The Washington Nationals got good starting and relief pitching and some terrific defense, but as has been the case all season, could not muster anything resembling an offensive attack and fell to the Colorado Rockies -- losers of five straight games before hitting Nats Park -- 2-1, before 29,441 disappointed fans.

The Nationals, losers of three consecutive games, fall to 45-46 for the season with one game remaining before the All-Star break.

Last night, Jason Marquis was the starter that did not get any support.  Marquis was battered for six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings in his previous effort against Pittsburgh, but bounced back and went six innings against the Rockies, allowing two earned runs on five hits -- though he walked four.  Ross Detwiler came on to provide two scoreless innings of middle relief and Todd Coffey pitched a perfect ninth inning.  But unfortunately the proficiency on the mound was not enough to carry the Nats to victory. 

With the Nats paltry offense, the two runs the Rockies got off Marquis was all they needed.

Washington managed just five hits and one walk against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 4-8, 4.14).  They didn't get their first hit until the the sixth inning, when center fielder Ryan Spilborghs misplayed a sinking liner from Ian Desmond into a triple with no outs.  Desmond scored on Rick Ankiel's ground out, and that was the sum of the Nats offensive production for the evening.

The Nats couldn't get two runners on base in any single inning until the eighth, when two infield singles caused some trouble.  But pinch-hitter Matt Stairs was called out on strikes and Danny Espinosa flied out to end the threat.

In the ninth, Ryan Zimmerman led off with a single to short off Rockies closer Huston Street, and one out later Michael Morse hit a clean liner to center to put runners on the corners.  But Jayson Werth failed to deliver once again, rolling over on a slider and grounding into a 6-4-3 double play that was as predictable as Teddy losing the President's Race.

It's hard to be upset with the Nationals right now.  They played over their heads for three weeks and got the fan base excited about coming to the park.  For the first time since 2005 really, there's an aura of expectation in the stands, for better or worse.  The expectations may be founded on a hot streak, but the Nats record is better than almost anyone could have expected at the start of the season.

But Thursday's devastating loss, losing an 8-0 lead on the way to a 10-9 defeat, has started a snowball effect of a different kind.  The last two nights, this is a team that's looked like they're really looking forward to having three days off.  And right now, they can really use it.

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THE GOOD:  Michael Morse and Ian Desmond had two hits apiece. Detwiler and Coffey provided three shutout innings of relief.

THE BAD:  Jayson Werth was 0-for-3 with a walk.  He stranded three runners and hit into the game-ending double-play.  He's painful to watch right now.

THE UGLY:  Matt Stairs.  Struck out looking in his lone pinch-hit at bat. Hitting .143 for the season.

THE STATS:  Seven hits, one walk, nine strikeouts.  0-for-4 with RISP, five LOB, two GIDP. No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Sunday at 1:35 against the Rockies.  Jordan Zimmermann (5-7, 2.82) goes for the Nats.  The Rockies have not announced a starter as of this post.

It could have been worse.

John Lannan, the Washington Nationals starting pitcher, was cruising, having registered five of his first 10 outs via strikeout.  In the top of the fourth, however, he ran into some trouble.  With one out, he gave up consecutive singles to bring up Colorado Rockies cleanup hitter Ty Wigginton.  On a 1-1 count, Lannan tried to bury a fastball in on Wigginton's hands, but the stocky slugger put a good inside-out swing on the ball, driving it right back at Lannan.

Lannan tried to get his glove up to protect himself, but it was no use.  The line drive hit him on the right cheek below his eye, and caromed all the way into center field for a base hit, scoring a run.  Lannan went down immediately, clutching his face, but got up and immediately headed toward the dugout, blood dripping from his nose.  He was met by a team trainer halfway to the dugout and the pair walked directly into the tunnel toward the clubhouse.

A couple innings later, a team spokesman said that Lannan had suffered a "nasal contusion", and was considered day-to-day.  After the game, it was reported that Lannan was taken to the hospital for further observation, but team officials expect him to be okay.  With the upcoming All-Star break, the Nats are hopeful he won't even have to miss a start.

Manager Davey Johnson addressed the play after the game.  "It's a manager's worst nightmare. We're very fortunate that it didn't do a lot of damage.  That ball was smoked. The good news was he got his glove up to deflect it off so he didn't get it too bad. I think he's gonna be alright."

"I don't know how he didn't end up with a broken nose."

Lannan was extremely fortunate that it was a glancing blow with his head turned.  It could have been much, much worse it he'd taken that line drive flush to his face.

As for the game, Ryan Mattheus entered cold but got a ground ball to force Wigginton at second, setting up runners on the corners with two outs.  But he balked in Todd Helton from third for the second run of the inning and gave up rookie Cole Garner's first MLB single and RBI that scored Mark Ellis.

The three runs were all the Rockies needed to defeat the Nats 3-2, before an announced crowd of 19,046 at Nats Park.  Washington managed just eight base runners all night on six hits and two walks, with three of those base runners coming in the bottom of the first with no outs. The Nats loaded the bases on a Roger Bernadina double, a Danny Espinosa walk and a Ryan Zimmerman infield single, but could only muster one run, as The Shark scored on a Michael Morse sacrifice fly.

The only other run for the Nats came on a no-doubt solo shot from Wilson Ramos in the bottom of the fourth.

But the most important development of the evening is the health of John Lannan.  He did not speak with media following the game, but we'll publish an update tomorrow when more becomes available.

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THE GOOD:  Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard combined for four scoreless innings.  It wasn't always easy or pretty, but they both got their jobs done last night.

THE BAD:  Bottom of the ninth, Michael Morse led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Brian Bixler.  Jayson Werth struck out on a slider in the dirt and the ball momentarily got away from Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta. Bixler broke for second but was gunned out easily, erasing any momentum for a comeback.  Rick Ankiel struck out on three pitches to end the game.

"Bixler was just being aggressive late, I like that instinct," Johnson said.

THE UGLY:  Obviously, Lannan's injury.  Hopefully it's just a bad bruise and the black eye and headaches go away quickly for the lefty.

THE STATS:  Six hits, two walks, six strikeouts.  1-for-3 with RISP, four LOB, one GIDP.  No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Saturday against the Rockies at 7:05 pm.  Jason Marquis (7-3, 4.11) faces Jason Hammel (4-8, 4.31).

NATS NOTES:  Before the game, C Pudge Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day D.L. with a strained oblique muscle, sustained during batting practice Thursday.  Jesus Flores was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.  Flores pinch-hit in the seventh and struck out.

If this was Ross Detwiler's only chance to show the Washington Nationals he belongs in the Major Leagues, he made a pretty good impression.  The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2007 draft made the best of his spot start, allowing a two-run home run to Aramis Ramirez on his final pitch, but otherwise shutting down the Chicago Cubs, earning the win in a 3-2 victory before 19,181 at steamy Nats Park.

The Nats inch above the .500 mark again at 44-43, tied with the New York Mets for third in the N.L. East, 11 games behind division-leading Philadelphia.

Detwiler pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up just four hits in the process.  He did not walk a batter, something that has plagued him his entire professional career, though he only struck out one, and that was the opposite pitcher to boot.  But he generated a lot of ground ball outs and kept the Cubs off the scoreboard -- until that last pitch.

After the game, manager Davey Johnson admitted he made a mistake.  He didn't want Detwiler to face Ramirez in the sixth inning, but he didn't get right-handed reliever Todd Coffey up quickly enough to get him properly warmed up. "I was slow on the draw," Johnson explained.  "I wanted to get Coffey ready for Ramirez, and I didn't get him up for Ramirez, so I take that one on me."

But it wouldn't have been a Nats win if it weren't a one-run ballgame.

As they've done most of the season, the bullpen came in and did their jobs.  Todd Coffey, Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen (21st save) gave up just three hits over 3 2/3 innings, walked no one and struck out three.  It was as efficient as they've been all season long.

Detwiler may have a chance to stick with the club even if it's not in a starting role.  He was called up to take the spot start because of last Saturday's double-header, but Johnson has said on several occasions he'd like another lefty in the bullpen and would like a long man as well.  Detwiler might be able to fill both of those roles adequately.  He's been good his first time through the rotation in his career, but gets into trouble once he gets stretched out.  This might be a case of form following function.

Johnson joked with reporters before the game that someone would have to wrestle him to get Detwiler off his team.

Regardless of what role Detwiler might serve, the team needs to find more offense, particularly from their two best players, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth.

The Nats jumped all over Cubs starter Ramon Ortiz, scoring three times in the first inning.  But once the inning was over, the futility they've been experiencing with the bats was in full evidence.  The Nats were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position all night, and they stranded 10 runners in the game.  No one struggled worse than Werth, the new No. 5 hitter.  Werth went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two ground outs, stranding six base runners.

Werth, who famously signed a $126 million contract in the off-season, is mired in the worst slump of his career.  For the season he's hitting a mere .224/.330/.382, but over the last month or so, his lack of production is alarming.  Since June 1, Werth is hitting a paltry .167/.305/.278 with seven extra-base hits in 131 plate appearances.  In his last 11 games, Werth has struck out 19 times.

Johnson has remained a steadfast supporter of his right fielder, but even he conceded last night that Werth needs to start producing.  "I think he's bottomed out," Johnson said of Werth, who is grounding out at a rate higher than at any time in his career since becoming a regular player.  "I thought he was in a good frame of mind the last three or four days.  I think he's comfortable. I think earlier in the year he was playing 'mentor' a little more than he needed to with some of the young guys. But he's a heck of a ballplayer and I know he gonna start doing the things he's capable of doing."

Johnson hopes, along with the rest of Nats Town, that happens much sooner rather than later.

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THE GOOD:  Danny Espinosa. 2-for-3 with a walk in the second spot in the order.  "The way he's playing, I like him in that two-hole," Johnson said of the 23-year old switch-hitting second baseman.  He's kind of a spark plug and gets us going.  He's swinging good from both side of the plate right now."

THE BAD:  Ian Desmond.  0-for-3 and five left on base. Was ordered to sacrifice with runners at second and third last in the game.  He's hitting .215 this season, and has just five base hits since June 18 (5-for-52).

THE UGLY:  The Nats might have been held to one run were it not for Cubs second baseman Jeff Baker's ugly throwing error in the first inning. With the base loaded, he fielded a Laynce Nix grounder and made one of the worst throws you'd ever see a Major Leaguer make, missing his target by 20 feet.  The ball ended up in short left field, two runs scored and all hands were safe.

THE STATS:  10 hits, four walks, eight strikeouts. 2-for-11 with RISP, 10 LOB, two GIDP. E: Detwiler (1), Cora (3).

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday at 7:05 pm at Nats Park.  Tom Gorzelanny (2-6, 3.77) faces Randy Wells (1-3, 6.59).

HARPER WATCH:  In his second Double-A game for Harrisburg, Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 with an RBI and two outfield assists, nailing runners twice at second base trying to take an extra base against him on balls hit to left field.

NATS NOTES:  To make room on the active roster, reliever Collin Balester was designated for assignment.  Though he had an option remaining, because of his service time the team decided that administratively it would be easier to conduct the transaction if they designated him.  He is expected to remain on the 40-man roster once he clears Thursday, and manager Davey Johnson was hopeful to add him back to the active roster as soon as he is eligible.

Nats celebrate their tenth win in their last 11 games. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Considering the way the Washington Nationals won Tuesday night with two outs in the ninth inning -- capping a five-run comeback -- no one at Nationals Park last night could have been confident until the final out was recorded. 

But when Drew Storen punched out Chone Figgins looking for the last out of the game -- recording his 18th save in 20 chances -- the crowd erupted as they did Tuesday, secure in the knowledge that with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, the home team would have an even .500 record at the latest point in a season since they finished the inaugural 2005 season at 81-81.

As recently as 10 days ago this scenario could only be seen in a dream.  At that point, after a 7-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, the Nats record sat at 27-36, nine game under the break-even mark, staring at three more games in baseball's version of Death Valley, Petco Park.  But the Nats found a way to win three consecutive games there, scoring just two runs in each of the three games.

Since then, all they've done is win another seven out of eight games, vaulting their place in the standings from last in the N.L. East to outright possession of third place in the division.  The 11-game run is nothing short of remarkable.

With all these wins coming at home, the Nationals now have the third-best home record in the entire N.L. at 21-13.

In last night's win, they borrowed the script from those three wins against the Padres.  The Nats got terrific starting pitching from John Lannan -- who went 5 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits and no walks, shut-down relief pitching from four different relievers, and just enough offense, benefiting from two unearned runs off Mariners hard-luck starter Erik Bedard, who was excellent in his own right, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 in his six innings of work.

Danny Espinosa and Jerry Hariston drove in the Nats runs, but the how really doesn't matter much anymore.  Because just every night save one for the last 11 games the Nats have found a way to win.  It's been a different method with different heroes on each occasion, but the result is the same:  Another Curly W in the books.

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THE GOOD:  Lannan was sublime, and the four relievers were just as good, allowing just two hits and no walks with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.  Just five guys doing their jobs.

THE BAD:  Desmond went 0-for-3 in the two-slot, lowering his average to .231.

THE UGLY:  Desmond's throwing error was a serious lack of judgment and one I'm sure he'd like to have back.  There was a long fly to the track in left with a runner on first, and Ichiro went more than half-way to see if the ball would be caught.  Hairston got the ball in quickly, making Ichiro bid a hasty retreat.  Desmond inexplicably wheeled and fired to first, with no chance of a play.  Morse could not field the bad throw and the ball ended up in the camera well, allowing Ichiro to take third on the play. 

Fortunately, the next batter sent a shot to third that Zimmerman scooped up expertly and ran down Ichiro near home plate to avoid another run.

THE STATS:  Five hits, two walks, 10 strikeouts. 2-for-5 with RISP, six LOB, no GIDP.  E: Zimmerman (3), Desmond (9).

NEXT GAME:  Thursday at 1:05 pm against the Mariners at Nationals Park.  Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.86) faces Michael Pineda (7-4, 2.64).



Jerry Hairston beats out infield hit in Nats 2-1 win over Seattle. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Zim's back.  Get it? (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)



Tuesday night's game marked the return of the Washington Nationals Face of the Franchise Ryan Zimmerman from a two-month absence from abdominal surgery.  And while he might have looked a little rusty at times, his double to the right field corner in the seventh inning spurred a furious six-run explosion which delivered the Nats a come-from-behind 8-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals before a raucous crowd of 26,739.

The win is the Nats fourth in a row, and pulls them to within five games of .500 at 31-36.

Washington got down early in this one, courtesy of an Albert Pujols two-run bomb in the first inning, a Lance Berkman solo shot in the fourth, and some shaky defense that led to three runs in the fifth, all off starter Yunesky Maya.  But rookie Ryan Mattheus and Henry Rodriguez, presumably in mop-up time, held the Cards hitless over the next two innings, giving the Nats bats a chance to wake up.



Ryan Matthues Major League debut. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Wake up they did.

The Nats scratched out single runs off Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia in the fourth and sixth. Roger Bernadina, inserted in the bottom of the first after Rick Ankiel injured his left intercostal muscle making a catch (day-to-day), delivered a two-out single to plate Michael Morse, who'd doubled, to get the Nats on the board.  Later, Morse scored again when Bernadina grounded into a double play with no outs, and it seemed like not scoring more there would come back to haunt the Nats.

But Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa sent former National reliever Miguel Batista out to start the seventh, a move that cost him dearly.

Jayson Werth earned a one-out walk, and Ian Desmond reached on an infield single to first.  Zimmerman was late on an 89-MPH cutter from Batista, but got good wood on it, sending it to the right field corner.  Jon Jay couldn't track it down and it went for a double, but Desmond had to hold to make sure it wasn't caught and ended up at third.  No matter, as Morse ground out to short and Desmond carried the Nats fourth run home, with Zimmerman moving up to third.

That's when things got a little freaky.

Danny Espinosa served a soft liner to center that fell in front of Colby Rasmus and Zimmerman walked in with the fifth Nats run and Wilson Ramos' ball up the middle couldn't be handled by shortstop Ryan Theriot, who had a rough night with two errors and two others that could have been as well. 

Espinosa was safe when Theriot couldn't come up with the grounder. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

LaRussa yanked Batista (L, 3-2) and called on his lefty Trever Miller.  Miller plunked Bernadina with his first pitch to load the bases, then uncorked a wild pitch to pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez to plate the game-tying run.

Miller then gave Rodriguez a free pass to load them up yet again, and LaRussa went back to his pen to bring in the 98-MPH fastball of Jason Motte.  Riggleman called on Laynce Nix to pinch-hit, and after an 11-pitch at bat, Motte finally issued ball four to walk in the lead run.  But the Nats weren't done, as Werth followed up with a sharp line drive to right to score Bernadina and give the Nats an insurance run.

All that was left was for Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen to do their jobs, and both did without incident, with Clippard earning his 17th hold (with two strikeouts) and Storen his 16th save of the season.

The atmosphere in the seventh-inning rally was electric, a scene not matched at Nats Park since Stephen Strasburg's debut last June.  The crowd was on their feet the whole rally, standing and cheering with every Nats success.  It was a tremendous organic display of fervor for good baseball in this town, and gives promise that as this team finds itself more and more in the coming months and years, D.C. will fill the stadium along the Anacostia with rabid baseball fans.

Things looked bleak for a while, as the Cardinals took a 6-1 lead into the middle innings and the Nats squandered some fortune in the fifth and sixth innings.  But as Riggleman has said on several occasions, if they keep putting runners out there, eventually some of them are going to score.  At least for one night, they did.  And maybe all it took was the return of their best player to the lineup to provide that impetus.

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THE GOOD:  The Nats pounded out 13 hits last night, though a couple of fumbled ground balls by Cardinal infielders were favorably called hits.  Regardless, Werth, Morse, Ramos and Bernadina all had two hits, and Espinosa had three.

THE BAD:  The play that opened the Cardinals floodgates for their three-run fifth was a botched routine ground ball hit to Ian Desmond.  Desmond couldn't decide to flip to Espinosa covering or take it himself quickly enough, and made a late -- and poor -- toss.  Espinosa had no chance to turn the DP, and with the bases loaded a run scored.  Two singles off Maya later and the Cardinals blew the game open at the time.

There was no error on the play, as a double play can't be assumed.  But it was a mental error that could very well have spelled doom for the Nats were it not for Batista's implosion in the seventh.

THE UGLY:  Yunesky Maya.  With Tom Gorzelanny just about ready to be reinstated from the D.L., Maya needed a good performance to keep his name in the picture, but this was anything but.  He gave up six earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings, allowing two line drive homers.  His season ERA is 6.86 in four starts and he's allowed 33 base runners in just 19 2/3 innings.  He made it out of the fifth inning in just one of his four starts.

THE STATS:  13 hits, four walks, eight strikeouts.  5-for-13 with RISP, nine LOB, two GIDP.  No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday against the Cardinals at 7:05 from Nats Park.  Livan Hernandez (3-8, 4.15) faces RHP Kyle McClellan (6-2, 3.86).

NATS NOTES:  The Nationals announced following the game that 1B Adam LaRoche will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Thursday, under care of team doctors.  Details and quotes from GM Mike Rizzo and Dr. Wiemi Douoguih can be found here.

We'll have extensive coverage of the opening of the new concessions on the Scoreboard Walk on Nats News Network: Off the Field.



Welcome back, Zim.  (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

by Tyler Radecki, Staff Writer

After Saturday’s game, Jayson Werth said the most important thing was to get a win Sunday “any way we can.”

It wouldn’t be until the ninth inning that the Nats would find a way to take the lead and get that important win.

With one out in the ninth, Matt Stairs got his fourth pinch-hit of the year and Alex Cora followed with a hit of his own. Brian Bixler, pinch-running for Stairs, failed to advance to third. With the game tied at zero and the Nats having already squandered chances to score, it seemed like it would be a big mistake.

But Werth, batting leadoff for the second straight game, drew a walk, bringing Danny Espinosa to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Espinosa worked the count full before driving a ball to deep right field.

Padres outfielder Chris Denorfia tracked the ball all the way to the wall and made a spectacular jumping catch to record an out and save extra bases, but the ball was hit far enough to allow Bixler to score and Cora to advance to third. Finally, the Nats broke the scoreless tie and led 1-0.

Laynce Nix followed up with a single of his own, giving the Nats what seemed like an enormous 2-0 lead.  Drew Storen came in and shut down the Padres in the bottom of the inning for his 15th save of the season, and the Nats -- squandered opportunities and all -- found a way to win.

They wouldn’t have even been in that situation if not for a fantastic start by Jordan Zimmermann, who threw seven innings of shutout ball with one walk, four hits and ten strikeouts. With the offense – especially Werth, Espinosa and Wilson Ramos – failing to drive in any support for him, Zimmermann was as good as any Nats starter this season.

Zimmermann, the 25-year old right-hander, has given up a total of two earned runs in his last three starts, going seven innings each time.  In fact, you'd have to go back to April 26 to find the last time he'd surrendered more than three earned runs.  Since the calendar flipped to May, Zimmermann hasn't had an outing where he's given up more hits than innings pitched, and hasn't walked more than two batters in his last ten games.

Werth and Espinosa left a combined eight men on base and Ramos had six of his own. In the fifth inning, Werth struck out with runners in scoring position and in the seventh he lined out with two men on. He is now 0-for-8 as a leadoff man, but his walk in the ninth was key.

Zimmermann also had the help of the Nats’ defense, which today broke a franchise record errorless streak, which was previously 97 1/3 innings. With the offense struggling on the road trip, the pitching and defense have more than picked up the slack.

And even though the final game was tortuous, the Nats battled and won their third straight game, capping off the west coast road trip with an encouraging 6-5 record, the first time since April of 2008 the Nationals have had a winning multi-city road trip.  Further good news was that face of the franchise Ryan Zimmerman expects to play Tuesday when the Nats host the St. Louis Cardinals at Nats Park to open up a nine-game homestand.

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THE GOOD: Jordan Zimmermann. From the get-go, you could tell Zimmermann was going to have a good day. With no run support, Zimmermann threw seven shutout innings with one walk, four hits and ten strikeouts. He was as good as any Nats starter this year.

THE BAD: Wilson Ramos. He left six runners on base, had a killer double play and ended up 0-for-4 at the dish with a strikeout. It was a day to forget for Ramos, though he did catch another baserunner stealing.

THE UGLY: The offense with runners in scoring position. The Nats combined to go 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and inning after inning they failed to drive runners in once they got on base. Jayson Werth and Danny Espinosa had lots of chances, leaving a combined eight men on base. Werth had two big chances in the fifth and seventh innings – in the fifth, he chased a curveball and in the seventh he lined out. Espinosa managed a great sacrifice fly in the ninth, but before that inning, the top two hitters in the lineup had a bad day.

THE STATS:  Seven hits, four walks, six strikeouts.  1-for-13 with RISP, 10 LOB, two GIDP. No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Tuesday v. St. Louis Cardinals at Nats Park at 7:05 pm.  Yunesky Maya (0-1, 5.40) faces Jaime Garcia (6-2, 3.20).

Twenty-two of the Washington Nationals games this season have been decided by one run.  Last night against the San Diego Padres was no different.  But this time, the Nats got two runs in the first and John Lannan and a trio of relievers made them stand up, as they beat the Padres 2-1 before 25,027 at Petco Park.

The one-run win increases the Nationals record in such games to 9-13, and the Nats have scored a grand total of 63 runs in their 24 one-run games, an average of 2.58 runs per game.  So not only are they playing a lot of close games, but they are low scoring close games, adding to the tension.  The Nationals have scored three runs or less in eight of their past 10 games.

The Nats even their record for this extended road trip at 5-5, with a chance Sunday to return to D.C. on a winning note.  Their season record stands at 29-36, a half-game ahead of the Padres, last in the N.L. West.

Saturday night, manager Jim Riggleman decided to change things up a bit, batting Jayson Werth lead-off and left fielder Brian Bixler (subbing for Roger Bernadina, who was felled by a tight hamstring during warm-ups) behind the pitcher in the ninth spot in the lineup. 

The switcheroo didn't really have an impact on the Nats offense, as they managed just five hits, with Bixler accounting for two of them.  Werth went 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot, stranding three runners in the process.

Washington got out of the box quickly in the first inning against Clayton Richard (L, 2-8).  Ian Desmond hit a one-out single and scoring on Danny Espinosa's line drive double that left fielder Ryan Ludwick dove for but had the ball kick off his mitt. Espinosa proceeded to steal third base, and after a Michael Morse strikeout, he scored on a Wilson Ramos single to center.

That's all the offense the nats could muster, and on this night, it was all they would need.

Lefty John Lannan authored yet another terrific performance, allowing only rookie Anthony Rizzo's first Major League home run.  He went 6 1/3 innings and gave up just six hits and two walks, striking out one.  Lannan threw 96 pitches and seemed upset when Riggleman lifted him in the seventh in favor of Todd Coffey after Jorge Cantu hit a soft liner to right for a single.

But Coffey got Chris Denorfia to ground out to short and got Jason Bartlett on a comebacker to end the inning.  Both Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen walked a batter, but neither gave up a hit and both struck out two in their innings of work.  Clippard earned his 16th hold, and Storen his 14th save.

Lannan increases his record to 4-5, and lowers his ERA to 3.60.  In his last four starts he's given up a total of two earned runs.  In fact, in six of his last nine starts he hasn't given up more than two earned runs.  Unfortunately, with the Nationals offense the way it is, last night was only the second win he has to show fro that period.

The Nats have one more game with the Padres before coming home for a 12-game homestand and will play 23 of their next 29 games overall at home.  After an 11-game west coast trip, that has to be a comforting thought to everyone on the ballclub, especially if they can secure victory on Sunday, which would give them a winning record on the trip.

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THE GOOD:  The pitching.  Granted, San Diego's team batting average is only fractions higher than the Nats, but Lannan, Coffey, Clippard and Storen did their jobs last night.

THE BAD:  Werth.  He looked as confused as he has all season in the leadoff spot in Riggleman's lineup.  He's hitting .160/.353/.280 in June, going 4-for-25 with just two extra base hits -- and just two RBIs.

THE UGLY:  Matt Stairs lined out to center pinch-hitting for the pitcher's spot in the eighth.  He's now hitting .103 (4-for-39) with one extra base hit this season.

THE STATS:  Five hits, one walk, one strikeout. 1-for-4 with RISP, three LOB, one GIDP. No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Sunday at 4:05 pm EDT against San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Jordan Zimmermann (4-6, 3.39) faces Tim Stauffer (2-4, 3.58).

Jordan Zimmermann accomplished something something his teammates couldn't do the last two games: drive in a runner from third with less than two outs.  He also held the San Francisco Giants to one run on five hits to lead the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 win before another capacity crowd of 41,786 at AT&T Park.

The win evens the Nats record so far on this 11-game road trip to 3-3, and puts their overall season record at 27-34.

Witht he game tied at one in the top of the fourth inning, Rick Ankiel led off against lefty Jonathan Sanchez (L, 4-4) with a ground ball double to right field and took third on Jerry Hairston's fly out to right.  Sanchez pitched around Laynce Nix to face the pitcher in a double-play opportunity.

But manager-for-the-day John MacLaren, filling in for suspended Jim Riggleman, called for a squeeze, and Zimmermann executed perfectly.  He pushed the bunt toward the first base hole, and a charging Aubrey Huff could not field it cleanly.  Ankiel scored on the play and all hands were safe.

The Nats got their first run an inning earlier, again set up by a Zimmermann sacrifice.

Nix walked to lead off, and Zimmermann pushed him over to second. After Roger Bernadina was hit by a pitch, Ian Desmond sent a soft liner to shallow center.  Center fielder Andres Torres charged the ball and it kicked off his glove, allowing Nix to score from second and both runners to move up a base. Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos both struck out with Bernadina 90 feet from scoring.

The rest was up to Zimmermann (4-6, 3.39) and his surgically repaired right arm, and he proved up to the task.

The 25-year old righty punished the Giants all night with his 84-MPH fastball and assortment of breaking balls.  Zimmerman gave up a second inning run on a Huff triple and Nate Schierhotlz double to the left center gap, but escaped that inning with just the one run, and cruised the rest of his seven innings, allowing a total of five hits and walking just one while striking out three.

Tyler Clippard walked one and struck out one to earn his 14th hold of the season, and Drew Storen was perfect in the ninth inning for his 12th save of the campaign.

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THE GOOD:  Zimmermann.  He's really throwing well and every time out he looks more and more like he will fulfill the Nats hopes of being able to man the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Strasburg next season.

THE BAD:  Danny Espinosa, hitting in the three-hole, went 1-for-5, but stranded five runners.

THE UGLY:  The Nats can't complain about not getting enough base runners last night, with a combined 13 hits and walks, but they stranded 11 and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

THE STATS:  Seven hits, six walks, nine strikeouts.  1-for-12 with RISP, 11 LOB, three GIDP.  No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Today at 3:45 pm against the Giants.  Yunesky Maya (0-1, 8.00) faces Matt Cain (4-4, 3.64)

There are a lot of studies out there that suggest that the anecdotal concept of "clutch" does not really exist.  As emotional beings, fans tend to remember the good (a player coming through with runners in scoring position or in a big situation) and tend to forget the equal number of times that player has failed.

Some of the more celebrated "clutch" players in history, statistics-wise, were no better in pressure situations than they were in any other situation.  It's just that we remember the good times, like Reggie Jackson's three-home run game in the World Series.  Turns out Mr. October performed more or less the way we would expect him to, commensurate with his career numbers.  He was no better -- or worse -- statistically in the playoffs.

Why the diatribe as a set-up for a game story?

I'm sure you'll read many words about how the Washington Nationals had plenty of base runners, but no one could come up with the "clutch" hit to drive them in in last night's 3-0 loss to Jonathan Niese and a pair of relievers for the New York Mets.  At least part of it is true, the Nats did have 10 hits and two walks, a total of 12 base runners over nine innings.  That's something to work with.

But this team is lacking in power and production.  There are no big hits, just strings of little hits, when they score runs.  Think back to Sunday's game in the first inning, when a couple of base hits, a walk and a double by the pitcher turned into six runs.

That's how this team has to manufacture runs with the dearth of power and contact right now.  And last night, they couldn't string anything together.  The team went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on. That says more about the lack of contact-making skills (eight strikeouts) and utter absence of power (two doubles in eight hits) than any particular player's "clutch"-ness.

The Nats also entered play not only as the worst hitting team overall in N.L., but last against left-handed pitching as well, hitting under .200 for the season against southpaws, which Niese obviously took advantage of.

Granted, they played this game for the most part in a monsoon.  The conditions were a travesty, with large puddles forming in the basepaths and in short left and right fields.  But both teams had to suffer the conditions.

Another huge contributing factor to the lack of production is first baseman Adam LaRoche.  He once again went 0-for-4, striking out twice and stranding three runners.  He's hitting .177/.291/.270 for the season, all of it right in the middle of the Nats batting order.  All of his plate appearances have come from the fourth and fifth spots in the order, and it's killing the Nats production having an out machine in the middle of their lineup every night.

LaRoche is a notorious slow-starter, but this is ridiculous.  For his career, he hits .208/.303/.385 in April and .250/.330/.432 in May and finishes hot in August and September.  At the pace he's on, he'll have to hit .400 the rest of the way to achieve his career numbers per 162 games of .268/.337/.480 with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs.

Perhaps the tear in his left shoulder rotator cuff is worse than the team believes.  LaRoche insists that it does not cause him pain, but degradation of the joint certainly could affect strength and flexibility.  It certainly would explain his performance, which at this point simply can't be shrugged off to "slow start".

The loss drops the Nationals to two games below .500 at 20-22, in an exact tie with the Mets for fourth place in the division.  A Mets team, we might add, missing David Wright, Ike Davis and Angel Pagan.

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THE GOOD:  Michael Morse went 2-for-4 with a double and an outfield assist, gunning out Justin Turner at third base..  Henry Rodriguez, Todd Coffey and Doug Slaten combined for 2 1/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief.

THE BAD:  Tom Gorzelanny.  He only gave up three earned runs, but he was darn lucky to do so, considering he gave up eight hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.  He did strike out seven, so he had that going for him, which was nice.  He also added a throwing error on a pick-off attempt for good measure.

THE UGLY:  Adam LaRoche. 0-for-4, two Ks, three LOB. 

THE STATS:  Eight hits, two walks, eight strikeouts. 1-for-9 with RISP, 10 LOB, 0 GIDP. E: Gorzelanny (1).

NEXT GAME:  Thursday at 1:10 pm at Citifield v. New York Mets.  Livan Hernandez (3-5, 3.92) faces Dillon Gee (2-0, 4.44).

When Eric Hinske homered for the Atlanta Braves in the bottom of the seventh off Washington Nationals reliever Doug Slaten for an insurance run that gave the homestanding Braves a 3-1 lead, it could have spelled doom for the Nats.  And when the Braves went to closer Craig Kimbel in the ninth for the save, it should have been lights out, as the Nationals were winless this season when trailing after eight innings.

Until last night.

Despite striking out the side, Kimbrel also left a couple of pitches up. Base hits by Laynce Nix and Jerry Hairston set the table, and when Alex Cora snuck a ball back through the middle for a two-run single, the Nationals found themselves in a brand new ballgame.

Then, in the top of the eleventh inning, Ian Desmond doubled to left field to drive in two and Jayson Werth followed by pounding a hanging slider into the left field bleachers for his sixth home run of the season.  Just like that, the Nats had taken the first two games of the series from the Braves, lifting their record for the road trip to 4-4 with one game left and evening their season record at 18-18.

Washington is now 5-1 in extra innings this season.

Drew Storen (3-1, 0.44), with a perfect tenth inning, picked up his second win of the week and Tyler Clippard threw a scoreless inning in the eleventh to finish off Atlanta.

Scott Linebrink (0-1), who gave up four earned runs in the last inning, suffered the loss for the Braves.

The Nats offense, which is last in the league in hitting, came alive a little bit, pounding out 13 hits and walking five times.  Cora, Desmond, Werth, Laynce Nix and Jerry Hairston all had multi-hit nights in the effort.  The team still struck out 11 times, but came thought last night in the later innings despite all the Ks.

John Lannan started for the Nats and provided a quality start, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in six innings, striking out three.  It was a much needed solid performance for the left-hander, and brought his ERA for the season back under five at 4.79.

Todd Coffey, Sean Burnett, Storen and Clippard provided 4 2/3 shutout innings of relief.

The final game of this brutal 10-day, nine game road trip is Thursday night and the Nats now have a chance to make it a winning trip and return to D.C. above .500, something that probably wasn't considered when they dropped the first three games of the trip to the Philadelphia Phillies in no uncertain terms. 

The trip has been a big test for this Nats team, and it says a lot about this group of players that they didn't let that three-game sweep to their most bitter rival snowball into a bigger losing streak.  This team may or may not go on to be competitive the rest of the season, but for now the Nats are staying respectable record-wise despite being at the bottom of the league in offense and missing their best overall player due to injury.

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THE GOOD: Drew Storen.  Completely dominated in his one inning of work.  Laynce Nix went 3-for-5 with three ground ball base hits.  Alex Cora went 2-for-2 as a late inning replacement and made a couple of nifty plays at third base.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa went 0-for-4 and stranded four runners.

THE UGLY: Doug Slaten. He finally gave up an earned run of his own, the Hinske homer, instead of allowing inherited runners to score.  But his job is to get left-handed batters out, not let them hit home runs like he did against Hinske.

THE STATS: 13 hits, five walks, 11 Ks.  4-for-14 with RISP, 10 LOB, one GIDP. No errors, two DPs.

NEXT GAME: Thursday in Atlanta. Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 4.10) vs. Derek Lowe (3-3, 3.22)

HARPER WATCH: Bryce Harper went 4-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs in Hagerstown's 11-5 win over Delmarva.  For the season, the prodigy is hitting .396/.472/.712/1.184 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs with five steals in 31 games.  He also had an outfield error, his second of the season.

by Tyler Radecki, Staff Writer

The Nationals’ starting rotation has pitched remarkably well all season long. Despite some rough outings, every starter was able to get through at least the fifth inning in every game – something no other team could claim.

On Thursday night, that streak came to an end. Starter John Lannan was pulled in the third inning after giving up five runs, and the Nationals would never recover against Roy Halladay, eventually losing 7-3.

The loss is the Nationals third in a row and drops their season record to 14-17, one game ahead of the Mets for fourth in the N.L. East

Lannan was able to work through the first two innings with just two hits against. But in the third, he couldn’t get anyone out. After a leadoff single by Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino homered to left. John Mayberry, Jr. doubled home Placido Polanco two batters later, and Raul Ibanez delivered the big two-RBI double shortly after to make it 5-0. Lannan did not record an out in the third inning and became the first Nationals starter to fail to work five innings in 2011.

After Lannan was pulled, Brian Broderick came in and allowed Ibanez to score, but got out of the inning without further damage.

The Nationals didn’t do go down without a fight, though. Immediately after the big third inning by Philadelphia, the offense responded.

Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche led off the inning with singles, and Wilson Ramos lined a ball to left field to drive in Werth. Jerry Hairston, Jr. then punched a ground ball into right field to load the bases after a 13-pitch at bat.

Ian Desmond drove a sacrifice fly to center in the next at-bat, scoring LaRoche and making the score 6-2. While it may not have seemed like much, getting two runs and six hits off Halladay through four innings is as good as the team has fared in the star pitcher’s time in Philadelphia. The Nats did no further damage to the star pitcher, and Halladay cruised through three more scoreless innings, totaling 10 strikeouts and did not walk a batter in the effort.

Raul Ibanez added an upper-deck solo homer in the fifth to make it 7-2. Ibanez, who came into the series hitting under .200, was 8-for-12 with two home runs and two doubles in the three games. Once again, he had a monster series against the Nationals.

The Nationals got on the board again in the eighth on a sac fly by Jayson Werth, making the final score 7-3, losing their seventh straight game at Citizens Bank Park dating back to last season.

Suffering a three-game losing streak is not really the way you want to start a 10-day, nine game road trip, and it'll be up to manager Jim Riggleman to make sure the Nats put this series behind them and get ready for the Florida Marlins over the weekend, in the ballpark that usually ends up a house of horrors for this team.

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THE GOOD: The bullpen did a very good job in relief, totaling six innings pitched, five hits, one run, two walks and nine strikeouts. Henry Rodriguez was wild in his two innings, giving up two hits and walk, but struck out three and escaped with no runs against.

THE BAD: John Lannan continued to struggle against the Phillies, giving up six runs on five hits and a walk in the third. Lannan’s career record against the Phillies falls to 0-10 with an ERA over six.

THE UGLY: In the fourth inning, Todd Coffey got a bloody nose on the mound, forcing trainer Lee Kuntz to come out and stuff gauze up his nose. Coffey got out of the inning without a run – striking out two batters after the bloody nose.

THE STATS: Eight hits, no walks, 12 strikeouts. 3-for-10 with RISP, 10 LOB. No errors

So far in the 2011 season, the Washington Nationals have had a fairly consistent formula for when they've won ballgames: Decent starting pitching, score five runs or more, and get dominant relief pitching.  In nine of their 12 wins going into Sunday's game with the San Francisco Giants the Nationals had scored five or more runs.

The formula worked again Sunday, as Washington got six solid innings from Jordan Zimmermann, Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett and Drew Storen pitched three shutdown innings, and they pushed five runs across, beating the Giants for the second time in three days, 5-2, before 21,611 at a damp and cool Nats Park.

Zimmermann (W, 2-4, 4.29) wasn't "ace" dominant, but he was solid, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and two walks over six innings.  He struck out four and worked himself out of a couple situations that could have lead to big innings.  He turned things over to Clippard in the seventh, and the man with the goggles and funky delivery was really on, striking out three in his 1 2/3 innings.  Burnett was asked to dispose of lefty Aubrey Huff with two outs in the eighth, and he got Huff to bounce back to the mound.

Storen gave up a one-out double in the ninth, but to no harm, as he got the final two outs for his fifth save of the season.

The offense did just enough, and took advantage when the Giants stumbled, something they could not do in Saturday's 2-1 loss.  Alex Cora drove in a run with a two-out double in the second, Rick Ankiel scored on a wild pitch, Jerry Hairston got a ball deep enough with men on second and third to force in a run, and Pudge Rodriguez' two-run single in the eighth provided the insurance for a damp, but enjoyable nonetheless, victory over the defending World Series Champions.

The Nationals record is now 13-14, and have one more home game against the Giants before heading out on a 10-day, nine-game road trip against Philadelphia, Florida and Atlanta without their best player.  They're still not hitting well, with the team batting average at .229, but they've managed to find a way to win a couple games in the weekend series.  They'll need to take that resolve and confidence out on the road with them.

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THE GOOD: Jayson Werth went 3-for-4, though he didn't score or drive in a run.  Pudge and Cora both had two hits.

THE BAD: Adam LaRoche went 0-for-2, lowering his average to .189.  He did draw two walks.  Unfortunately, Ian Desmond, hitting behind him, struck out twice and left five runners on, going 1-for-4.

THE UGLY: Jerry Hairston went 0-for-4, lowering his average to .193, from the leadoff spot with Danny Espinosa taking a maintenance day.  Hairston will get the bulk of at bats with Ryan Zimmerman out with abdominal surgery, and the Nats need him to start hitting.

THE STATS: 10 hits, four walks, seven Ks.  2-for-12 with RISP, 6 LOB, 1 GIDP.  No errors.

NEXT GAME: Monday at 7:05 pm against San Francisco Giants.  Tom Gorzelanny (0-2, 3.97) v. Madison Bumgarner (0-4, 6.17).

There's been a lot of attention paid to the Washington Nationals won-loss record, hovering around .500 the first few weeks at the start of the season.  If they can't find a way to beat teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates they certainly won't end up there.

When the Nats don't score five runs or more runs in a game, they don't win.  And they continued that trend last night in the Steel City, losing 4-2 in a rainy, sloppy affair along the banks of the Allegheny River.

The Nats actually broke out early on Pirates starter Paul Maholm (W, 1-3, 3.90).  Adam LaRoche singled in Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth with one out in the first and things were looking up.  But the offensively challenged squad only put four more runners on base all night long.

Pittsburgh got all the runs they needed in the two halves of the bottom of the fourth inning, a rain-delay bifurcating the Pirates at-bat.  John Lannan was on the hill for D.C. and got two ground ball outs with a walk to Jose Tabata sandwiched in before the rain.  Neil Walker followed with a single to right field, and for some reason Jayson Werth felt like he needed to send the throw home.

The resultant throw ended up missing the cut-off man and skipping away from catcher Wilson Ramos on the wet grass, allowing Tabata -- who had stopped at third -- to trot home with Pittsburgh's first run.  Werth was charged an error on the play.  A torrent came and halted play for 19 minutes and when play resumed, Lannan did not have his control, walking 1B Steve Pearce.  Newly acquired waiver wire pickup Brandon Wood then send a booming shot to the right center alley; both Walker and Pearce scored.

Catcher Chris Snyder followed by sneaking a ground ball past third baseman Brain Bixler to drive in Wood, and that's all she wrote.

Lannan (L, 2-2, 4.05) had his moments of sharpness in this game, but coming back out from the rain delay really seemed to mess with his command, as he had trouble getting the ball down after the rain subsided.  He finished 5 2/3 innings, continuing the Nats streak of being the only team in the league to have every starter complete at least five innings.

But the other side of that is performance, and Lannan ended up allowing four earned runs on five hits and -- the killer -- two walks, both of which scored in that fateful fourth inning.

The Nats actually had the tying runs on base in the top of the ninth against former teammate Joel Hanrahan, courtesy of a Werth walk and Ramos single, but pinch-hitter  Rick Ankiel struck out to strand both runners and end the game.  It was Hanrahan's sixth save of the season.

The Nationals record now stands one game below .500 at 10-11.  If they don't find some hitting soon, it might be the last time they are that close to that magic number for the season.

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THE GOOD:  Sean Burnett, Chad Gaudin and Todd Coffey combined for 2 1/3 scoreless relief.  Jayson Werth went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

THE BAD:  Michael Morse.  After looking like he might break out over the weekend -- upping his average over .250 -- he went right back to struggling, going 0-for-4 and stranding four runners.  He did have a nice catch to rob Chris Snyder of a home run at the six foot wall in left field though.

THE UGLY:  Nats pinch-hitters went 0-for-2. For the season, Nats pinch-hitters are now a pathetic 1-for-22. They are the only team in the N.L. that does not have an RBI by a pinch-hitter.

THE STATS:  Five hits, three walks, 10 Ks.  1-for-3 with RISP, 5 LOB, 1 GIDP.  E:  Werth (2), Desmond (7).

NEXT GAME:  Tuesday at 7:05 pm against the New York Mets at Nats Park.  Jordan Zimmermann (1-3, 3.70) v. Chris Young (1-0, 1.46).

THE RESULT:  A win is a win.  Despite two errors and several other defensive miscues, and the hitters going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, last night the Washington Nationals broke a seven-game losing streak to their personal nemesis Florida Marlins, 5-3 in 11 innings.

Adam LaRoche hit his first home run of the year with a man on in the top of the 11th, while four relievers combined for six shutout innings.  The win raises the Nats record to 2-4 through the first two series of the young season.

LaRoche, a notoriously slow starter, came into his final at bat of the night just 3-for-23 with no extra base hits.  But with Ryan Zimmerman on first base after a single off Marlins reliever Edward Mujica (L, 1-1), LaRoche finally saw a pitch he could handle, depositing in the stands to straight away right.

Sean Burnett then entered and finished the Marlins off, earning his second save of the season.  Burnett's inning capped a remarkable performance by the bullpen.  He, Todd Coffey (W, 1-0, 8.10), Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard combined to limit Florida to two hits over six innings.  The four struck out eight and did not walk a batter.  It was as dominating a job as you could ask for.

Particularly strong was Drew Storen.  He struck out three in two innings and was downright filthy.  He was bringing a 95 MPH fastball and late-breaking slider that was simply untouchable.  Clippard also entered and escaped from a no-out, two-on situation to keep the game tied at a critical juncture.

Nats starter John Lannan looked like he wasn't going to be in this game very long, allowing the first three Marlins batters to reach base and giving up two runs before recording an out.  But the lefty settled down and went five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out four.  It was not a great performance by any means, but he kept him team in the game when he did not have his best stuff.

The game was full of errors and defensive blunders from the Nats.  Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos and left fielders Laynce Nix were both charged with errors, and Rick Ankiel butchered a play in center field, but on this night anyway the gaffes did not ultimately hurt the Nationals.

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THE GOOD:  The bullpen.  Riggleman definitely has his 'pen laid out where Clippard, Storen and Burnett pitch when tied or leading, and the others when in deficit.  They all did their jobs last night in spectacular fashion, but it's a fine line to walk, expecting your starter and the same three relief pitchers to all do their jobs to earn a win.

THE BAD:  Danny Espinosa was caught stealing third with one out and tow on in the 10th inning.  In an attempt to get an extra base with one out in the inning, Espinosa made a rookie mistake.  He should have stayed put and given Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth two cracks to get him in.  Often in baseball, patience is better than aggression.

THE UGLY:  For all the emphasis on defense in the offseason, the Nationals lead the N.L. in errors through the first week of the season with eight in six games.

THE STATS:  Eight hits, three walks.  1-for-7 with RISP, 4 LOB, 2 GIDP.  E: Ramos (1), Nix (1).

NEXT GAME:  Friday at 4:10 pm at New York Mets.  Jordan Zimmermann (0-1, 3.00) v. R.A. Dickey (1-0, 0.00)

THE RESULT:  The Philadelphia Phillies, having clinched the N.L. East title two days ago, started a lineup Wednesday night that was reminiscent of an away Spring Training game.  The only regular starters in the lineup were shortstop Jimmy Rollins and centerfielder Shane Victorino.

No Chase Utley.  No Ryan Howard.  No Jayson Werth.

No matter.

The Phillies backups hammered Washington Nationals starter Ross Detwiler for four home runs and seven runs total in 4 2/3 innings.  Detwiler (L, 1-3, 4.25) gave up seven hits and walked two, striking out just two.  He left balls up and out over the plate, and he was punished early (back-to-back soslo shots in the second) and often (part-time outfielder Ben Francisco hit two homers).

And the Nats hitters were shut down by Joe Blanton (W, 9-6, 4.74).  Blanton, who is second among qualifiers in most hits allowed per nine innings, went seven strong, allowing just three hits and three walks, striking out six.

For the three-game series, the Nationals mustered just eight base hits.

Their record sits at 68-91 with three games to play against the New York Mets.

The highlight of the game for the home crowd was generated by themselves, giving slugging first baseman Adam Dunn a standing ovation before his final at bat of the game, possibly his last in a Nats uniform in Nationals Park. 

Barring any last-minute contract agreement, Dunn will file for free agency after the season, and several sources have said they don't expect the Nationals to meet Dunn's requirements for a contract for next year.

The significant of Dunn's at bat music for that final trip, "Turn the Page" by Metallica, was not lost on the legions of fans that paid tribute to Dunn, hoping that the team hasn't turned the page on the idea of re-signing their cleanup hitter.

THE GOOD:  Once again, the bullpen.  Miguel Batista, Collin Balester, Joel Peralta and Doug Slaten combined for 4 1/3 innings of one-hit scoreless relief.

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn.  On what could very well be his last appearance in a Nationals uniform at Nats Park, he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.  He even fessed up after the game of pressing, mainly because of the cheers -- and the standing ovation he received before his last at bat. 

"That's the first time in a long time I've had that feeling of, I wouldn't call it nerves, but I'd call them jitters," said Dunn.  "I tried to hit every ball as far as I possibly could."

THE UGLY:  Detwiler.  He's been good in limited opportunity late in the season, but tonight he didn't have the velocity or location to beat Philly's "spring training" lineup.  It was a pretty disconcerting start heading into a very important off-season for him.

The former first-round pick, Detwiler is danger of being relegated to "bust" status, his career derailed by injury and ineffectiveness.  What should make him dangerous, his funky delivery, also causes his hip problems, and he just didn't show his pre-surgery velocity or movement.  Hopefully a full off-season will allow the hip to fully heal and strengthen so that he gets that zip back in spring training.

THE STATS:  8 Ks, 3 BBs, 0-for-6 with RISP, 5 LOB, 0 GIDP, 0 Es

NEXT GAME: Off-day Thursday.  Friday the Nats start their final series of the season with the New York Mets.  Jordan Zimmermann (1-2, 5.76) takes on Pat Misch (0-4, 4.66) at 7:10 pm from Citi Field.

THE RESULT:  The Washington Nationals will still lose 90-plus games this season, but their performance the last two days may very well cost the Atlanta Braves the N.L. East title.

Justin Maxwell hit a second inning grand slam, while John Lannan and three relievers made it stand up, as the Nats beat the Braves 4-2, before 19,237 at Turner Field.

The loss for the slumping Braves (6-8 in Sept.) drops them 2 1/2 games behind division-leading Philadelphia, the Nationals next opponent.  It's only the second time this season a visiting team has won a series in Atlanta this season.  The Nats took eight of 15 from the Braves over all this year.

Lannan (W, 8-7, 4.61) gave up two earned runs, eight hits and three walks in six innings for the Nationals, striking out six. He's now 6-2 with 41 Ks against 12 BBs since being recalled from the minors after his bout with elbow soreness. 

Joel Peralta, Sean Burnett and Drew Storen combined for two-hit relief, with Storen pitching a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save in five chances.

The hitting hero was Maxwell, who has been mired in mediocrity all season with sporadic playing time on the big league level.  The tall, powerful right-handed hitter was hitting just .132 entering the game in 76 at bats.  Inserted today to face a lefty in a day game following a night game, Maxwell made good.  He blasted a 1-0 pitch from Mike Minor (L, 3-1, 5.84) just inside the left field foul pole about 10 rows back.

It's Maxwell's third grand slam in four at bats with the bases loaded in his major league career.

THE GOOD:  The bullpen.  Another three shutout innings from the pen.

THE BAD:  Danny Espinosa.  He went 0-for-4 today, and since his four-hit day Sept. 6 he's reached in just four of his 29 plate appearances, with two hits in 23 at bats and two walks.

THE UGLY:  In the seventh innings, Braves pinch-hitter Eric Hinske high a major league pop-up into short center against a brilliant sunshiny sky.  Center fielder Nyjer Morgan (still awaiting word on his suspension appeals) called off right fielder Michael Morse and second baseman Danny Espinosa, only to then cover his head as the ball fell between the three fielders.  Hinske was credited with a double, but was stranded.

THE STATS:  11 Ks, 2 BBs, 2-for-3 with RISP, 3 LOB, 1 GIDP.

NEXT GAME:  Off Thursday.  Nats start a three-game set with Philly on Friday. 

THE RESULT:  It took a near three-hour rain delay to get this one started.  And once it was, both teams sloshed around an outfield that was not fit for Major League play.

But the Nats are happy they waited and got this one in.

Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a "home run hitter's" blast off the facing of the upper deck in left center field, and Adam Dunn hit his second home run in three games, as the Washington Nationals turned a close game into a laugher, beating the Florida Marlins 9-3 before just a few dozen left of the announced crowd of 18,326 at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.

The weather turned the crown into a "freinds and family" atmosphere, with just a couple hundred sticking around for the final.

The win is the Nats fourth in five games and raises their record to 57-75.

Dunn, who appears to have emerged from his month-long slump, went 2-for-4 with a double, homer (33) and four RBIs.  In fact, the 3-4-5-6 hitters in the Nats' lineup all had two hits apiece.

Jason Marquis was not particularly sharp, allowing seven hits and three walks in his 5 2/3 innings pitched, but was the beneficiary of two double plays to end rallies and stuck around long enough for the win, his first of the season, to better his record to 1-7.

Joel Peralta, Tyler Clippard and Craig Stammen were all lights out, as each struck out the side in an inning of work.

Zimmerman's home run (25), a three run shot off Florida starter Alex Sanabia (L, 3-2), was a towering blast that slammed off an electronic sign on the facing of the upper deck, estimated at over 450 feet.  The ball crashed into the sign and broke the panel that contained the "m" in "Sun Life Stadium". 

You can view the blast here.

THE GOOD:  Adam Dunn.  He now has three multi-hit games in a row, with two homers, two doubles and nine RBIs.  Almost needless to say, the Nats have won all three. 

THE BAD:  Adam Kennedy went 1-for-5 in the leadoff spot and is 7-for-32 (.218) in the past week.  He's hitting .257/.324/.343 for the season.

THE UGLY:  Nyjer Morgan.  Hitting in the eighth spot again, he took another o'fer.  0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.  He's 7-for-37 (.189) in his last 10 games and is hitting .257/.315/.319 for the season.

THE STATS:  5 Ks, 4 BB, 2-for-9 with RISP, 7 LOB, 2 DPs, 1 DP hit into.

NEXT GAME:  Today at 7:10 pm against Florida.  Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 11.25) makes his second start of 2010 against Anibal Sanchez (11-8, 3.29).

The Washington Nationals got three solo home runs, six good innings from Livan Hernandez and three shutout innings from the bullpen to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2, taking their first series sweep of the season, before 21,767 at Nationals Park.

Hernandez (W, 5-3) was up to his old tricks, mowing down Pirates left and right, until tiring in the sixth inning.  He allowed just two hits and one walk through five, with Jason Jaramillo's double in the third representing the lone scoring opportunity through the fifth.

On the other side of the ledger, the Nats were getting just enough offense against Pirates starter Zach Duke.  Adam Dunn hit a towering shot to right with one out in the third inning--his third homer in as many games and 13th for the season. 

After a Ryan Zimmerman ground out, Josh Willingham took one to the Red Porch seats in left center, his 12th of the campaign.

Washington got another run in the fourth off Duke (L, 3-7).  With two outs, Dunn singled to the right field corner on a hard hit ball, went to second on a balk, and scored on the combination of Ryan Zimmerman's infield single and third baseman Andy LaRoche's throwing error.

Dunn was moved into the third spot this evening by manager Jim Riggleman against Duke, a lefty.  Hitting in the third spot in the lineup this season, Dunn was hitting .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs.  He only added to those totals in this contest.

"Anytime it's a left-handed pitcher we think about doing that," Riggleman said after the ballgame.  "Dunn is very well protected by Zimmerman in that situation."

Dunn is hitting .330 (38-for-115) with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in his last 30 games.

Hernandez ran into his only trouble in the sixth, when Duke and Jose Tabata hit back-to-back doubles, followed by a single from Neil Walker and a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen. 

Hernandez really bore down though, pitching around left-handed swinging Garrett Jones before retiring the next two batters, punctuated the effort by striking out Bobby Crosby for the final out of the frame.

The veteran gave up two earned runs in six innings total on five hits and two walks, striking out three.

Former Nationals' closer, Joel Hanrahan, pitched the seventh inning for the Pirates and gave up a hit to Desmond, got Dunn to hit a fly ball and struck out Zimmerman and Willingham.

With Matt Capps unavailable after throwing three straight days, the bullpen had a little different configuration, but to another excellent result.

Sean Burnett pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and Tyler Clippard was called upon for the ninth inning.  He responded as he has all season, striking out two in the process, including a called third strike on pich-hitter and former National Ryan Church, who had some words with home plate umpire Lance Barksdale after the call.

It was Clippard's first career save.

"I really wanted to give Matt [Capps] a night off...he's been up a lot," Riggleman said.  "It was gonna have to be someone else tonight and they got it done."

Including the scoreless effort tonight, Nationals relievers combined to throw 9 1/3 scoreless innings in the series with the Pirates.  Coincidence with the sweep?

Michael Morse, inserted against the lefty, also responded.  He went 2-for-2 with a walk off Duke and hit an insurance home run, his first of the season, to dead center field in the eighth inning off right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly.

The Nationals now embark on a seven-day, six-game interleague road trip against the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers.  Tomorrow they face their former manager, Manny Acta, and the Tribe.  Luis Atilano (5-2, 4.24) gets the ball versus Jake Westbrook (3-3, 4.84) at 7:05 pm from Progressive Field.

NATS NOTES:  Willingham has hit safely in seven straight and 14 of his last 18 games.  Over that span, he is .339 with six homers and 16 RBIs.

Cristian Guzman was 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot and struck out twice.

Roger Bernadina, who has struggled mightily against left-handers this season, was on base three times with a single and two walks.

Pittsburgh has lost five straight and six of their last seven games.

The Nationals had 10 hits and four walks, struck out six times, and left nine on base.  They were 2-for-11 with men in scoring position.

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