GB&U: Number Nine, Number Nine...

RESULT: Nats lost to Rockies 13-6, ninth consecutive defeat.

GOOD: Ronnie Belliard. He went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and played SS/1B. Lastings Milledge. Despite another error in CF, he went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

BAD: John Lannan. For what it's worth, that was his worst outing as a big leaguer. We sat real close to home plate, and he had nothing. From the first pitch of the game you could tell. He had no location, no movement, nothing. Final line: 4 IP, 8 ERs, 7 hits, 4 BBs, 2 Ks. Throw this one out.

UGLY: Tim Tolman. Sending Jesus Flores home in the sixth inning was unconscionable. He's arguably the slowest guy on the team, there's only one out, you've got the opposing pitcher on the ropes. Hold him and you've got second and third with one out. It's smart baseball. Tolman made a very poor decision, and now Flores -- the team leader in RBIs -- is day-to-day with a strained calf. It just keeps getting worse.

100-LOSS WATCH: 20 to go with 38 games remaining.

NEXT GAME: Today to close out the series with Colorado. Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.12) versus all-star Aaron Cook (14-8, 3.87).

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008.

GB&U: Cain Shuts Down Nats

RESULT: Nats lose to Giants 1-0; Cain throws four-hitter.

GOOD: Tim Redding. After a couple not-so-good outings, Redding was awesome in an eight-inning complete game. Seven hits, no walks, five strikeouts. And a shortstop with average range would have kept the ball that scored Velez in the infield at least, if not get the out. But nothing can take away from Redding's excellent performance. He even had one of the four Nats hits!

BAD: Tim Tolman. Fastest guy on the team rounding third with two outs, gotta send Wee Willie home there and take your chances. Granted, Zim's fly wasn't the deepest, but Randy Winn has never been confused with Dwight Evans out there either. Send himhome, Tim!

UGLY: Johnny Estrada's exit. Wow, talk about ungracious and classless, not to mention clueless. To read his quotes, you'd think the Nats just cut A-Rod.

"Mentally, I'm ready to go home. It's been a grind for me all season." And "Yeah, it's been frustrating... I still know I have a lot left in the tank, and look forward to playing against the Nationals."

I guess when you go on the DL for four weeks and come back 15-20 pounds heavier, you kind of lose some persepective.

INJURY UPDATE: Estrada was sent packing since the Nats re-activated Lastings Milledge from the DL after the game. Hopefully he's fully recovered from the groin injury and can give the Nats a little spark in the closing two months of the season.

NEXT GAME: Friday night from Chavez Ravine. John "Hard Luck" Lannan (6-9, 3.29) takes on Chad Billingsly (9-9, 3.32) for the Dodgers. Man, I wish this game wasn't blacked out on MLB Extra Innings. Love me some Vin Scully!