Post by Cheryl Nichols

The Washington Nationals fifth starter Luis Atilano will be placed on the Disabled List with bone chips in his right elbow.

Nationals have recalled RHP Collin Balester (aka Ballystar) from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday to take Atilano's spot on the roster.  According to Bill Ladson, it will only be for one day until the Nats recall LHP Ross Detwiler to start Sunday's game in Milwaukee.

Just last night we were with Nats fans asking if Bally was still growing the mustache and the answer is definitely yes. Tune in tonight to see the stache.

THE RESULT:  Before the 2:40 rain delay last night, this looked like just another loss for the Washington Nationals.  The starting pitching left lots to be desired.  The reliever provided no relief.  Hitters continued to slump.  Fielding was sloppy.  The Nats trailed the Cincinnati Reds by seven runs after five innings.

Then the rains came, and seemed to wash some of that away. 

An offensive explosion -- a six run sixth inning -- brought the Nats back to within one run.  Unfortunately it wasn't enough, as Adam Dunn was called out on strikes for the last out of the game on a pitch he thought was inside, dashing the Nats hopes of pulling off the upset and sealing the 8-7 loss to the Reds.

Attendance was listed at 22,876, but it appeared less than 2,000 remained to see Dunn get punched out, then watch Nats Manager Jim Riggleman exchange some very heated words with home plate umpire Marty Foster.

The six runs outburst equaled the team's total runs scored in the four previous games.

Starter Luis Atilano (L, 6-7), summoned before the game from Triple-A, was pushed around again.  He gave up five earned runs on five hits and three walks in just four innings, and his ERA for the season sits at 5.15 after the outing.  He only threw 41 of his 72 pitches for strikes.

You knew things would be bad for Atilano when he walked the first two batters of the game, then surrendered a three-run home run to All-Star first baseman Joey Votto.  Later, Atilano gave up an RBI-single to pitcher Mike Leake (W, 7-1, 3.45).

What turned out to be the winning runs came on a throwing error by Ryan Zimmerman.  He made a tremendous diving stop to his right to rob catcher Corky Miller of extra bases, then slung a sidearm throw to first.  The ball came in low and seemed to confuse Adam Dunn, who failed in his attempt to block the throw.

Zimmerman tried to atone for the error with a two-run opposite field homer (17) to start the comeback.  Pinch-hitter Michael Morse later hit a three-run triple and Ian Desmond doubled to score Morse from third.  Desmond went to third on a throwing error, but died there as Dunn flied out to end the inning.

THE GOOD:  Michael Morse.  All the guy does is produce when called upon.  He's hitting .324/.375/.554 in just 74 at bats this season with four homers and 12 RBIs.

THE BAD:  Atilano.  I think this experiment is just about over.  Doug Slaten also gave up three runs in his inning of work. 

THE UGLY:  Ivan Rodriguez went 0-for-4, and since peaking on April 22 at .449, over his last 52 games he's hitting .235/.260/.306.

THE STATS:   The Nats went 3-for-5 with runners in scoring positionand left five men on base total.  They struck out six times and walked four times.

NEXT GAME:  Today at 7:05 pm against the Cincinnati Reds.  Stephen Strasburg (4-2, 2.03) faces Bronson Arroyo (10-4, 3.96).

NATS NOTES:  Before the game, Manager Jim Riggleman told reporters that Ian Desmond will see the bulk of his at bats from the two-spot the rest of the season.  He told MLB.com's Bill Ladson:  "I just know we have struggled to score runs during the four games after the All-Star break.  I just decided to move the lineup a little bit, get some guys in some different spots and see if we could create a little offense.

The Nats have also made something of a splash in the international market.  Though it's still unofficial, several reports have said the Nats will sign Cuban defector Yuniesky Maya, a 28-year old right-handed pitcher.  Maya was the Cuban National team's No. 1 starter and compiled a 48-29 record and 2.51 ERA in six Cuban National Series seasons.

Maya participated in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics as well.

"He's had a real good year, all-star consideration-type starting pitcher, and he was really good." -- Jim Riggleman, tipping his cap to Mat Latos.

Padres' Mat Latos dominated in front of two dozen family

and friends in 7-1 win over Nationals.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE RESULT:  Tonight was a battle of snubbed All-Stars, featuring rookie San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos and the triumvirate of Washington Nationals middle of the order sluggers, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham.

On this night, the pitcher won.

Latos gave up just five hits and two walks over seven innings -- striking out eight -- and hit his first career home run, pacing the N.L. West leading Padres over the Nats 7-1, before 17,364 at Nationals Park.

Latos did get a little help from his friends, as the Padres hit four home runs in the contest.

Latos turns on an Atilano fastball for his first career home run.
(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

The young right-hander was dominant, mixing a 95 MPH fastball with a sharp-breaking curveball.  

"He's got a really good curveball, but you've got to have so much respect for the fastball," Manager Jim Riggleman said in his post-game press conference. "He's a power pitcher with a classic downward breaking ball and good, hard fastball."

Latos only had two innings where more than one runner reached, including his last inning where the Nats loaded the bases with two outs.  Latos got Nyjer Morgan to bounce out to first to end the frame, and then truned things over to the league's best bullpen.

Nats starting pitcher Luis Atilano was nowhere near as sharp.  The right-hander, who has lost five of his last six decisions, was lifted with one out in the sixth.  He gave up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks, including two home runs -- both in the fourth -- to OF Chris Denorfia and Latos.

Luis Atilano struggled against the Padres.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

Atilano was constantly batting with base runners throughout the event and it eventually caught up to him.  Manager Jim Riggleman went to Miguel Batista, and the rubber-armed reliever brought no relief tonight, giving up two more earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Washington scored in the bottom of the eighth off releiver Luke Gregerson, as Dunn knocked in Roger Bernadina (2-for-4) from second base, putting runners at first and second with no outs.  But Josh Willingham proceeded to ground into a double play, and Ivan Rodriguez flied out to end the Nats best chance to get back into the game.

Latos cooled off the Nationals' bats.  Click on photo for full-size

image, it's worth the effort. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE GOOD:  Roger Bernadina and Adam Kennedy had two hits apiece.  Willie Harris singled in his only at bat.

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan had another 0-fer in the leadoff spot, going 0-for-4 with three left on base.

THE UGLY:  Dunn dropped a pop-up.  It was a relatively non-ugly game.

THE STATS:  The Nats went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base.  They struck out nine times and walked three times. 

NEXT GAME:  The Nationals host the San Francisco Giants in a three-game set, starting Friday night at 7:05.  Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 2.45) takes on Matt Cain (6-7, 2.98) in the opener.

NATS NOTES:  3B Ryan Zimmerman lost to Joey Votto in the Internet ballot for the final spot on the N.L. All-Star team.

Jordan Zimmermann, rehabbing his surgically repaired elbow, made his second rehab start for Single-A Potomac.  He went three innings, giving up one hit and hit a batter.  He did not walk anyone and struck out five.  He threw 45 pitches, 30 for strikes.

"I was late. That's all I can say there. I was late. That's no excuse," -- Roger Bernadina, picked off second with winning run at the plate.

Roger Bernadina looks for help after getting picked off to end the game.  (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE RESULTS:  One of Thursday night's heroes for the Washington Nationals, Willie Harris, represented the winning run.  The embattled veteran fought back from a 1-2 count to work the count full with two runners on and two outs, trailing 5-3 to the New York Mets.

What happened next was bizarre and inexplicable, and something that should not happen to a Major League player.

Mets reliever Francicsco Rodriguez -- who was struggling mightily in his appearance -- and shortstop Ruben Tejada put on a "daylight" play, and picked Roger Bernadina off at second base for the last out of the game.

"I don't know if I've seen one end that way," Manager Jim Riggleman said after the game.  "It's painful. But they made a great play and they got him."

The mistake gave the Mets a 5-3 win before 24,410 at Nationals Park, sent the Nats to their 20th loss in their last 29 games, and Nats fans into the streets shaking their heads at the latest ingenious method of demoralizing loss.

Washington's record at the half-way mark of the season is 35-46.

The Nationals trailed by two, so Bernadina's run was not the important one; Ian Desmond at first represented the tying run.  But the outfielder's gaffe took the bat out of Harris' hand, and he never did see the payoff pitch.

The baserunning blunder killed the excitment of a mounting comeback.  With one out, Ryan Zimmerman walked against Elmer Dessens.  After a Josh Willingham fly out, Ivan Rodriguez doubled to right, putting runners at second and third.

Mets Manager Jerry Manuel called on his closer Francisco Rodriguez, and Riggleman countered with lefty swinging Bernadina, pinch-hitting for Michael Morse.  The rookie came through with a single to right field, scoring Zimmerman.  Ian Desmond (2-for-4) followed with a single up the middle, bringing in Rodriguez, making the score 5-3.

The battle then ensued between K-Rod and Harris...until Bernadina strayed too far from the second and was nabbed, crushing the comeback.

It was a glaring lack of situational awareness by Bernadina, but par for the course for a team that gives away too many outs on the bases.

For most of the game, the Nats were kept in check by yet another average pitcher.  Jonathon Niese (W, 6-2) went seven innings and gave up just one earned run -- Willingham's 15th home run of the season -- on six hits and no walks, striking out eight.

On the other side of the ledger, Luis Atilano was roughed up, as he managed to just throw 3 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on four hits and two walks. 

Pudge Rodriguez consoles Luis Atilano after the destruction in the fourth. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

His defense let him down in the fourth inning, as Ian Desmond made his MLB-high 20th error, and Michael Morse couldn't come up with a fly ball at the wall that went for a two-out, three-run triple.  Niese followed that up with a slicing double to left field, which knocked Atilano out of the game.

THE GOOD:  Willingham.  2-for-4 with a homer.  Nyjer Morgan and Desmond both had two hits as well.  Joel Peralta went three scoreless in relief.

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn, in the three-hole against a left-hander, went 0-for-4 with three Ks.  Morgan was thrown out stealing in the first inning, the MLB-worst 12th caught stealing of the season.

Morgan argues his out call at second. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE UGLY:  Bernadina.  Inexcusable.  Indefensable.  Inexplicable.

NEXT GAME:  Saturday, it's the sixth day of Strasmas.  Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 2.27) faces knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (6-1, 2.98) at 4:10 pm.

NOTES:  The Nationals have signed Livan Hernandez' half-brother, Orlando Hernandez, to a minor league contract Friday. 

The elder Hernandez, 44, has compiled a 90-65 record and a 4.13 ERA in 10 seasons at the major league level. He last pitched in the big leagues with the New York Mets in 2007. That season, Hernandez went 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA.

THE RESULT:  It took a 48 minute rain delay, a couple of home runs, and four hits off the closer, but the Washington Nationals held on for a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on a steamy, stormy evening before 21,168 at Nationals Park.

The Nats took a 4-1 lead into the ninth, and in what's becoming typical Matt Capps fashion, Capps put a bunch of runners on base but wriggled his way out of the jam.

Capps got Jose Guillen to fly out to right, but then gave up three straight singles to the 6-7-8 hitters in Kansas City's lineup.  Pinch-hitter Chris Getz popped up to short for the second out, but lead-off man Scott Podsednik drove in two with a clean single, and what remained of the crowd -- after a torrential downpour -- were now on the edge of their seats.

That brought up catcher Jason Kendall with runners at first and second and two outs.  But Capps got Kendall to fly out to Adam Kennedy at first base, sending Nats fans home happy.

It was Capps N.L. leading 22nd save of the season.

"A lot of things haven't gone Matt's way, for a guy who has 22 saves," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. "He could have more if he would get a little lucky now and again."

"But the bottom line is he got the save."

Washington busted out the homer stick tonight, with Josh Willingham blasting his 100th career home run -- his 13th of the season -- and Adam Dunn's mammoth shot to dead center off the vine-covered batter's eye behind the utility tunnel.

(Photo by Meaghan Gay/DCist)

The Nats have hit 64 home runs this season, with a whopping 44 of those, including both tonight, of the solo variety.  Washington has the highest percentage of solo home runs in the Major Leagues.

They also got a RBI double from Ryan Zimmerman (2-for-4) and an RBI sacrifice fly from Nyjer Morgan for their biggest offensive outburst since scoring four runs in a loss to Detroit on June 15.

Nats starter Luis Atilano (W, 6-4) was effective -- before and after the rain delay.  He went 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits and most importantly -- no walks.  He struck out five and threw 58 of his 84 pithces for strikes.

(Photo by Meaghan Gay/DCist)

Atilano turned things over to the bullpen with two outs in the sixth, and Joel Peralta, Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings. 

Clippard turned things over to Capps in the ninth, fitting as the theme of T-Shirt Tuesday was Clipp 'n Save, with a coupon on the front of the t-shirt with the players' names and nicknames.

The Nats send Stephen Strasburg to the hill tomorrow looking to sweep the Royals, with the Major's worst team -- the Baltimore Orioles -- next up on the scheudle.  After breaking a six-game losing streak, the Nats might have found the right place to look for some comfort.

Maybe there is something good about interleague play.

THE GOOD:  Josh Willingham.  3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer.  The 3-4-5 hitters were 6-for-12 with three RBIs.  When the middle of the order hits, this team wins.

THE BAD:  Despite scoring four times, the Nats were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

THE UGLY:  Capps gave up four hits in the ninth inning.  If it weren't for the three-run lead, we'd be talking about a completely different game.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday, the finale against the Kansas City Royals.  Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 1.86) faces Brian Bannister (6-5, 5.70) at 4:35.  As of this posting, plenty of good seats remain.  Of course, game time temperature is expected to be 95 degrees with a heat index over 100.  Drink plenty of water if you go.

"They whipped us three games, and we didn't play real good." Jim Riggleman's post-game comments on the sweep to the Tigers.

THE RESULT:  The Detroit Tigers pounded out 19 hits against five pitchers en route to a second consecutive 8-3 victory over the Washington Nationals, before 33,630 at Comerica Park.

The loss drops the Nats to 31-36, five games below .500, a low point for the Nationals this season.  They were swept in a three-game series for the first time this season, and fall to 13-24 on the road.

Luis Atilano bore the brunt of it for DC, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings, making the second game in a row the Nats starter could not make it through five innings.  He threw 83 pitches, 53 for strikes.

In the second, Atilano gave up three straight hits which resulted in two runs.  Four hits and an intentional walk turned into three more runs in the fifth.  The big blow was a Miguel Cabrera double with two men on.

Drew Storen came on for Atilano, but gave up an RBI single to Carlos Guillen.  It was the first inherited runner Storen has allowed all season.

Cabrera (2-for-5, 3 RBI) added an RBI single in a two-run sixth off Doug Slaten.

Washington had a chance to make it a game in the eighth.  Dunn's RBI single cut the lead to 7-3, but Josh Willingham popped up to the catcher with runners at second and third to end the inning.

Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman (W, 3-4) kept the Nats down most of the day, giving up just two runs on five hits, striking out seven.  He retired the first 11 Nats hitters, despite some well-hit balls, setting the tone for a long day for the Nats.

"Sounds strange to say it, but I think we hit the ball better than they did today," Riggleman told the MASN audience after the game.  "We hit five or six balls that if we're in our ballpark those balls would have gone out of the stadium and it's a different ball game.  But that's neither here nor there."

Adam Dunn did hit his team-leading 16th home run of the season and added an RBI single, and Cristian Guzman went 2-for-4 with an RBI.  But the rest of the team scattered just four more hits and did not walk once.

The Nationals completed the six-game road trip 1-5, the lone victory coming from Stephen Strasburg last Sunday against Cleveland.  The Nats will ask Strasburg to be the stopper once again Friday, as they come home to host the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series over the weekend.

THE GOOD:  Dunn.  He is on an impressive run right now with homers in six of his last nine games.  Unfortunately, his last three homers have come with the bases empty.  His average up to .288 with 16 homers.  Even his outs were loud today.

THE BAD:  Adam Kennedy went 0-for-4.  Roger Bernadina went 0-for-4.  The team stuck out eight times and did not walk once.

THE UGLY:  Two more errors brings the Nationals' season total to 61, worst in the majors.

NEXT GAME:  Friday at 7:05 at Nats Park against the Chicago White Sox.  Stephen Strasburg (2-0), making his third start since his recall, will try to stop the bleeding.  The White Sox rotation is in a bit of flux right now with Jake Peavy getting scratched today, but we'll probably see Gavin Floyd (2-7).

CLEVELAND--Former Washington Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns spent much of the last two years of his tenure in D.C. injured, with a thumb so sore he had trouble gripping the bat, much less able to make good contact.  It was a reaggrevation of an old injury sustained when he played with the Cincinnati Reds.

Wanting to be a good soldier, and to justify the hearty contract former general manager Jim Bowden gave him, Kearns continued to play through the pain, to his--and the team's--detriment.

Kearns had his contract bought out by the Nationals in the off-season, and landed at spring training as a non-roster invitee with his former manager, Manny Acta, and the Cleveland Indians.

And as a quirk of interleague scheduling, Kearns had a chance Friday night in Cleveland to show the Nationals that he is now fully healthy--after surgery--and once again a productive major league hitter.

Kearns hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning against starter Luis Atilano, and the Indians buried the Nats 7-2, before a crowd of 22,041 at Progressive Field.

"It doesn't matter which team it is, I want to win, not just against them," Kearns said, when asked if it meant more to do this type of damage to his former team.

Atilano was not sharp in this one.  He pitched in trouble all night and threw 103 pitches in just five innings, only 58 of which were strikes.  He gave up six runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks, striking out just three.  He surrendered three home runs, the pair to Kearns and a mammoth shot to Travis Hafner, which hastened his demise.

The first inning was a mess.  Atilano got leadoff hitter Trevor Crowe to bounce back to the mound for  the first out, but things fell apart quickly after that.

Shin Soo Choo singled up the middle, but was erased by a fielder's choice off the bat off Carlos Santana, Cleveland's top prospect, making his major league debut.

Slow-footed Russell Branyan then hit a ball right at Adam Kennedy, who booted the ball and everyone ended up safe.  Atilano then uncorked a wild pitch to move up both runners, before leaving a breaking ball out over the plate to Kearns, who deposited the pitch over the big wall in left field for his sixth home run of the season.

The rest of the game was almost immaterial, as the Nats never really put up much offensive resistance against Indians starter Jake Westbrook (W, 4-3, 7.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K).  The top three hitters in the lineup, Nyjer Morgan, Ivan Rodriguez and Adam Dunn all had two hits apiece. 

But Ryan Zimmerman had an off night, and twice with two runners on and two outs, the silver slugger made the final out of the inning.

The loss drop the Nats record to 30-32, five games behind division-leading Atlanta.

The Nationals try to get back on track Saturday, sending J.D. Martin (0-1) to the hill to face Fausto Carmona (4-5) at 7:05 pm.

NATS NOTES: 

The Nats 4-5-6 hitters, Zimmerman, Josh Willingham and Willie Harris, combined to go 0-for-12.

Nyjer Morgan led the game off with a clean single, then was promptly thrown out stealing on the next pitch.

In his MLB debut, Santana went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Chris Perez pitched 1 2/3 for his sixth save of the season.

Washington had seven hits and four walks, struck out five times, and left six men on base.

All Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/

Nationals News Network. All Rights Reserved

by Anthony Amobi, Staff Writer

Over the weekend, the Washington Nationals endured a pair of soul-crushing losses to the Cincinnati Reds, both games exemplifying the trouble the Nats have had for the last three weeks or so.  The losses are a stark contrast to off-the-field celebrations of the next two days, as the team is set to draft "The Next Lebron" and debut their once-in-a-generation ace on successive days.

On Monday night, the Nationals are expected to select highly touted 17-year old Las Vegas, Nevada native Bryce Harper as the first pick in the 2010 First Year Player Draft.

The very-much hyped Harper, who attended school at the College of Southern Nevada and is being advised by super-agent Scott Boras has set the baseball world on fire with his bat, arm, and amazing athleticism at such a young age. At 6'3" and 205 lbs, he's already got the size and pedigree that many look for in a baseball player much more a power hitter.

Harper skipped his final year of high school, got his GED, enrolled in college and excelled against the competition where players were a year, two, three or four older. Hes smashed school and conference records, so theres really not much else left for him at the collegiate level.

Right now, Harper's primary position is catcher; however, he is expected to become an outfielder down the road--perhaps a right fielder--to preserve his body and maximize the years in his pro career.

His numbers at the College of Southern Nevada in 2010: 21 HRS, 59 RBI, .410 AVG, .917 SLG, 1.414 OPS.

The can't-miss player is regarded as the best all-around player in the draft, although there are some concerns about his makeup, ego on the field and attitude at times.

Still, thats not expected to deter the Nationals from selecting him at all. The team will be expected to pay a huge amount for the youngster, but most are expecting him to progress within two-to-three years to the major league level.

Stephen Strasburg, 2009's No. 1 overall selection, will make his major league debut Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The team is expecting a sell-out, and has released some standing-room only tickets, as well as released individual tickets for some suites that are usually only sold as part of a seeason ticket package.

It should the the closest thing to a playoff atmosphere in Nationals Park since Opening Day 2008 when the team moved into the ballpark on South Capitol Street.

As for the baseball on the field:

On Sunday, the Washington Nationals endured another crushing loss to the Cincinnati Reds, this time in ten innings by a score of 5-4. Cincinnati used a Drew Stubbs RBI-single in the 10th inning to take two out of three games from Washington this weekend.

Washingtons record stands at 27-31 and they are now 6.5 games back in the National League East. They are also 3-7 in their last ten games.

Dark clouds loomed over Nationals Park during June 6 game

(Ian Koski/natsdailynews.com)

Matt Capps, who started the season off on fire after a tenuous year in Pittsburgh, blew his fourth of the season in the ninth inning. The Nationals had a slim 2-1 lead, but Drew Stubbs ripped a one out-single to right and then pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes hit a RBI-double to left, tying the game at two.

Moments later, Scott Rolen who pinch hit for starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo crushed a Capps offering and launched over the left field wall for a two-run homer that upped the Reds lead to 4-1. Rolens homer was his 14th of the year.

The Nationals would rally in the ninth off Reds closer Francisco Cordero and tie the game at four. Their offense could come alive as Mike Morse would hit a two-run double to right field that plated both Josh Willingham (who reached base on a walk) and Ian Desmond (who reached base via a single).

Cincinnati won the game in the tenth as Jay Bruce hit a two-out single to left and Drew Stubbs got the winning single off Washington reliever Miguel Batista. Pitcher Doug Slaten (2-1), who allowed the winning run to reach base initially in the frame, took the loss.

The Reds Nick Masset earned his first save of the season as he retired Ian Desmond with a groundout to second base with two men on. Cordero would earn the win (2-3) despite blowing the save.

The Nationals and Reds both got impressive pitching performances from their starters on the mound to close out the rubber game of the series.

Washington's Craig Stammen perhaps had his most outstanding start of the year as he went 6 2/3 innings and gave up a run on seven hits. For Stammen, despite his solid work on Sunday, he was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse after the game to make room for Stephen Strasburg who will make his major league debut on Tuesday at Nationals Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

RHP Craig Stammen had best start of season on June 6 and was sent down to

Syracuse immediately following game to make room for Strasburg.

(Ian Koski/natsdailynews.com)

After the game, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman remarked to the media assembled on Stammens start and showed quite a bit of empathy for the situation at hand.

"Somebody's got to go, and it's Craig and I feel terrible about that, too. One of the guys who has been leaving it all out there for you takes the hit on this."

Cincinnati scored on Stammen in the first inning as Joey Votto singled to right to plate Orlando Cabrera for a quick 1-0 lead.

Washington tied the game in the bottom of the inning off a Ryan Zimmerman RBI-single and made the score 2-1 in the fourth off an Ian Desmond RBI double.

Bronson Arroyo started the game on the mound for the Reds and went eight innings. He gave up two runs on six hits, plus struck out five, while walking one.

The upcoming week will be big for the Nationals and the eyes of the baseball world will be descending on the nations capital aside from Stephen Strasburgs aforementioned major league debut.

On Saturday, the Washington Nationals were defeated by the Cincinnati Reds, 5-1. They fell to 27-30 on the season, but the 22,896 in attendance would only remember what happened towards the end of the contest.

The game was pretty mush settled in an absolutely wild eighth inning in which Cincinnati held a 2-1 lead. With Washington reliever Tyler Walker on the mound, the Reds jumped all over him and the bullpen. Orlando Cabrera led off the frame with a double – in fact, he barely missed hitting a homer – and then scored on a Brandon Phillips RBI single.

After Phillips’ single, things would get real interesting. Reliever Sean Burnett would be called into the game and he would begin his night on the mound on shaky ground as he allowed Phillips to advance to second on a wild pitch. Moments later, Phillips would advance to third after umpire Dan Bellino determined that shortstop Ian Desmond interfered with his ability to get to third.

Washington manager Jim Riggleman, who thought the call by Bellino was incorrect, tried to plead and argue his case would find himself tossed.

Manager Jim Riggleman was ejected from June 5 game

(Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

Burnett would walk Joey Votto and Scott Rolen would ground out to short, but Brandon Phillips – who was on third – decided to be aggressive and advance home. Phillips would score, only after barreling over catcher Wil Nives and knocking the ball out of his glove.

After he crossed home plate, Phillips would then show a display of theatrics – perhaps something one would do in the pro wrestling on football – by pounding his fist on his chest and yelling like a caveman. The Nationals were not amused and they would exact revenge in ninth inning against him.

The Reds would add another run off a one-out Jay Bruce RBI-single in the frame for a 5-1 advantage.

In the ninth inning, the Nationals would engage in the ‘unwritten rules of baseball’ as reliever Miguel Batista threw inside to Phillips and would get him in the ribs. Umpire Joe West would eventually eject Batista, but most everyone figured it was in response to Phillips’ brazen celebration in the eighth inning. No other incidents would flare up on the evening.

The events of the eighth inning perhaps overshadowed the work that Washington starting pitcher Luis Atilano did on the mound. Although Atalino (5-2, 4.24) would take the loss, he went seven innings, allowed two runs – which one was only earned on six hits.

Although he pitched well enough for the win, he was outshined by Cincinnati’s Mike Leake, who won and still remains undefeated on the season with a 5-0 record with a 2.22 ERA.

With Stephen Strasburg starting on the mound this Tuesday and getting the lion’s share of national attention with his work in the minors, it seems that Leake’s work so far in the majors has gone completely under the radar. Amazingly, Leake actually never saw any time at the minor level and was promoted directly to the majors from spring training.

Pitcher Mike Leake slid twice during June 5 game

(Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

On Saturday, Leake showed why the Reds had so much confidence in him as he went seven innings and gave up one run on seven hits. He struck out five in his outing.

Washington’s only run came in the sixth inning as Ryan Zimmerman scored from second on a Joey Votto error.

Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the first off a Votto RBI-double to right. They would add another run in the fifth as Cabrera’s RBI-double to left plated Leake.

The Washington Nationals had a team-record nine-run seventh inning and Luis Atilano pitched well enough until the outburst, as the Nats beat the Houston Astros 14-4, before a Memorial Day crowd of 34,704 at Minute Maid Park.

It was a remarkable turnaround from the last few days, when the Nats managed to score just four runs in two games over the weekend. 

Then, the Astros are not the Padres.

Washington's challenge was high enough though, coming off back-to-back losses and facing one of the NL's toughest, Roy Oswalt.

The Nats got to Oswalt quickly, scoring in the top of the first via a Cristian Guzman double, sacrifice bunt by new No. 2 hitter Nyjer Morgan, and a sacrifce fly by Ryan Zimmerman.

Then home plate umpire Bill Hohn got to Oswalt.

In the third, the Nats loaded up the bases and Adam Dunn cleared them with a double to right field.  The television microphones picked up Oswalt yelling "That one's on you," and "I ain't talkin' to you," in Hohn's general direction.

On the second ball call to the next batter, Josh Willingham, Oswalt (L, 3-7, 2.78) stepped toward home plate and continued to bark at Hohn.  Hohn took off his mask and appeared to say "One more."  Oswalt then pointed with his pitching hand toward the mound, then with his glove at Hohn, and the umpire then had no choice but to toss the Houston ace.

Gustavo Chacin came in and got out of the inning, and even hit a solo home run the following inning for his first career home run, but the tenor of the game had changed dramatically.

Once into the bullpen, the Nats took control of the game.

They got a run off Chacin when Willingham singled in Nyjer Morgan (3-for-4, four runs, two SB) from third after a stolen base.  It was Morgan's first game hitting second.  Riggleman thought moving him down a spot in the order would take some pressure off the slumping Morgan.

But even Riggleman couldn't have anticipated this type of breakout in the first day of the experiment.

A couple innings later is when the fun really started.

With Jeff Fulchino on the hill, the Nats rallied like they nver had before since the move to DC in 2005. 

Morgan led off with a walk, and went to third on Zimmerman's double.  Dunn reached on an infield single--Morgan scooted home and Zimmerman went all the way to third.

Willingham walked to load the bases.  After Willie Harris struck out swinging, Ian Desmond laced a liner to right, scoring Zimmerman and Dunn.  It was Desmond's 12th and 13th RBIs in the past week.

Carlos Maldonado, called up when Ivan Rodriguez went on the DL, then lofted a fly ball down the left field line that settled in the the Crawford boxes for his first home run of the season.

But things weren't finished yet.  Following two-out singles by Guzman and Morgan, Zimmerman took one to the Astros bullpen in right center field.

"It was kind of a snowball effect," said Willingham, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. "Even some balls we weren't hitting well were falling, so it was a good day for everybody at the plate. You need a game like that every now and then."

Zimmerman and Dunn both finished the day with four RBIs apiece, and every started except Harris had at least one hit.

Atilano gave up single runs in the first and thrid, and a pair in the seventh after the Nats explosion.  He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs total (three earned) on six hits and two walks.  He struck out one.

The right hander ran his record to 5-1 with a 4.70 ERA.  He is a prime candidate to be replaced by Stephen Strasburg when he makes his major league debut, but he has done everything the Nats have asked of him since entering the rotation when Jason Marquis went down.

In fact, Atilano's numbers are not particularly impressive, walking 21 compared to just 16 strikeouts, but he has been quality on the road, going 4-0 away from Nationals Park.

Bu the kept the Nationals in the game today, long enough for their bats to wake up from their May slumbers.  Before Monday's game, the Nats had scored three runs or fewer in 15 of 28 games in May.

The difference a day makes.

NATS NOTES:  Mike Rizzo told reporters after the game that Stephen Strasburg will start Tuesday, June 8 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Strasburg, who is 6-2 with a 1.43 ERA in 10 combined starts between Class AA Harrisburg and Class AAA Syracuse, still is slated to make one more minor-league start Thursday, June 3 in Buffalo.

Tyler Walker finished things up for Atilano, throwing 2 1/3 shutout innings.

Willie Harris went 0-for-4 and left eight runners on base.

Adam Kennedy made an error for the third game in a row, leading to one of the Astros' seventh inning runs.

The Nats struck out nine times, walked six times, and left six runners on.

Ian Desmond drove in three runs, Luis Atilano was solid for five and one third innings, and Giants starter Tim Lincecum continued his less-than-himself struggles as the Washington Nationals defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-3 before 30,230 at AT&T Park.

The big story of the evening was Lincecum.  The two-time reigning NL Cy Young winner was ineffective, allowing 11 base runners in four and two-third and allowed four stolen bases.

He exited the game in the top of the fifth to a shower of boos from the Giants faithful.

The Nats got to Lincecum or three runs in the third and another three in the fifth.  Lincecum gave up six hits and five walks in less that five innings, marking the third straight contest he's walked five hitters.

Nats starter Luis Atilano, on the other hand, was efficient and effective.  He gave up just four hits, including a line-drive triple in the sixth that should have been caught by right fielder Roger Bernadina.  he did not walk a batter, and coaxed 12 ground ball outs against four fly ball outs.

In fact, it was strange that manager Jim Riggleman lifted Atilano with one out in the sixth.

The first batter of the inning, Giants leadoff man Andres Torres, hit a sharp line drive to right field that Bernadina misplayed, with the ball sailing over his ehad and behind him, before he crashed to the outfield turf.  By the time Nyjer Morgan tracked the ball down at the wall, the fleet Torres had three bases.

That earned a visit to the mound by pitching coach Steve McCatty.

Atilano then got Freddy Sanchez (0-for-4) to ground out to third baseman Ryan Zimmermen.  And that was it for the right-hander.

After 76 pitches, Riggleman decided that's all he needed to see from his starting pitcher, despite his giving up just four hits and not walking a single batter.

Riggleman called upon left-handed reliever Doug Slaten to face right-handed hitter Pablo Sandoval, and "Kung-Fu Panda" dispatched Slaten's first pitch to deep center field for a double, scoring Torres easily. 

Slaten managed to get Aubrey Huff to ground out to second, advancing Sandoval.  Drew Storen entered and struck out Juan Uribe to end the inning, stranding Sandoval at third base.

Riggleman's lifting of Atilano continues a trend for the Nats' skipper.  Only twice in the last 13 games (5-8) has Riggleman allowed his starter to reach 100 pitches in an outing, including the last two nights when the starter had not thrown 80.

And in only one situation had the starter given up more than four earned runs.  That's not a very stringent barometer, but four runs allowed shouldn't be a death sentence for a major league baseball team.

Of course, every game has it's own set of situations, but examined over a longer period of time, trends emerge.  And this trend looks like Riggleman doesn't--or won't--trust his starters in the sixth inning.

Regardless, Wednesday night Slaten, Storen and Tyler Clippard all did their jobs and secured the win for Atilano, now 4-1 with a 4.82 ERA in seven starts.

In four career starts away from Nationals Park, Atilano is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA as opposed to 1-1 with a 7.47 ERA at home.

Ian Desmond and Josh Willingahm were the hitting heroes again.  Desmond went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Willingham 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs.  Adam Kennedy drove in a run, scored two, walked twice and stole two bases.

Nyjer Morgan and Ryan Zimmerman both had steals against Lincecum as well.  The Nats had not stolen a base in 16 games, but swiped four last night.

The three-game set with San Fran concludes this aternoon at 3:45 EDT.  Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.96) faces another former Cy Young winner, Barry Zito (6-2, 2.80).

NATS NOTES:  J.D. Martin will be recalled and start Saturday in San Diego.  No corresponding move has been announced.

Desmond committed his 10th error of the season, drawing Adam Kennedy off first with a throw.

The Nats struck out 12 times, walked five times, and left six men on base.

The Washington Nationals had a long day, dropping two games to the Colorado Rockies they very well could have won.

Bad relief pitching did the Nats in in game one.  In game two, it was the defense.

In the bottom of the seventh of the nightcap, with the game tied at three, shoddy defense cost the Nats a run--and the game.

Sean Burnett entered his second inning of work.  Backup catcher Paul Phillips, batting less than .200--in the majors and Triple-A this season--reached on an infield single.  He was sacrificed to second, but the out at first was a gift call. 

Dexter Fowler grounded to Adam Dunn at first, but Dunn's throw was high, making Cristian Guzman--covering from second--jump at the bag.  Replays showed Guzman was definitely off the bag, and for that matter, Fowler probably beat the throw.  But the first base umpire called Fowler out.

Regardless, the runner moved up. 

The next batter, Carlos Gonzalez, flied out to deep center and Phillips moved up another 90 feet, which brought up outfielder Seth Smith with two outs.

Smith sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle that Burnett got his glove on and slowed down, and shortstop Ian Desmond ranged far to his left to pick up.  He threw against his body and bounced a throw to Dunn at first that Dunn just flat dropped.

Desmond was charged with the error, but it was Dunn's physical mistake that cost the Nats at first base.

Starter Luis Atilano wasn't particularly sharp--he went five innings, giving up three earned on four hits and four walks.  But he departed in a tied game and turned it over to the bullpen.

In the first game of Saturday's day-night double-header, the Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez barely outdueled Livan Hernandez, and Colorado put the exclamation point on the win with a three-run eighth inning against Brian Bruney, as the Rockies knocked off the Nats 6-2 before 29,111 at Coors Field.

The Nats came into the bottom of the eighth trailing 3-2, and Bruney blew the game up.  He walked the first two batters he faced, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki.  Jason Giambi rolled over on a slider to force Tulowitzki and put runners at first and third, then Bruney got catcher Miguel Olivo to pop up to second.

But as a tightrope walker will often do, Bruney fell.

His first pitch to Rockies 3B Ian Stewart was laced to right field for a double, scoring Hawpe.  His next pitch, to 2B Clint Barmes, was a clean single to center that drove in Giambi and Stewart.

That's all the Rockies needed to secure the win.

For the season, Bruney has allowed 15 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings and has walked 20 batters.

Manager Jim Riggleman was reluctant to bring in his most effective relievers, Tyler Walker, Tyler Clippard, or Matt Capps, in a game his team was trailing.  He paid dearly for the decision.

"We have to talk about it, because you have to be able to use your guys," Riggleman told reporters after the game. "If you are down in the game -- I look for one inning there -- you have to hold the fort there. The walks are hurting him, and he has to find a way to make an adjustment. If it wasn't a doubleheader day, we would handle things differently."

Jimenez (W, 7-1, 1.12) was good, but less dominant than when he beat the Nats two weeks ago at Nats Park.  He went eight innings, allowing seven hits and one walk, striking out five.  He threw 70 of his 115 pitches for strikes. 

The same could be said of his opponent, Livan Hernandez (L, 4-2, 1.46).  Entering the game with an ERA less than 1.00, he gave up three earned runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out just three.  He gave up two home runs, one each to Giambi and Olivo.

In the finale of the four-game series on Sunday, Scott Olsen (2-1) faces Jeff Francis, making his first appearance since 2008.

NATS NOTES:  Dunn homered in both games, the first time in his career he had homered in both games of a double-header.

Roger Bernadina had two hits and drove in two in the nightcap.

Ryan Zimmerman went 5-for-8 on the day.

Manager Jim Riggleman decided before the game that no matter what happened, short of a 15-inning game, relievers Tyler Clippard and Matt Capps would not pitch Monday night.  And he stuck to his word.

So when things played out like so many have in the past two weeks, with the Nats nursing a small lead into the late innings, Riggleman needed to press others into the roles "Clip 'n' Save" have been filling so admirably.

Each of the five remaining relievers pitched, and when it was all said and done--despite some truly nerve-wracking moments--the Washington Nationals emerged with another one-run victory, 3-2 over the New York Mets.  The win vaults the Nats past the Mets for sole possession of second place in the N.L. East with a record of 18-14, two games behind the division leading Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nats' record in one-run games so far in 2010 is 8-3.

Rookie Luis Atilano, making his fourth start, won his third game to keep his record pristine.  He did not allow a run in five and one-third innings.  He gave up five hits and cut his walks allowed to just two, and struck out five.

"He really did a nice job for us," Riggleman said of Atilano.  "We wanted to get everything we could out of him because we knew we didn't have Clippard and Capps at the other end.  He gave us a chance and we got it."

After Atilano left the game, Riggleman sent a parade of relievers up against the Mets, to varying degrees of success.  But the ultimate goal was reached eventually.

Doug Slaten came in for the rookie with one out in the sixth to make his Nationals debut with the Nats leading 2-0, courtesy of solo home runs by Adam Kennedy (2) and Ryan Zimmerman (6). 

He gave up a couple of quick singles, but got Mets' rookie 1B Ike Davis to squib one of the end of his bat to third, and Ryan Zimmerman caught the ball racing toward first and fired, doubling up David Wright, who had strayed too far on the quick pop-up.

Slaten surrendered two more hits to start the seventh, though neither were hit very hard.  Jeff Francoeur tapped a ball to Adam Dunn at first, and Slaten was late breaking to the bag.  The play went as an infield single.  The next batter, catcher Rod Barajas, dumped a soft liner to right in front of Roger Bernadina, and the Nats were in a hole with runners on first and third and none out .

Slaten got pinch-hitter Gary Matthews Jr to strike out swinging for the first out of the inning.  Angel Pagan then hit a comebacker and the Nats completed a 1-2-5 rundown of Francoeur to get the second out.  It would proved to be a big out.

Mets' 2B Luis Castillo looped a ball just over the outstretched glove of shortstop Ian Desmond, sending  the slow-footed Barajas homeward from second base.  Left fielder Josh Willingham double-clutched on the throw, and Barajas slid home just before the ball arrived.  The Nats' lead was cut in half 2-1.

Tyler Walker entered against Jose Reyes, and threw a 3-2 slider that Reyes watched break over the outside corner of the plate for strike three.  Reyes was incensed and threw his bat and batting helmet, earning him an ejection.  Manager Jerry Manuel followed suit and received the same treatment.

The Nats got a much needed insurance run in the eighth, as Adam Dunn led off with a double, pinch-runner Willy Taveras took third on a soft liner to left by Josh Willingham, and scored on an Ivan Rodriguez (4-for-4, RBI) line drive to right field.

The bottom of the frame provided more excitement.

Walker struck out Jason Bay to start the inning, but David Wright reached on an infield single to short that Desmond just couldn't quite make a play on.  Riggleman brought in Sean Burnett to face a left-handed batter, as he had the two previous games.  And as the two previous games, Burnett did not do his job, allowing a single to Ike Davis.

Brian Bruney then emerged and struck out Francoeur for the second out.  Facing Barajas, Bruney unleashed a wild pitch to the backstop that moved both runners up.  Fortunately for Nats fans clinging to the edge of their seats, Bruney settled down and popped up Barajas to end the innings, stranding runners at second and third.

Washington went quietly in the ninth, setting the stage for 39-year old Miguel Batista to enter for the save opportunity.

Batista got Frank Catalanotto to ground out to second to start things off, but then immediately allowed a long home run to Angel Pagan to bring Mets within one run.  After Castillo struck out looking for out number two, Alex Cora (who had replaced the ejected Reyes) singled cleanly to center field, setting up a dramatic at bat with Jason Bay, who represented the winning run.

But Batista saved his best for last, and got Francoeur to chase a ball off the plate, and the right fielder could not check his swing.

See how easy that was?  Who needs Clippard and Capps?

The second game of the three-game series from Citifield poses Scott Olsen (2-1, 3.54) against Jon Niese (1-1, 3.60) at 7:20 pm.

NATS NOTES:  Washington stole four bases, including two by Nyjer Morgan.  None led to a score.

Bernadina went 0-for-4 and failed to get a sacrifice bunt down, eventually striking out.  He left six runners on base.

Nationals LHP John Lannan (left elbow discomfort) threw a bullpen session and is expected to make his next scheduled start Thursday.

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.