GB&U: Housecleaning Ends With Sweep

RESULT: Nats finish sweep of Reds 4-2.

GOOD: Collin Balestar. He looked very sharp against a struggling team. He went 5.1, allowing one earned (Votto's 14th homer) , six hits and two walks with five Ks. He moves his record to 2-3, 4.55. Lastings Milledge homered for the second day in a row. Austin Kearns was 3-for-4. Emilio Bonifacio was 2-for-4. Can we just call him Emilio, you know, like the soccer stars how they go by one name? Wouldn't that be cool?

BAD: Kory Casto. 1-for-4, three left on base. He's scuffling right now with full-time play.

UGLY: Cincy's Defense. They made just the one error today, but it was a big one: the ball that hopped over Dunn and went to the wall for two runs. The bloop by Nieves in the first should have been caught too, although Bob and Don on the TV thought it was a great piece of situational hitting, strategically hitting a weak pop fly 20 feet past the second baseman into the sun to make it an indefensible play. Ugh. No wonder only 9000 people watch on TV. And we get two more years of this?

INJURY UPDATE: Dukes, Zim and Guz all sit. Nothing like a two-man bench, eh Manny?

NEXT GAME: Tonight in Colorado against the Rockies. Tim Redding (7-6, 4.34) takes the mound against all-star Aaron Cook (14-6, 3.53).

Nats Finish Sweep; Beat Reds 4-2

Washington--In a duel of rookie starting pitchers, Washington's Collin Balestar was sharper, more focused and most importantly, got more help from his teammates than his oppponent Johnny Cueto, and the Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds Sunday 4-2, before 32,939 rejuvenated fans at Nationals Park.

Balestar, 22, making his sixth career start, held the Reds to one earned run over five and one-third innings, allowing six hits and two walks, striking out five. He raised his record to 2-3 and lowered his ERA to 4.55. He allowed a solo home run to Reds 1B Joey Votto (14th of the season) in the sixth inning and then turned the game over to the bullpen. Fellow rookies Steven Shell and Charlie Manning held the Reds down for two and two-thirds innings, and newly-appointed closer Joel Hanrahan earned his first save of his career, despite allowing a solo home run to OF Corey Patterson in the ninth inning, his seventh of the year. Hanrahan struck out the final two batters for emphasis after Patterson took him deep.

"I've been waiting on the opportunity," Hanrahan said. "I finished it up the way I wanted to -- with a strikeout. That's how I envisioned it. I didn't picture the home run in there, but that's all right."

Washington's offense did all their work in the first inning, scoring four runs -- three earned -- against Reds rookie Johnny Cueto (L, 7-11, 5.00) after two were out in the frame. Cueto started out dominant, striking out 2B Emilio Bonifacio and LF Willie Harris, both swinging weakly at breaking pitches. But Cueto left a fastball in the middle of the plate to OF Lastings Milledge, and he turned it around with a no-doubt-about-it swing to left that started the rally. It was Milledge's ninth of the season, and second in as many days. Austin Kearns then reached on a ground ball that 2B Brandon Phillips knocked down behind second base but couldn't make the throw on, and Kory Casto followed with a single to left that moved Kearns up 90 feet. Pete Orr, with a rare start on Sunday, singled cleanly to left field, but the ball took a funny hop on LF Adam Dunn, and the ball bounced over Dunn's head and went all the way to wall, plating Kearns and Casto, allowing Orr to slide safely into third on the play. It was ruled a single, one RBI and a two-base error on Dunn.

The Reds have been victimized by poor fielding the entire series, and the error in the bottom of the first just re-emphasized the point. "It's very frustrating because we're making stupid mistakes," Dunn said. "We're beating ourselves. We're obviously not getting hits. They're making every single play in the field -- and we're making none."

Wil Nieves followed Orr's big play with a bloop single to right field that Phillips couldn't track in the bright sunshine, and Orr walked home to make the lead 4-0. All that was left for the Nats was to play good defense and let the pitchers take care of the rest.

Added Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker: "With that shortstop and second baseman [SS Alberto Gonzalez and 2B Emilio Bonifacio], they're a different club -- much different club than we saw last time. They have lots more energy, more life, more creativity."

The Nationals start an eight game road trip to Colorado and Milwaukee Monday night at 9:05 Eastern. Tim Redding (7-6, 4.34) takes the mound against Rockies all-star Aaron Cook (14-6, 3.53).

NATS NOTES: The win raises Washington's record to 41-70, last in the NL East and 20 games behind division-leading Philadelphia.

Washington INF Aaron Boone, on the disabled list with a strained left calf, will travel to Florida to continue his rehabilitation with no timetable for his return.

OF Elijah Dukes (leg), 3B Ryan Zimmerman (hand) and SS Cristian Guzman (thumb) were unavailable. It was Zimmerman's third missed game and Guzman's eighth that he has not batted.

Photos (c) C. Nichols 2008.

Nats Win Back-to-Back, Beat Reds 10-6

Washington--Down early against the Cincinnati Reds Saturday night, the Washington Nationals could have rolled over as they had so many times earlier this summer. But as simple as flipping the calendar to a new month, the new-look Nats never stopped playing hard, never stopped trying and eventually wore out the Cincy bullpen and celebrated a 10-6come-from-behind victory in front of 30,970 appreciative fans at Nationals Park.

Perhaps the highlight of the evening happened in the bottom of the seventh inning, while Reds skipper Dusty Baker was waiting for former National Gary Majewski to trot in from the bullpen to replace Mike Lincoln. Lincoln had just been beaten by Alberto Gonzalez' single to load the bases and set up the big inning. After the initial cheer for the base hit died down Baker marched out to retrieve the ball from Lincoln, the Nats faithful rose and delivered an unprompted second ovation to the hard-working Nationals, appreciative of the hustle,spirit and enthusiasm shown since the roster upheaval at the trading deadline.

Trailing 6-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Nats clawed their way back into the game, scoring two in the frame. Gonzalez (3-for-5,2 runs) started the rally with a one-out double, ending Reds starter Josh Fogg's evening. Bill Bray entered and one out later, Ronnie Belliard pinch-hit for Nats starter Jason Bergmann and delivered his 10th home run of the season, cutting the deficit in half. Emilio Bonifacio (2-for-5) then tripled to straight-away right field, but was left stranded. The message was clear though: the Nats weren't going away quietly.

Reliever Charlie Manning shut down the Reds 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh and let the bats go back to work. Lastings Milledge led off with a walk and Austin Kearns followed with a single, moving Milledge up 90 feet. Catcher Jesus Flores struck out, but Kory Casto followed up with a single to left field, scoring Milledge and moving Kearns up. Gonzalez' safety then loaded the bases, prompting the pitching change, and the subsequent ovation.

Majewski wouldn't fare any better than his teammate on the mound though, as Elijah Dukes hit a hard grounder that second baseman Brandon Phillips couldn't handle, and Kearns carried the tying run home. Little used utility player Pete Orr was summoned by Manager Manny Acta to pinch-hit for Manning, and he delivered in a big way,with a two-run single to left field, scoring Casto and Gonzalez easily.

The Nationals added two insurance runs in the eighth, as Milledge smacked his eighth homer of the season and Austin Kearns (3-for-5, 2runs, 1 RBI) singled, advanced to third when right fielder Jay Bruce over-ran the ball, and scored on a wild pitch by Majewski. Manning (1-2, 4.01) earned the win -- his first career victory -- with his perfect inning. Starter Jason Bergmann (1-8, 4.33) had a rough night, going six innings and allowing six runs -- five earned -- on six hits and three walks. He struck out only two.

The Nats look for the sweep Sunday against the Reds, sending rookie Colin Balestar (1-3, 5.13) to face fellow rookie Johnny Cueto (7-10,5.02). Game time is 1:35 pm.

NATS NOTES: The win makes Washington 40-70, 20 games behind division-leading Philadelphia.

Cristian Guzman came in to play defense in the ninth inning after Elijah Dukes had a cramp getting out of the box after hitting in the bottom of the eighth. Guzman did not bat.

Ryan Zimmerman sat out his third straight game due to lingering soreness in his right hand.

Photos (c) C. Nichols 2008.

And Dukes Shall Lead Them; Nats Stop Skid

Washington--Elijah Dukes returned from the 15-day disabled list and provided a spark -- one of many on the day -- as the Washington Nationals defeated the Cincinnati Reds Friday night 5-2, ending a nine-game losing streak. The Nats jumped all over Reds starter Homer Bailey, touching him for five runs and eighth hits in the first two innings.

Bailey (L, 0-5, 7.55) would not see the third inning, as the once heralded "can't miss" prospect continued to struggle in his first full season in the big leagues. "I was damn near putting it on a tee for them," Bailey said. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, as long as they don't cut your arms off -- and they're still attached."

Bailey's opponent, Nats starter Odalis Perez, was as sharp as he has been all season, dominating the Reds line-up, pitching seven and one-third innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits and three walks, striking out five along the way.

The fun got started for the Nats in the very first inning, as Willie Harris continued his hot streak, reaching on a one-out single. Dukes followed with a seeing eye single to left field and both runners advanced when Reds catcher David Ross couldn't handle a breaking ball from Bailey on Austin Kearns' strikeout. Catcher Jesus Flores (1-for-4, two RBIs) lined a single to left center, and both Harris and Dukes, lumbering home from second, scored. Dukes was nowhere near full speed on the jaunt, but professed after the game, "No problems at all, man."

The hit parade continued in the second inning. Newly acquired shortstop Alberto Gonzalez led off with a double to right field and pitcher Perez sacrificed him cleanly to third. Lead-off hitter Emilio Bonifacio, acquired for closer Jon Rauch last week, gathered his first RBI as a National, singling up the middle an allowing Gonzalez (1-for-2, two walks) to walk home. Bonifacio immediately stole second base, and Harris walked to put two men on. Dukes (2-for-4, two RBIs) then delivered the big hit, a double down the line to left field, scoring Bonifacio and Harris all the way from first.

The Nats had all the runs they needed to beat the Reds on this night.

The rest was up to Perez to make the lead hold, and that he did. He only ran into trouble twice. In the fourth inning Reds SS Jeff Keppinger doubled to lead off, took third on a Jay Bruce ground out and scored on another ground out by Brandon Phillips. In the fifth, Perez allowed a one-out single to Andy Phillips, and immediately followed that with a walk to catcher David Ross. But Perez retired relief pitcher Nick Masset, just arrived from the American League in the Ken Griffey, Jr. trade and Jerry Hairston, Jr. flied out to end the inning.

Gonzales and Bonifacio made quite an excellent double-play combination. Gonzalez made several outstanding plays, displaying tremendous range and a rifle for an arm. Bonifacio made two nifty leaping plays in the ninth inning to snuff any chance of a late inning rally.

The Nats try to start a winning streak of their own tonight against the Reds. Jason Bergmann (1-8, 4.13) faces Josh Fogg (2-3, 7.84) for Cincinnati.

NATS NOTES: The victory moves Washington's record to 39-70. They trail NL East leading Philadelphia by 20 games.

With the release of C Paul LoDuca, Johnny Estrada and INF Felipe Lopez and the addition of SS Alberto Gonzalez and 2B Emilio Bonifacio, the Nationals are now the youngest team in the majors, with an average age of 27 years, 197 days.

The Nationals optioned RHP Garrett Mock to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Bonifacio. The team also reinstated RHP Ryan Wagner from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Columbus.

3B Ryan Zimmerman and SS Cristian Guzman both missed the game due to lingering discomfort with their bruised hands. Both are still listed day-to-day. Guzman has now missed six games, Zimmerman two.

GB&U: The Kids Are Alright

RESULT: Nats beat Griffey-less Reds 5-2.

GOOD: Infield Defense. Although that sells them short since they both made their presence felt hitting as well. SS Alberto Gonzalez and 2B Emilio Bonifacio both made a couple of tremendous plays, Gonzo on ranging for ground balls Guz doesn't even sniff and Boni leaping to snare two line drive sin the ninth to close it out. Welcome to DC boys.

And Elijah Dukes went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, even if he seemed to lumber a bit scoring from second base. I asked him after the game and he said, "No problems at all, man." So we'll take him at his word. He certainly didn't have a problem with his swing.

Odalis Perez gave up one earned on three hits and three walks in 7.1 IP, getting his first win at Nationals Park.

BAD: Kory Casto. 0-for-4, four left on base.

UGLY: Didn't you used to be Homer Bailey? Ouch. His fastball had zero life on it, looking like a BP fastball until Dusty Baker gave him the hook after two innings. Wow, so much for prize prospect.

INJURY UPDATE: Guz and Zim both sit nursing sore digits. Still both day-to-day.

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 7:10 pm against the Reds. Jason Bergman (1-8, 4.13) faces off with Josh Fogg (2-3, 7.84).

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.