GB&U: 1-0-0

RESULT: Nats lose to Phillies 8-4, loss #100 for the season.

GOOD: Cristian Guzman. 2-for-4, RBI. Kory Casto hits his second big league home run. Bonifacio, Montz with RBIs.

BAD: Lastings Milledge. 0-for-4, three left on base.

UGLY: Collin Balestar. One and two-thirds innings, 7 earned runs on seven hits and a walk. Ryan Howard took him deep in the first inning, Utley cleared the bases with a double in the second.

INJURY UPDATE: No real update, but the team placed Young, Belliard and Flores on the disabled list today. Young went onthe 60-day. Not really sure what the official moves accomplished, and haven't really seen an explanation.

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow at 3:55 pm. John Lannan (9-14) versus Jamie Moyer (15-7). Would be real nice to get Lannan into double digits.

Perez, Nats Blank Mets 1-0

Washington -- The Washington Nationals are again proving to be the Achilles' heel to the New York Mets in a pennant race. After giving the Mets so much trouble last season during the Mets now-famous collapse to fall out of the playoffs, the Nats are up to it again. Washington has now defeated the Mets two straight games, including Tuesday night's 1-0 shut out by Odalis Perez and company, and have knocked the once division-leadings New Yorkers from first place in the N.L. East. Philadelphia beat Atlanta, moving a half-game in front of the slumping Mets for the first time since August 26.

Perez was simply outstanding on the mound -- and in the batter's box -- for the home team last night. He went seven and one-third shut out innings, allowing only four hits and walking no one, striking out six. The Mets scratched out just four singles, two of which were back-to-back pinch-hits in the eighth inning.

At that point, Manager Manny Acta went to rookie reliever Mike Hinckley, who forced SS Jose Reyes to bounce into a fielder's choice and struck out Ryan Church to end the threat. Hinckley has yet to allow a run in his first nine major league innings pitched. Joel Hanrahan pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his ninth save of the season, striking out two. Perez (W, 7-10, 4.26), the veteran left-hander signed right before the season, retired thirteen in a row at one point and did not allow a runner to advance past second base. It was his longest outing since 2005.

"He had the best command of the season so far," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He threw every one of his pitches for strikes. He was able to stop the middle of the lineup. He was just tremendous."

Mike Pelfrey (13-10, 3.67) was the hard luck loser for the Mets. He went seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits and four walks, striking out four.

The lone run of the game came in the fifth inning. With two down already, Perez lashed a soft liner to left center field, which LF Fernando Tatis dove for and missed, allowing the ball to get by and Perez to trot into second base with a double. Tatis would stay down in tremendous pain, and was helped off by members of the Mets training staff. He separated his right shoulder on the play, and will miss the rest of the season. When play resumed, Pelfrey walked lead-off hitter Willie Harris. As he's done all season long, SS Cristian Guzman came up with a big hit, delivering a ground rule double into the Mets bullpen to score the only run needed for the evening.

Harris would save that lead in the top of the sixth, as he made an outstanding Willie Mays-style catch with his back to home plate off a drive to left by David Wright with two out and two on. "It was a great play," Wright said. "But we needed to do a better job of putting more pressure on them in more innings, not just having one opportunity and have that make or break the game."

For the Mets, memories of last season's collapse -- especially losses to the lowly Nationals -- have to be creeping back into their consciousness.

Wednesday night is game three of the four game set. Nats rookie Shairon Martis (0-2, 2.70) takes on Mets rookie Brandon Knight (0-0, 6.43). Knight made one start in July for the Mets, and has made two subsequent relief appearances. This is a spot start, as Friday's rainout pushed Johan Santana's regular turn off. Knight pitched for the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing this summer. Martis makes his third start for the Nats.

NATS NOTES: The win raises the Nats record to 58-93, 26 games behind Philadelphia in the division. The win also moves Washington out of the worst record in the majors, one half-game ahead of Seattle.

GB&U: Quiet 2-1 Loss

RESULT: Nats lose to Marlins 2-1.

GOOD: Shairon Martis. Five innings, two hits, three walks, one earned run, nine strikeouts.
Wee Willie Harris went 2-for-3 with a walk.

BAD: Cristian Guzman. 0-for-4, two left on base, and a throwing error that resulted in the winning run scoring.

UGLY: Fifteen individual runners left on base. Example A on why the Nats need a to get a slugger in the line-up. They just have trouble stringing base hits together to score runs.

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow. 7:10 pm from Dolphin Stadium. Tim Redding faces Josh Johnson.

GB&U: 18 Is Not Enough

RESULT: Nats lose to Mets 13-10.

GOOD: Cristian Guzman. First career two home run game. 5 RBIs. Elijah Dukes. Home run, did not take Pelfrey's head off after the beaning.

BAD: Opening Day Odalis Perez. Yuck. I won't even type his numbers. Joel Hanrahan. Another home run allowed. Sa-ool Rivera. The season can't end fast enough for him. He's throwing meatballs up there right now.

UGLY: Dukes taunting the Mets fans. I'm going to say this slowly so everyone knows where I stand: This...has...got...to...stop. I am the biggest unabashed Dukes fan around here, I think the kid can hit 40 home runs (sorry if I'm propounding Bill Ladson-like hyperbole here). But he has to know that his actions last night night were wrong and irresponsible.

INJURY UPDATE: Flores tried to do some simple drills pre-game and had to stop. He ain't coming back this year, it would be foolhardy to think and prepare otherwise.

NEXT GAME: Second off-day this week today. Nats start a three-game series with the Marlins Friday. If you play a Major League baseball game, and no one is there to see it, does it still count in the standings?

Nats Pitching Wastes Power Surge; Lose to Mets 13-10

Queens -- There have not been many instances where the Washington Nationals have hit three home runs in one game this season, let alone lose a game in which they accomplished the feat. But that's the exact scenario that played out before 52,431 screaming New York Mets fans Wednesday night at Shea Stadium, as the Nats fell 13-10 to the division leaders.

For the second night in a row at the soon to be replaced and demolished Shea, the Nats fought back from a large deficit and scored more runs than their season average, only to be ultimately thwarted in their efforts to play spoiler to the contending Mets. Cristian Guzman continued--and added to--his amazing run at the plate, smacking two home runs and driving in five on yet another three-hit night. His "slash" numbers (batting average, on-base average and slugging average) are all at full single season career highs at .314/.344/.445, and he now has nine home runs and 52 RBIs for the season.

The Nats also got a long home run by Elijah Dukes, his eleventh (2-for-4, 2 runs), who taunted the crowd on his way around the bases and then at the dugout, blowing kisses to the Queens faithful. Dukes later would be brushed back and have words with Mets starter Mike Pelfrey, and in a subsequent at bat, hit by Pelfrey on a 3-2 count.

"Some people react different than other ones," Manager Manny Acta said of Dukes. "It's very common after a homer to get pitched inside. I think we'll let it go at that."

Washington totaled ten runs on eleven hits and five walks, and on a normal night, that might have been enough for victory. But David Wright led the Mets on a thirteen hit, eight walk evening of their own, as he went 4-for-4 with a walk, home run, three RBIs and four runs scored. Wright, almost forgotten in New York with the re-emergence of 1B Carlos Delgado, is hitting .296 with 28 HRs and 109 RBIs for the Metropolitans. OFs Carlos Beltran and Fernando Tatis each added three hits and two RBIs as well, and former Nat Brian Schneider chipped in with a two-run single in what would be the deciding seventh inning.

The Nationals found themselves down early in the game, due to a season's worst outing by starter Odalis Perez. Perez surrendered an RBI single to Beltran in the first inning, got through the second unscathed but then completely collapsed in the third. Perez struck out his opponent, Pelfrey, to start -- and finish -- the inning, an indication of just how bad it was. With one out, SS Jose Reyes singled to center, then stole second base ahead of Ryan Church's base on balls. Wright knocked in Reyes and moved Church to third with a single up the middle. Beltran took Perez' second pitch to deep left center for a double, scoring Church and advancing Wright to third base. Perez intentionally walks Delgado to get to Tatis, and the surprisingly resurgent outfielder made him pay, as he crushed one to deep left center for a double as well, plating Wright and Beltran. Second baseman Damion Easley finished the carnage, singling to left field, scoring Delgado and Tatis.

Just like that, the Nats trailed 7-1. Perez would complete the inning, but not return for the fourth. He allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and three walks. But as poorly as he pitched, he did not take the loss.

The resilient Nats scored a single run in the fourth on a Wil Nieves ground out, three in the fifth inning courtesy of a Ryan Zimmerman ground out and Kory Casto two-run single, and two in the sixth inning on Guzman's two-run shot to right field to take Perez off the hook and tie the game.

Unfortunately, Saul Rivera (L, 5-6, 3.68) gave the lead right back in the bottom of the seventh, allowing consecutive singles to Wright and Beltran, Delgado's sacrifice fly, and Schneider's bases loaded, two out, two run single. The score was 11-7 entering the eighth inning, but the visitors were still undaunted. Aaron Boone hit a one out single to left center and Emilio Bonifacio walked, setting up Cristian Guzman's second home run of the night, a deep blast to right field just in front of the Big Red Apple that looms over right field. With just one out though, the Nats could not extend the rally, as Zimmerman flied out and Milledge grounded to third to go to the bottom of the inning still trailing by one.

The score didn't stand there long though. With Joel Hanrahan on the mound, Church drew a five pitch pass and Wright, capping his perfect evening, took a 2-2 fastball to deep left center, and all left fielder Roger Bernadina could do was watch it leave the park. Luis Ayala entered for the Mets, and recorded his second 1-2-3 save in as many nights for New York, his seventh in eight attempts since the trade.

The recent scoring outburst has to be a harbinger of good things toward next season, but the disappointment of scoring 18 runs in two games --with two losses to show for it -- was evident in the Washington dugout following the final out.

Washington is off on Thursday before starting a three-game series in Miami against the Florida Marlins. Friday's starters are expected to be Shairon Martis (0-1, 3.60) and Scott Olson (6-10, 4.41).

NATS NOTES: The loss drops Washington to 56-90. San Diego lost as well, so the teams remain tied for the worst record in the Major Leagues. Seattle won, and is now three games ahead of both teams in the loss column.

C Jesus Flores tested his sprained ankle before the game, and was still in a considerable amount of pain doing the simplest drills, such as playing catch. The team will not rush his return, Acta said.

Stock Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008

Gopher Balls Bury Nats; Lose 10-8 to Mets

QUEENS -- The New York Mets are in a tightly contested battle for first place in the N.L. East with the Philadelphia Phillies, and the loser will probably miss out on the post-season. The Washington Nationals are in a close battle of their own for the worst record in baseball. With last night's 10-8 victory by the Mets, one team inched closer to their goal; the other fell closer to ignominy.

Taken at face value, Tuesday night's game could be seen as a microcosm of the season for the Nats: some good things, some very bad, some fight and ultimately, disappointment. The Mets rode a fourteen-hit attack, including four home runs, to out-muscle their division brethren. And while the Nats had eight runs and twelve base hits of their own, only two were of the extra-base variety, and they could not scrape enough together to pull even in the end.

Neither starter was sharp for their teams and both had left the game by the fourth inning. Nats starter John Lannan allowed five earned runs on eight hits -- including two home runs -- and one walk, striking out only two. His ERA for the season rose to 4.09, the first time it's been over four runs per game since April 17, his third game of the season against these same Mets. His counterpart, Oliver Perez, was worse. In three and one-third innings, he surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out only three. But a parade of relief pitchers held the Nats mostly in check, culminating with former National Luis Ayala shutting the door on any comeback attempt, as he recorded a perfect 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to secure his sixth save in seven tries since being acquired by the Mets for 2B Anderson Hernandez in a waiver trade in mid-August.

Ayala has been nearly perfect for the Mets. Including Tuesday night's save, he has allowed earned runs in just two of his eleven appearances for the Mets, earning a victory and six saves. In eleven innings, he has given up ten hits and just one walk, striking out eight, including Elijah Dukes looking in the ninth inning. The Mets learned on Monday that their all-star closer, Billy Wagner, will be shelved the remainder of this season and most of 2009 due to ligament replacement surgery on his left (pitching) elbow. So Ayala will continue to perform in the job for a contender that he was passed over for -- twice -- by a cellar-dweller.

Carlos Delgado, left for dead earlier in the season, has been carrying the Mets offensively most of the late summer, and he did it again last night. Delgado finished 3-for-3, with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. It was his fourth multi-homer game in his past thirteen games. After the second homer, many of the 50,382 chanted "MVP, MVP" as Delgado circled the bases. For the season, the Mets 1B has accumulated 35 home runs and 103 RBIs.

"It's great to be able to contribute," Delgado said. "It's great to be able to help the team. I think we've got a great club. It's a great race. It's awesome."

Ryan Church contributed his twelfth home run, a two-run shot, and Carlos Beltran added a solo shot directly ahead of Delgado's second home run of the evening in the sixth inning against Nats reliever Charlie Manning (L, 1-3, 5.20).
Washington received their offense from familiar--and not so familiar--sources. Cristian Guzman continued his terrific 2008 campaign, going 2-for-5 with his seventh home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Second baseman Hernandez, trying to punish the Mets for trading him, went 2-for-5 as well, driving in three and scoring two from the lead-off spot.

But all things being equal, the Mets were perfectly happy having Ayala to close out this victory as they take a two and one-half game lead over the Phillies for the right to represent the N.L. East in the playoffs. And the Nats have to take solace in a young player having a good game in defeat, in another lost season.

Wednesday's game features Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.19) and Mike Pelfrey (13-9, .62) on the hill.

Game time is 7:10 pm from Shea Stadium.

NATS NOTES: The Nationals fall to 56-89 with seventeen games to play and are 25.5 games behind the Mets in the N.L. East. After play Tuesday night, Washington is tied with San Diego for the worst record in the Major Leagues with a .386 winning percentage. Seattle is two games ahead of both in the loss column, having played two fewer games.

3B Ryan Zimmerman went 3-for-5 with an RBI to raise his season average to .286. RP Michael Hinckley, called up when rosters expanded, threw another shutout inning and has not allowed a run in five appearances since his recall, covering five and one-third innings.

GB&U: Not Enough In the End

RESULT: Nats lost to Mets 10-8.

GOOD: Anderson Hernandez. Trying to make the Mets regret trading him, Hernandez went 2-for-5 in the lead-off spot with 3 RBIs. Guz went 2-for-5 with a homer and 2 RBIs. He's back up to .311. Zim continues to hit, going 3-for-5 with a ribbie. Zim's up to .286.

BAD: John Lannan. 3 IP, 5 ERs on 8 hits and a walk. Location, location, location. He couldn't hit his spots, and aiming them over resulted in a plethora of hard hits, including 2 of the Mets four homers on the night.

UGLY: Bullpen. Estrada gave up two earned in one-third of an inning. Manning gave up two solo shots in two-thirds. Bergmann gave up one earned in one inning. Not very good.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday at 7:10 pm from Shea Stadium. Odalis Perez (6-10) versus Mike Pelfrey (13-9).

GB&U: Extra Innings, Extra Effort Over the Weekend

RESULT: Nats take two from Braves over weekend; Saturday 8-5 in 10 innings, Sunday 7-4 in 14 innings.

GOOD: Saturday -- Elijah Dukes! 4-for-5, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 2 runs. Ryan Zimmerman. 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Guz! Ho-hum, two more hits. Ryan Langerhans! Pinch-hit homer in the 10th. Wee Willie also hit his 13th homer of the season.

Sunday -- Dukes! 1-for-7 (ouch), but three-run double in top of the 14th. Boy, Oh Boy Alberto Gonzalez. 3-for-4 with a walk, his first home run and 3 RBIs! THE BULLPEN!!! 8 innings of shut out ball, including five in extra innings. Very solid.

BAD: Saturday -- Joel Hanrahan. The dreaded "blown-save-win". 3 hits and 2 walks in one inning allowing two earned runs. He got bailed out by Langerhans, et al.

Sunday -- Collin Balestar. There will be days like these. 11 hits and 2 BBs in just six innings. Pretty amazing he only gave up four earned with that many base runners.

UGLY: Saturday -- Emilio! 0-for-5. Haven't had too many of those lately though, as his average is up to .254 including the O-fer.

Sunday -- Luke Montz. Sorry kid. 0-for-7, five runners stranded. There's an underlying reason he wasn't a prospect entering the season.

NEXT GAME: Off on Monday, the guys can probably use the rest. Tuesday it's up to New York to face the suddenly struggling Mets. Opening Day Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.14) faces some guy named Jonathon Niese (0-0, 15.00 in 3 IP).

GB&U: Shut Out Again

RESULT: Nats shut out by Braves debut pitcher 2-0.

GOOD: Ronnie Belliard. If indeed his groin injury shelves him for the rest of the season, he went out on a good note, going 3-for-3. For the season he is hitting .287/.372/.473 with 11 homers, 46 RBIs and 3 SBs. Shairon Martis. It may be his only start of the season, but it went pretty well, despite walking the bases loaded in the fourth. His line was 5 IP, 2 ERs, 4 hits, 5 BBs and 2 Ks. The bullpen. Mock, Manning, Shell and (gasp) Speigner combined for three innings of one-hit baseball.

BAD: Cristian Guzman. Even in a great year, you'll have a stinker. Guz went 0-3 with 3 Ks.

UGLY: Belliard's Injury. He's been very dependable this season, and a real trooper playing wherever Manny tells him. He may be the only player in the bigs this year to have player every infield position. Unfortunate his season has to end this way.

INJURY UPDATE: GM Jim Bowden announced 1B Dmitri Young will rejoin the team Sunday and be in uniform Tuesday against the Mets, primarily as a pinch-hitter. He said that before Belliard's injury though. Still, expect to see a lot of Kory Casto down the stretch.

NEXT GAME: Tonight at 7:35 versus the Braves in game two. Jason Bergmann (2-10, 4.83) takes on Jair Jurrjens (11-9, 3.59) from Turner Field.

GB&U: Taking Back Nats Park

RESULT: Nats beat dirty Phillies 9-7.

GOOD: Odalis Perez. Way to stick up for your teammate. Cristian Guzman! 8 multi-hit games in a row, three-run double to break the game open. ZIM! Third homer in 8 games, that's more like it.

BAD: Marco Estrada. Couldn't get anyone out in the sixth, allowing Howard's second two-run bomb.

UGLY: Joe Blanton. Usually I don't give out awards to the other team, but Blanton looked lousy last night. 4 earned in 4 inning son 6 hits and 3 walks. Pew. Hope he's not listening to sports talk in Philly this morning. BIG series for the Fightin's this weekend in Gotham.

INJURY UPDATE: Collin Balestar has a sore glut. He'll be pushed back to next Tuesday, prompting Martis to get the ball tonight and pushing another Bergmann shelling off until tomorrow.

NEXT GAME: Tonight in Hot-lanta. Shairon Martis makes his ML debut against Jo-Jo Reyes (3-10, 5.49).

Big Eighth Inning Propels Nats to Win Over Phillies 9-7

Washington -- Cristian Guzman led a 13-hit attack, Ryan Zimmerman homered for the third time in his last eight games, and the Washington Nationals used a four-run eighth inning to bury their division-rival Philadelphia Phillies 9-7 before 23,122 at Nationals Park.

Guzman set a franchise record with his eighth consecutive multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 on the evening, with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. His average is up to .311, and he is 21-for-39 (.538) during his multi-hit streak. He was joined on the hit parade by Zimmerman (2-for-4, home run), CF Lastings Milledge, and 1B Kory Casto, all with multi-hit performances against Phillies starter Joe Blanton and five relievers. Elijah Dukes and Roger Bernadina added stolen bases -- Bernadina's first career SB.

The game was tied at five heading to the bottom of the eighth. Phils reliever Chad Durbin, who had entered the game in the seventh, took the hill for Philadelphia but probably wished he hadn't. Casto met him with a single to right field to start the inning off. Pete Orr pinch-ran for Casto, and took second on a one-out wild pitch to Bernadina. The rookie outfielder then lashed the next pitch to left, pushing Orr up 90 feet to third base. Manager Manny Acta called for Ronnie Belliard to pinch-hit for pitcher Saul Rivera (W, 5-5, 3.52), and Belliard delivered a humpback liner over the shortstop's head to score Orr with the lead run.

But the Nats weren't done yet. Bernadina measured Durbin's delivery on several pitches from second base, and with the count 2-2 he took off for third and slid in safely ahead of the tag of third baseman Pedro Feliz. Durbin then finished the walk to 2B Emilio Bonifacio and the bases were loaded for hot-hitting all-star Cristian Guzman. "Guz" took two balls and on the third pitch lined a double to the gap in center field, clearing the bases and giving the Nats a 9-5 lead.

Guzman gave the dugout his customary finger-wagging salute as he stood on second, watching Phillies Manager Charlie Manual lifting Durbin (L, 5-4) from the game, probably one batter too late.

"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Guzman said. "I saw the ball go into the gap, so 'Thank you.' "

The ninth inning provided some fireworks though, as Closer Joel Hanrahan was called on to shut the door. He managed to do the job, but not without some excitement. RF Matt Stairs and 2B Chase Utley both pushed in runs against Hanrahan, pitching in a non-save situation. But he got OF Jayson Werth to strike out swinging to end the game, and as he exchanged fist-bumps with catcher Wil Nieves, Hanrahan let out a big sigh as if to say, "Whew, got through that one!".

Zimmerman, Casto, Milledge and Dukes all provided RBI hits earlier to get the Nats started, and Zimmerman's home run in the seventh, to tie the game, was a no-doubt-about-it shot to straight-away center.

The Phillies rode the power swings of 1B Ryan Howard and Utley to score their early runs. In the first inning, Nats starter Odalis Perez plunked Utley with the first pitch the all-star second baseman saw -- retribution from Tuesday night's home plate collision with Nats catcher Jesus Flores, who left the game with a sprained ankle and will miss 2-4 weeks. Howard followed with a "big fly" to right center to take the early lead. Utley tripled in the third inning to drive in a run, and Howard added his second two-run homer -- to almost the exact spot of the first -- in the sixth inning.

Perez finished the evening pitching five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks, striking out five. No pitch was bigger than standing up for his fallen teammate in the first inning however.

Washington starts a nine-game road trip Thursday night in Atlanta against the Braves. Shairon Martis makes his Major League debut against Jo-Jo Reyes (3-10, 5.49) for the Braves. Game time is 7:10 pm from Atlanta's Turner Field.

NATS NOTES: With the win, Washington's record stands at 54-86, 25 games behind division-leading New York. The Phillies drop to 76-64, trailing the Mets by three game as they head into a three-game series in New York this weekend.

Nationals RHP Collin Balester has a mild left gluteal strain, which forced Washington to juggle its rotation. He will not start as scheduled on Friday against Atlanta and instead will take his next turn Tuesday against the Mets. Jason Bergmann's start moves back from Thursday to Friday.

GB&U: Dodgers Dead In The Water

RESULT: Nats spank Dodgers 11-2.

GOOD: Cristian Guzman! Hits for the CYCLE!!! His career rebirth continues with a feat not accomplished in these parts since April 2005. Relatively recent history for a Cycle. Anyway, Guz went 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs.

Elijah Dukes! Two home runs, three runs and four RBIs! His moderate showboating on the second homer aside, these are the kinds of nights Nats fans dream of out of Dukes.

Ryan Zimmerman! 3-for-5, two runs scored. Zim's got the average up to .272. Maybe his shoulder is starting to feel less cranky on him. Still think we're going to see a completely different player in spring training. Oh, by the way...Ryan's only 23. Bob and Don reminded me of that tonight.

John Lannan! Another quality start, dominating after allowing a two-run shot to Manny in the first. 6 IP, 2 ERs, 4 hits, 3 BBs, 2 Ks, WIN! He's now 8-12, 3.92.

BAD: Not much to choose from. Have to hang it on Wil Nieves (0-for-4, K) Sorry Wil.

UGLY: The Dodgers. Whew, they stink. Getting swept by the worst team in baseball, losers of seven straight and nine straight overall on the road. They go into Arizona

NEXT GAME: Tomorrow the Nats welcome Atlanta for a three-game series. Odalis Perez (5-10, 4.21) takes on Jorge Campillo (7-6, 3.37).

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I will be on vacation as soon as I finish typing, and will return Monday afternoon. Cheryl has permission to post over the weekend if she likes. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.

GB&U: Not Every Day You Beat a Legend

RESULT: Nats beat Greg Maddux and the Dodgers 5-4.

GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman. His first homer since May 17 (really?!?). Guz and Emilio! Two hits apiece from the middle infield. Lastings. RBI and SB. Tim Redding. Despite three solo homers given up, he had a another quality start. Joel Hanrahan. A four-out, one-run save with very little nervousness.

BAD: Saul Rivera. Two-thirds of an inning, one run on three hits and a walk. Joel had to bail him out in the eighth. Signs of wear on Sa-ool recently.

UGLY: Lastings Milledge. Got caught on the oldest trick in the book. After embarrassing Maddux the play earlier by taking third on a groundout when Maddux slipped and was a little bit late covering the base, the 17-time Gold Glover took his revenge.

A combacker took Maddux close to the third base line, and he looked at Milledge, then poised to throw to first to make the play. Milledge broke when Maddux' arm went through, but Maddux held the ball and Milledge was a dead duck. Lastings managed to get into a run-down, allowing Jesus Flores to advance to second, but it was a done deal. Maddux got his.

NEXT GAME: Tonight, looking for the sweep agaisnt the Dodgers. A pair of impressive rookies face off, with John Lannan (7-12, 3.95) on the hill for the Nats, facing Clayton Kershaw (2-4, 4.11) for L.A.

Here's the slideshow from last night's game:



All photos (c) C.Nichols 2008.

GB&U: Now With More Happiness!

RESULT: Nats beat L.A. 2-1.

GOOD: Joel Hanrahan. Walks the tightrope to earn his fifth save. Lastings Milledge. Hits his 13th homer of the season, his sixth in August, and made a terrific diving catch in center field. Guz went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Ryan Zimmerman. Despite alomst throwing two balls away (one to second, one to first), he made four double plays from third base and could have had an around-the-horn triple play if he'd throw to second instead of home on the botched play that allowed the Dodger's only run.

BAD: Lots of 0-fers last night. Wee Willie, Belly-yard, Jesus, Langerhans all went hitless. Derek Lowe was on last night, and made mince-meat of some of the guys.

UGLY: Lack of control. Balestar only walked one, but hit two batters -- in succession, no less. And Hanrahan had zero control of his 97 MPH heater, but managed to get Kemp and Ethier to swing anyway. Stuff like that will do that.

INJURY REPORT: Kearns down (15 DL for stress fracture in left foot--sayonara). Dukes up (1-for11 with one home run and one ejections arguing balls and strikes. Mid-Season form!).

NEXT GAME: Tonight against the sinking Dodgers. Tim Redding (8-8, 4.54) faces future Hall of Famer 353-game winner Greg Maddux (6-10, 4.25).

GB&U: Muscled Out in Milwaukee

RESULT: Nats fall to Brewers 5-4 in 13 innings.

GOOD: John Lannan. Six innings of one-hit ball. This guy can't buy a break.

Lastings Milledge. He's been on a tear this week. Sunday he went 3-for-6 with a home run and 2 RBIs. Ryan Zimmerman went 3-for6, Ronnie Belliard went 2-for-5 and Cristian Guzman went 2-for-6. Austin Kearns hit his monthly home run.

BAD: Emilio! Bonifacio went 0-for-6 and is hitless in his last 17 at bats. Also, our pinch-hitters went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

UGLY: Luis Ayala. Now that Wily Mo is gone, do we need to re-name the "Ugly" award? One batter faced. One home run allowed. One Loss. ERA stands at 6.04. This is what his manager had to say about him after the game:

"We can't even hide him now," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He comes into situations like this and he's just not making pitches."

That ain't good.

NEXT GAME: Nats try to avoid the 4-game sweep at 2:05 eastern, Garrett Mock makes the start (0-2, 4.91) facing David Bush (6-9, 4.50)

GB&U: There Was a Game Last Night?

RESULT: Nats lose to Phillies 8-4. That's nine in a row. If they continue, I'm gonna have to write a book about 2008.

GOOD: Pete Orr was 3-for-4. Rhymes and everything. Mock and Colome cleaned up without adding to the mess. Wonder how Mock likes pitching out of the pen?

BAD: Austin Kearns. 1-for-5 with four left on base. He's the clean-up hitter hitting .212.

UGLY: Ryan Zimmerman's right hand. Did you see him at first base after he got hit? HIs hand blew up like a cartoon, and was varying shades of purple. The Nats said nothing was broken and he's day-to-day (aren't we all). Great, now the Nats entire left side of the infield have hurt hands and not going on the DL, limiting Manny to a two-man bench. Bad and short-handed (pun intentional).

INJURY UPDATE: Guzman DNP, still day-to-day. Seriously, why not bite the bullet and get a body up here?

NEXT GAME: Tonight against the Griffey-less Cincinnati Red Legs. Odalis Perez (3-8, 4.387) faces Homer Bailey (0-4, 6.52) for the Reds. Game time is 7:35 pm.

Nationals Lose Then Make Moves

Washington--The result of Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies was consequential only in that it was the 70th of the season for the Washington Nationals, the first team in the majors to reach that mark in 2008. But the greater purpose, as fans as team officials and fans go, was the activity after yesterday's game as the Nationals made several roster moves that could affect this organization for several years and truly begin, in earnest, the structure for rebuilding the franchise into a competitive force in the National League East.

The Nats issued a press release, without much flair or fanfare, just before 11:00 pm stating they would activate Elijah Dukes from the 15-day disabled list and newly acquired middle infielders Alberto Gonzalez and Emilio Bonifacio from the minor leagues. The corresponding moves have been much anticipated by the Nationals dedicated fan base -- some might say from the very beginning -- as the team released C/1B Paul LoDuca and MI Felipe Lopez, along with giving C Johnny Estrada his outright release after designating him for assignment last week.

Dukes, 24, went 5-for-15 (.333) with two doubles, one RBI, two walks and a .412 on-base percentage in four rehab contests with Columbus. For the Nats this season, Dukes is hitting .263/.367/.434 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 175 at bats.

LoDuca, 36, was the target of many fans' ire this season from the day of his signing as a free agent this winter to a one-year, $5MM contract. Many fervent Nats supporters saw the move by General Manager Jim Bowden as accomplishing nothing but blocking talented -- but young -- catcher Jesus Flores from having an every-day job in the big leagues. When Bowden went out a couple weeks later and inked Estrada, he announced that Flores would spend all of 2008 in the minors, honing his craft and working with the young pitching talent the Nats have stockpiled, in hopes of building a strong repertoire with the kids in the system. The complete opposite has happened, as LoDuca and Estrada spent much of the first half of the season injured and ineffective, and Flores has blossomed into the team's leading run producer, pacing the squad in RBIs, currently with 45, to go along with seven home runs and averages of .281/.330/.455. LoDuca finished his brief stint with the Nats hitting .230 in 46 games with no home runs and twelve RBIs.

The second release had to pain Bowden as much as any transaction he's made, as he released MI Felipe Lopez, a player he has traded for twice. Lopez, long on tools but lacking in motivation and consistency, batted .234/.304/.313 this season with two homers and 25 RBIS, stealing only four bases and playing poorly and distracted in the field, whether it was at shortstop -- his stated preferred position -- or at second base. Lopez has seen his career spiral downward the last several seasons, cumulating with his release from the worst team in baseball yesterday. The former all-star with Cincinnati is a career .259 hitter.

LoDuca, Lopez and Estrada made roughly $11MM combined this season.

GM Jim Bowden tried in vain for the last several days to find trading partners for the veterans, but to no avail. He found the market dry, and with the Nats getting worse instead of better in the standings, Bowden decided it was time to cut bait on the veterans and start swimming with young fishes he had been able to pry away from other organizations.

Thursday morning, in the sole MLB trade deadline deal he was able to accomplish, Bowden acquired SS Alberto Gonzalez from the New York Yankees in exchange for RHP Jhonny Nunez. Gonzalez, 25, was rated the top defensive player in the Yankees system. Gonzalez played in 28 games during a pair of stints with the Yankees this season and batted .250 (47-for-188) with eight doubles, four home runs and 23 RBI in 47 games with Scranton/W-B of the Triple-A International League in 2008.

The other new acquisition, Emilio Bonifacio, joins the team as well for Friday. He was recalled from Triple-A Columbus where he was tearing up the International League. Bonifacio batted .452 (14-for-31) with a double, three RBI, four walks, four stolen bases, nine runs scored and a .514 on-base percentage in eight games with the Clippers. Bonifacio, 23, came to the Nats from the Arizona Diamondback in the trade that sent Jon Rauch to the D-backs bullpen.

Thursday's game saw John Lannan (L, 9-11, 3.61) roughed up for one of the few times this season. Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth both touched Lannan for home runs, and Lannan finished his evening pitching five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and three walks. He struck out seven Phillies. The Nats contributed three throwing errors to the cause, Ronnie Belliard's eighth of the season, Ryan Zimmerman's third and Flores' fourth.

Kyle Kendrick got the win for the Phillies. His record improves to 9-5 with a 4.59 ERA. He went six and two-thirds, giving up just two earned runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out four.

Washington opens a three-games series with the Cincinnati Reds Friday night, minus hometown hero Ken Griffey, Jr. who was traded at the deadline yesterday to the Chicago White Sox. Odalis Perez (3-8, 4.387) faces Homer Bailey (0-4, 6.52) for the Red Legs. Game time is 7:35 pm.

NATS NOTES: The Nationals fall to 38-70 with Thursday's loss. They are 21 games behind division-leading Philadelphia, and 2.5 games behind Seattle for the worst record in baseball.

All-star SS Cristian Guzman is still sidelined with a bruised left thumb and did not play.

3B Ryan Zimmerman was hit on the right hand with a pitch in Thursday's game. He took his base after the play and his hand was immediately and visably bruised and swollen as he stood at first base. He later scored and returned to the dugout, where he then left for medical attention. The team released a statement saying that X-rays were negative, and doctors have diagnosed a contusion (bone bruise). He's listed as day-to-day.

Photo of Lopez courtesy A. Amobi, DC Sports Box.

GB&U: Set-Up for Losing

RESULT: Nats lose to Giants 6-4.

GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman. He went 3-for-5. Feels good to type his name again. Jesus Flores. Who else? Homers and drives in two. Leads the team in RBIs. Not bad for a guy who the team felt they had to go out and sign TWO GUYS to block his play. Wee Willie Harris! Just another 2-for-5 day.

BAD: Cristian Guzman. 1-for-5, 1-for-9 since signing his new contract.

UGLY: Luis Ayala. Another 8th inning implosion. Issued a four-pitch walk. Gave up three earned on three hits. Pitching "backwards" and leaving soft breaking balls up and over the plate. Where's his nasty slider? Pitching coach Randy St. Claire doesn't know either.

INJURIES: Sounds like Lastings Milledge will be back this weekend from the groin injury he suffered a month ago. He's been hitting the ball solidly at Columbus on his rehab stint.

NEXT GAME: Today at 3:35 pm, the finale in San Fran. Looking to avoid the sweep, Tim Redding (7-4, 4.17) takes on hard-luck Matt Cain (5-8, 4.08). Boy, are we accustomed to that kind of story.

GB&U: Nats Fall and Can't Get Up

RESULT: Nats lose to Giants 6-3.

GOOD: Wee Willie Harris. 2-for4 again. Homered again. Maybe Bowden will reward him with a 2-year, $16 MM contract? Paul LoDuca. As much as it pains me, Cap't Red-Ass came through when he had the chance with a ground-rule double, infield single and 2 RBIs.

BAD: Jason Bergman. You can't put your team in a hole early, and Bergy just wasn't ready to start this game. Lead-off homer to Fred Lewis. Tow-run shot to Bengie Molina. Down by three after one. That's a death sentence to this team.

UGLY: Jim Bowden's propensity for handing out "reward" contracts. Look people, I admire as much as anyone what Guzman's done this year. Remarkable really. But making a guy with a lifetime .305 OBP your highest paid player? Really?? Bowden said yesterday that Guzman did the team a "favor" taking into consideration his last bloated contract and how he spent 4/5 of it not earning it.

FAVOR? Giving a pudgy shortstop who is allergic to walks $16MM for two years is a favor. Great that it's not a longer deal. But it's $2-4MM more PER YEAR more than he would have gotten on the market, which makes up for those extra year or two he may have gotten. It will be real interesting to see what Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson get as free agents this off-season. That's when we can really determine how lousy a deal this is.

Also, Bonifacio better be ready, as JimBow and Rizzo think. Because if Guz has to lead-off again, it's that much worst. Guz is a #2 or #8 hitter. That's it.

Another also: Closers grow on trees (see: Rauch, Jon). Stop worrying about it. The trade was a good one. I don't agree with Bowden often, but he got this one right:

"You have to trade a reliever when you have the chance to get an everyday position player who's 23 years old. You have to do it."

He's the fastest guy in professional baseball. He was MVP of the Dominican League last winter. He can hit and is learning plate discipline. He's 23! Again, this was a good deal. Stop worrying about trading "the closer". If he were still setting up Cordero, people would be throwing Bowden a parade today, getting a potential 40-steal guy for a set-up man. Closing is all about opportunity, nothing else. Now Hanrahan has that opportunity. A star is born. Rant over.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday night, 10:15 pm. Colin Balestar (1-2, 5.87) on the mound against Kevin Correia (1-5, 5.81). Enjoy. I'll be at Camden Yards celebrating the heroes of my youth, the 1983 World Series Champion Baltimore Orioles. Cal, Ed-die, Palmer, The Earl. Ah, sweet memories.

Molina Leads Giants Over Nationals 6-3

San Francisco--In what was one of the busiest days administratively in the Washington Nationals' history, they also had a ball game to play. Unfortunately, the Nats got out of the gate slowly and never caught back up with the San Francisco Giants as they dropped a 6-3 decision at AT&T Park.

The story of Tuesday night's game was Giants catcher Bengie Molina. Thrust in to the clean-up spot this season after the departure of Barry Bonds, Molina has responded with a career year, and he continued his success against the Nats, homering twice against starter Jason Bergmann and finishing 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. Bergmann was not sharp, especially early, as he surrendered five runs, four earned, and five hits in five innings of work. He did not walk a batter, and struck out only one. The first inning doomed Bergmann, as he allowed a lead-off home run to outfielder Fred Lewis, an infield single to Eugenio Velez, and a two-run shot to Molina, a no-doubt-about-it shot to left center field.

Bergmann settled down for the second and third innings, but in the fourth he was bit again. Molina led off with his second home run, his eighth of the season, and Omar Vizquel, statistically one of the worst batters in the NL this season, doubled to right field driving in ancient Rich Aurilia, who reached on an infield single. Bergmann fell to 1-7 on the season with the decision, and his ERA sits at 4.21.

The Nats hitters kept trying to claw their was back into this one, getting single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings, but never could catch up. In the second, Jesus Flores legged out his first major league triple, as Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand laid out for Flores' hard liner to right center, but just couldn't come up with it. The ball scooted all the way to the wall in the deepest part of the park, where right fielder Lewis retrieved it and threw late back into the infield. Flores slip into third for effect, as there was no play at the base. The next batter, Paul LoDuca, who was lustily booed by the fans remembering his long-time affiliation with the hated Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a ball into the left field corner that was ruled a ground-rule double, and Flores brought home the first Nats run.

In the fourth inning, Austin Kearns led off with a double and Ronnie Belliard walked against Giants starter Barry Zito (W, 5-12, 5.56). With one out, LoDuca again produced, as he eked out an infield hit and Kearns sneaked home with another run, Belliard advancing to third. But that's where he would stay, as Felipe Lopez struck out swinging, and Bergmann grounded out to end the inning. The Nats final run came courtesy of red-hot Willie Harris, who continues to push his career best home run total higher, as he hit his seventh of the season. Harris finished 2-for-4, raising his season average to .253.

The game marked the return of Ryan Zimmerman to third base for the Nats, as he was activated from the disabled list before the game, taking the roster spot from Dmitri Young, who was DL'd Friday due to complications with his diabetes and conditioning. Zimmerman went 1-for-3 with two walks upon his return.

Washington continues its series against the Giants Wednesday night at 10:15 pm Eastern, with Colin Balestar (1-2, 5.87) on the mound against Kevin Correia (1-5, 5.81).

NATS NOTES: The loss drops the Nats season record to 38-62, last in the NL East. They are 16 games behind division leading Philadelphia.

The Nationals announced before the game they re-signed SS Cristian Guzman to a two-year, $16MM contract.

Also, the team traded closer Jon Rauch to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio was assigned to Triple-A Columbus, but GM Jim Bowden said, "For us, he's going to be our second-baseman long term. That's what he's going to be. We've optioned him to Columbus; we want him to develop. But he'll be up here at some point by the end of the year and he'll be our second baseman next year."

Molina Leads Giants Over Nationals 6-3 also posted at DC Sports Box