Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen has pitched in a game once since Aug. 28.  It showed today as he had trouble controlling his fastball, as he allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning of a tied game, leading to a 7-4 loss the the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of s double-header at Nats Park.

The loss drops the Nats record to 65-76.

Storen hit one batter, came close to taking forner Nat Jamey Carroll's head off with another wild offering, walked Carroll on four pitches, allowed two stolen bases, and gave up three hits, including a two-run double by pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn, Jr. to break a four-all tie in the final frame.  He threw 25 pitches, only 11 of which were strikes.

The offense should shoulder some of the blame in this one as well.  They jumped all over Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley in the third with a single, three doubles and a two-run home run by Jayson Werth, driving the normally reliable starter from the contest.  But the Nats hitters could not take advantage of the Dodgers bullpen, as only three batters reached the rest of the game, all via base on balls.

Dodgers relievers pitched 6 2/3 innings of shut-out, hitless relief, striking out six.

Nationals starter Chien-Ming Wang had another rough first inning, giving up two runs on a double by Juan Rivera, but was the victim of poor defense in the third, as an easily caught line drive by Rivera sailed over left fielder Michael Morse's head for another two-run double.  Morse originally broke in on the ball for what have been the first out of the inning, but misread the liner and turned it into two RBIs for Rivera.

Wang settled in after that and retired 11 of his last 12 batters, eventually lifted after 80 pitches over six innings for a pinch-hitter.  He walked none and struck out three in another decent performance for the Taiwan native trying to resurrect his Major League career.

In the second half of the twin-bill, Ross Detwiler (2-5, 3.83) will try to rebound from his last performance, an ugly affair where he allowed six earned runs in three innings to the New York Mets last Friday.  Detwiler will face the much-travelled Dana Eveland (1-0, 1.13), making his second start for the Dodgers.

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THE GOOD:  It didn't rain.  Much anyway.  Werth's homer was his 19th of the season and he hit two other balls hard.

THE BAD:  The offense.  The Nats had a big inning then put away their bats.  GM Mike Rizzo needs to find a way to address the lack of consistent attack in the off-season.

THE UGLY:  Storen.  No other way to put it, it just wasn't his day.  Whether he was rusty from the lay-off, having trouble with a wet ball, or just running up against his wall for the season, this was one of his worst performances as a big leaguer.

THE STATS:  Five hits, six walks, eight strikeouts.  3-for-8 w/RISP, seven LOB, no GIDP.  No errors.

NATS NOTES:  Steve Lombardozzi went hitless in five attempts, flying out to center to end the game.

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson threw out the first pitch.  He spoke with reporters in the press box after the ceremony about the experience, upcoming training camp, and the recent tragedies that have affected the international hockey community.

Minutes after Drew Storen realized he wasn't traded at the Major League non-waiver deadline, he entered a 2-1 game in the top of the ninth, entrusted to close it like he has 26 times before this season. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Washington Nationals, Scott Hairston had other ideas. He deposited a 2-2 pitch just barely over the wall in front of the visiting bullpen for his second solo home run of the day, drawing his New York Mets even with the home team.

But in an appropriate capper to a strange weekend, Ian Desmond got a ball to bounce over Mets reliever Bobby Parnell's head, high enough for Rick Ankiel to carry home the winning run in the bottom of the frame, giving the Nats a game and series win over their N.L. East rival.

This was a tight, tense affair, mimicking the mood in the park surrounding the trade deadline. It was plain for anyone that was interested to hear that Storen, among others, was being rumored to be involved in a deal with the Minnesota Twins in exchange for center fielder Denard Span and others. But when Nats GM Mike Rizzo did not get an offer he felt was enticing enough to give up his 23-year old, cost-controlled closer, the deadline passed with the Nats not making a move.

As for the game, it was a scoreless affair through the fifth inning. The Nats' Jordan Zimmerman and the Mets' Jon Niese were trading zeroes, not particularly challenged by their rival's offenses. The Nats struck first, in the bottom of the sixth, with three consecutive doubles by Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, which netted two runs.

The Nats runs came in the bottom of the frame where Zimmermann struck out his final two batters after putting men on second and third following two singles and a balk. For the day, Zimmermann was again superb. He went six shutout innings, allowing seven hits and one walk, striking out six. He used 107 pitches, 64 for strikes, on a sunny, 96 degree day.

So the trade deadline comes and goes without GM Mike Rizzo landing the leadoff hitter and center fielder he covets.  The Nationals aren't contending for anything this year so he wasn't forced to do a deal he didn't like.  There's plenty of time for him to find the appropriate players at the appropriate price.  Maybe he'll fill both spots with the same player, maybe not.  But regardless of what the pundits and cynics say, we'll never know what deals Rizzo was offered today, and it obviously wasn't enough for him to part with Storen.

Maybe the next offer will be.

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THE GOOD:  Jordan Zimmerman.  He's up to 132 2/3 innings, so he's got about four starts left in him before he'll be shut down at his limit of 160 innings pitched.  Today's game was a beaut.

THE BAD:  Sean Burnett.  One inning.  One home run.

THE UGLY:  Brian Bixler.  He lead off and went 0-for-5 with a K and four LOB.  Hitting .176 this season.  No wonder Rizzo is looking so hard for a legitimate leadoff hitter.

THE STATS:  11 hits, one walk, 10 strikeouts.  4-for-13 with RISP, 10 LOB, zero GIDP.  E: Zimmerman (8)

NEXT GAME:  Monday at 7:05 pm against the Atlanta Braves.  Livan Hernandez (5-10, 4.19) faces Jair Jurrjens (12-3, 2.38).

NATS NOTES:  LHP Atahualpa Severino was activated for the game and Yunesky Maya returned to AAA-Syracuse before the game.  Severino was to be used in case of an emergency but that did not come to pass.  He'll most likely be returned to the minors, maybe as soon as Monday.

This was just about how you would expect a game between the two worst offenses in the league to go.  The Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres combined for three runs, seven hits and five walks, but the biggest hit of all was the very last one.

On the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth, red-hot slugger Michael Morse took Mike Adams' flat 89-MPH slider deep into the visitors' bullpen, delivering a 2-1 win and ending the Nationals' five-game losing streak, before 21,024 at Nationals Park.  The Nats overall record now stands at 22-28.

After the game, the Nats announced that LHP Tom Gorzelanny was placed on the 15-day D.L. with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to May 24.  They did not announce a corresponding move, but Gorzelanny was scheduled to pitch Sunday.

The blast made a winner out of Drew Storen, though all things considered he would probably rather that honor belonged to starter John Lannan. 

Lannan was his ground-ball inducing best last night, recording 14 of his 23 outs on the ground.  He also struck out five, against two hits and two walks.  The only real trouble he was in all night was the top of the eighth, when after two outs he allowed an opposite field single to former Nats infielder Alberto Gonzalez and walked pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe.

Manager Jim Riggleman called on Storen with two on and two outs and he did his job in the high-leverage spot, striking out Chris Denorfia on a wicked slider for a called strike three to hold the Nats lead at 1-0, keeping Lannan in line for the victory.  But upon returning for the ninth, Storen caught too much of the plate with a 94-MPH fastball and shortstop Jason Bartlett jumped on it, sending it just over the wall in left field.  The result was Storen's first blown save of the season in 10 opportunities.

Storen hung his head briefly when he saw the ball leave the park, but he buckled down and mowed through the next three batters, striking out Jorge Cantu and Cameron Maybin to end the inning tied at one, setting up Morse's heroics.

Morse has now homered in four straight games, joining Ryan Zimmerman (Aug. 2009) in that lofty club. He finished 2-for-4 and has his slash line up to .288/.310/.475 for the season.  He also made a couple of nice plays at first base on low throws, which is good since he'll be playing a lot of first base for the foreseeable future.

“We’ve all seen this from Mike.  We saw it last year, [and] at spring training." Riggleman said in his post-game comments.  "It got away from him a little bit. Now he’s just playing baseball, not necessarily trying to hold on to a position, just go try to play the game. He’s not over-thinking things. He’s just hacking and the ball really jumps off his bat.”

Danny Espinosa homered in the fifth inning and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.

The Nationals really needed a win last night.  Coming home from a brutal 1-7 road trip, star players making veiled comments about changes needing to be made, and losing their first baseman for an extended period of time, this team really needed to sleep in their own beds and re-focus on their job.  For one night, anyway, they found the answer they've been looking for.

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THE GOOD:  Lannan.  He was outstanding last night, getting grounder after grounder to go right to a fielder.  It doesn't always work like that, but on the nights that the other team isn't making good contact it's fun to watch.  He also struck out five, which is a good sign for him and takes a little pressure off the fielders.

THE BAD:  Despite the win, the Nats managed just four hits, and both their runs came via solo homers.

THE UGLY:  Jerry Hairston was ejected on a very strange play at the plate.  He asked for time when he thought Padres starter Clayton Richard quick-pitched him, but the request was not honored by home plate umpire Ed Hickox.  Hairston jumped back into the batter's box and lofted a lazy fly ball to center for an out.  Instead of running out the pop up, Hairston turned around and laid into Hickox and was instantly ejected before Riggleman could get out of the dugout to defend his player.

THE STATS:  Four hits, three walks, two strikeouts.  0-for-3 with RISP, five LOB, 0 GIDP.  No errors.

NEXT GAME:  Saturday at 1:05 pm against the Padres.  Jordan Zimmermann (2-5, 3.98) faces Tim Stauffer (0-3, 3.88).

Danny Espinosa is congratulated by Laynce Nix on his two-run homer. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Washington Nationals rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa has really been struggling, hitting just .128/.255/.310 in the month of May. In his first two at bats, hitting right-handed, be drove a ball to the track and scorched a line drive, but both times the ball fell into center fielder Andrew McCutchen's glove.

What do they say about the third time being the charm?

On his third at bat, in a game tied at two in the seventh inning, Espinosa took the first pitch he saw from Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Jose Ascanio into the Nats bullpen in right field, driving home two runs and delivering the Nats their 20th win of the season.  He did so left-handed, where he's only hitting .175 this season.

Espinosa's fifth home run of the season made a winner out of Cole Kimball for the first time in the Majors, pitching for the third day in a row since his recall.  Kimball unfortunately could not strand the runner he inherited from starter John Lannan, as McCutchen tripled home Ronny Cedeno, who had reached via walk from Lannan earlier in the inning.  But Kimball stranded McCutchen on third to end the inning before Espinosa's heroics.

All that was left was for Drew Storen to do what he does, and he did it once again, completing his 21st consecutive scoreless inning and earning his ninth save of the season.  Storen gave up an earned run on opening day and has not been scored upon since.

Drew Storen delivers in his ninth save and 21st consecutive scoreless outing. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Jerry Hairston also homered, his second of the season, off Pirates starter Paul Maholm in the fifth inning.

Lannan was not particularly effective though he only allowed two earned runs, especially considering one scored after he left the game.  He gave up seven hits and four walks in his 6 1/3 innings.  But he had some good defense behind him, got a ground ball double play when he needed it the most, and made the pitches when he had to.

"Sometimes that's the way it's gonna be," manager Jim Riggleman said about Lannan's performance.  "You're not gonna have your good stuff, you're not gonna be sharp, but you've just got to battle through it and that's what he did."

"[Lannan] did a great job, he kinda found it there in about the sixth, he really went out and had a clean inning and then the lead off walk did him in there with Cedeno.  He struggled, first guy [every inning] was getting on and not throwing first-pitch strikes, but he was battling out of it and we played good defense behind him."

It helped that the Pirates ran themselves out of a big inning in the fourth. 

Brandon Wood walked on four pitches to lead off, then tried to go to third on Chris Snyder's single to center field.  Roger Bernadina made a strong throw -- but up the third base line a little -- and Jerry Hairston made a great play to catch the throw and get back to the bag to put the tag on.  Wood was out easily, breaking the old baseball code about not making the first out of the inning at third base.

Later that inning, Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm couldn't get a bunt attempt down on a squeeze play, and Snyder was caught stealing home on a run-down, catcher to third back to the pitcher.

The Nationals once again sit on the precipice of .500, one game below entering Tuesday's day game with the Pirates.  They go right back out on the road for eight games after closing with the Pirates, so the Nats should make hay where they can.

Another "Curly W" in the books. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

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THE GOOD: Espinosa hit the ball hard all three of his at bats.  His first at bat he took a ball to the track in left center that would have been five rows deep at Camden Yards in Baltimore.  Perhaps he's starting to come out of his slump that dropped his average below .200.

THE BAD: Lannan survived and managed to keep runs off the board, but 11 base runners in 6 1/3 on most nights is going to get your team killed.  Lannan's BB rate keeps going up, not a good sign for a guy that lives on the edge as it is.

THE UGLY: Adam LaRoche was 0-for-4 and took some really feeble swings striking out twice.  His average is down to .182/.306/.286 for the season and is hitless in his last four games and hasn't had an extra-base hit since hew doubled May 5.

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

NEXT GAME: Tuesday at 1:05 pm against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nats Park.  Jordan Zimmermann (2-4, 4.13) takes on Charlie Morton (4-1, 3.13).

Congrats to Cole Kimball on his first win in the Major Leagues. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Ryan Zimmerman can only gaze out at the scoreboard from the dugout. (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

Jayson Werth looking, well, hairy.  (C.Nichols/Nats News Network)

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.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson usually owns the Washington Nationals.  Entering play last night, Hudson had a career record of 11-2 against the franchise.  But last night the veteran starter fell victim to some shoddy defense by his normally reliable teammates in the middle innings, then a couple of bad pitches resulted in pair of two-out, three-run home runs by Laynce Nix and Jayson Werth, and the Nats managed to hold on to a 7-6 win before 16,143 at Turner Field.

It didn't come easy though, as the Braves rallied for five runs in the eighth against three different Washington pitchers.  But pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad's long fly ball off closer Drew Storen died on the warning track, as did Atlanta's hopes for a comeback victory in the ninth.

The Nats record sits at 17-18 after the win, and 3-4 on the nine-game road trip with two games to play.

The Nats were error-frees again and are 13-8 in games when they keep a clean sheet in the error column, compared to a 4-10 mark when they commit as least one error.

Nationals starter Jason Marquis earned his 100th career victory, pitching into the eighth inning.  He gave up seven hits and three walks, striking out three in 7 2/3 innings. But two of the three runs against scored after Marquis (4-1, 3.66) left the game, as Sean Burnett gave up a hit and a walk to his only two batters, then Tyler Clippard surrendered Dan Uggla's three-run home run to bring the Braves to within one.

After a visit from pitching coach Steve McCatty, Clippard settled down and got out of the inning.  Storen threw a 1-2-3 inning for his eighth save of the season. Storen has allowed just one earned run all season in 19 2/3 innings.  He owns a 0.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and .157 batting average against.

The Nats managed just five hits in the game, but scored seven runs thanks to a pair of errors in the fourth inning.  Braves 1B Freddie Freeman couldn't handle an Adam LaRoche sharp ground ball and center fielder Nate McLouth flat-out dropped Wilson Ramos' fly ball as he and right fielder Jason Heyward both tracked the ball. McLouth admitted after the game he took his eye off the ball to find the linebacker-sized Heyward running toward him.

The next batter, Nix, drilled a three-run shot into the right field stands.

The next inning, Werth hit a changeup that Hudson described to as a "brutal pitch selection" on a line to left field, and the Nats built a seemingly insurmountable 7-1 lead.  In the end, it was just enough to secure the victory.

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THE GOOD: Drew Storen.  Threw seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, getting two fly ball outs and a comebacker from Martin Prado to end the game.

THE BAD: Wilson Ramos went 0-for-4, stranding three runners.  His average slips to .301.

THE UGLY: Danny Espinosa went 0-for-4, lowering his average to .214. The rookie is 5-for-32 (.156) in his last ten games.

THE STATS: Five hits, three walks, six Ks.  3-for-7 with RISP, 2 LOB, 1 GIDP. No errors.

NEXT GAME: Today at 7:10 pm against Atlanta.  John Lannan (2-4, 5.09) vs. Tommy Hanson (4-3, 2.62)

Maybe a couple days off was all that Ian Desmond needed.

In his first game back from paternity leave and the birth of his first child, the shortstop homered and tripled, scoring two runs, to lead the Washington Nationals over the streaking New York Mets 4-3, before 15,142 at Nationals Park.

The win halts the Nats losing streak at three games and ends the Mets winning streak at six.  The Nationals climb a half-game ahead of New York for fourth place in the N.L. East by virtue of having one less loss at 11-13.

Desmond went 2-for-4 on the evening, with the two extra-base hits.  He tripled to the left center gap and scored on Jerry Hairston's soft fly ball single in the fourth inning, and homered to the visitor's bullpen in the fifth.

"He really played relaxed tonight, had good at bats," manager Jim Riggleman said of his returning shortstop.  "[Desmond] looked relaxed on defense. I'm really proud of him. He's a great competitor and gone through some tough times here in April, but he's had some big games for us too and tonight was a real good ballgame."

"I thought he was very loose tonight," Riggleman said when asked if he thought the time off helped Desmond's game. "A couple days off probably helped him a little bit. Fatherhood exceeds anything we do out here anyway, but I know he's at a special time in his life and I'm just really happy for him -- really glad to see him have a nice, loose ballgame." 

The other offensive hero was also the pitching hero, as Livan Hernandez singled and scored in the third on Jayson Werth's ground rule double that right fielder Carlos Beltran lost in the lights and also drove in Hairston with a sacrifice bunt in the fourth.

Hernandez (W, 3-2, 3.23) was also quite sharp with his arm.  If the news this week that he's the subject of a federal investigation involving money laundering was bothering him, he did not show it on the mound.  He retired the first six batters in order en route to going eight innings with just three runs allowed (two earned) on seven hits and one walk, striking out five.

After Hernandez struggled in his last start, there might have been cause for concern, but Riggleman wouldn't admit to any.  "I don't worry too much about Livo.  Livo's just such a consistant competitor, a good thinker out there."

Drew Storen came in to earn the save in the ninth, punctuating the victory by striking out Mets center fielder Willie Harris on a filthy breaking ball on a 3-2 count.

The win marks just the second time this season the Nationals have won a game scoring fewer than five runs.  "It seems like most of the time we're playing in a real tight ballgame, we don't have too much margin for error really," Riggleman said.

If they are to retain hope of remaining relatively competitive for the next couple of weeks with a daunting 10-day, nine-game road trip looming after a four-game weekend series with the San Francisco Giants, the Nats better find a way to either score a few more runs, or duplicate last night's effort, playing good defensive baseball while getting a solid start and air-tight relief.

It's a tough formula to be successful with, but so far the Nats have kept within hailing distance of .500.  The next two weeks will be a challenge.

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THE GOOD: Desmond.  It was nice to see him have such a good game, offensively and defensively, upon his return.  The impending birth of his child had to have been weighing on him in the week leading up to it and he had one of his finer games all season.

THE BAD: Adam LaRoche went 0-for-4 and left three men on base, lowering his season average to .210.

THE UGLY: Pudge's error could have been huge; as it turned out it was just mildly embarrassing.  Mets starter Chris Capuano tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt and Pudge went out to pick it up, but he bobbled it twice trying to find the handle and all hands were safe, loading the bases.  Jose Reyes hit a sac fly to score one run, but Livo got Daniel Murphy on strikes to end the frame.

THE STATS: 10 hits, one walk, three Ks.  3-for-6 with RISP, 7 LOB, one GIDP.  E: Rodriguez (1).

NEXT GAME: Friday at 7:05 pm against the San Francisco Giants.  Jason Marquis (2-0, 3.55) takes on Tim Lincecum (2-2, 2.70).

THE RESULT:  It became a constant refrain, whether or not Adam Dunn was actually at bat Tuesday night or not.  Between innings.  On a put out at first base.  On random occasions.  But especially when the Nationals potential free agent first baseman came to bat.

"Sign Adam Dunn!"

The chants were never louder than in the ninth inning, when he came to the plate to lead off in a 1-1 tie.

"Sign Adam Dunn!" 

And on a 2-0 pitch from veteran right-handed reliever Jose Contreras, Dunn delivered.  He sent his 38th home run of the season half-way up the second deck above the out-of-town scoreboard in right center field, a majestic blast that had "no doubt" written all over it.

"Sign Adam Dunn!"

So the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1, before 19,117 thanks to a player that may make his final appearance as National at home tomorrow night.  Fans got to see a walk-off on "Mr. Walk Off" T-shirt Tuesday, even though it wasn't birthday boy Ryan Zimmerman.

The Nats have a lot of big decisions over the winter, but the biggest one is what to do with Dunn.  The team gets an exclusive window to negotiate with him once he files for free agency, but they've essentially had that luxury all season long. 

And ever since a season ticket holder luncheon before spring training, when the question was raised publicly, Dunn has been open about his desire to return to the Nationals.  And the team has professed their admiration for the big slugger. 

But at this point, he's going to free agency, and he'll get offers, and it'll be up to the Nats to decide whether or not to reach or exceed those offers.

And no amount of chants or cheers, or feel-good home runs, will affect those negotiations.

The win lifts the Nats record to 68-90 with four games remaining.

THE GOOD:  Jason Marquis continued his strong finish to the 2010 season.  In his last start, he went six innings and allowed seven hits and one walk, striking out seven.  His only blemish was Raul Ibanez' home run, the 249th homer Ibanez has hit against the Nats in the last four years.

Tyler Clippard struck out two in two scoreless innings and Drew Storen got the win (4-4), striking out two in the ninth inning.

THE BAD:  Lots of 0-fers, so I won't even bother.

THE UGLY:  0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

THE STATS:  9 Ks, 3 BBs, 0-for-7 with RISP, 5 LOB, 1 GIDP.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday, the final game of the season at Nats Park.  Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.52) makes his final start of the season against Joe Blanton (8-6, 4.94) at 7:05 pm.

THE RESULT:  The Atlanta Braves came into D.C. this weekend looking to solidify their chances of making the playoffs, hoping to take advantage of a last-place team.  What they got was two losses out of three games to a young team learning to play, a serious dent in their plans for post-season play.

One of those young players, 25-year old shortstop Ian Desmond, hit a clutch two-out single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 win, before 21,625 at "Jersey Off Their Backs" Day at Nationals Park.

The Nats not only took the series, they also won the season's series with Atlanta, 10 games to eight.  If Atlanta fails to qualify for post-season play, they need to look no further than a losing record against the Nats this season.

With six games remaining, the Nats record sits at 67-89.  It's only numbers, but I think if you talked to anyone involved in the organization, they'd love to hit that 70-win plateau, just as quickly as they would also say they want to raise that bar higher.

Desmond was having a rough day, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, but after two different Braves relievers walked the bases loaded, he drilled a single back through the box to drive in Willie Harris and Danny Espinosa without a throw.

It was that type of day for the Braves, as all four of the Nats runs came after the batter reached via base on balls.

Nats starter Livan Hernandez gave a typical outing for him in his renaissance 2010 season.  He threw six strong innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out three.  He allowed a solo homer to Rick Ankiel in the fifth, and back-to-back doubles that ended his day in the seventh to Melky Cabrera and Ankiel.

Livo did not get the win, however.  That distinction went to Sean Burnett (1-7), who continues to mow down opposing batters.  He threw two perfect innings, striking out three in the process.  And Drew Storen got back on track, striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fifth save of the season.  Storen threw 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes, displaying a wicked slider to left-handed batters.

Burnett has not been scored upon in his last 12 appearances, striking out 13 in 11 2/3 innings.

Washington got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first two innings.  Nyjer Morgan (1-for-2, 2 BBs) drew a one-out walk, took second on Adam Dunn's walk, and scored on Michael Morse's base hit in the first inning against Braves starter Brandon Beachy.  In the next inning, Ivan Rodriguez lead off with a walk, moved up on singles by Alberto Gonzalez and Danny Espinosa (2-for-3, BB), and scored on Morgan's base hit.

Unfortunately, the Nats could get no more in the second, as the frame ended with Desmond flying out to short center field, and Gonzalez getting nailed at the plate on a great throw by Ankiel.

With the Phillies losing Sunday as well, the Braves magic number to be eliminated from the division race is still one game, and they trail San Francisco by a half-game in the wild card standings.

With a good chance of rain Monday, I think Nats fans wouldn't mind seeing the home game with the Phils rained out and the Braves lose their game with Florida, so the Phillies don't get to publicly celebrate their division title in Nats Park.

THE GOOD:  Sean Burnett.  He's been outstanding, and threw another two dominating innings today.

THE BAD:  Adam Dunn.  He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, and committed a throwing error, cleanly fielding a grounder, but then throwing into the back of the runner going to second.  Instead of a double-play, it set up second and third with one out in the fourth.  Livo wriggled out of the jam, getting the next two batters to pop up.

THE UGLY:  The Nats struck out 14 times, nine in the first five innings to Beachy, making the second start in his major league career. 

THE STATS:  14 Ks, 7 BBs, 4-for-10 with RISP, 8 LOB, 0 GIDP, 1 E (Dunn-throw)

NEXT GAME: The Nats start a three-game set with Philadelphia at 7:05 from Nats Park.  John Lannan (8-7, 4.58) hosts Roy Halladay (20-10, 2.53).

"We're just trying to get outs." -- Jim Riggleman, on lifting Drew Storen in the ninth.

THE RESULT:  This story should be about how the Washington Nationals came from behind with a seven-run eighth inning to defeat the Houston Astros 8-4.  Or if could he about how John Lannan persevered to pitch seven strong innings after giving up three in the first inning. 

It could even be about how Ivan Rodriguez got a little bit redemption in a lousy season, slugging a massive two-run homer to take a lead the Nats wouldn't relinquish.

But it's not.

It's about how the manager of the Washington Nationals, Jim Riggleman, pulled the rug out from underneath his rookie reliever and future closer, Drew Storen.

Storen, granted, had a bit of a tough time of it in the ninth inning, brought into a five-run game.  He got the first out of the inning on a strikeout of Jason Michaels, who hit a two-run homer against Lannan in the first inning.

The second batter of the inning, Chris Johnson, lofted a 1-1 pitch to the bullpen in left center field, cutting the lead to 8-4.  Storen got shortstop Tommy Manzella to ground back to him, making a nice grab on the comebacker to get the second out of the inning.

Storen then lost catcher Jason Castro on a 3-2 pitch after two foul balls.

At that point, Riggleman came out and lifted the young reliever, though the man coming to the plate could not tie the game or bring the winning run to home plate.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth in a four-run game with a man on first, Riggleman decided that instead of building confidence in a rookie that struggled his last time on the mound, he needed to bring in a lefty to make pinch-switch-hitter Geoff Blum bat right-handed.

Blum is a career .250/.311/.385 hitter over 12 MLB seasons.

Storen was visibly upset as he left the mound, and he stormed into the runway to the clubhouse.  He had every right to be upset.  And there are no quotes from him coming from the clubhouse after the game.

Burnett got a pop-up to end the game, and officially seal the Nats all-important 63rd win of the season, ensuring that even if they lose every single game remaining, they will not lose 100 games for the third consecutive year.

But at what cost?

The shattered confidence of one of the proclaimed cornerstones of this franchise?  A potentially damaged relationship between the groomed closer and his caretaker manager?

I asked Riggleman in the post-game press conference if something specific bothered him about Storen's performance that caused him to pull the reliever, despite the fact he could not have given up the lead to the next batter.  Riggleman easily could have said the walk bothered him enough to go get Storen.  And I would probably be writing about the comeback.

But that is not what he said.  This was: 

"We don't have any specific role for anybody, we're just trying to get outs and I felt like the best way to get that next out was to bring Burnett in.  Did I think Drew would get the next out?  Yeah.  But I was a little more confident that [Burnett] coming in fresh there to face a guy off the bench, but turn him around right-handed, was a little more to our liking."

So no specific roles in the bullpen.  But Riggleman felt it was a better matchup to bring a left-handed pitcher in to make a .250 career-hitting switch-hitter hit right-handed (his better side) rather than allow a rookie pitcher finish the job you're grooming him for -- when he couldn't give up the lead or bring the winning run up to the plate -- expressing a lack of confidence in him both by actions and by words.

Maybe I'm overreacting, in which case please feel free to tell me in the comments.

But sometimes process needs to play out.  Sometimes you have to let rookie pitchers work out of their own jams.  Sometimes you have to manage with the bigger picture in mind instead of acting like it's the seventh game of the World Series every night.

Or not.

THE GOOD:  Pudge Rodriguez.  His OBP for the season may still be under .300, but the two-run homer he hit to tie the game hit half-way up the foul pole in left field.  After the Nats left runners on in scoring position in each of the two previous innings, it was a much needed blast.

Lannan's deeds cannot go ignored either.  Roughed up for three runs in the first, it looked like a long night.  But Lannan settled down, retiring 12 straight at one point.  He went seven full, allowing just the three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out three.

THE BAD:  Danny Espinosa went 0-for-4, lowering his average to .212.  He did make several stellar plays at second base though throughout the evening.

THE UGLY:  I think I already covered that.

THE STATS:  9 Ks, 6 BBs, 5-for-13 with RISP, 9 LOB, 0 GIDP.

NEXT GAME:  Wednesday v. Houston at 7:05 pm.  Jason Marquis (2-9, 7.71) faces Wandy Rodriguez (11-12, 3.65).

NATS NOTES:  Announced attendance tonight was 11,893.  Actual attendance appeared to be much lower than that.

NATS PHOTOS:  Photo gallery on Off the Field.

THE RESULT:  You could see it coming a mile away.

And with each batter the outcome became increasingly clear. 

Single.  Double.  RBI single.  Home run.

That's how the Philadelphia Phillies erased a three-run deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 in the ninth inning Sunday, before another sell-out crowd of 44,936 at Citizen's Bank Park.  And that was while the Eagles were playing as well.

Say what you want to (and I have) about Philly fans, they support their sports teams.

Washington has lost seven of their last nine games and is 5-11 in September.  They still sit on 62 wins for the season with 13 remaining to play.

Drew Storen came into a save situation against the heart of the Phillies order, and did not record an out.  It was a blip on the his otherwise strong season, the first time in seven outings he'd been scored upon.  But at least for this day, in the most heated of settings, the rookie came up short.

Placido Polanco hit a 1-2 pitch for a single to left center field.  Chase Utley hit a 0-1 pitch to left for a double.  Ryan Howard drove in both with a single to center on another 0-1 pitch.  And Jayson Werth fouled off three straight with a full count before conencting with the game-winning homer, a blast to center that Storen could only watch and hang his head on.

It was Storen's second blown save of the season, and his record drops to 3-4, with a 3.83 ERA.

The Nats built their lead via the homer, as Willie Harris (9), Michael Morse (11), and Danny Espinosa (4) all hit big flies. 

But it wasn't enough.  Sunday proved once again no lead is enough in Philadelphia.

THE GOOD:  Morse went 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs.  Harris went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. 

THE BAD:  Ryan Zimmerman was the only Nats position player without a hit, going 0-for-5.

THE UGLY:  In the fourth inning, Adam Dunn singled with one out.  With the count 3-2 to Roger Bernadina, Manager Jim Riggleman put on a hit-and-run with a slow runner and a struggling hitter.  The resulting "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play to end the inning was predicatable and disheartening.

THE STATS:  10 Ks, 2 BBs, 2-for-6 with RISP, 6 LOB, 0 GIDP.

NEXT GAME:  The Nats start their last homestand of the season, a ten-game stand tonight against Houston.  Livan Hernandez (10-11, 3.66) hosts Bud Norris (8-8, 4.95) at 7:05 at Nationals Park.

NATS NOTES:  Yunesky Maya started and went 4 /3 innings.  He allowed three earned runs on six hits, two walks, a hit batter and a balk, striking out two.

Joel Peralta, Sean Burnett and Tyler Clippard all pitched a shutout inning in relief.

THE RESULT:  After his last start, Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan made a semi-veiled comment about getting pulled from the game earlier than he thought appropriate.  On Sunday afternoon, Lannan made sure that he maximized every pitch he made, and came up with an outstanding effort on a sunny, hot afternoon.

Lannan went a very strong 7 2/3 innings, leading the Nats to a 4-2 win over the suddenly struggling St. Louis Cardinals, before 24,782 fans on "Pups in the Park" day at Nationals Park.  It was Lannan's longest start since an eight inning game Aug. 28, 2009.

The win lifts the Nats record to 56-75 and the loss drops the Cardinals five games behind N.L. Central leading Cincinnati.

The 25-year old lefty, two time Opening Day starter even helped himself with the bat, dropping a hit in front of left fielder Matt Holliday that squirted past the outfielder for a two-run double.

Since being recalled from Double-A Harrisburg, Lannan is 4-1 with a 3.25 ERA in six starts.

Lannan (6-6) gave up just one earned run on eight hits before getting lifted with two outs in the eighth for closer Drew Storen.  Manager Jim Riggleman called upon his young closer to face the right-handed hitting Albert Pujols, though Lannan had struck out the All-World slugger his last at bat.

Storen made sure Pujols would not play hero, as the rookie got him to chase a slider in the dirt for strike three, stranding a runner in the process.

Things did get interesting in the ninth for Storen though.  His first pitch of the inning went behind Holliday, raising the ire of the powerful slugger, who took a few steps toward the mound.  Catcher Wil Nieves stepped in front of Holliday and defused the situation, but Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa came out to argue the situation with home plate umpire Rob Drake.

And of course, crew chief "Country" Joe West had to involve himself in the discussion.  Both benches were warned after the play, and there was no further escalation of tempers.

The excitement had a backdrop of Saturday night's extra-curricular activities, when Nyjer Morgan went out of his way to initiate contact with Cardinals back-up catcher Bryan Anderson.  After Sunday's game, Riggleman told reporters that he had a pre-game meeting with West and LaRussa to discuss the incident and the ramifications for retaliation in Sunday's game.

When play resumed, Storen was able to get Holliday to ground out, but Pedro Feliz ran into a fastball and deposited it into the Cards bullpen to cut the lead to 4-2.  Storen recovered though and punched out Jon Jay and Colby Rasmus to end the game, earning his third save of the season.

The Nats received offensive support from Michael Morse, who went 2-for-4 with a two run home run and Adam Dunn, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

THE GOOD:  Lannan.  The Nationals really need a stabilizing force in the rotation right now, and Lannan is trying to play the part.  The biggest part of his turn-around is keeping runners off base from walks, something he had a lot of trouble with before his exile to the minors.

THE BAD:  Ryan Zimmerman went 0-for-4.  That the Nats could find enough offense to win with their leader having a bad day is a good thing.

THE UGLY:  Willie Harris.  Another 0-for-4 day, and his average plummits to .183.

THE STATS:  9 Ks, 3 BBs, 1-for-6 with RISP, 6 LOB, 2 DPs, 1 DP hit into.

NEXT GAME:  Washington starts a seven-day, six-game road trip to Florida and Pittsburgh with a game Monday in Miami.  Jason Marquis (0-7, 8.79) takes on Alex Sanabia (3-1, 3.62) at 7:10 pm from Sun Life Stadium.

NATS NOTES:  After the game, the team announced they re-signed Livan Hernandez to a contract for the 2011 season.  No terms were released.  The 35-year old veteran is 9-9 with a 3.49 ERA in 27 starts for the Nationals this season.

I didn't watch this game.  Haven't even seen the highlights.  We went out for dinner and saw Inception.  I'm not a huge fan of realistic fantasy, and even less into action flicks.  But it was interesting enough.  And the theatre was nice and cool.

Anyway, the Nats found new and interesting ways to lose another game, as Ryan Braun hit a walk-off against Drew Storen, after the Nats tied things up in the top of the ninth.  From multiple accounts, here are some bullet point "highlights":

• 
  
  Alberto Gonzalez started at first base, the first time in his career he'd played the position.
• 
  
  Collin Balester was recalled to bolster the bullpen, and was expected to just be on the roster one day, until Ross Detwiler was activate to start Sunday's game, until...
• 
  
  ...J.D. Martin's balky back acted up on him and he'll hit the D.L.  Balester will stick around for now.
• 
  
  Before both Martin and Balester had exited, they both had given up a home run.
• 
  
  Manager Jim Riggleman acted like an All-Star manager (not in a good way), and used up his entire bench by the top of the ninth.
• 
  
  Michael Morse went 2-for-3 a night after hitting two home runs.  He also made a critical base-running error, getting doubled up after Jim Edmonds made a terrific catch and throw behind the play.
• 
  
  Nyjer Morgan, pinch-hitting for Morse, bunted for a single to load the bases in the ninth.
• 
  
  Wil Nieves, the last man on the bench, couldn't get a ball deep enough to score Josh Willingham from third with one out.
• 
  
  Drew Storen allowed three base runners in his third of the inning and took the loss.
• 
  
  Washington lost its 12th straight one-run game on the road, and the Nationals have dropped 28 of 36 overall on the road.

Sunday, the Nats send Ross Detwiler to the mound for his first start of 2010.  He'll face Dave Bush (4-9) at 2:10 pm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BAD:  Nyjer Morgan went 0-for-5. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stephen Strasburg cools off during his 10 strikeout performance

against the Chicago White Sox.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

"If I need to throw it hard, I throw it hard.  It was a tough play, tough game." -- Ryan Zimmerman, on his throwing error in the 11th inning which led to the game-winning run.

THE RESULT:  With his eighth strikeout of the evening, Stephen Strasburg set a Major League record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in his first three career starts. 

Unfortunately, his teammates couldn't solve a starter with a 5.00-plus ERA as the Washington Nationals suffered a tough 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox before 40,325 -- including the President of the United States, who stopped by to support his home town Sox.

The loss drops the Nats to 31-37, six games below .500, the low mark of the season.

Strasburg finished with 10 whiffs, giving the 21-year old 32 Ks in three starts in 19 1/3 innings, surpassing J.R. Richard's 29 in 1971.

But the strikeouts wouldn't matter to the end result, and Strasburg was circumspect after the game.

(Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

"It's never going to be a goal of mine. My goal is to go out there and help the team win. It's all about wins and losses at this level. You can go out there and strike everybody out, but at the end of the day, if you don't keep your team within striking distance, then what does that all matter?"

The big right-hander did keep his team in the game, limiting the Sox to just one run on four hits.  He once again did not walk a batter in his seven innings.  He threw 85 pitches, 59 for strikes and seemed to rely on his change-up much more tonight than his previous two starts.

Perhaps the only disappointment surrounding his performance was that he was not allowed to come out to start the eighth inning.

"We'll get to the point where we don't hold him back after six, seven innings," Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. "But right now that's not where we're at with him."

Chicago scratched out their only run off Strasburg in the first inning.  Juan Pierre led off with a routine ground ball to first baseman Adam Dunn.  But Strasburg hesitated just a second covering first, and the speedy Pierre beat him to the bag.

"Didn't get over there in time in the first inning, probably should have been an out there," Strasburg told the throng of reporters after the game at his press conference.

The next batter, wizened Omar Vizquel, blooped a double over Dunn's head down the right field line, putting runners at second and third before everyone had settled into their seats.  A ground out to first by Alex Rios drove the run in, then Strasburg struck out the next two batters to end the frame.

The Ks piled up inning after inning for Strasburg, who mowed the White Sox down after that, putting up zeroes for the next six innings.

White Sox starter Gavin Floyd was up to the task though.  He struck out half of what Strasburg did, but was just effective against the Nats batters.  He gave up just four hits and a walk, and only a double to left center by Adam Dunn--driving home Ryan Zimmerman in the eighth--kept the Nationals from being shut out.

Chicago scored the winning run off Drew Storen (L, 2-1, 1.46) in the 11th inning, giving the rookie reliever his first loss. With two outs and a runner at third, Rios hit a smash to third base that Zimmerman layed out for, making a tremendous stop.

Ivan Rodriguez consoles Drew Storen after eventual winning run scored in 11th inning.

Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)

A good throw would have ended the inning, but Zimmerman threw high, and Dunn could not come up with it.  Rios was safe on the infield hit, and Mark Kotsay trotted home with the difference-maker.

THE GOOD:  Obviously, St. Stephen was story for the Nats tonight.  He was just as dominant as he was in his first start against Pittsburgh.  Vizquel's bloop was the only extra base hit against him, and he generated seven ground outs against four fly outs.

He retired 15 batters in a row at one point and lowered his ERA to 1.86.

THE BAD:  It's was a tough play all around, but Dunn has to come down with Zimmerman's throw in the 11th inning.  It was a high throw, but it ticked off the 6'6" first baseman's mitt as then caromed toward the photographer's box.  It's a play a Major League first baseman has to make in the late innings.

THE UGLY:  The offense.  It's just no good right now, and tonight was the worst.  You've got your ace on the hill, throwing BBs past the other team, and all they could muster was five hits off Gavin Floyd (5.20 ERA AFTER the game) and three relievers? 

The Nats only drew two walks and ground into two double plays.

In their four-game losing streak, the Nationals have struck out 40 times and walked just five times, two of those intentional.

NEXT GAME:  Saturday at 4:10 pm, J.D. Martin (0-2, 4.19) will try to halt the Nats losing streak at four against Jake Peavy (5-5, 5.62), who had his start pushed back a day due to a stiff shoulder.

NOTES:  Washington RHP Jordan Zimmermann (elbow surgery) threw a 35-pitch simulated game Friday and hopes to begin a minor league rehab assignment soon.

Jason Marquis (elbow chips) played catch in the outfield before the game, but has not started to throw from the mound as of yet.

Jordan Zimmermann, on the D.L. after reconstructive elbow surgery, watched from the dugout for the first time this season.  (Photo by Cheryl Nichols/Nats News Network)