by Anthony Amobi, Staff Writer

If there’s one thing that fans are finding out throughout the first month of the season, it’s that the 2010 rendition of the Washington Nationals is far different than the roster that has been trotted out the last several seasons.

This afternoon, the Nationals used the long ball and pitching to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 3-2. They took two out of three from their opponents and assured themselves a winning month of April.

Once again, the Nationals got another solid, quality start from a pitcher. Luis Atilano (W, 2-0, 2.25), in his second start since his callup to the majors, delivered again on the mound.  The rookie right-hander went six innings and gave up two runs on his six hits and three walks, striking out just one.

Atalino allowed base runners in every inning except the sixth; however, he managed to escape much of the trouble. The Cubs helped the Nationals out greatly by leaving eleven men on base and could not find a way to inflict more damage.

Washington managed just four hits on the afternoon, but they got the offense when it counted – even without Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup with an injury.

Atalino got some early help from his teammates at the plate as Adam Kennedy hit a solo home run in the first off Chicago starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (L, 2-1, 2.78) to give Washington a 1-0 lead. However, the Cubs would immediately get a run back in the first inning as they tied the game thanks to a Aramis Ramirez sacrifice fly.

Washington took a 2-1 lead in the second inning as Wil Nieves plated Roger Bernadina with a RBI single. Chicago tied the game again in the bottom of the second inning as Ryan Theriot drove in Mike Fontenot with an RBI single.

The Nationals struck back again in the top of the fourth inning, as Adam Dunn hit a solo-homer (an opposite field shot) to give them what would end up being the final score, a 3-2 lead.

After Dunn’s homer, Washington pitchers kept Chicago off the board. In the seventh inning, Atalino left the game with a close lead, but Brian Bruney, Tyler Clippard and Matt Capps each threw a scoreless inning.

For Capps, it was his tenth save in as many tries.  He leads the National League in the category.

It's a familiar formula for Washington at this point:  Get a lead, get six or seven strong from the starter, and turn things over to Clippard and Capps.

It's a formula with not much room for error, but so far for the Nationals, it's gotten them to a 12-10 record and a feeling that this team isn't going to be a pushover anymore.

Recap and Box Score

I didn't watch last night's Nats game.  It's the first one this season I've missed, either live or recorded.

From other's recounts of the effort though, Livan Hernandez continues to mystify National League hitters.  He went seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits, one walk, and one strikeout.

He lowered his ERA to 0.87 for the season.

Hernandez was pretty terrible last season, going 9-12 with a 5.44 ERA for the Mets and Nats.  Watching him pitch thus far this season, he really doens't look much different than last.  His fastball isn't any faster and his curveball still floats to the plate at 64 MPH.

Yet, he's given up just three earned runs in four starts.

He only had four starts all last year where he gave up less than two earned runs in the appearance.  And two of them came against the Nationals!

I'm sure someone can explain why Hernandez is having such good early season success.

Tyler Clippard and Matt Capps continue to excel as well.  Each threw a scoreless frame.  Clippard's ERA dipped to 0.57, and Capps' to 0.73.  Capps is now nine-for-nine in save chances.

And that's pretty much been the Nats' recipe for success thus far:  starter goes seven innings, Clippard and Capps close things out.  It's a pretty dicey proposition to depend on just two guys to get the job done every time.

For now, though, Nats fans will take it.

NATS NOTES:  Ryan Zimemrman didn't play, and reports said that he would not until the Nats reach Florida on Friday, if then.  It's the sixth straight game he hasn't started.  By the time Friday's game rolls around, if he starts, that would make eight days he's missed. 

I know strains and pulls are tricky things to deal with early in the season, but it seems like the Nats could have just DL'd him and gotten him healthy instead of the daily questions and subterfuge.

Stephen Strasburg earned his third win of the season for Harrisburg yesterday.  He went five innings, and did not give up a hit, walk or run.  The only batter to reach was safe after running out a third strike that got away from catcher Sean Rooney.

Drew Storen went two innings for his fourth save.  He gave up two hits and no walks, securing the 1-0 win for Harrisburg.

Roger Bernadina was recalled due to Willie Harris' continued discomfort in his right knee.  Jesse English was sent down to make room on the roster.

by Anthony Amobi, Staff Writer

The Washington Nationals suffered a heart-breaking loss Monday night as reliever Brian Bruney walked Aramis Ramirez with the bases loaded in the tenth inning, and the Chicago Cubs took the first contest of a three-game set, 4-3, on a cold, blustery evening in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

With the score tied at three in the ninth inning, Chicago's Ryan Theriot started things off with a single, and then Bruney would strike out Jeff Baker for the first out.

However, things would further unravel for the Nationals as Derrek Lee singled and Marlon Byrd followed with a floater over the head of Cristian Guzman. That brought Aramis Ramirez up to the plate, and Bruney, who struggled with his command the entire appearance, walked him on four pitches.

In the end, an ineffective Bruney (L, 1-1, 5.59) took the loss for Washington.  Carlos Marmol (W, 1-0, 0.84) was the pitcher of record for Chicago.

The Nationals are 10-10 on the season and back at the .500 mark.

The Cubs have won their fourth in a row and are also 10-10.

Washington got a solid effort from John Lannan, who started the game on the mound. He went six innings and gave up three runs, but his outing started off rocky before settling in.

The Cubs would get on the scoreboard in the second inning against Lannan as they plated two runs on an Aramis Ramirez RBI-double and a bases-loaded walk to pitcher Carlos Silva.

They upped the lead to 3-0 as Marlon Byrd drove in a run with an infield single; however, in the middle innings, Washington would inch their way back into the game.

For the first third of the game, pitcher Carlos Silva, who has started the season of strong after a disastrous stint in Seattle, breezed through the Nationals lineup.

However, in the middle innings, he ran into trouble.

Washington got a pair of runs in the fourth inning as Josh Willingham earned a bases-loaded walk off Silva that plated Nyjer Morgan and then Adam Kennedy drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Nats tied the game at three thanks to a Wil Nieves RBI-single.

All told, Silva went go seven innings and give up three runs.

In the eighth inning, the Nats had a chance to break open the game with a potential rally, but could not make anything of it.

With one out in the frame, Adam Dunn and Willingham hit back-to-back singles.  The inning would quickly come to an end though as Kennedy popped out to the shortstop and reliever Carlos Zambrano fanned Nieves for the final out.

Int he loss, the Nationals pounded out ten hits, three of which came from the bat of Adam Dunn. The three-some of Morgan, Ian Desmond and Willingham had two hits each.

Ryan Zimmerman again didn't start the game due his injury, but did pinch hit in the ninth inning, flying out to right.

NATS NOTES:  Nationals C Ivan Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup because of lower back tightness.

Tyler Walker pitched one and one-third scoreless innings of relief.  He gave up one hit and had one strikeout.
 
The Nats turned three double plays.
 
Washington struck out four times and walked once.

WASHINGTON -- In his last outing, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Scott Olsen couldn't get an out in the third inning.  Today, he threw seven strong innings, leading the Nats to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, in front of 18,395 at Nationals Park.

The perfomance couldn't have come at a better time for Olsen and the Nats.  After Saturday's 13 inning affair, the bullpen was a little thin and if the left-hander had another rough start, the Nats would have been in trouble.

Instead, Olsen sends the squad on their first extended road trip of the season as winners, taking the homestand with six wins in 10 games, and and overall record of 10-9.

After 19 games last season, the Nats were 4-15. 

The importance of setting out on the road with a win wasn't lost on Manager Jim Riggleman.  "I think after yesterday's ball game, losing a tough one, today was really big. We'd be every bit as proud as the way our guys are going about it, if we had not come away with that win. Our guys really battled today and played hard."

Olsen did most of his damage today with his slider, keeping the Dodgers off-balance all day.  He struck out eight, including left fielder Garrett Anderson three times.

Things started off rough for Olsen.  Three consecutive one-out singles in the first inning had to have Riggleman wondering what he was going to get out of his starter.

But Olsen bore down and struck out Casey Blake, then got a lazy fly ball out of ex-Nat Ronnie Belliard to end the frame.  He wouldn't give up another hit until the fourth inning.

Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News

Olsen threw 71 of his 99 pitches for strikes, and catcher Ivan Rodriguez kept calling for the slider with much success.  He did not allow more than one base runner in any inning but the first.

"His concentration level was really at a peak," Riggleman said.  "Every pitch you could just tell he was driven to make a good pitch."

The Nats got some stellar defense after Olsen left the game.

Left fielder Josh Willingham made a diving catch of a sinking line drive off the bat of shortstop Rafael Furcal to start the eighth inning with Tyler Clipaprd (1 IP, 1 K) on the hill.

In the ninth, Dodgers first baseman James Loney lined a double to lead off the inning off closer Matt Capps.  Casey Blake hit a hard ground ball to second, but Cristian Guzman played it off his chest, held the runner, and threw to first for the out.

Ronnie Belliard then lined a drive to right field, but Justin Maxwell laid out for it and made the catch just before the ball hit the grass.

Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News

"They were huge plays," Riggleman said.  "Willingham does a good job out there.  Maxwell's play was amazing.  He went a long way and dove, made a great play there.  That was huge."

Capps finished his eighth save in as many tries by getting Anderson to fly out to center field.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 Washington Nationals:  Pitching and Defense.

The Nats got the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.  Nyjer Morgan led off with a single and took second on a walk to Ian Kennedy.  Guzman sacrificed the runners up, and Adam Dunn's slow bouncer to second allowed Morgan to waltz home with the game's only run.

Morgan and Guzman had two hits apiece, which represented the entirety of the Nats' offense for the day.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsly was almost as effective as Olsen, going six innings and giving up the one earned run on four hits and two walks, striking out five.

But Olsen was the star of the day, his first win since July of last season.

The Nats braintrust has to be scratching their heads as to which Scott Olsen they really have:  the one that gave up six runs and seven hits and couldn't get an out in the third inning against Colorado last week, or today's version, where he had the National League's best hitting team out in front of his slider all day.

They'll happily take today's version.

So the Nats embark on a seven-day, six-game road trip to Chicago and Florida with a winning record.  It's a drastic, welcome change from a year ago.

NATS NOTES:  Guzman posted his seventh multi-hit game of the season today, and upped his batting average to .309.

The Nats have won seven of their last 11 games.  It's the Nats first 1-0 win since Sept. 16, 2008 against the New York Mets.

Ryan Zimmerman pinch-hit for Olsen in the seventh inning, precluding the Nats from back-dating any trip to the DL.  Riggleman said before the game they were hoping that Zimmerman would be ready to play in the Chicago series, but the cold weather expected might play a part in the decision.

As we try to sort out some problems with my ability to shoot/download/upload video, there are the highlights from this morning's press conference with Nats' Manager Jim Riggleman.

On Ryan Zimmerman, and his lingering soreness in his right hamstring:

"He is definitely available to pinch-hit, but again, same restrictions on the running and… just trying to get that area there to go away where it's been sore."

On whether the team has contemplated the DL:

"We're not there. He's able to swing and right now if that's the only thing I can do is use him to hit for the pitcher, then we'll continue to look at that.

Once we do that, then we've lost the days where we can backdate it. We're a little bit strapped. Willie is a little tender and Pudge's back was aching a little."

On the short bench:

"When you're only carrying five extra men anyway, and a couple of them are unavailable, then you've just got to be careful how you use people. I don't want a situation where we are not able to back-date Zim at some point if we ever chose to do that. I really am anticipating him being able to play in Chicago.

The concern there will be the cold weather but we've got to make sure he's totally ready to go. Maybe a day game where I can start him in Chicago, and then we go down to Florida."

Revealing Willie Harris has had some knee troubles of late:

"Harris - I'm not going to start him in the ballgame. I'll use him if needed as a pinch hitter. We've got a lot of good athletes on the ballclub.

I think it's his right knee. It's been sore. It's been sore for a little while and he's played. Both plays yesterday got him. The one up against the wall where he banged himself and then diving on the one in front of him just kind of aggravated what was already sore."

Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that Harris injured the knee making the diving catch against the Mets last week, and he had an MRI on it Saturday, the results of which were negative.

Riggleman also said he needed to be careful with his bullpen today after yesterday's 13 inning game.  He's hoping that today's starter, Scott Olsen, cna give him the innings he needs witht he bullpen a little beat up.

Today's start is very important to Olsen, coming off a disaster start where he couldn't get out of the third inning.  The Nats have been Jekyll and Hyde with starters, either getting very good performances or rather terrible ones. and Olsen really needs to compete today to keep hold of his spot and provide the innings his team needs.

LINEUPS

Dodgers:  Furcal SS, Martin C, Kemp CF, Loney 1B, Blake 3B, Belliard 2B, Anderson LF, Johnson RF, Billingsly P

Nationals:  Morgan CF, Kennedy 3B, Guzman 2B, Dunn 1B, Willingham LF, Rodriguez C, Desmond SS, Maxwell RF, Olsen P

On Saturday, the Washington Nationals got a well-pitched game from their starter and three relievers, out-hit their opponent, made no errors, and tied the game up late with a clutch hit against an All-Star closer.

Unfortunately, they also left 15 runners on base and had three runners gunned out on the basepaths--including two at home plate--killing rallies and leaving the Nats shaking their heads trying to figure out how they lost a game--a 4-3 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers--they had several chances to win.

The most damaging play was in the bottom of the 13th inning, after the Dodgers pushed one across in the top of the frame to take the lead.

Ivan Rodriguez hit a one-out single to get things started, and Nyjer Morgan, who had some misadventures of his own on the base paths, doubled to the right field corner, moving "Pudge" to third base.

Rodriguez, who did not start due to back tightness, couldn't score on the play, though Morgan would easily have had a triple were it not for the lead runner.  There was no pinch-runner available, as Manager Jim Riggleman used Willy Taveras to unsuccessfully pinch-hit for Matt Capps with two outs in the 10th inning.

The next batter, Ian Desmond, bounced a lazy ground ball to third baseman Casey Blake.  With one out, Rodriguez' first inclination should have been to let the ball go through the infield before running.  But he broke when he saw the ball was hit slowly.

Blake fired a strike to Russell Martin, and the catcher calmly applied the tag on a close play.

As for whether Rodriguez should have been trying to score there, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said: "It was a good gamble. Blake made a good play. ... If the throw is just a hair off, he is going to be safe."

Cristian Guzman flied out to left field to end the game.

The miscalculation by the future Hall of Famer made a winner out of Dodgers reliever Carlos Monasterious (W, 1-0, 2.08) for the first time in the major leagues.

Twice earlier in the game the Nats made base-running mistakes that in a one-run loss would loom big.

In the sixth inning, pitcher Craig Stammen (7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) singled with two outs to score Alberto Gonzalez, who had doubled off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.  The next batter, Nyjer Morgan, hit a ball to deep left center.

Third base coach Pat Listach waived Stammen home, and from most estimations even if the throw had gone through he probably would have scored.  But Morgan tried to get the Dodgers to cut the throw and try to get him instead.  He continued to third base and was gunned down 7-4-5 to end the inning.

Stammen did not cross the plate before Morgan was tagged out, so the run did not score.

Morgan should have either held at second or gotten into a run down between second and third, and both he and Listach acknowledged the mistake after the game.

"I was being aggressive, but not intelligent," Morgan told reporters after the game. "I have to be a little smarter in that situation, but still, it was an aggressive play."

"If they throw the ball home, he walks into third," Listach said to reporters. "If they throw the ball to third, he's got to stop and let him cross the plate first."

The other out at home was in the seventh.  Ian Desmond doubled to lead off the inning.  Cristian Guzman followed with a routine ground ball to short.  Desmond's first mistake was running with the play in front of him, because if shortstop Rafael Furcal had fielded the ball cleanly, he would have been a dead duck at third.

But Furcal booted it, rushing to make the play, and both runners were safe.  The Nats had first and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Adam Dunn (2-for-6, 3 Ks) struck out on a called check swing, which brought up Josh Willingham.

The "Hammer" hit a ground ball to third, and Desmond inexplicably broke for the plate.  He was thrown out easily by Blake.  Pinch-hitter Willie Harris grounded to second to end the inning.

So the Nats lost a one-run game after having three runners make outs on the base paths, two at home plate.  Riggleman called them "mistakes of aggression."  But still mistakes.

It's a philosophical thing, really.  Do you play aggressively, forcing the action but taking the chance to run into outs?  Or are you more conservative, biding your time, willing to take the chance with your next hitter?

Do or die?  Or live to fight another day?

Today, the Nats died, so to speak.

With the loss, the Nats failed in their attempt to climb two games above .500.  They are having some success winning ball games so far this season, so it's still improbable that one game in April is going to make any difference record-wise at the end of the year.

It bears watching, though, if the Nats learn anything from today's mistakes.

NATS NOTES:  Sunday's finale with the Dodgers features Scott Olsen (0-1, 11.74) against Chad Billingsly (1-0, 7.07).

Miguel Batista (L, 0-2, 5.87) took the loss.  He went three innings and gave up one run on three hits and a walk.

Closer Matt Capps threw two scoreless innings and struck out four.

The Nats stole three bases, including one by Adam Kennedy which set up the game tying single by Stammen.

Stammen went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Nationals batters struck out 11 times and walked just three times.

All Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/Nationals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

Here's Manager Jim Riggleman's post-game press conference.

Video 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/Nationals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

by Anthony Amobi, Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- It was a memorable night for rookie right-handed pitcher Luis Atilano.

Atilano, 24, was called up from Triple-A Syracuse after an injury to Jason Marquis and was on the mound Friday night to face the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park.

On a beautiful night for baseball, Atilano in his major league debut looked like a cool-calm tenured veteran as he pitched six strong innings and got some major help from slugger Adam Dunn's bat.

The big slugger hit two homers on the night and Washington Nationals cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at home in front of an announced 23,839 fans.

Despite the Nationals not having Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup, they upped their record to 9-8, by far their best start after 17 games in several seasons.

Atilano (W, 1-0) was solid on the night and his only mistake came in the fourth inning as he allowed A.J. Ellis to plate a run, scoring James Loney. With the game tied at one with two outs, the Dodgers were threating to score another run with runners on second and third; however, pitcher Charlie Haeger lined out to second to end the frame and the potential rally.

With slugger Manny Ramirez of the Dodger lineup, they would struggle to produce any offense on the night and were held to only five hits. Their first five hitters went a combined 2-for-20, and they left eight on base in the game.

Altilano allowed five hits, walked two and struck out one in his major league debut.

After being shut-out on Thursday, the Nationals turned it on at the plate. Washington got their first run via an Adam Kennedy RBI-single that plated Nyjer Morgan, who started the game off with a triple.

The Nationals made the game 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning as Adam Dunn, who has started the season in a fairly deep slump, hit a towering solo-homer that landed in the upper deck in right field.

Dunn struck again the sixth inning as he hit his second homer of the night--a two-run shot to right center field to raise Washington's score to 4-1.

Washington added another run in the seventh inning on a Morgan RBI double.

Meanwhile, Haeger (L, 0-2) the Dodgers' starter, took the loss. He went go five and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs--three earned--on five hits.

The Good: Luis Atilano. What else more can you say? It's just one stop, but it was very encouraging to Nats fans to see the young hurler put out such a great effort.

Adam Dunn: He hit two homers on Friday and looked like the feared slugger that Nats fans have been waiting for.

The Bad: Willie Harris. He was 0-3 and saw his average dip to .188.

Here's Manager Jim Riggleman's post-game press conference.

Photos and video by Anthony Amobi/Nats News Network.  All Rights Reserved.

It was a beautiful day for baseball at Nationals Park today, 65 degrees and sunny, with light spring breezes.  And the starting pitchers lived up to the fantastic conditions, both throwing gems. 

That they went about their jobs in diametrically opposite methods only enhanced the experience for the pitching lovers in attendance.

Unfortunately for the Washington Nationals, Livan Hernandez made two mistakes on the day, serving up home runs to Miguel Olivo and Ian Stewart.  His counterpart, Ubaldo Jimenez, made none, and walked out of Nats Park with a 2-0 win, five days after throwing the first no-hitter of the season.

The get-away day crowd of 15,518 on Earth Day appreciated the performances and the crisp 2:30 playing time.

Hernandez further solidified his status as the Nationals most efficient pitcher of 2010 thus far.  In his previous two starts, covering 16 innings, he had not allowed a run of any kind.  And though he could not keep the Rockies off the board today, he continued his renaissance.

Hernandez (2-1, 0.75) went eight innings, giving up just four hits and two walks, striking out five.

He baffled hitters with an assortment of low-to-mid 80s fastballs and 65 MPH curveballs.   He worked the edges of the plate in most instances, and the Nats defense made all the plays today.

Jimenez, on the other hand, blew Nats batters away with a sinking fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s, mixing in some nasty breaking stuff, that induced 14 ground ball outs, including one sequence where Jimenez got three straight ground balls that he handled himself.

Washington could not muster any type of attack against a pitcher that is slowly emerging as one of the best in the National League.

Jimenez (4-0, 0.95) went seven and one-third innings, allowing just five hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

He didn't get into any trouble in the game until the eighth inning.  Alberto Gonzalez led off with a single, and took second on a wild pitch.  Pinch hitter Josh Willingham grounded out with the runner on second, and that spelled the end of the day for Jimenez.

Rockies Manager Jim Tracy called for the former National, lefty Joe Beimel, to bail out his starter.

Beimel faced Nats' leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan, and onthe first pitch, with the infield playing way in expecting a bunt, Morgan did just that.

Trying to drag a bunt past the pitcher toward second base, Morgan dropped his bat head and instead popped the bunt up, with the ball softly falling into Beimel's glove for the second out of the inning. 

Cristian Guzman followed with an infield single, the poorly hit ball bouncing slowly up the third base side, but getting the job done, with Gonzalez moving up to third base.  But Willie Harris lofted a soft fly ball to right field on a 2-1 count to end the threat.

Manager Jim Riggleman defended his centerfielder, unprompted, in his post-game press conference.

"I liked what Nyjer tried to do there.  If he gets that bunt over there towards the second baseman where he was trying to get it on the ground, then we could create some problems for them there."

"When you try to bunt sometimes you're gonna pop it up and it went right to Joe [Beimel] there on the mound."

The Nats end up splitting the four-game set with Colorado, a team many expect to contend inthe National League West this season.

Washington opens a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday at Nats Park.  Luis Atilano (2-0, 1.64 at Triple-A Syrause) makes his major league debut against Charlie Haeger (0-1, 7.20).

NATS NOTES:  Jason Marquis, placed on the 15-day DL with "floating bodies" in his pitching elbow, will miss six weeks and receive a corisone shot, but no surgery is scheduled as of yet.

Marquis will resume throwing in seven to ten days and hope to return to the Nationals within the timeframe laid out by team doctors and specialist Dr Tim Kremcheck, who performed the second opinion.

Ryan Zimmerman did not play, a day after tweaking his right leg on a double inthe seventh inning of Wednesday night's game.  Riggleman indicated Zimmerman would not start Friday either, but would "probably" be available to pinch-hit.

Adam Dunn continued his early season struggles, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, leaving runners on base twice.  He is now hitting .176 for the season.

Brian Bruney pitched a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.

With the loss, the Nats record falls back to .500 at 8-8.

Some pre-game tidbits from Nats Park:

• The team has not yet received the second opinion on Jason Marquis' elbow.  Marquis flew to Cincinnati to meet with doctors for the evaluation. 
• Luis Atilano will take Marquis' start on Friday.  "Atilano is the hottest guy up there [Syracuse].  He threw really good in spring training and he's on rotation with Jason.  It's a smooth transition with him."  GM Mike Rizzo indicated that there was no "firm and only one decision we have to make" about the replacement though, and that the short-term answer might not be the same as the long-term answer for Marquis' spot in the rotation.
• Derek Norris was put on 7-day DL due to soreness in his surgically repaired wrist.  Rizzo indicated that it was "nothing serious" and he expects Norris to play in seven to ten days.
• Manager Jim Riggleman, on batting Willie Harris third today, said he likes Guzman in the No. 2 spot and wants Guzman's switch-hitting ability in that spot.  He said he likes his lineup today against Ubaldo Jimenez, who threw a no-hitter last time out.  He has "a lot of talented guys."
• Ryan Zimmerman is out of the lineup with what Riggleman continues to describe as a cramp in his right leg.  He is available to pinch-hit.
• Josh Willingham is being given a routine day off.  Riggleman wants to keep Willingham fresh and would like to give him a day off every "12 to 15 days".

___________________________________________________________
LINEUPS

Rockies (7-8, 4th in NL West)

1.  Gonzalez RF
2.  Fowler CF
3.  Helton 1B
4.  Tulowitzki SS
5.  Stewart 3B
6.  Spilborghs LF
7.  Olivo  C
8.  Barmes 2B
9.  Jimenez P  (3-0, 1.29)

Nationals (8-7, T-3rd in NL East)

1.  Morgan  CF
2.  Guzman  RF
3.  Harris  LF
4.  Dunn  1B
5.  Rodriguez  C
6.  Kennedy  2B
7.  Desmond  SS
8.  Gonzalez  3B
9.  Hernandez  P  (2-0, 0.00)

Here's a little something we may try to do more of in the future here at Nats News Network, providing audio or video of Jim Riggleman's pre- and post-game press conferences.  I know we're a little late on this today, figuring the press conference took place 14 hours ago now, and 14 hours on the internet is an eternity.

But consider this a trial run.  If you like this and want to see more of it, just leave a comment or send an email at natsnewsnetwork@gmail.com.

Video by A. Amobi/Nats News Network

Remember, today's game is at 4:35 pm.  Livan Hernandez (2-0) faces Ubaldo Jimenez (3-0).  Both pitchers had outstanding starts last time out, Hernandez with a complete-game four-hit shutout and Jimenez with a no-hitter against Atlanta.

Also, Ryan Zimmerman will sit out today due to lingering soreness in his right hamstring.  He pulled up coming into second base last night on a double in the seventh inning.  This injury is not related to the left hamstring injury that kept him out of five games last week.

As soon as we get to the park we'll get an update on Zimmerman, and find out if there is any more info on Jason Marquis, or the pitcher destined to replace him Friday.

As the story goes, when the Washington Nationals get at least five innings from their starting pitcher, they will win the game.  At least, that had been the case for the Nats first seven wins of the season.

Well, you can add an eighth win to that, as John Lannan went six innings, backup catcher Wil Nieves delivered in a big spot, and the Nats eeked out a 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies, once again pushing their season record over .500 to 8-7.

The game was tied at four in the eighth inning, and the Rockies called on reliever Rafael Betancourt.  He was greeted by a single from Josh Willingham.  After a sacrifice bunt by Willie Harris and an intentional walk to Adam Kennedy, the Nats little-used catcher came up in a big spot--and he delivered big.

Nieves fouled off the first pitch.  But on the second offering from Betancourt, he drilled a shot to deep left-center, plating Willingham easily and moving Kennedy to third.

The popular catcher clapped several times at second and gave his dugout a little fist clench.

Nieves went 2-for-4 for the evening, and is hitting .294 in limited duty this season.

The future Hall of Famer, Ivan Rodriguez, then pinch-hit for Tyler Clippard (W, 3-0, 0.77), and lifted a ball to left field that was deep enough to score Kennedy.

Matt Capps entered and struck out the side, sandwiching in a single and a walk, to record his seventh save of the young season in as many chances.

Lannan was not his sharpest on the cool drizzly evening, but stuck around long enough to keep his team in it.  He went six innings and gave up four earned runs on 11 hits and one walk, striking out two.  He also gave up a home run to left-handed OF Brad Hawpe.

After the game, the Nationals announced that Jason Marquis, signed to a two-year, $15 million contract this past off-season, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with "floating bodies" in his pitching elbow.

Marquis has been terrible so far this season, and his last outing on Sunday he failed to record a single out, giving up seven earned runs in the process.

It is likely that Luis Atilano, 2-0 for Triple-A Syracuse, will be recalled for the start on Friday, his normal day to pitch.  What remains to be seen is if Atilano will be a stop-gap or a more permanent replacement.

With Marquis down, Garrett Mock on the DL with a nerve problem in his neck, and Scott Olsen struggling mightily in his last start, the Nats starting rotation is in shambles.  Craig Stammen had a terrific outing last time out, but he's yet to string together more than one good performance.

Lannan has been hit-and-miss so far in his four starts, but keeping his team in games, while Livan Hernandez has been the star of the rotation, throwing 16 innings of scoreless ball thus far.  That can't continue.

Reinforcements can't come soon enough.

The final game of the four-game series with Colorado is Thursday at 4:05.  Livan Hernandez (2-0, 0.00) faces staff ace Ubaldo Jimienez (3-0, 1.29).

NATS NOTES:  Ryan Zimmerman came out of the game after legging out a double in the seventh inning.  He suffered what manager Jim Riggleman termed a cramp in his right hamstring and is day-to-day.  This latest injury doesn't seem to be related to his lef thamstring problem that kept him out of five games last week.

The announced crowd was 11,191, less than Tuesday's previous team record for lowest paid attendance.

Phenom Stephen Strasburg won his game today with Double-A Harrisburg.  He went five innings, giving up no runs on one hit and one walk, striking out six.

Photos by A. Amobi/Nats News Network, All Rights Reserved unless otherwise attributed.

Game three of a four-game set.  I'll be up at the Red Loft most of the night watching the Caps playoff game against Montreal, but keeping track of baseball too.  Come say hi if you're going to the park.

Rockies (7-7, 3rd in NL West):

Gonzalez - LF
Fowler- CF
Giambi - 1B
Tulowitzki - SS
Hawpe - RF
Mora - 3B
Iannetta - C
Barmes - 2B
Hammel - P  (0-1, 11.42)

Nationals (7-7, 4th in NL East):

Morgan - CF
Guzman - SS
Zimmerman - 3B
Dunn - 1B
Willingham - LF
Harris - RF
Kennedy - 2B
Nieves - C
Lannan - P  (1-1, 5.74)

Weather:  Intermittent rain showers. Mostly cloudy with temperatures steady near 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 55%.

Stephen Strasburg made his third start of the season for the Harrisburg senators today against the Reading Phillies at MetroBank Stadium in Harrisburg.

He threw five innings, allowing no runs.  He gave up one hit, a soft liner to center that CF Brad Coon didn't pick up very well off the bat.  He walked one batter, and promptly erased him on a double play.

Strasburg struck out six in his appearance, including three called third strikes.

His four-seam fastball hit 98, the two-seam was 94-95.  His change-up was around 89, and the curveball was 78-79.

Unofficially, he threw a total of 66 pitches, 47 of which were strikes.  He coaxed five ground ball outs and three fly ball outs.

He was 0-2 at the plate, bunting into a fielder's choice with two runners on in the second inning, and grounding to short with a man on second in the fourth.  The runner would eventually score.

Strasburg left the game in position to win, with a 1-0 lead.

The Nationals have a whole squad of people from the scouting department there to watch him pitch, and they no doubt are being extra-cautious with him.  There has been a light mist falling all morning in Harrisburg, and it's a good bet they didn't want him to have to bat again and take any chances they didn't have to.

Mission accomplished for start No. 3.

WASHINGTON -- For the second time in three games, the Washington Nationals found themselves down 10-0.  As with Sunday's game, they scratched out some runs, but not enough to close the gap.  The result was a 10-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies before another sparse crowd at Nationals Park.

Tonight's victim was starter Scott Olsen.  His fastball was flat, the slider did not bite, and as a result the Rockies teed off on him in the second inning and third innings.

Olsen (L, 0-1, 11.74) gave up six runs, all earned on seven hits and one walk.  He struck out one and gave up one home run.  He did all this without recording an out in the third inning.

It was far from the follow-up that he--or the team--wanted to his semi-successful first start of the season.  If Olsen wants to be anything more than a placeholder for Stephen Strasburg, Chien Ming Wang or Ross Detwiler, he certainly didn't pitch like it.

While his velocity was decent, hitting 90 occasionally on the stadium gun, he got behind hitters constantly, and then when he had to challenge them he had nothing to get the job done.

All-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki led off the second inning and Olsen immediately ran the count to 3-1 before giving up a long home run to the Rockies bullpen in left field.

After two outs, he walked catcher Miguel Olivo on five pitches.  The next batter, 3B Ian Stewart, delivered a double to right center, scoring Olivo easily.

Olsen only got to face four batters in the third, but it was four too many.  He gave up hits to each one and all would eventually score.

Tyler Walker was brought in with the score 4-0 with runners on first and third.  But Walker would provide no relief, allowing the two inherited runners to score and getting torched himself for four more, including allowing a double to the opposing pitcher and a home run to lead-off hitter Ryan Spilborghs.

Walker setteld down in the subsequent two innings, striking out five in three total innings.  But the damage was well done by that point.

The Nats got 12 hits in the losing cause, including a home run by Ryan Zimmerman.  But there were just three other extra-base hits, and Adam Dunn struck out twice to end innings with two runners left on base.

Dunn, 0-for-4 tonight with four runners left on base, is hitting a paltry .163 so far this season, with just two extra base hits.

Cristian Guzman went 4-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

So far this season, the Nationals have a perfect 7-0 record when the starting pitcher goes at least five innings.  Conversely, they are 0-7 when the starter fails to reach that mark.

Wednesday, John Lannan (1-1, 5.74) will get the change to challenge that record again, facing Jason Hammel (0-1, 11.42) at 7:05 pm.

NATS NOTES:  The Rockies played Tuesday with heavy hearts, as their team president, Keli McGregor, passed away earlier in the day.  He had been with the organization for 17 years and team president since 2001.

Colorado honored its president by hanging a jersey with the No. 88 in the dugout. That was the number McGregor wore as a two-time All-American tight end at Colorado State. He also played briefly with three NFL teams.

"Words cannot describe the level of shock and disbelief that we are feeling this morning at the loss of Keli," said team owner Charlie Monfort.  "Our thoughts, our prayers are with Lori and the entire family as we all try to cope and inderstand how such a tragic loss could occur with such a wonderful man."

There was a moment of silence at National Park before the game in McGregor's honor.

All Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography. All Rights Reserved.

The Nationals have won four of their last five games, including last night's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

The Nats look to extend a string of good starts, as they have won every game this season when a starter goes at least five innings.  It has lost every game the starter has failed to reach that mark.

Washington has brought back Ron Villone on a minor league contract, and he is working out at extended spring training.  He has to be considered a very deep insurance policy at this point in his career.

Rockies President Keli McGregor passed away today, found in a hotel room in Salt Lake City.  The team will hang a No. 88 jersey in their dugout tonight in rememberance; he wore the number as a football player at Colorado State in the mid-eighties.

He spent 17 seasons with the Rockies and was named president in 2001.

I'd expect a moment of silence this evening for a man that was well-respected by his team and others in the league.

____________________________________________________
LINEUP

Rockies:

Spilborghs-LF
Fowler-CF
Helton-1B
Tulowitzki-SS
Hawpe-RF
Mora-2B
Olivo-C
Stewart-2B
De La Rosa-P  (1-1, 2.77)

Nationals:

Morgan-CF
Guzman-2B
Zimmerman-3B
Dunn-1B
Willingham-LF
Rodriguez-C
Maxwell-RF
Desmond-SS
Olsen-P  (0-0, 6.35)

WASHINGTON -- Last time out against Philadelphia, Craig Stammen couldn't get out of the second inning.  What a difference five days makes.

Monday night, Stammen went eight strong innings to beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2, before 11,623 spectators, the smallest announced crowd in Nationals Park history

Stammen mixed a good curve with a sharp slider to keep Colorado hitters off-balance all night, going eight innings of five-hit, one walk ball.  He struck out five, and had Rockies hitters swinging and missing much of the night.

"He got better and better as he went along," Manager Jim Riggleman said about his starter.  "He was just outstanding."

Stammen only ran into trouble in two innings, the third and fourth.  He gave up consecutive doubles to 3B Ian Stewart and 2B Clint Barmes for the Rockies first run of the game. 

The next inning, veteran 1B Todd Helton doubled to lead off, Troy Tulowitzki singled him to third and Brad Hawpe walked to load the bases.

Stammen bore down and got a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman by C Miguel Olivo.  Zimmerman stepped on third for the force out, but threw a little wide at home and Ivan Rodriguez could not handle the throw, scoring Helton.

But that was it for the Rockies.  Stammen benefitted from two double plays by Ian Desmond and Adam Kennedy, and Riggleman noted that in his remarks.

"[The defense] made some plays for [Stammen].  Adam Kennedy made a real nice play to his left, Desmond made a couple of really nice plays, one to his left, one to his right to get a double play.  [Stammen] let his defense help him."

Stammen got all the offensive help he needed tonight from Willie Harris.

Harris hit a three-run home run in the second inning off Rockies starter Aaron Cook (L, 0-2, 7.53) and delivered a sacrifice fly the next inning with the bases loaded to drive in four on the evening.

"Willie's a ball player," Riggleman said, stating the obvious.  "He can play anywhere on the field, gives you good at bats.  He's one of the few guys in baseball that had 100 points higher on base percentage [over batting average].  He continues to give good at bats makes the pitchers throw a lot of pitches and has a little power."

Nyjer Morgan (2-for-3, walk, RBI) knocked in the Nats' fifth run of the game, singling in Josh Willingham with two outs in the third.

Matt Capps closed things out with his sixth save in six chances, allowing a lone single to Tulowitzki.

With Jason Marquis' meltdown Sunday, the Nats really needed a starter to pick the team up, and Stammen did just that.  He's an important player for the Nats, especially with their prize free agent signee struggling early in the season. 

The Nationals are 7-6 on the young season, but numbers-wise the Nats are still at the back of the pack, last in the N.L. in ERA.  But if they keep getting performances like tonight's from Stammen, those numbers will slowly drift back to respectability.

Tuesday is the second game of the four-game set.  Scott Olsen (0-0, 6.35) hopes to build on his prior effort against Jorge De La Rosa (1-1, 2.77).  Game time is 7:05 pm.

NATS NOTES:  Before the game, GM Mike Rizzo commented on Marquis' struggles.  He reiterated that the player insists he is healthy, and to him, it's all about Marquis' lack of command thus far.

Rizzo also said P Garrett Mock was working out with the team, taking physical therapy every day for the neck inury that has limited this season.  He did not have a specific timetable for Mock's return.

Harris, Morgan and Rodriguez all had two hits apiece.  Rodriguez is hitting .450 through 13 games.

Morgan and pinch-runner Willy Taveras were both thrown out stealing by Miguel Olivo.

Adam Dunn walked twice and went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

The team walked seven times, struck out just twice, and left seven runners on base.

Colorado Rockies (6-6, T-2nd in NL West, 2 GB)

v.

Washington Nationals (6-6, 4th in NL East, 2 GB)

Nationals Park--Apr.19-21 at 7:05 pm, Apr. 22 at 4:35 pm

____________________________________________________________

The Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies for a four-game set this week.  The Nats are coming off a series win against the Milwaukee Brewers, taking the first two games in style, then suffering an embarrassing 10-run first inning in Sunday's loss.

The Rockies lost two out of three to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, their only win courtesy of Ubaldo Jiminez' no-hitter, the first in Rockies history on Saturday.

____________________________________________________________

PROBABLE STARTERS

Monday, Apr. 19 

Craig Stammen (0-0, 15.63; 1 K and 1 BB in 6.1 IP)

 v.

Aaron Cook (0-1, 5.56; 9 K and 5 BB in 11.1 IP)

Tuesday, Apr. 20 

Scott Olsen (0-0, 6.35; 5 K and 3 BB in 5.2 IP)

v.

Jorge De La Rosa (1-1, 2.77; 14 K and 6 BB in 13.0 IP)

Wednesday, Apr. 21 

John Lannan (1-1, 5.74; 7 K and 9 BB in 15.2 IP)

v.

Jason Hammel (0-1, 11.42; 5 K and 6 BB in 8.2 IP)

Thursday, Apr. 22 

Livan Hernandez (2-0, 0.00; 4 K and 5 BB in 16.0 IP)

v.

Ubaldo Jiminez (3-0, 1.29; 20 K and 10 BB in 21.0 IP)

____________________________________________________________

TEAM STATS

COL BATTING:  .260 (7th in NL); 58 runs (9th); 14 HR (5th).

COL PITCHING:  3.66 ERA, (4th in NL); 96 Ks (4th).

WAS BATTING:  .264 (5th); 60 runs (7th); 8 HR (15th).

WAS PITCHING:  6.34 ERA (16th); 63 Ks (16th).

____________________________________________________________

WHO'S HOT

(Last seven days)

COL:  Ryan Spilborghs (5-for-15, 1 HR, 3RBIs); Ubaldo Jiminez (No-hitter Sat. v. ATL)

WAS:  Ivan Rodriguez (10-for-21, 7 R, 7 RBI); Adam Kennedy (6-for-13, 6 RBI);

Josh Willingham (6-for-20, 2 HRs, 7 R); Livan Hernandez (No earned runs in 16 IP in first two starts)

(Photo by Ian Koski/Nationals Daily News)

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals came into this Sunday afternoon match-up looking to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers.  Unfortunately, Jason Marquis' troubles continued, as he gave up seven runs without recording an out in a 10-run first inning, dooming the Nats to an eventual 11-7 loss before 18,789 at Nats Park.

Marquis, whom the Nationals gave a two-year, $15 million contract, entered play with a 12.96 ERA after two starts against the powerful Philadelphia Phillies.

Manager Jim Riggleman spoke before the game about getting his veteran starter off to a good start in today's game.

But the complete opposite happened.

Brewers' lead-off hitter Rickie Weeks singled, and was followed by base hits by Craig Counsel and Ryan Braun, which brought the first run.

Marquis then hit Prince Fielder, loading the bases.  Casey McGehee walked to force in a run, and Marquis then hit his second batter of the inning, OF Jim Edmonds.  Catcher Gregg Zaun followed with an RBI single, and Marquis' game was over without recording an out.

It's the first time in Nationals history a starter has failed to record an out.

All told:  Seven batters faced, four hits, one walk, two hit batters, seven earned runs.  And no outs.

Riggleman told reporters after the game that Marquis was so disturbed by his performance he went to the indoor cages and continued to throw after being relieved.

"He's really down in the dumps about how he performed out there today," Riggleman said.  "He's trying to find it."

Naturally, the question came up:  Is there someting wrong with him?

Riggleman's answer?  No.  "He's definitely healthy.  That's the first thing I asked after he came out of the game with [pitching coach] Steve McCatty, 'Is he feeling ok' and all that?  He said 'Yeah'."

So if Marquis is not hurt, what then is the problem?

To start, he did not have very good command of his fastball today.  He only walked one, but he left the ball out over the middle of the plate today and up, where Milwaukee's hitters could get good wood on the ball. 

"He's having a hard time throwing strikes," Riggleman explained. "And when does throw a strike he was having a hard time getting it down throwing a quailty strike."

As a sinkerball pitcher, Marquis needs to live in the bottom part of the strike zone, and he could not locate today at all, as the two hit batters would attest to.

Marquis (L, 0-3, 20.52) was brought in to anchor a young pitching staff.  But so far, he's been the weakest link of all.  The next logical question is, if the Nats can't get better performances out of him, what's the next step?

Riggleman indicated that he might try to find a way to change things up for the 31-year old righty, maybe give him an extra day or two of rest.  But he has no plans to skip his turn in the rotation or remove him outright--for now.

"We made a commitment to him over the off-season...It's too early to think about that," the manager said.

After Marquis was lifted, Miguel Batista didn't immediately help matters.  He gave up a run-scoring infield single to Carlos Gomez and a sac fly to the Brewers starter Doug Davis.  He then walked lead-off hitter Weeks before surrendering a grand slam to light-hitting back-up shortstop Craig Counsel.

The Brewers had scored 10 runs before two outs in the top of the first.

Batista settled down though, and gave the Nats five innings without giving up another run.  If there was any saving grace to the day, it was the bullpen that only gave up one run in the eight remaining innings.  After Batista, Tyler Walker went two scoreless, Jesse English gave up one earned on two doubles in his inning, and Brian Bruney struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The Nats hitters tried to claw their way back into this one.

They got one in the second on two doubles by Ivan Rodriguez (3-for-5, 2 runs, RBI) and Adam Kennedy to kick-start the offense.

(Photo by Ian Koski/Nationals Daily News)

In the fifth, the Nats reached Davis for four runs on five consecutive singles, cutting the lead to 10-5.  After Rodriguez' RBI single and a walk to RF Justin Maxwell, Brewers Manager Ken Macha had seen enough.  Macha lifted his starter that was staked to a ten-run lead before he took the mound, one out before he would qualify for the win.

The Nats got two more in the seventh against Claudio Vargas (W, 1-0, 10.38) with two outs.  Josh Willingham singled to start the rally, and Rodriguez doubled to put runners at second and third.  Pinch-hitter Ian Desmond doubled to plate both runners, which cut the lead to 10-7.

Kennedy followed with a sharply hit single to medium center field, and third base coach Pat Listach sent Desmond to challenge Gomez' throwing arm.

Gomez would win.

The throw came in perfect to catcher Zaun, and after a violent collision where both players tumbled, Desmond was out, ending the inning.

Four consecutive hits resulted in just two runs, and the Nats would not score again.

The Nationals did take the series with Milwaukee, winning the first two games.  But they need to figure out what's wrong with Marquis, and quickly.  The Nats were counting on 180-plus dependable innings out of him in 2010.  So far, he's only managed eight and one-third innings in three starts.

The Nats welcome the Colorado Rockies for a four-game set, starting tomorrow at 7:05 pm.  Craig Stammen (0-0, 15.63) takes on Aaron Cook (0-1, 5.56) for the Rockies.

NATS NOTES:  Riggleman advised the media that Batista would not be available tomorrow, but that the rest of the pen, rested due to Livan Hernandez' complete game Saturday, would be available.

Rodriguez and Kennedy both had three-hit games.  Willy Taveras, Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman all had two-hit games.

The Nationals walked once and struck out seven times today.

The loss evens the Nationals record at 6-6.