart, Matt Garza, to K Street, and sent Johnson packing again to earn his first HOV-2.

Third Inning: Gonzalez added to his tally after he struck out Jeff Baker.

Welcome to the K Street Traffic Report

K Street, between the batter's box and the opponent's dugout.

Welcome to the K Street Traffic Report!  The Traffic Report is dedicated to tracking the congestion on K Street, that well-worn path between the batter’s box and the Nats’ opponents’ dugout.  K Street isn’t some sleepy country lane.  Thanks to the Nats’ pitching staff, it has become a hustling, bustling thoroughfare, the busiest expressway in the majors.

K Street has become so busy that the Nats’ pitchers have found it necessary to add express lanes.  Sometimes it just isn’t enough to strike out one batter per inning.  When a Nats pitcher strikes out two batters in an inning, the Traffic Report will award him an HOV-2.  When a pitcher strikes out the side, he gets an HOV-3.

The Traffic Report will also track those batters who visit K Street most often.  Since these batters use K Street the most, they will receive E-ZPasses.  The Traffic Report will award E-ZPasses to the batter who uses K Street most often in every series, as well as the batter who visits most in a single game and over the course of the 2012 season.

Thanks for visiting the Traffic Report.  Go Nats!