Scott Boras doesn't mess around.

Baseball's super-agent, Scott Boras, was in town yesterday with three of his newer clients, which also happen to be the top three draft picks of the Washington Nationals: 3B Anthony Rendon (No. 6 overall), RHP Alex Meyer (No. 23 overall) and CF Brian Goodwin (No. 34 overall).  It's been a whirlwind for the busiest man in baseball, who has traversed the country over the last week and half, appearing with his clients at a dozen of these introductory press conferences.

It was a unique situation that all three of the Nats top picks were represented by the same agent, much less Boras, who has represented the Nats top pick in both of the two previous drafts.  You might have heard of them, kids named Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. 

Asked if he's ever had a team select three of his players with their top picks in the same draft, Boras had to admit that this was first, even for him.

Boras held court with the local media after the live, televised press conference, discussing the newest Nats in great detail, as well as two of his of his other high-profile clients, Harper and Pudge Rodriguez. 

Asked if Harper would be healthy enough to play in the Arizona Fall League, Boras quipped that Harper wanted to play in the Eastern League playoffs with Harrisburg, if they qualify, but that his long-term health would be the guiding factor.  He described the injury as a "7-10 day thing" and that his injured hamstring "is going to be fine."

According to Boras, Rodriguez, on the other hand, simply can't understand why he can't heal faster from his strained right oblique.  "Pudge is not a man that has high regard for medical science," Boras joked.  He went on to say that Pudge, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, "brings so much to a team."

“He and [Stephen Strasburg] have a very good relationship. Pudge has answers, because he’s been in the league so long. And his answers are very, very refined and simple to a lot of players. He can go up to a lot of players and say, ‘Look, I’ve been there, I’ve done that. Do this, do that. If you do this, this is what happens.’ And the players believe it, because he’s been in the league that long."

But the primary focus of Boras' mini-press conference was the three draft picks, of whom he offered effusive praise, which one would suspect coming from not only the players' agent, but from this particular agent, famed for producing tomes of research on his own players for draftees and free agents alike.

He described the Nats farm system as "The Washington Mint", likening the players to the currency of baseball, for the Nats to enjoy for their own use or to employ them to acquire Major League talent.  "I think they've done an extraordinary job building [the farm system]."

On Rendon:  "He's been given a clean bill of health. He's back throwing. He just needed 10 weeks rest that he couldn't get in college because they wanted him to DH." 

"He knows the timing of the game. He knows how to get the batter out without rushing.  In the batter's box he's got that natural skill where he can drive a baseball without swinging hard.  He's certainly a player that can advance very quickly."

About Rendon being available for the Nats to select with the sixth pick, Boras said, "I've learned not to be surprised but, I'm very surprised.  In baseball you want to take sureties, you want the known. Of all the players in this draft, he's the one that you can clearly say -- position player-wise -- he's a clear Major Leaguer."

On Meyer:  "The cake is still in the oven.  And I think we're going to end up with a three-layer cake."

"He's great young man, a hard worker. There are times we'd see him throw 97-98 MPH.  It would just come out. The reason for his lack of consistency is the fact that he's just still growing.  It's very hard to play baseball consistently when your body is still moving through the growth curve."

"Alex is going to be huge.  He's like 6'9", and the doctor says he's not done growing.  His shoulders are going to get bigger. He may weigh 250 [eventually], and he's 210 now."

On Goodwin: "You've seen Michael Bourn?", referring to the speedy center fielder that was traded from the Houston Astros to the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline.

"This is the kind of player, Brian is, a speed player, he can really fly.  Excellent center fielder and he's got some pop in his bat too."

The Washington Nationals placed veteran catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez on the 15-day D.L. with a right oblique strain and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Triple-A Syracuse.

From the team's press release:

Flores, 26, joins the Nationals after batting .234 (49-for-209) with 15 doubles, five homers and 30 RBI in 56 International League contests with Syracuse. Eight of Flores’ 20 extra-base hits this season have come in a 20-game stretch beginning June 8.

Flores returns for a second stint with Washington this season. He went 1-for-2 for the Nationals during a nine-day stint with the club in April. Flores is a career .260 (150-for-576) hitter with 30 doubles, 16 home runs and 99 RBI in 200 games with Washington spanning portions of four campaigns (2007-09, ’11).

The 39 year-old Rodriguez is currently batting .214 (25-for-117) with seven doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI in 39 games with the Nationals. Washington will especially miss Rodriguez’s game-calling expertise and throwing arm, as he has thrown out 10 of 22 would-be basestealers (45%) this season.

Fan-favorite Flores had been hitting better recently with the Chiefs, but a 3-for-26 skid in his last seven games has knocked his season numbers back down.  Flores will probably receive limited playing time while with the Nats unless Rodriguez misses more time than expected.  Outfielder Rick Ankiel recently missed three weeks with a similar injury.

Lots of folks are asking the question today, in the aftermath of Scott Cousins needlessly ending Buster Posey's season, if it would make sense for Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo to make a phone call to San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean to gauge his interest in trading for Pudge Rodriguez or Jesus Flores.

No less an expert than Jim Bowden suggested the very same idea on Twitter.

I certainly buy the idea that the Giants might be looking for some outside help.  Posey's injury paves the way for Eli Whiteside to become the Giants starter.  Whiteside is a 31-year old with a grand total of 128 Major League games.  He's a lifetime .231/.283/.366 hitter.  He didn't hit in the minors, either (.244/.288/.393 in nine seasons), so it's not like there's any outside promise of him flourishing with a starting job.

But you know what?  As bad as those numbers are, they're still better than what Pudge and Jesus are putting up this season.

If you can, for a moment, take out of the equation all of the intangibles that Rodriguez is a sure-fire Hall of Famer, defensive stalwart, guru to Wilson Ramos, and like a spare coach on the bench.  Look at this realistically: he's a 39-year old catcher hitting .205/.256/.342.

And poor Jesus Flores?  The dude has missed the better part of two seasons -- including all of 2010 -- trying to recover from two surgeries on his throwing arm.  In 104 plate appearances in AAA, where he's just learning to hit upper-level quality pitching again, he's hitting .248/.260/.386.  He's walked twice in 104 appearances.  In Triple-A.  He needs another 100 at bats before even considering whether he's ready for Major League pitching again.

With their pitching, the Giants are a legitimate contender and Posey was one of their best offensive players. It's possible they feel so desperate for help that they might actually consider a deal for either one of these players.  But can we please temper our expectations for what the return might be, considering what the Nationals actually have to offer?

Multiple reports earlier today indicated catcher Jesus Flores will be recalled to take Ryan Zimmerman's place on the roster when the Washington Nationals move the third baseman to the disabled later today with an abdominal strain, originally sustained during spring training and re-aggravated in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the New York Mets, when he slid headfirst into second on a play that didn't even draw a throw.

It's great for Flores, finally making his way back onto the big league roster after missing much of the last two seasons dealing with two different shoulder injuries that eventually needed corrective surgery.  The Nats really needed a right-handed bat off the bench, and this move addresses that more than the need to carry a third catcher.

But it's telling that the Nats have to handcuff themselves defensively when their first move to recall a right-handed bat from the minors is to summon a third catcher.  Usually when a player gets hurt, the team will recall a player at that position to take his place. 

Currently at AAA-Syracuse, the only 3B listed on the roster is Alex Valdez.  I dare you to tell me who he is without clicking on the link.  Brian Bixler is capable of playing the position, but he's a middle infielder by nature and hits like one when he's in the big leagues.  So you can see where the Nats hands are tied on this thing.

The other complicating factor is Adam LaRoche's various injuries.  Already hampered by a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder for which he missed Saturday's game, he sustained a leg injury in Sunday's game and was lifted for a pinch-runner, forcing Pudge Rodriguez to finish the game at first. 

Flores is insurance should that circumstance happen again, but LaRoche's injury situation is not going to go away.  Even slightly torn rotator cuffs don't just get better, especially while playing with it -- they need surgery.  Its just a question of whether he can get through the season playing with the discomfort.  LaRoche has maintained that it hurts when he throws but it's not affecting his swing.  But loss of joint stability is going to affect strength, whether it hurts him or not.  Pain is the symptom, not the injury.

If LaRoche needs to be disabled at some point, the Nats will have to go to a deeper option (hopefully) than making Pudge the full-time 1B, but again, the options aren't enticing.  The organization wants Chris Marrero to see a full season of AAA pitching, and the other option is journeyman Michael Aubrey.  Either one would be a serious drop-off from the league average production they expect to get out of LaRoche.

All this leaves the Nats in a very precarious position.  Jerry Hairston and Alex Cora, two players much more suited for backup roles at this point in their careers, become the starting third baseman for three-to-four weeks while Zimmerman convalesces.  Jayson Werth slides into the No. 3 slot.  Most likely, Jim Riggleman moves Rick Ankiel, of the .312 lifetime OBP, into the two-hole and rookie Wilson Ramos into the fifth or sixth spot, depending on the progression of Michael Morse.

And look out if Morse doesn't start hitting.  He doesn't have to hit like he did in spring training, but it would be nice if he could start hitting like he did last season.  But we've been through all that exhaustively.

Not ideal, with six games at home this week with playoff contending Philadelphia and Milwaukee.  Hold on to your hats and pray for good pitching, NatsTown.

Yunesky Maya made his first Major League start for the Nationals (Photo by C. Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE RESULT:  The Nationals Park radar gun wasn't working correctly in the first inning, so at least Washington Nationals "rookie" starting pitcher Yunesky Maya had some company in that regard.  Once the gun got going though, so did Maya.

Unfortunately, both developments came too late, and Maya got no help from his hitters, as the Nats managed just four hits all game and fell to the depleted New York Mets 4-1, before just 13,835, one of the smallest crowds at Nats Park for a non-rain game.

Maya, the 28-year old Cuban making his Major League debut, had trouble locating his fastball in the first inning, missing his target by 10 inches on a couple of occasions.  With one out in the first, Maya allowed back-to-back singles to Luis Hernandez and Carlos Beltran, setting up Ike Davis to club a mammoth home run to right center on another mislocated fastball.

Just like that, all the wind was out of the sales for yet another Nationals pitcher making his Major League debut.

Maya walked the next batter, but induced a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

In the second, Ruben Tejada looped a one-out double down the line in left field and scored on a line-drive single by Mets pitcher Dillon Gee -- his first major league hit.  Gee went 0-for-22 in Triple A this season.

But then Maya found his groove.  He slinged a few pitches at 3/4 arm slot for strikes, and that seemed to get him focused.  He started locating well with his curveball and change-up, and eventually found enough control with the fastball to spot it while mixing in his impressive assortment of breaking balls.

He retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced, allowing just one more walk.

Maya returns to dugout after a successful sacrifice bunt. (Photo by C. Nichols/Nats News Network)

Maya made just five starts in the minors for the Nats this season, going 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 21 1/3 innings.  Before that, he did not play competitive ball for over a year while he was in exile in the Dominican after defecting from his home country of Cuba. 

The starts he gets down the stretch are -- in effect -- his spring training, getting his feet wet pitching in Major League games and getting familiar with the speed of American baseball.

His opponent, Dillon Gee, had no problems adjusting to the bigs.  Also making his Major League debut, Gee (W, 1-0) breezed through seven innings.  He carried a no-hitter through five frames, losing his no-no ceremoniously when Willie Harris, hitting for Maya, drilled a solo home run to get the Nats on the board.

It was Harris' ninth homer of the season.

Willie Harris hit his ninth homer of the season. (Photo by C. Nichols/Nats News Network)

But that's all the offense the Nats could muster on the evening. 

Ryan Zimmerman and Alberto Gonzalez both singled off Mets closer Hisonori Takahashi in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.  It was his N.L. leading 24th double-play grounder.

THE GOOD:  Relief pitching!  Ross Detwiler and Collin Balester combined for four shutout innings.  Detwiler gave up a hit and struck out two in his two innings, and Balester was untouchable, striking out three in two perfect innings, touching 95 on the gun.

Collin Balester threw two dominating innings of relief.  (Photo by C. Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE BAD:  The offense.  Morgan was 0-for-4.  Dunn was 0-for-4.  Desmond 0-for-3.  Bernadina 0-for-3.  Basically, they made Dillon Gee look like Roy Halladay.

THE UGLY:  Let's be frank, Pudge is hurting the team with his bat. There wasn't a writer in the press box that didn't not expect the double-play grounder. 

For all the intangibles that people associated with the team want you to believe about Pudge, for the season he's hitting .270/.293/.349.  Since his average peaked on April 22, he's at .242/.263/.310 in 321 plate appearances.

THE STATS:  6 Ks, 3 BBs, 1-for-3 with RISP, 5 LOB, 1 GIDP.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday at 12:35 pm. Livan Hernandez (9-10, 3.81) hosts knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (9-6, 2.91).  We might not see a pitch faster than 78 MPH all day.

Hudson exits to cheers from visitor's side of the stands (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE RESULT:  Tim Hudson always beats the Nats.  Wednesday night was no different, as the veteran pitcher dominated the Washington Nationals and led the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 lead before 24,263 sticky and sweaty fans at Nationals Park.

Hudson struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings, giving up just one earned run on seven hits and one walk.  It's just another quality outing against a division rival that he absolutely owns.  Lifetime, Hudson is 10-1 with a 1.49 ERA in his career against the Nationals.

He faced four of fewer batters in six of his seven innings -- all but the fifth -- where the Nats picked up their lone run.  Ivan Rodriguez led off the frame with a double, his first extra-base him in 12 games, and scored on a Michael Morse two-out single.

Hudson delivers in 3-1 Braves win over Nats (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

The Braves got all the runs they needed in the first off Nats starter Livan Hernandez (7-7, 3.22).  The first two Braves hitters touched Livo for hits, and Chipper Jones hit a sac fly to score Martin Prado and move Jason Heyward up to third.  Brian McCann walked to set up a potential double play.

Hernandez struck out Eric Hinske, and Rodriguez threw down to second in an attempt to throw out McCann, who had broken for first.  McCann stopped in his tracks and retreated, and shortstop Ian Desmond threw to Adam Dunn at first.  At that point, Heyward broke for home and easily beat the throw from Dunn to score the second run of the inning.

It was the Braves first steal of home in a decade.

Jones drove in Prado again in the fifth for an insurance run the Braves would never need.

THE GOOD:  Joel Peralta threw three innings in relief.  He struck out three, walked one and gave up two hits.

Joel Peralta sparkled in relief for the Nats in 3-1 loss to Braves.  (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn went 0-for-4, leaving three men on base, including striking out in the bottom of the eighth with a man on as he represented the tying run.

The strain of trade rumors may be getting to Adam Dunn. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE UGLY:  Willie Harris struck out in all three of hit at bats.

THE STATS:  The Nats struck out nine times in the game and walked just once.  They went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

NEXT GAME:  Thursday at 12:35 pm.  Scott Olsen (2-2, 3.77) returns to the rotation after missing two months strengthening his shoulder after off-season surgery.  He'll face Derek Lowe (10-8) for the Braves.

NATS NOTES:  Before the game, Stephen Strasburg addressed the media on his balky shoulder.

Strasburg said. "I just went out there, I felt tight a little bit. I wanted to go out there to keep it loosened up. It was just one of those days where it was tighter than normal. I'm just at the point in the season where I'm kind going down uncharted territory. Got to be smart right and look at the big picture."

Asked how he felt, he replied, "I feel a lot better. My range of motion, after going and doing some stretching and everything, it's starting to come back to me. Made big strides today. I'm not going to jump the gun, just going to take it day by day and hopefully go out there, meet with the trainer tomorrow and get better."

"We're taking it day by day right now. We're going to see how it feels tomorrow, and then after tomorrow see how it feels the next day."

Rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg relaxes in dugout in 3-1 loss to Braves. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

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.

"It was an awesome win." --Stephen Strasburg, who did not factor in the decision in the Nats' 6-5 win over the Mets. 

Pudge Rodriguez mobbed by teammates after game-winning hit (Photo by Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

THE RESULT:  The Washington Nationals started the second half of the 2010 season in exciting fashion, scoring four runs in the final two frames -- including a three-run ninth -- beating the New York Mets 6-5, before a sold out crowd that came to see a long-since showered Stephen Strasburg.

Ivan Rodriguez, displaying the veteran leadership the team hoped to see when they brought him in on a two-year contract this season, delivered a bases loaded single to right field, plating Ryan Zimmerman with the game-winning run -- with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

It was a furious ninth inning rally.  Cristian Guzman led off with a four-pitch walk from Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez (L, 2-2).  Nyjer Morgan grounded to third, moving Guzman up to second.  Willie Harris, mired in one of the worst slumps of his career, singled to send Guzman to third.

Zimmerman drew a full count walk to load the bases for Adam Dunn.

The big slugger sent a towering blast to straight-away center field, and Angel Pagan leaped for the ball at the fence, but it hit off the top of the wall and bounced back into the field of play, sending runners scurrying.

Harris was running all the way from second, while Guzman went back to tag up at third out of an abundance of caution.  Harris almost ran into Guzman at the bag, but managed to not pass him to suffer an ignominous out.  After the shenanigans, both players crossed the plate, with Harris sliding in just as the ball reached catcher Josh Thole.

Adam Dunn's blast bounced off the top of the wall for two-run double. (Photo by Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

With the game tied and runners are second and third, the Mets chose to walk Josh Willingham intentionally, bringing up Rodriguez, the future Hall-of-Famer.

All Pudge did was deliver a solid single to right over the drawn-in infield for the game-winner.the win t

"The win was real special," said Manager Jim Riggleman.  "It was against a real good ball club... Being down, as much as we've struggled lately, to just keep fighting -- I'm very proud of our ball players."

The heroics made a winner out of Matt Capps (2-3), who came in during the top of the ninth to get out of a two-on, no-out jam set up by Doug Slaten.

Drew Storen threw two innings of perfect relief, striking out three.

All this came after the player everyone came to see, Stephen Strasburg, left the game.

Strasburg did not have his best outing of the year today, but gutted out five innings of four-hit, three-walk ball.  He gave up two earned runs and struck out five in the no-decision.

His roughest inning was the first, a 37-pitch struggle with his four-seam fastball.  He threw three walks in the frame, all to left-handed batters, with his rising fastball elevating high and outside to each.

"Bottom line, I went out there extremely sped up.  It was one of those days where I tried to do too much," Strasburg said after the celebration had calmed down.  "It wasn't one the greatest performances, but the guys really came through today."

Stephen Strasburg fought early wildness to complete five innings. (Photo by Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

After he settled down, he allowed just three more batters to reach in four innings.

"Once I slowed down a little bit, it all started to work."

THE GOOD:  Ivan Rodriguez.  He went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and the game-winning hit.  Adam Dunn went 3-for-5 with two RBIs as well.  Storen was excellent for two innings to let the Nats get back into this one.

Pudge delivers for the Nats. (Photo by Max Cook/WeLoveDC.com)

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan went 0-for-5. 

Tyler Clippard was awful again today.  In 2/3 of an inning, he gave up three earned runs on four hits and a walk in the eighth inning, triggering the need for the late comeback.

THE UGLY:  It might get lost in the "feel good" of the win, but Riggleman's decision to pinch-hit J.D. Martin for Strasburg in the fifth inning was a head scratcher.  Down just 2-0, the skipper basically gave up an out inthe middle of the game because he didn't want to burn up a bench player.

Roger Bernadina was out with tightness in his back, and before the game the Nats media relations said he'd be available.  But apparently when Riggleman went to check on him to hit for Strasburg, Bernadina told his manager he coudn't go.  That left Riggleman with the decision to burn Michael Morse in the situation, or sent up a pitcher to pinch-hit.

The Nats best hitting pitcher, Craig Stammen, pitches tomorrow, so they left him on the bench.  It's the second time this season Riggleman has pinch-hit for a pitcher with another pitcher.

THE STATS:  Washington went 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position, but left 11 men on base.  They walked six times and struck out six times.  They also committed two errors.

NEXT GAME:  Sunday, Independence Day, July 4th!  Stammen (2-2, 5.13) hosts Hisanori Takahashi (6-3, 4.24) at 1:35 pm at Nationals Park.

NOTES:  Washington won for the first time when trailing after eight innings since Justin Maxwell's grand slam the last game of the season last year...against the Mets' Francisco Rodriguez.

Jordan Zimmermann made his first rehab start for Single-A Potomac earlier this afternoon as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery.  He went two innings and allowed two base hits.  He walked none and did not give up a run.  He threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes.

(Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News) 

"He was really good.  He's been good just about most times he's been out there." -- Jim Riggleman, on Nats starter Livan Hernandez

THE RESULT:  There wasn't much difference between Monday night's game and the most of the games on the six-game losing streak.  The Nats didn't get many hits.  The opposition got a bunch.  And Nyjer Morgan got picked off.  Again.

But the differences were stark.  Livan Hernandez gave up eight hits and a walk, but only allowed one to cross the plate.  And two of the Nats four hits were solo home runs.

As simple as that, the Washington Nationals broke a season-high six-game losing streak, defeating the hapless Kansas City Royals 2-1, before 13,592 at Nationals Park.

The win moves the Nats record to 32-29, 10 1/2 games behind division leading Atlanta.

Asked if the first win after a losing streak is a little sweeter, manager Jim Riggleman replied, "It feels real good. It's been a little grind here lately, it's been tough to win a ball game.  We've been having trouble breaking it open a little bit."

It was a bit strange night at the park, as many of the crowd didn't learn of the demotion of Opening Day starter John Lannan until they arrived at the stadium on South Capitol Street.

Hernandez (W, 6-4, 2.82) made another great start for Washington after getting beat around in his last start.  His biggest mistake -- walking No. 8 hitter Yuniesky Betancourt -- haunted him a bit, as the Royals shortstop scored later in the inning.  And as the Nats are going, any time a single run scores they have to be concerned.

But solo shots by Michael Morse (3), who came within three rows of clearing the stands in left center, and Cristian Guzman (1) off Kansas City starter Bruce Chen (L, 3-2, 3.96) were enough to carry the day.

Cristian Guzman's solo shot was the difference in 2-1 win. (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

Hernandez defines "crafty veteran", and he's really had his mojo working at Nats Park this season.  In seven home starts, he's now 4-1 with an ERA of 1.81 in 54 2/3 innings.

His battery mate, Pudge Rodriguez, had a good night with his arm as well.  Rodriugez threw out two would-be base stealers, and picked off a runner at second base during a tense seventh inning.

"Pudge had a great night," Riggleman said succinctly. "Wasn't an offensive night for Pudge, but he did a great job behind the plate."

Royals' Mike Aviles caught stealing by Pudge Rodriguez.  (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

Tyler Clippard continued his eighth inning domination with a one-hit, one strikeout performance.  And Matt Capps struck out the side -- looking -- in the ninth inning, though he also gave up two base hits and stranded the game-tying run at third base.

Matt Capps is happy.  (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

It's never easy with this team.

THE GOOD:  He shall be Livan.  I have to admit, I expected an ERA double what he has right now.

Michael Morse.  All he's done so far this season, given the chance, is hit.  He is batting .429 with a .500 on-base percentage and a .714 slugging percentage in 40 plate appearances -- and just eight starts -- since May 16.

Morse's home run swing. (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

"He takes advantage of his opportunities," Riggleman said. "I haven't been able to get him in there as much as I know a lot of people want him in there. And I'd like to have him in there. But I like [Roger] Bernadina, too."

"I kinda got a platoon going there with him and Bernadina, so it's pretty much when a left-hander is pitching.  We'll get him in there some other times, too.  But we're trying to get a long look at Bernadina against right-handers too."

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan.  The guy went 1-for-2 with a walk and successful sacrifice, so I shouldn't be too hard on him.  But he was picked off first in the first inning after a leadoff single.  It's the 11th time this season he's been caught stealing. 

Speed is supposed to be his weapon, but he's a liability on the bases, and he needs to be reigned in by the manager at this point.

Nyjer Morgan's league-leading 11th caught stealing of the season. (Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News)

THE UGLY:  He hit some long fly balls tonight, but Adam Dunn had nothing to show for it.  0-for-4 with five runners stranded.

NEXT GAME:  The series with the Royals continues Tuesday at 7:05 at Nationals Park.  Luis Atilano (5-4, 4.77) takes on Anthony Lerew (0-0, 3.00).

Morgan tried to break up double play, to no avail.  (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

(All photos Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

On Sunday, Stephen Strasburg made his second career start for the Washington Nationals.  The mound at Progressive Field gave the 21-year old pitching prodigy more trouble than the Cleveland Indians batters did.

Strasburg (W, 2-0, 2.19) limited the Indians to two hits--a home run by Travis Hafner on a 100-MPH fastball, and a broken bat single by top prospect Carlos Santana--over 5 1/3 innings.  He struck out eight, giving him 22 Ks in his first 12 1/3 innings pitched. 

He became the sixth pitcher in history to strike out 20 or more batters in his first two major league appearances, and the first in since J.R. Richard did it in 1971, 39 years ago.

Strasburg did have some difficulty on Sunday though, but not necessarily with the Indians hitters.  He had trouble with his fastball location all day, but much of that can be attributed to the problems he had with the pitching mound.

From his very first warm-up throws, he spent much of the afternoon kicking at his landing spot, and you could tell it was really bugging him.  He would often slip or skid as he planted his front foot, and it affected his control, primarily with his fastball, most of the afternoon.

Finally, in the fifth inning catcher Ivan Rodriguez convinced Strasburg to ask home plate umpire Brian O'Nora for assistance form the ground crew.  The attention helped for a bit, but in the sixth, manager Jim Riggleman came out to home plate in defense of his young hurler.

"When it comes to something like that, you could slip one time and roll an ankle and be out for a few weeks," Strasburg said. "The umpires were concerned about it, and they stepped up and got it right."

Three of Strasburg's five walks came in the fifth and sixth innings as the mound deteriorated.

Strasburg would not use the mound as an excuse.  Rather, he was philopsophical about it to reporters after the game.

"Things like that are part of the game," he said. "I wish I could have handled it a little bit better. It kind of got me into a little funk. But it's good to experience this now. If it happens again, I'll make the right adjustment."

Strasburg, otherwise, was dominant again.  He struck out the first two batters he faced, extending a strikeout streak to nine--one short of the major league record--before Santana flied out to deep left field.

In the second inning, he gave up the long homer to Hafner, then got Friday night's hero, Austin Kearns, to fly out to right field before striking out two more to end the inning.  Strasburg got three quick ground ball outs in the third and appeared to be cruising at that point.  But that's when the mound troubles started to get to him.

He struck out Shin-Soo Choo to start the frame, but issued the first walk of career to Santana on a 3-2 pitch the next batter.  Hafner took several close pitches and coaxed another walk out of Strasburg to put two men on, but he then struck out Kearns and Russell Branyan to close out the inning.

In the fifth inning, Strasburg got a ground out and pop out before walking No. 9 hitter Anderson Hernandez.  Leadoff hitter Trevor Crowe tried to bunt past Strasburg, but the big righty fielded the bunt clean and threw to first for the out to retire the side.

The Nats sent eight men to the plate to score four runs in the top of the sixth--which included a pitching change--and that, combined with the mound troubles, did Strasburg in in the sixth.

He got Choo to fly out to center, but Santana muscled a blooper to short right off his broken bat--just the second hit Strasburg allowed on the day.  But he walked Hafner and Kearns on five pitches a piece to load the bases--ending his day.

Riggleman summonded his other 2009 first round pick, Drew Storen, from the bullpen.  The shorter--but no less effective--righty got Branyan to pop out and struck out Jhonny Peralta to escape the jam with no runs scoring.  The outs were big, not only to preserve Strasburg's record, but the Nats led 6-1 at the time and the game was still in doubt.

Washington added three insurance runs in the eighth to secure the victory.

Storen (2-0, 1.54) is getting precious little fanfare that should go along with a first round pick being promoted to the big leagues less than a year after being drafted.  But the reliever is definitely getting his current job done:  getting outs in the middle innings, especially with runners on base. 

He has not let an inherited runner score this season, a perfect 12 stranded out of 12.  In fact, he's allowed just 14 of 48 batters faced to reach, and given up just three runs (two earned) total in 12 appearances.  And he's getting better.  In May, his K/BB rate was 1.25 in 24 batters faced.  So far in June, in the exact same number of batters faced, it's up to 3.00

The offense showed up for a day after being MIA the previous two games of the series.  The Nationals pounded out 16 hits against Cleveland starter David Huff (L, 2-8, 5.82) and a parade of relievers. 

Cristian Guzman and Ian Desmond had three hits apiece, while Adam Dunn and Roger Bernadina both hit home runs.  Rodriguez, Bernadina and Desmond all had two RBIs each.

Washington has on off day on Monday, and will commence a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers Tuesday night at Comerica Park.  John Lannan (2-3, 5.00) will face Max Scherzer (2-6, 6.30) for the Tigers.

NATS NOTES:  According to Elias Sports Bureau, only one pitcher since 1900 has had more strikeouts before issuing his first career walk than Strasburg, who fanned 19 before walking Santana in the fourth. Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto struck out 22 before his first walk in 2008.

With the win, the Nats records stands at 31-33, six games behind division leading Atlanta.

Washington had 16 hits--seven for extra bases--with three walks.  They struch out seven times and left nine men on base.  They were 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

 

 

Cleveland rookie catcher Carlos Santana made his major league debut over the weekend.

The Washington Nationals today placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 23, with a lower back strain. Nationals Senior Vice President & General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Rodriguez did not travel with the team on its nine-game west coast road trip.

There was no corresponding move announced at the time.  Currently, the Nats have just one catcher, Wil Nieves, on the active roster.  Michael Morse has been identified as the most likely backup unless the team selects someone from the minors to add to the roster.

Chris Coste, who the Nats claimed on waivers during spring training, had elbow reconstruction last week and is out for the season.

Minor league candidates for recall include Carlos Maldonado (21 major league games), Devin Ivany or Jhonathan Solano.  Any of the three would have to be added to the 40-man roster to be activated.

Rodriguez, 38, is hitting .325 (40-for-123) with nine doubles, one triple, one home run, 16 RBI and two stolen bases in 35 games for the Nationals this season. Rodriguez is batting .371 (13-for-35) with runners in scoring position.

At the beginning of the season, if you had asked a baseball fan what the Washington Nationals' biggest problem was going to be for the 2010 season, you would have gotten several suggestions:  starting pitching, the bullpen, the defense. 

They are all logical answers because the Nats were deficient in all those categories last season, and to a point questions remain regarding each still to this day.

But last on the list would have been offense.  There weren't too many folks complaining about the offense.  Why would they?

Ryan Zimmerman was coming off his best season to date.  Adam Dunn hit another 38 home runs and was on base near 40% of his plate appearances.  Josh Willingham was solid once he was inserted into the lineup on a daily basis.  Nyjer Morgan was a terror on the basepaths and hit .350 as a Nat.

But something happened on the way to the forum.

Despite occasional outbursts, the 2010 Nationals have not been a particularly good offensive team.

They are middle of the pack in most offensive categories, with a combined .261/.334/.422 line.  That ranks them 7/8/7 in the 16 team National League.  But they rank 11th in runs scored, which is the bottom line.

They are third in the NL in stolen bases, but lead the league in caught stealing.  A 64% success rate ain't gonna cut it.

The main culprit there, of course, is Nyjer Morgan.

When he came to the Nats last season, he was Superman.  The 48 game stretch he put on from the time of the trade--until he was injured trying to steal third against the Cubs--was simply incredible.  He became the face of the Jim Riggleman Nationals, getting on base, stealing almost at whim, and flopping around the outfield in stadiums from coast-to-coast.  He became an instant fan favorite.

In 212 plate appearances, Morgan hit .351/.396/.435 with 24 steals (and seven caught stealing), and he played an excellent center field.  The Nats had found the answer to one of the franchise's biggest questions.

But did they really?

This season, Morgan has reverted back closer to his career line.  In his four year MLB career, Morgan is a .297/.359/.390 hitter.  He steals bases at a 66% clip (66-of-99 career).  This season, his line is .266/.344/.385.  Not terrible.  But he's been caught stealing on half of his attempts.  That IS terrible.

If you take the eight caught stealings out of his on base percentage--might as well since he's being removed from the bases--it drops to .293.  That's sub-Guzmanian.

And Morgan's dirty little secret?  He can't hit lefties a lick.  Not even half a lick.

For his career, Morgan's line against left-handed pitching is .196/.303/.291.  This season:  .188/.304/.313, right in line with his career.

For all intent and purposes, when Morgan is in the lineup against a left-handed pitcher, the Nats are batting two pitchers in a row, in the ninth and first slots in the order. 

Two of the three batters immediately preceeding the team's best hitter--Ryan Zimmerman--are automatic outs against lefties.

Lest you think this is a trivial or minor problem, a full third of Morgan's plate appearances (56 out of 162) this season are against a left-handed pitcher.

It's a good thing the Nats have a perfect platoon partner for Morgan.  A fine defensive center fielder with a lifetime major league OBP against lefties of .410 (granted, in 78 appearances) and a lifetime minor league overall OBP of .353.

Too bad he's in Syracuse.

The other problem is the sixth spot in the order.  It has predominantly been filled by Ivan Rodriguez (19 out of 39 games).  The first two weeks of the season, Pudge was great, hitting .434/.456/.566.  Since?  .246/.267/.333.  In the past 20 games, hitting primarily in the sixth spot in the order, Pudge has had three extra base hits and walked once.

That's a big problem too.  Pudge's last three weeks look an awful lot like his overall line last season (.245/.279/.388) split between Houston and Texas.

So continue to fret over the starters not picthing deep enough into games.  Worry about the bullpen either underachieving or being overused.  Continue to be concerned about the defense.

But add hitting to the list of concerns, especially from the first and sixth spots in the order.

Ivan Rodriguez consoles starter Scott Olsen as he's lifted in the eighth inning. 

Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News

Scott Olsen continued his renaissance Thursday night, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning against a struggling Atlanta Braves team that has already been no-hit once this season already.  He did not escape the frame with the no-hitter, or the lead, intact.

But pinch-hitter Willie Harris came through in the bottom of the ninth, delivering a ground ball single past a drawn-in infield, to save the day for the Washington Nationals.

It's bittersweet that Olsen did not figure in the decision, but the Nats will take the 3-2 victory over the Braves any way they can take it.

The win gives the Nats a 15-13 record, good for a second place tie in the National League East.

Olsen's game plan remained the same as his previous two starts, consisting of 13 consecutive scoreless innings:  locate his fastball down and on the corners, and use his plus slider to strike out batters, or induce harmless ground balls. 

He used that formula to stretch his scoreless innings streak to 20, a personal best and team best this season.

Olsen and catcher Pudge Rodriguez carried the game plan to almost perfection, mowing down batter after batter--save for a third inning lead-off walk to outfielder Melky Cabrera--for seven and one-third innings.

"The last three, four ballgames it seems [Olsen] has just been so driven and focused," Manager Jim Riggleman said in his post-game press conference.  "Every pitch it looks like it's the only pitch...I'm going to make this pitch and make it work.  It's a great thing to see."

Olsen started the eighth inning, leading 2-0 on the strength of solo home runs by Rodriguez and Adam Dunn, by striking out Matt Diaz looking.  It was the third time Olsen got Diaz called out on strikes.  The next batter was back-up catcher David Ross, giving all-star Brian McCann a little break from a deep slump he's battling through.

Ross took a ball, then lashed a line drive just past the outstretched glove of shortstop Ian Desmond, who dived full-out, for a clean single to end the no-hit bid.

So the bid for history was over, but there was still a ball game to win.

Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News

Cabrera hit a hard grounder to third that Ryan Zimmerman played cleanly, but then rushed his throw to second base in an effort to turn two.  Instead of an inning ending double play, there were runners on second and first with one out.

Nate McLouth (hitting .187) then singled to right field, but not deep enough to score the run.  The bases were loaded with one out, and pinch-hitter Jason Heyward came to bat trying to break up the shutout.

Olsen's night:  7.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.  He lowered his ERA to 3.54 for the season.

Riggleman called upon Tyler Clippard, who has been close to perfect himself so far this season, to face the Braves rookie hitter.

Clippard quickly got ahead of Heyward with a couple of fastball and a change-up.  But on the fourth pitch, Heyward delivered a sinking liner over shortstop into left field.  Roger Bernadina was caught between charging the ball and potentially over-running it, and he played the ball kind of awkwardly. 

Ross and Cabrera both scored when Bernadina's throw went awry, and McLouth moved up to third on the throw.

Clippard bore down and got a bouncing ground ball to short out of Omar Infante to trigger a 6-4-3 double play to escape any further damage.

Clippard (W, 4-0, 0.42) had his trouble in the top of the ninth as well.  With one out, Chipper Jones walked, and Troy Glaus followed with a grounder to third.  Zimmerman once again threw the ball away into right field, and all hands were safe.

Diaz walked to load the bases with one out, but Clippard again coaxed a ground ball from Ross for an inning ending double play.

Braves relievers Eric O'Flaherty and Peter Moylan didn't record an out in the bottom of the ninth.

O'Flaherty walked Adam Kennedy, which brought in Moylan to face Zimmerman.

Moylan, who surrendered Zimmerman's game-winning home run in the first game in Nationals Park history, started the Nats leader with two balls--not even close to being strikes.  But on his third pitch, Zimmerman drove a high, outside pitch to deep right field, hitting the base of the wall for a stand-up double.

Pinch-hitter Cristian Guzman was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Riggleman went back to his bench for veteran Willie Harris.

Harris, who has struggled to make good contact much of the season, got enough of the second pitch he saw from Moylan to sneak a grounder past second baseman Martin Prado, and Kennedy sauntered home with the winning run.

Photo by Ian Koski/Nats Daily News

The Nats start a three-game series with the Florida Marlins Friday at 7:05 pm.  Craig Stammen (1-1, 6.75) faces Chris Volstad (2-2, 4.45).

NATS NOTES:  Rodriguez' home run was his first of the season.  Nats Park becomes the 34th different big league park Rodriguez has homered in his major league career.

Dunn's home run was his sixth of the year.  He finished 2-for-3 and has brought his batting average up to .245.

Braves starter Tim Hudson had a good outing as well.  He went seven innings, giving up just five hits, including the two solo home runs.  He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau started the game with the traditional "Let's Play Ball!"  Other D.C. illuminaries were Washington Redskins defensive backs DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers and entertainer Wale.