45th Plate Appearance

The Five Hundred Faithful are out at Nationals Park, and the big man is hungry. He went 0 for 4 yesterday; worse, it's been four days since he last drew a walk. So it's with a certain ache for first base that Adam comes to the plate in the inaugural inning.

The stars are aligned for a vintage Dunn walk. Doug Davis is pitching for the Brewers; he led the majors in walks last year, at least on the pitching side. We all know who led batters.

It was Adrian Gonzalez. Adam Dunn placed second.

Ryan Zimmerman, feeling the heat of Dunn's desire, desperately pushes a single into center to keep a two-out inning alive.

First pitch to Adam comes right down the pike. Strike one. The second pitch takes its time curving out and away, traveling at an extremely watchable seventy miles per hour. Pitch three sails even further outside. Adam steps out, steps in. He steps out again. Maybe he needs to calm his laughter at how badly Davis is missing the zone.

The next two pitches are low, and home plate umpire Mike Everitt goes dutch with Davis. A ball and a strike to make the count full. Adam's favorite kind of count.

Adam decides to take a mighty swing at the payoff, and he gives it a brisk cooling breeeze as it sinks into the catcher's mitt.

As the fielders trot back into the dugout, Adam raises his bat in his hands, briefly considering breaking it over his knee.

No, this one's not worth it. Adam accepts the strikeout.