Nyjer Morgan taketh away!

(Nyjer Morgan's catch in the third inning Friday night in Baltimore is an instant Web Gem. Photos of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

Tony Plush is back?

Nyjer Morgan is now forgiven for that May 22 temper tantrum -- you know, the one where he missed a leaping catch at the wall in center and proceeded to spike his glove while the ball sat in play a few feet away while the bases cleared during the first installment of the 2010 Battle of the Beltways?

Nyjer -- or was that Tony Plush? -- robbed Corey Patterson of a homerun in the third inning on a leaping, superhuman catch at the center field wall, snatching the ball away from an O's fan at the last possible second. Video here. Patterson tipped his helmet in salute as he jogged off the field. Morgan made another fantastic running catch on a deep drive to left center by Miguel Tejada with the bases loaded in the 5th, likely saving more two runs. Oh, and through six innings, Nyjer is only 4-4 with 3 runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base, making Jim Riggleman look like a genius after his pre-game comments in support of Morgan, via Ben Goessling/ MASN:

"One thing we kind of hang our hat on is, last year, when we got Nyjer at this time of the year, Nyjer had been doing OK in Pittsburgh, not having a great start, just kind of treading water. I really was encouraged the last four or five games. He had some better at-bats. He played very good center field. He kind of did some things we saw him do last year, when we got him in the trade. The glass is half-full. He's just treading water right now, but he knows he hasn't got it going yet. This is the time he got it going last year. He feels like he's ready to get it going, and we need him at the top of that lineup. So we're going to be real patient with him."
(Jim Riggleman, via The Goessling Game/MASN.com, 6/25/2010)

Of course, Riggleman gave John Lannan a lot of rope publicly the day before Rizzo sent him packing to AA-ball. So when Riggs says he'll be patient with Njyer Morgan there's no guarantee...but a night like this will buy you at least a couple of days of job security.

A few more grainy screen-grabs of "the catch" from TV/MASN:

J.D. Martin's reaction? Priceless:

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Comments

[Anonymouse]

Nyjer's playing tonight like he found out his job might be on the line.

[John C Martin]

I am the father of JD martin, the pitcher that threw the pitch that was hit and caught by Nyjer in the photo's to this article. Is there any chance I could get copies of these photo's and/or more including JD's reaction. I would like to make a little poster of some kind to give to JD and Nyjer!! Please respond eather way so I no you recieved this e-mail. Thanks so much. John C Martin