We could go on all night about Doug Slaten's inability to retire Stephen Drew.  We could talk about Yunesky Maya's inability to get out of the fifth inning, extending his streak of winless starts at the beginning of his Major League career.  But the bottom line is this: The Washington Nationals managed three hits against Josh Collmenter and two relievers, and the Nats lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0, before 20,332 at Chase Field.

The Nats fall to 25-32 for the season.

There's no way to sugar coat this one, so we're not even going to try.  Maya was charged with all four runs on six hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.  But Slaten, presumably a left-handed specialist, allowed a bases-clearing triple to the only batter he faced, lefty swinging shortstop Stephen Drew.  That, in a nutshell, was the game.

The Nats only scratched out three hits against Collmenter (4-1, 1.25) , making his eleventh start of his career.  Washington batters struck out seven times, walked once, and left four runners on base.

It was a stark comparison to the modest three-game winning streak, where the Nats were getting big, timely hits from many in the lineup.  Last night, however, big hits were not to be found.

Maya, once again, could not get thought the opposition lineup the third time around.  He walked Collmenter to lead off the fifth inning, a bad harbinger.  Ryan Roberts followed with a double, eliciting a visit from pitching coach Steve McCatty.  After striking out Kelly Johnson, Maya hit Justin Upton, loading the bases.  Manager Jim Riggleman called upon Slaten, who promptly gave up Drew's triple, effectively ending the game.

_________________________________________________

THE GOOD: Cole Kimball and Henry Rodriguez combined for three scoreless innings. allowing one hit. one walk, and four strikeout.

THE BAD: The Nats were 3-for-30 last night.  Enough said.

THE UGLY:  Slaten.  He's allowed more than half of all inherited runnesr to score against him this season.  That's unacceptable.

THE STATS:  Three hits, one walk, seven strikeouts. 0-for-3 with RISP, four LOB, no GIDP. No errors.

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 8:10 pm EDT against Arizona.  Livan Hernandez (3-6, 3.87) v. Joe Saunders (2-5, 4.77).

THE RESULT:  The Washington Nationals found a team they can beat more often than not.  Behind Stephen Strasburg's good -- but not great -- five innings, and four solid scoreless from the pen, the Nats put away the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3, taking this series three games to two, and the season series over their N.L. West foes.

The season series win over Arizona is the first over an N.L. opponent this season.

The Nats got offensive support in the form of the long ball once again, as Josh Willingham hit a big two-run homer to tie things up in the fourth, and Ryan Zimmerman tacked on an insurance tater in the eighth, his 24th of the season.

Strasburg (ND, 5-3, 2.97) struck out seven and walked none, allowing five hits and three runs, only one of which was earned.  But he needed 85 pitches to get through five innings, and on several occasions got ahead of hitters only to let them work themselves back into good hitter's counts.

One such progression typified his afternoon. 

In the fifth inning, Strasburg got ahead of All-Star center fielder Chris Young 0-2 then played around with him, throwing a curveball way outside, a fastball that made Young jack-knife to get out of the way of, and a slurve in the dirt he wanted him to chase.  When the count got back to 3-2, the rookie had to come back to the hitter, and Young pounded a fastball to center for a single.

It cost Strasburg several pitches, and the scenario was not unique for the 22-year old phenom.

Strasburg had no trouble with his control today (85 pitches, 57 stirkes), so whether the sequence was command or strategy, it's something that needs work right now.

Strasburg's big trouble came in the second when he gave up a home run to Adam LaRoche and allowed two unearned runs off a bad throw on a swinging bunt that Strasburg air-mailed down the right field line.

"You know, it's the big leagues and they're going to get you now and then," Riggleman said.  "He got behind on LaRoche and LaRoche centered up the ball real good on him.

Zimmerman and Willingham took care of the offense for the Nats.  Each had two hits and two runs to go along with their home runs, and Ian Desmond and Ivan Rodriguez contributed RBI singles.

After Strasburg departed, Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett and Drew Storen shut down Arizona, allowing just two hits and no walks over four innings with five strikeouts.

THE GOOD:  Josh Willingham.  Struggling with a balky knee, he hit his first home run in over a month, ending a 33-game drought.  Tyler Clippard struck out three in two innings to pick up the win, his team-leading ninth of the season.

THE BAD:  Michael Morse.  He went 0-for-4, and is now 5-for-44 in August with 11 strikeouts.

THE UGLY:  Four protesters made their way onto the field after Strasburg batted in the fifth inning.  The first two acted as decoys, while the second two attepted to unfurl a banner protesting the Arizona immigration law.  (See slideshow of unedited photos below). Riggleman cited the incident as instrumental in lifting Strasburg after allowing the pitcher to hit in the fifth.

"Once that stuff happened on the field, I just was undecided whether I wanted him to go back out there and once we sat in there a little bit longer with that stuff going on I just decided that I wasn't going to send him back out there."

THE STATS:  2 Ks, 1 BB, 2-for-7 RISP, 5 LOB

NEXT GAME:  Nats are off Monday as they travel to Atlanta for a three-game series starting Tuesday.  Scott Olsen (3-4, 5.11) is scheduled against Mike Minor (0-0, 4.50) for the Braves at 7:10 pm from Turner Field.

NATS NOTES:  Today's attendance, 21,695, was the lowest ever for a Strasburg start.  The gloomy weather certainly didn't help things out, as a light rain fell all morning at Nats Park and the tarp was not removed until right before game time.

Several conflicting rumors circulated during the game about the status of Nats 2010 draft picks Sammy Solis, A.J. Cole and Robbie Ray, with all three at one point determined signed by various sources, only to be refuted by others.  With Monday at midnight the draftee signing deadline and tomorrow's off-day, much will be said about the status of those three players, along with No. 1 overall Bryce Harper, who remains unsigned as of this post.

RHP Jordan Zimmermann, making his third start for Triple-A Syracuse as he continues his comeback from Tommy John surgery, went five innings and allowed one run on five hits and one walk, striking out three.  He threw 73 pitches, 43 for strikes.  In his three starts, Zimmermann has given up just one earned run in 12 innings.

Before today's game, Riggleman said Zimmermann could be back before the Sept. 1 call-ups, but regardless he should pitch for the Nationals this season.

THE RESULT:  With Jason Marquis getting hammered again, the Washington Nationals lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday night 9-2, before 22,400 at Nationals Park.

Marquis -- who has failed to pitch past the fifth inning in any of his five starts this season, gave up three home runs in the first three innings, not giving the Nationals any chance to be competitive in the affair.  His final line (4 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR) actually lowered his season's ERA to 14.33.

Ryan Zimmerman hit his 23rd home run of the season, and Josh Willingham had two hits.

DBacks starter Ian Kennedy did a good job limiting the Nats attack.  He went seven strong innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk, striking out seven.

THE GOOD:  Craig Stammen came into the fifth inning with the bases loaded and no outs after Marquis gave up two hits and a walk to load em up.  He got a double-play groundout and strikeout to get out of the jam.

THE BAD:  Willie Harris went 0-for-4 starting in right field.  He's down to .176 for the season.

THE UGLY:  Marquis. Think Marquis has to have the worst ratio of dollars to outs recorded this season. He has provided nothing on the two-year investment the Nats laid out over the off-season, and they have to consider shutting him down and getting him completely healthy for next year.

He's only hurting himself and the club at this point.

THE STATS:  7 Ks, 3 BBs, 1-for-11 RISP, 6 LOB

NEXT GAME:  Sunday at 1:35 pm against Arizona.  Stephen Strasburg (5-3, 3.07) takes on Barry Enright (3-2, 2.64).

All Photos by Antony Amobi/Nats News Network

"That's two wins in a row now and hopefully something we can build on with John." -- Manager Jim Riggleman, on John Lannan's successful last two outings.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE RESULT:  John Lannan and Sean Burnett combined for a four-hit effort as the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2, before a crowd of 19,549 at Nationals Park.

The Nats got three runs in the first and Wil Nieves' second home run of the year in the second off Arizona starter Joe Sauders for all the offense they would need on the evening.

Lannan (4-5, 5.23) made perhaps his finest start of the season, and early on showed he was going to be a factor in this game as he struck out two of the first three batters he faced in a 1-2-3 first inning.  He cruised through the first four frames, allowing just a single to No. 8 hitter Gerardo Parra in the third.

"He threw the ball good," said Manager Jim Riggleman.  "He had a good change-up, threw some good breaking pitches to left-handed hitter."

By that time, Lannan had a 4-0 cushion courtesy of some unlikely heros.

Alberto Gonzalez played second and batted first in Manager Jim Riggleman's lineup tonight against the left-handed Saunders, a Springfield, VA native.  He rewarded his manager's confidence with aleadoff single, and Ian Desmond (3-for-3, double, run) followed with another single. 

After Adam Dunn bounced to first to move both runners up, Ryan Zimmerman drove a ball through the hole that scored both runners, with Desmond sliding easily ahead of Parra's throw from left field, allowing Zimmerman to move up to second.

Zimmerman later came home on a Michael Morse safety for a three-run first.

Wil Nieves led off the second with his second home run of the season, depositing a Saunders off-speed pitch into the seats of the Red Porch to the right of the visitor's bullpen.  The Nats' backup catcher finished the night 2-for-4.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

That left the rest to Lannan, who only ran into trouble in the fifth inning.  After a Mark Reynolds walk, Stephen Drew ripped a ball over Dunn's head into the right field corner.  Morse dug it out and hit cut-off man Gonzalez, who then fired a laser to Nieves at home.

Nieves dove to the front corner of the plate and appeared to tag Reynolds on the back knee before the big third baseman could touch the plate, but home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled Reynolds safe for the D-backs first run of the game.  Drew ended up on third, and later scored on a Parra single.

But that's all they would get off Lannan, the Nats leader in innings pitched the last two seasons.  He finished his night after throwing seven full innings, allowing just the two earned runs on four hits and one walk, striking out five in the effort.

Sean Burnett picked up where Lannan left off, getting all six batters he faced for a two-inning save, his second of the season and against Arizona in the past week and a half.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

THE GOOD:  John Lannan.  This is the type of performance the Nats expected out of Lannan, their two-time Opening Day starter.  His exile to the minors in for a few weeks in the middle of the season wasn't so much of a wake-up call as an opportunity to fine-tune his sinker, something he needs to be effective at the major league level. 

He's just a different pitcher if he can strike a few guys out along the way, as he did tonight.

Props too to Ian Desmond.  He entered the game hitting .333/.345/.574 over his last 59 plate appearances and went 3-for-4 to bolster those numbers.

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn went 0-for-3 with two Ks and left runners in scoring position in both of his first two at bats.

THE UGLY:  Justin Maxwell went 0-for-4 and struck out twice.  Not a good way to find increased playing time.  It looks more and more like he's a 4-A player.  Such a shame he can't find a way to make consistant contact with all the tools he has.

THE STATS:  The Nats went 2-for-9 with RISP and left eight men total.  They struck out five times and walked twice.

NEXT GAME:  Tomorrow against Arizona.  Jason Marquis (0-4, 15.32) looks to salvage his season against Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.47) at 7:05 pm.

NATS NOTES:  A couple of draft-related tidbits to pass along.  First, MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported that Nats 2nd round draft pick, LHP Sammy Solis, was close to signing a contract this evening.  Solis is a left-handed starter out of University of San Diego.

Before the game, the Nats worked out Tennessee high schooler LHP Robbie Ray and introduced him to Stephen Strasburg and Jason Marquis during batting practice.  Ray seemed to be a long shot to sign, as he's committed to Arkansas, but if he's in for a workout it can only be considered a good thing.

J.D. Martin delivers in his first major league win.
Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"We were outplayed. They beat us." -- Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch, August 9, 2009.

THE RESULTS: Adam Dunn hit his 30th home run of the season, Ryan Zimmerman added three hits, and Elijah Dukes drove in three as the Washington Nationals took a tight game and turned it into a laugher, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2, for their eighth straight victory, the longest such winning streak since June 2005.

The Nats also registered their 40th win of the season, officially terminating my book deal.

On a miserably hot and humid day, J.D. Martin toiled for 86 pitches in five innings, notching his first major league victory, and earning a shaving cream pie in the face by "ace" John Lannan. It was the second consecutive day for such hijinks, as Garrett Mock got his Saturday for his first win as a starter in the bigs.

Martin (W, 1-2, 5.91) allowed just one run, a solo shot by Trent Oeltjen to lead off the game. He gave up five hits and a walk, and struck out just one. Martin got 10 fly ball outs compared to just three ground outs and threw 52 of his 86 pitches for strikes.

The bullpen once again got the job done, despite putting a few runners on base. Jorge Sosa notched his second save in as many days, pitching the last two and one-third innings.

D-backs starter Yusmeiro Petit (2-6, 5.87) took the loss.

Five Nats had multi-hit games, totalling 16 hits and four walks in all. The team scored nine runs, but also left 10 men on base. Zimmerman continued his hot streak, going 3-for-5 and scoring three times. He has now hit in 13 straight games and continues his stellar defense.

"You're confident -- no matter what part of the game it is," Zimmerman said. "It's a good feeling. It's contagious just like everything else."

Nyjer Morgan, Cristian Guzman, Elijah Dukes and Alberto Gonzalez each had two hits apiece in the attack.

Dunn's 30th in the first inning captured the lead for the Nats after Oeltjen's leadoff homer. "I knew we were capable of playing like this," Dunn said. "I wish we would have played this loose and had fun early in the year, and we wouldn't be how many games back."

THE TAKEAWAY: Winning eight games in a row certainly breeds confidence.

The big story from Sunday was the potential claiming of Cristian Guzman off waivers by the Boston Red Sox, as reported in Sunday's Boston Globe.

Should the Red Sox be awarded the waiver claim, the two teams would then have 48 hours to work out a deal, allow the Sox to just assume Guzman's contract, or the Nats can withdraw the waivers.

Guzman is owed $8 million next year on his contract, and that money could go a long way this off-season as the Nats look to get younger in their middle infield, or could go toward a veteran starting pitcher to stabilize a ridiculously young starting rotation.

THE GOOD: Elijah Dukes. He went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Hes really producing out of the six-spot, driving in 10 runs in the three-game weekend series.

THE BAD: Ron Villone. He did not give up a run, but he tried. The 39-year old veteran gave up more hits (3) than outs registered (2).

THE UGLY: Arizona's defense. Second in the league in errors, the D-backs added three more to their total on Sunday. Sound familiar?

NEXT GAME: After playing 25 straight days, the Nationals mercifully get a day off Monday, as they travel to Atlanta for a two-game series. Games Tuesday and Wednesday are both at 7:10 pm.

According to this Boston Globe report citing "Major League sources," the Boston Red Sox put in a claim on SS Cristian Guzman, whom the Nationals placed on waivers. The article describes the recent injury to Boston SS Jed Lowrie as the impetus on the claim.

During the waiver-wire trade period, it's customary for teams to put many of their players on waivers, with the intent on judging the trade value for those players. If a player is claimed, the two teams then have 48 hours to work out a deal, allow the player to simply be claimed, or the starting team can withdraw the player off of waivers and retain the player for the season.

In order for the Red Sox to be awarded the claim, every team in the NL and 2/3 of the AL teams would have had to pass on Guzman, and $8 million salary next season.

Guzman is hot again, and casual fans love watching Guzman when he's hot, as he strays base hits all over the stadium. But he is a very streaky hitter, provides absolutely no power, and is terrible defensively.

If the two teams can't work out a deal for a significant player in return, the Nats should just let Sox assume his contract, freeing up that $8 million,and channeling it into a run at Orlando Hudson, a superior player to Guzman, next season.

Oh, by the way, deadline for Strasburg now at 8 days and counting...

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (50-61, 4th in NL West--17 games back; two-game losing streak)

Oeltjen -- LF
Roberts -- 2B
Drew -- SS
Reynolds -- 3B
Tracy -- 1B
Snyder -- C
Romero -- RF
Young -- CF
Petit -- RHP

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (39-72, 5th in NL East--23.5 games back; seven-game win streak)

Morgan -- CF
Guzman -- SS
Zimmerman -- 3B
Dunn -- 1B
Willingham -- LF
Dukes -- RF
Bard -- C
Gonzalez -- 2B
Martin -- P

STARTING PITCHERS

WAS: J.D. Martin, RHP (16.1 IP, 0-2, 7.16 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB)
ARI: Yusmeiro Petit, RHP (57.1 IP, 2-5, 5.81 ERA, 48 K, 23 BB)

WEATHER

Partly cloudy, hot and humid. Game time: 92F. Last out: 94F.

Garrett Mock gets the shaving cream pie compliments of John Lannan.
Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"Menthol -- sensitive skin." -- Garrett Mock, on the "flavor" of his shaving cream pie, on the occasion of his first win as a starter, August 8, 2009.

THE RESULT: The Washington Nationals, led by starting pitcher Garrett Mock and outfielder Josh Willingham, won their seventh consecutive game, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 before 24,551 satisfied Nats fans at Nationals Park. The Nats record is now 39-72.

The seven-game win streak is their first since Aug. 26-Sept. 1 of last season, and the longest since a 10-game streak in June 2005.

Mock (W, 1-4, 6.14) pitched six strong innings, allowing two earned runs -- on a foul pole home run by Mark Reynolds -- on just five hits and three walks, striking out seven D-backs along the way.

It's only the second time in eight major league starts Mock has completed six innings, and it's his first win as a starter, earning him a shaving cream pie in the face by staff ace John Lannan during the post-game interview.

After Reynolds hit the left field foul pole in the fourth inning for his 35th of the season, Willingham answered right back in the bottom of the frame.

Arizona's starter, All-Star Dan Haren, opened the inning by hitting Adam Dunn on an 0-1 pitch. Willingham looked at a strike, then took the next pitch for a line drive into the left field bleachers, retaking the lead, 3-2.

Willie Harris followed with a triple, and scored on Alberto Gonzalez' sacrifice fly.

Josh Bard added a home run in the sixth to close the scoring.

Haren (L, 11-7, 2.57) was not particularly sharp on the warm, muggy night. He gave up seven hits in six innings, surrendering all five earned runs, striking out just four.

Following the recipe of the previous wins in the streak, the Nats once again received tremendous relief pitching. Sean Burnett went two perfect innings and Jorge Sosa threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season, giving Mike MacDougal a much-needed night off, having pitched in four of the last six games.

Cristian Guzman extended his hitting streak to 14 games. Ryan Zimmerman upped his hitting streak to 12 games, and Adam Dunn took his streak to eight.

THE TAKEAWAY: Despite the humidity, both pitchers worked quickly and there was little offense after the fourth inning, as the game was completed in 2:12, one of the shortest games time-wise of the season.

Mock really needed this outing. It was his fifth, and surely most successful, start of this season. And it was his first start where he's had more strikeouts than innings pitched -- or hits, for that matter.

He threw 55 of his 97 pitches for strikes, and got six ground ball outs and four fly ball outs, to go along with the seven Ks.

THE GOOD: Garrett Mock. Unquestionably. A start to build upon.

THE BAD: Hmm. Every starter contributed to the offense. There were no errors. The pitching was quality. I can't find anything to complain about.

THE UGLY: "There was some concerning facts in our MRI when it was read by our team doctor," acting general manager Mike Rizzo said about the medical attention Jordan Zimmermann has received the last couple of days. The results of said MRI are on their way to the grim reaper of pitchers, Dr. James Andrews.

These are the words no Nats fan want to see associated with each other: James Andrews and Jordan Zimmermann's MRI.

The logical reason to send just the results to Andrews, and not Zimmermann himself for an evaluation, is to confirm their diagnosis that surgery is necessary, and Zimmermann will be lost for the rest of the season.

I hope I'm wrong.

NEXT GAME: Sunday afternoon in the expected blazing heat. J.D. Martin (0-2, 7.16) opposes Yusmeiro Petit (2-5, 5.81).

It's Adam Dunn bobblehead night! A warm night out there, but not bad for August in DC. The Nats go for win number seven in a row against one of the best pitchers in the NL.

Deadline for Strasburg now at 9 days and counting...

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (50-60, 4th in NL West--17 games back; one-game losing streak)

Unavailable at posting time.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (38-72, 5th in NL East--24.5 games back; six-game win streak)

8- Morgan
6- Guzman
5- Zimmerman
3- Dunn
9- Willingham
7- Harris
2- Bard
4- Gonzalez
1- Mock

STARTING PITCHERS

WAS: Garrett Mock, RHP (30.2 IP, 0-4, 6.75 ERA, 19 K, 16 BB)
ARI: Dan Haren, RHP (155.0, 11-6, 2.38 ERA, 149 K, 23 BB)

WEATHER

Very warm evening with a slight chance of isolated storm. Game time: 84F. Last out: 80F.

Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch argues with first base umpire Jerry Crawford after being ejected.

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"When you win a few in a row, you get some confidence. You feel like you can win every single day." -- Ryan Zimmerman, August 7, 2009.

THE RESULT: The "Comeback Nats" did it again Friday night, spotting the Arizona Diamondbacks five runs in the first two innings, before staging yet another multi-run comeback, as the Washington Nationals won their sixth game in a row, a 7-6 decision before 22,674 extremely happy fans at Nationals Park.

As has been the recipe for this hottest of hot streaks this mostly-dismal season, the starter got beat up, Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham powered the offense, and they got just enough defense at the end to seal the deal.

Friday night, they even got the benefit of a call that in June probably would have gone the other way.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, Collin Balester had a rough go of it in the second. He gave up three home runs in the frame for five runs. Mark Reynolds led off the inning with his 34th homer of the season. Balester then actually got two outs. But more trouble was right around the corner.

Josh Whitesell, a player Jim Bowden flat-out cut from the Nationals in 2007, hit his first major league home run, and after singles by Augie Ojeda (.249) and the pitcher, Jon Garland, leadoff man Stephen Drew hit a three-run shot that made things look bleak.

But these Nats, brimming with confidence of a five-game win streak, obviously thought nothing of a mere five-run deficit, as they came back from being down six just Thursday.

Washington started the comeback in the bottom of the second. Willingham singled to center, but the ball avoided center fielder Gerardo Parra and went all the way to the wall. Willingham took two bases on the error, and the next batter, Elijah Dukes, hit a sacrifice to plate Willingham.

The fourth saw Dukes hit a two-run double and later score on a Wil Nieves sacrifice.

The Nats tied the game in the fifth, when Zimmerman hit his 24th home run of the season to right center. The blast also ties his career high in home runs.

In the seventh, Nyjer Morgan got things started with a bunt single and Cristian Guzman followed with a single up the middle, with Morgan going to third. After Zimmerman popped out, and with Adam Dunn with a 1-1 count, Guzman inexplicably took the bat out of Dunn's hands by taking second base -- without a throw.

Arizona obviously just finished the walk intentionally, bringing Willinham up with the bases loaded. The left fielder bailed out the mistake of his teammate by singling down the line in left, scoring both Morgan and Guzman, taking a 7-5 lead into the eighth.

All through the comeback, Nats pitchers just kept putting up zeros. Balester settled down to pitch a scoreless third and fourth innings. Saul Rivera, just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, threw a perfect one and two-thirds, followed by Sean Burnett and Jason Bergmann (W, 2-1, 4.82).

Ron Villone, the fifth National to take the mound, did not fare as quite as well, but did receive the benefit of a close call at first base. Trent Oeltjen (correct spelling) grounded to Guzman at short, and the play at first was called out by umpire Jerry Crawford.

D-backs manager A.J. Hinch was incensed. He started screaming at Crawford before he was halfway to first base, and was tossed quickly. The two then stood nose-to-nose yelling at each other loud enough to be audible in the box seats.

Villone couldn't capitalize on the good fortune though, as he walked the next batter, rookie Whitesell. Ojeda followed with a single, and "interim" manager Jim Riggleman gave Villone the hook, calling on Mike MacDougal for a five-out save.

Big Mac walked his first batter, then gave up a sacrifice to bring Arizona within one. And had this been early-July, it probably would have resulted in a total melt-down. But not with the August version.

MacDougal coaxed a ground ball to end the eighth, and allowed two base runners in the ninth, but managed to close things out without allowing the tying run, for his 11th, longest, and most difficult save for the Nats to date.

THE TAKEAWAY: Wow. Six in a row. Outstanding. That's all I got tonight. It's the longest winning streak since Aug. 26 - Sept. 1, 2008.

The Nats are 12-11 since the All-Star break.

THE GOOD: Josh Willingham. 3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs.

THE BAD: Ron Villone. One-third of an inning, one hit, one walk, one run.

THE UGLY: Jordan Zimmermann had a bullpen session cancelled Friday, and will have an MRI on his ailing elbow. The pitcher still maintains that he can pitch through it, but the club is definitely being cautious.

"He just came in and he just feels a little something there," Riggleman said. "He wants to throw, he wants to pitch, but with where we're at, we're just not going to let him throw."

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 7:05 pm against the D-backs. Garrett Mock (0-4, 6.75) faces Dan Haren (11-6, 2.38).

NOTES: OF Austin Kearns met with a hand specialist Thursday to clean out an injured right thumb after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. He will be out while the incision heals and will return to the doctor Monday.

It's a gorgeous night out there, a beautiful night for streaking...the Nats go for win number six in a row against the team that Mike Rizzo built, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Deadline for Strasburg now at 10 days and counting...

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (50-59, 4th in NL West--17 games back; five-game win streak)

6- Drew
9- Romero
8- Parra
5- Reynolds
2- Snyder
7- Oeltjen
3- Whitesell
4- Ojeda
1- Garland

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (37-72, 5th in NL East--25.5 games back; five-game win streak)

8- Morgan
6- Guzman
5- Zimmerman
3- Dunn
7- Willingham
9- Dukes
4- Belliard
2- Nieves
1- Balester


STARTING PITCHERS


WAS: Collin Balester (14.2 IP, 1-1, 3.68 ERA, 8 K, 3 BB)
ARI: Jon Garland (137.1, 6-10, 4.26 ERA, 59 K, 45 BB)


WEATHER

Beautiful. Soak it in before August rears its ugly head tomorrow and all of next week. Game time: 80F. Last out: 73F.

RESULT: Nats lose to D-Backs 4-0.

GOOD: Brandon Webb. Complete game six-hit, no walk shut out with 8 Ks. That's about as good as it gets. I don't usually give out the "GOOD" award to the opposition, but you gotta give props where they're due. Webb threw a gem.

BAD: Webb needed only seven pitches -- all of them strikes -- to retire the Nationals in the first. The Nats put a man in scoring position only three times.

UGLY: Catcher Jesus Flores was "fine" on Saturday, according to Manager Manny Acta, but kept him out of the lineup as a precaution. Flores left Friday night's game with dizziness and nausea after being hit by a pair of foul tips to the head.

NEXT GAME: Sunday the Nats try to win the series. Shawn Hill (0-1, 4.02) faces Dan Haren (5-4, 3.75) at 4:10 EDT.