Posted by Cheryl Nichols

We hadn't even pulled out of the parking lot after the game when we heard Charlie and Dave say the words that we have been waiting to hear for weeks...."Alex Cintron has been designated for assignment." It is about time.

Roster changes were announced during press conference following game.

Elijah Dukes was placed on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to May 18th. Maybe someone can explain to me why this could not have been done earlier in the day so that Maxwell could have been in the dugout tonight. Justin Maxwell will be back tomorrow to share time in CF with Willie Harris.

For the first time in Nationals history, the team will carry thirteen pitchers. Jason Bergmann will join the bullpen in middle relief. In Syracuse Bergy is 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA and one save in 12 games. He has walked five and struck out 11 in 16 1/3 innings. This is Bergmann's second stint with the Nationals this season. The first time around he had a 3.60 ERA in three games while holding opponents to a .167 batting average.

Other News:

-Ross Detwiler earned another start. Detwiler will be on the mound on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles instead of heading north to Syracuse. Congratulations Ross. We are happy to have you.

-Joel Hanrahan declared closer again. The closer by committee idea was not working. Now we just need Joel to be "mean" and throw strikes and make batters nervous to face him.

-Nats think they will draft Stephen Strasburg. This is what we all want and hopefully it will actually happen.

-Nick Johnson being scouted by Red Sox and Mets?

THE RESULT: The St. Louis Cardinals hit four home runs, three against rookie Jordan Zimmermann, beating the Washington Nationals 6-2 before an announced bi-partisan crowd of 20,697 at Nationals Park.

The Nats are now 5-17 on the season.

Zimmermann, winner of his first two MLB games, was hit pretty hard in his third big league start. He went five and two-thirds, allowing five earned runs on five hits--but no walks. He threw 101 pitches, 71 for strikes.

It was the longball that did him in tonight. Albert Pujols (9) took a 3-1 pitch to straight-away left, five rows from the top of the bleachers. The other two home runs, from Chris Duncan and Ryan Ludwick, came on mistake pitches that the hitters turned around quickly.

Slap hitter Joe Thornton hit his first of the season off Logan Kensing, who replaced Zimmermann.

Saul Rivera and Joel Hanrahan both pitched scoreless innings for finish the game.

THE TAKEAWAY: Zimmermann made a couple mistakes and paid for them. He wasn't going to win every start this season, and there's no shame in giving up a homer to Albert Pujols, even on a good pitch.

It's apparent why Kensing was cast adrift by Florida now. He seems to have a good breaking ball, but his fastball is flat and he has trouble spotting it. He threw 23 pitches--only 14 strikes--in one and one-third innings.

Good to see Rivera and Hanrahan have good outings.

The other Zimmerman, Ryan, extended his hitting streak to 20 games, going 2-for-4. Willie Harris hit his first home run, a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

THE GOOD: Jesus Flores. He went 2-for-4, with his second triple on consecutive night. He also scored ahead of Harris' home run. He's hitting .294 for the season.

THE BAD: Cristian Guzman. He went 0-for-4, and in three days he's lowered his batting average from .515 to .383. Ah, the vagaries of the early season.

THE UGLY: Alex Cintron. Called on by manager Manny Acta once again to pinch-hit, he failed once again. He struck out in his only at bat, and is now 0-for-13 with six strikeouts for the season.

NEXT GAME: Another Saturday matinee! Game time it 1:05 p.m. Shairon Martis (2-0, 6.20) hosts Joel Pineiro (4-0, 3.76).

SLIDESHOW FROM TODAY'S GAME:
Photos 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

In addition to the news that the team reassigned Alex Cintron to minor league camp last night, the Washington Nationals just announced that INF Kory Casto and LHP Mike O'Connor both cleared waivers and have been outrighted to triple-A Syracuse.

Also, Rule 5 draftee Terrell Young was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to March 27 with right should inflammation.

The moves means that the Nats, barring injury over the weekend, will bring three catchers north for opening day: starter Jesus Flores, Wil Nieves and Josh Bard.

Nieves and Bard both bring different strengths to the team. Nieves, last year's backup, has familiarity with the pitching staff, having worked extensively last year at the end of the season when Flores was injured. Bard brings years of experience and a left-handed bat.

Should Flores prove completely healthy from the sore elbow he battled in spring training, it could be a short stay for one of the catchers, as the team will eventually have to make room for fifth starter Jordan Zimmermann and 1B Dmitri Young, should the latter show in extended spring training that he can contribute to the major league team.

In today's Post, Chico Harlan wrote a great piece about Casto's efforts to win the 25th spot on the Nats roster. It's a story that gets played out every spring with every team, but Harlan treated the story with dignity and Casto approached his task with determination. It's worth a read, regardless of the outcome.

In other news, Jorge Sosa, formerly of the Mets, finally received his work visa and can begin training to compete for a spot in the bullpen. He was assigned to extended spring training and will work quickly to get into game shape.

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2009. All rights reserved.