Atlanta shortstop Brent Lillibridge ranges to his left and robs Willie Harris of a single up the middle, fielding on the run and throwing to first in time to get Washington’s speedy leadoff batter. Paul Lo Duca lines the first pitch to right, and Cristian Guzman pops a 2-0 pitch out to short...DC righty Tim Redding throws a two-strike fastball by a Braves’ left fielder Gregor Blanco. Kelly Johnson grounds out to first. Chipper Jones vs. Redding...Ground ball to second, no score after one.

Hudson gets in on Austin Kearns’ fists, inducing a weak groundout to second. “Looks like Johnny Estrada left his razor behind on one of his many rehab starts,” my Brother, Scout, Braves Fan and Source For All Things Baseball observes. “I went with...’Johnny Estrada, (still wearing his DL beard), grounds out to first.’” Ronnie Belliard stares at a two-strike sinking fastball that breaks from outside into the zone at 90 miles an hour...Mark “Free Agent” Teixeira doubles to center off Redding to start the Braves’ second. Teixeira takes third on Austin Kearns’ arm when Brian McCann flies out to right. Mark “Double Play” Kotsay flies out unproductively to left. “Lillibridge looks like he’s twelve,” I tell Scout, who responds, “I went with thirteen.” (ed. note - “Does Scout have a blog?”) Redding throws an 0-2 pitch over the middle and Lillibridge blasts it over Willie Harris’ head in center for a two-strike, two-out, two-run double. 2-0 Braves. 

Mark Kotsay misplays a Kory Casto line drive into a double in the top of the third. Ryan Langerhans splits the right center gap with an RBI single, and the Clippers cut the Braves’ lead in half, 2-1 Atlanta. “That’s my joke,” Scout interrupts, “I said it earlier!” “Did you?” I ask... Tim Redding tries to bunt, and gets knocked down by an inside fastball on his bat, and thrown out at first on the sac “bunt” while he's flat on his back. Willie Harris pops out unproductively to the infield. Paul Lo Duca rips a single up the middle of the infield to drive Langerhans in from second. 2-2 ballgame...Tim Redding walks Gregor Blanco the second time through the Braves’ lineup. Kelly Johnson flies out to right. Blanco running as Chipper Jones pulls an inside curve through second. Redding throws a low full-count fastball to walk Mark Teixeira. Bases loaded. Brian McCann laces a single to right on a low change, and drives in all three runs. 5-2 Atlanta. Redding throws a full-count fastball by Jeff Francouer. Mark Kotsay lines a 2-2 pitch to center to drive in McCann. 6-2 Braves.

Kearns down looking, Estrada flies out, Belliard chops a groundout to third, Tim Hudson’s through four with the lead...Tim Hudson rips Redding’s first pitch to right to start Atlanta’s fourth. Gregor Blanco takes a high strike three. Kelly Johnson spins a grounder out to Casto, who takes only the force at second. C.Jones up, Johnson steals second. “What’s the strategy there, Johnson?” Scout asks, “Just makes it harder for Chipper to know if they’re trying to walk him.” They were. Redding walks Chipper to face Tex. Tex flies out to center. Still 6-2 Atlanta.

 Casto pops out to short to start the fifth. Langerhans hits a check-swing groundout to Chipper at third. Pinch hittin’ Pete Orr singles off Hudson. Willie Harris follows with his own two-out hit. Paul Lo Duca? Lo Duca grounds to second, where Kelly Johnson makes an overdramatic sliding play to end the DC fifth...Jason Bergmann’s on in relief of Redding and pitches a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth. 6-2 Braves. Cristian Guzman hits a one-hopper to first to start the sixth. Austin Kearns goes the other way with a backspinning grounder by first base for a double. Kearns moves to third on Johnny Estrada’s groundout to second. Ronnie Belliard lines a single to center to score AK. 6-3 ATL. Casto flies out to left, where Gregor Blanco catches it on the run at his hip...Lillibridge singles on a full-count fastball from Bergmann, allowing Hudson to lay down the sac bunt. Austin Kearns catches Grego Blanco’s fly ball to right. Kelly Johnson lines a two-out RBI single over short, Lillibridge scores, 7-3 Braves after six.

Ryan Langerhans takes a 1-1 curve from Hudson down the line in right for a leadoff triple!! Jesus Flores does his job, flying out to right to score Langerhans. 7-4 Braves. Willie Harris works a one-out walk. Paul Lo Duca grounds to second, but Harris was running so there’s no double play. Guzman archs a liner over the left side of the infield, Harris scores from second. 7-5 Braves, and Hudson’s done. Right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer (also wearing a beard), gets help from Chipper Jones, when Kearns lines off the pitcher and it bounces to third, where Jones fields and throws Kearns out...DC lefty Charlie Manning faces a right-handed hitting Teixeira in the Braves’ seventh, and Manning walks Tex. McCann throws his bat at an outside pitch and flies out to right. Manning stays on to face Francouer (also beared), who grounds to third, to second, and picked by Lo Duca at first**, double play. 7-5 ATL after seven.

Johnny Estrada grounds out to short. Ronnie Belliard stares at a low strike three. Boyer’s out so it’s Casto vs Will Ohman, Lefty vs Lefty...Ohman throws a slider inside for a swinging strike three from Casto... Manning comes back in the eighth. Mark Kotsay grounds out to Lo Duca at fist. Manning goes to a full count with Lillibridge, and gets another grounder, to second. Pinch hitter Martin Prado flies out to center. Manning puts the Braves down in order. 

3 outs to get 2 runs...The Braves’ Dancing Closer Mike Gonzalez shakes his hips like a pitching Elvis and delivers towards home where Ryan Langerhans waits...Jam shot, and Langerhans flies out to center. Pinch hitting Felipe Lopez drops a bloop single into center. Willie Harris drops a single into right, Lopez to third, Harris takes second, hustling all the way out of the box. Paul Lo Duca grounds out to second on a high chopper. Lopez scores. 7-6 Braves. Lo Duca out at first, Harris to third. Cristian Guzman gets hit on the hands...(Not hurt, not hurt??? Guzman takes first.) Austin Kearns lines the first pitch to right, Frenchy’s got it...Braves win 7-6.

(** = See that, MLB Scouts, Lo Duca, picking it at first!! Huh? Make an offer!")

Nationals now 36-61. (The Countdown to 100 Losses Stands at...39 Losses.)

Season Series...

The last time the Washington Nationals played the Atlanta Braves, DC took two straight at home in Nationals Park, on April 29th and 30th, in a two-game set that effectively completed the normal three game visit to the nation's capital for the Braves, which began on March 30th with the one night stand on Opening Night. So in a way, you can say that the Nationals swept the Braves in three straight the last time they met, even if it might not be exactly, factually, true, but they did sweep two...

The Braves were back in DC only 12 days after Opening Night, for a three game weekend series from April 11th-13th, with Atlanta taking two of three on the road, and in Washington's only visit to Atlanta, Georgia's Turner Field so far in '08 on April 21-22, (another abbreviated two-game set), the teams split, leaving the season series so far at 5-3 in favor of DC...

On The Hill...

Tim Redding (7-3, 3.85 ERA) started the second of the Nationals' two games down South in Atlanta, taking the hill on April 22nd, and throwing 6.0 innings of 4-hit, 2 run ball with 2 walks, 2 K's and 1 HR surrendered, that being the solo shot Chipper Jones hit in the sixth inning to tie at 2-2, a game which the Nationals would eventually win 6-3. In Redding's career, he's faced Atlanta 5 times, with 4 starts and a (2-1) record in 22 innings pitched, over which he's allowed 23 hits, 11 ER, 4 HR's and 10 walks with 12 K's and a 4.50 ERA overall. Two of those starts against Atlanta came this year, with Redding holding the Braves to a .244 AVG, with 10 hits, 5 ER's and 2 HR's in 11 innings all at Nationals Park. 

On the road this season, Redding's undefeated at (3-0) in 8 starts, posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a .223 BAA in 47.1 innings on the mound, but on the road...in Atlanta...in 2 career starts, the 30-year old Redding is (1-1) with a 5.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and a .324 BAA, having given up 11 hits, 5 ER, 2 HR's and 4 walks while striking out 5 Braves' batters. 

Tim Hudson (9-7, 3.13 ERA), has beaten the Nationals two of the three times he's faced DC this season, with a (2-0) record and a 1.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .216 BAA, and just 16 hits, 3 ER's and 4 walks allowed in 21.2 innings pitched during which he's collected 11 K's. 

In fact, in his career, Hudson's dominated DC, with a (7-1) record in 11 starts against the Nationals, posting ridiculous numbers...like his 1.13 ERA in 79.1 innings, or his 0.93 WHIP, or .212 BAA, and the fact that he's held the Nationals to just 61 hits, 14 runs, (10 earned), 1 HR and 13 walks while setting 57 down either swinging, looking, or fouling third strikes into a catcher's mitt is kind of impressive...

Not quite as impressive? Hudson's record at home in Turner Field, where the 32-year old right-hander is just (2-6) in 11 starts and 12 appearances in 2008, having doubled his runs allowed on the road, (15 to 30 at home) while nearly doubling the number of home runs surrendered (4 to 7), as well as his ERA from (2.13 to 4.09), though he's still held opponents to just a .253 BAA. Hudson's struggled through his last ten starts, going just (2-4), while the Braves have gone just (3-7) with Hudson on the hill...

Nationals' #'s Against Tim Hudson...

Jesus Flores - 0 for 5, .000 AVG.

Paul Lo Duca - 7 for 23, .304 AVG, 1 2B.

Cristian "All-Star" Guzman - 10 for 53, .189 AVG, 2 2B's, 8 K's.

Felipe Lopez - 5 for 27, .185 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

DY - 9 for 13, .158 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's. 

Willie Harris 1 for 6, .167 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI.

Austin Kearns - 10 for 30, .333 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI's.

Ryan Langerhans - 1 for 4, .250 AVG, 1 RBI.

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Aaron Boone - 3 for 11, .273 AVG, 1 2B, 2 RBI's.

Lastings Milledge - 0 for 12, .000 AVG, 1 RBI.

Ryan Zimmerman - 3 for 23, 130 AVG, 1 2B, 6 K's.

Nick Johnson 4 for 23, .174 AVG, 2 2B, 1 RBI.

Tim Redding's Been Hit Hard By...

Yunel Escobar - 2 for 5, .400 AVG.

Chipper JONES - (Career #'s) - 7 for 9, .778 BA, 2 HR's, 6 RBI's, .778 OBP, 1.444 SLG!!, 2.222 OPS!!!. - (C. Jones vs Redding in '08 - 4 for 6, .667 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI's. 

Mark Teixeira - 3 for 7, .429 AVG, 3 2B, 1 RBI. 

Cristian Guzman @ The All-Star Game in NYC...

The Nationals' All-Star shortstop, Cristian Guzman, comported himself well at MLB's Mid-Summer Classic, (which actually lived up to that moniker this season in a tense 15-inning affair), which saw Guzman, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the ninth, end up getting 3 AB's, and going 0 for 3 with 3 LOB. But if he didn't impress with the bat, he did in the field, where Guzman, who agreed to play third base for the first time at the Major League level, made at least one game-saving play, whilst simultaneously increasing his value by adding another position to his resume as he plays his way towards a new free agent deal after this season...

Guzman talked to MLB.com's Bill Ladson about the experience, talking to Mr. Ladson for an article entitled, "Guzman doesn't sell himself short", in which Guzman admits:

"'In the first inning, I was so nervous,' Guzman said. 'I never played third in my life. We didn't have anymore infielders. He (NL Manager Clint Hurdle) talked to me and he asked, 'Are you going to play third?' I go, 'Why not?'"

...(and Bill Ladson gets a laugh out of Guzman by asking after his night at third base, "So, watch out Ryan Zimmerman?" to which Guzman replies, "He's the best, he's the best.") Speaking of Ryan Zimmer...THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!!!

"Zimmerman Watch: Columbus Edition" - Federal Baseball's 24-Hour, 22 Hou...12 Hour... Intermittent Dodgy Coverage of the BREAKING NEWS! And ACTION!!......(This Time With Extra Action)...

Ryan Zimmerman was 1 for 3 with a double last night in his '08 debut with the Nationals' Triple-AAA affiliate in Columbus, though the Clippers dropped a 5-2 decision to the Indianapolis Indians. Roger Bernadina was 2 for 3 to lift his '08 AVG to .417. Shairon Martis, fresh off his save in the XM MLB All-Star Futures Game, lost the game, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs, (2 earned) and a walk with 3 K's....

...Mike Hinckley, (I'm still waiting to see Hinckley debut in DC), was just called up from Double-AA Harrisburg on (7/12) to make his Triple-AAA debut with Columbus after 8 seasons in the Nationals/Expos organization, according to Dan Watson's article entitled, "LHP Mike Hinckley Goes to Columbus." In last night's game, Hinckley tossed 2.0 scoreless in relief, allowing 1 walk with 1 K after losing his Clippers' debut, as a starter, to the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees after allowing 9 hits and 2 ER in 6.0 innings, with 1 walk and 6 K's on July 12th. 

7:35 pm EST start at Turner Field in Atlanta. The "So-Called Second-Half" begins the same way the first half did, with the Nationals and Braves in an NL East tilt. Redding vs Hudson. Game 97! Who's watching the Nationals?

My Grandfather used to tell me that a guarantee and a nickel will get you five cents of candy. Alright...I never met either of my grandfathers, they both died long before I was born, but in order to lend weight to that opening maxim I decided to attribute it to some sort or archetype for wise counsel, but the truth is I have nothing with which to back up my wild claims, and as soon as the idea to offer the "guarantee" that the Nationals would not lose 100 games dawned on me, I put my rudimentary math skills to work and realized that I had better not offer any sort of reward against my pronouncements...

After 96 games in the 2008 MLB season, the Washington Nationals* are 36-60. That leaves 66 games to be played when the Nationals return for the beginning of the "second-half" of the 162 game schedule Friday night in Atlanta, a second half in which the Nationals will have to win at least 27 games to avoid losing 100, which would leave them 27-39 in the last nine weeks of the season and 63-99 when it ends. The franchise hasn't finished with that bad a record since 2004, when they were still known as the Expos, and finished 67-95, and they haven't lost 100 games in a season since 1976, (Andre Dawson's rookie campaign), when Montreal finished 55-107, and before that the Expos' Inaugural Season in 1969, when the team dropped 110. (52-110, C'est horrible!)

As for the Washington-based franchises, the last time the Original Senators (who would become the Twins) dropped over a hundred games was back in 1955, when the Roy Sievers-led team finished 53-101 in a 154 game season, and before that you've got to look back to 1909, when George McBride, Walter Johnson and the boys dropped 110 out of 152. 

The second time around for the "Senators", (who would also leave the District and become the Texas Rangers), the DC-based franchise dropped 100 or more in each of its first four seasons, with a rebuilt team that was left devastated by the Twins' departure in '61, dropping 100, 101, 106 and 100 decisions in consecutive campaigns from 1961-64...a fact made more difficult to stomach in light of the success the Minnesota Twins enjoyed upon relocation, finishing first in the American League and losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers just four years after moving in 1965, and then winning two more Division titles in their first ten years, with a roster lifted heavily from the nation's capital. (ed. note- "Big ups to Baltimore for knocking the Twins out of the '69 and '70 Postseasons, though, couldn't the Orioles have beaten the Mets in 1969 too? Please?")

In 2005, DC's newly relocated Nationals, managed by Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, surprised just about everyone, by not only finishing at .500, with an (81-81) record overall, but by actually occupying first place in the NL East as late in the year as July 24th, before a dismal "second-half" left them once again in last, fifth out of five in the NL East when the season concluded. '06 saw the Nationals come back down to Earth, finishing twenty games under .500 at 71-91, and last year, with all the preseason prognisticators predicting a 100-loss season in Manny Acta's first as Manager, the team improved a little, and defied the expectations, ending the season at 16 games below even, 73-89 after 162. 

Can the '08 Nationals manage a 27-39 record in the 66 remaining games? Through the first 66 games of the '08 season, the Nationals were 26-40, which, (even after a brutal, early 9-game losing streak which saw Washington go from a 3-0 start to 3-9 before they'd win another game), would be just one game short of avoiding losing 100 if they could replicated that (lack of-) success rate over the remainder of the season. Over the previous 66 games, from May 2nd-July 3th this year...the Nationals have gone from 12-18 to 36-60...yeah, that's 24-42...(this could be a problem)...but with Ryan Zimmerman, maybe Lastings Milledge and eventually Elijah Dukes coming back, and a few young pitchers coming up from Columbus...or even Harrisburg? They could play .500 baseb...

Uh...yeah...About that "guarantee" thing...

(ed. note - " * = Team Stats all linked to baseball-reference.com)

“...And from the Washington Nationals....Cristian Guzmin!” A polite applause from the Yankee Stadium crowd follows as I wonder if I’ve been calling Guzmin “Guzman” all these years...

“The NL is gonna get killed.” This is my friend, Runner, a lifelong Mets’ fan, who’s checking in via the text message. “I may not like your team, but I admire you’re sticktoituveness,” Runner continues, creating linguistic atrocities when I tell him to log on to federalbaseball.com and join in the All-Star chatter. (ed. note - “I write back, ‘1 Mets' World Series title in ur life, son, remember what happened the last two seasons? Remember?”)

My Brother Scout, Braves' Fan and Source For All Things Baseball is in the house with me as the All-Star game gets underway, and the camera pans to two Nationals’ fans seated in Yankees Stadium. “You guys are like the ‘300’,” Scout says of the DC faithful, “...but the ‘9000’ instead,” Scout jabs, making sure I know he’s read the articles about Washington’s TV numbers. 

“Do you believe Boggs was wearing a Yankees’ cap?” Runner asks. “Where’s your Tampa cap now?” I chime in. Gary Carter’s introduced along with tonight’s starting catchers as they go through all of the Hall of Famers at each position, and Mr. Carter, the Kid! Is rocking the Montreal Expos’ cap!! Les Expos Existent!!

In The Comments Section...

 

"I saw a Nats Fan!...In the Crowd." - CptChaosSidekick 

 

"I saw 2 of the 9,000!! A rare sighting indeed...Gary Carter's rocking the Expos' cap!!! Put the Mets’ cap down, Kid." - e chigliak 

“For one night only, we can all cheer for the same team,” I tell Scout and text Runner. “Gladly,” Runner responds, my Brother slyly chuckles, but I know at least Runner thinks that tonight they’re playing for home field advantage when the Mets reach the Series. 

AL starters Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore are introduced via an anecdote about the Expos’ trade for Bartolo Colon in exchange for Lee, Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Lee Stevens. “Why do they have to bring that up,” I ask Scout. “Because two of the players are in the game,” Scout replies dryly. 

“Jeter couldn’t carry the jock of any of the three NL shortstops with those numbers,” Scout states. (Jeter’s #’s - .284 AVG, 18 doubles, 3 triples, 5 HR's, 42 RBI's.) “Wright better not blow this,” I text Runner, who makes no response.”Laaarrry!” I taunt my Brother after Chipper Jones has the NL’s first hit off Cliff Lee. “Pinch Runner,” Scout says aloud, wanting Chipper out of the game, “...I’d rather seeing him resting,” Scout explains. 

Four scoreless. Matt Holliday goes the other way and out to right, off Angels’ righty Ervin Santana, for a solo HR to start the scoring at 1-0 NL in the fifth. D-Backs’ righty Dan Haren lets two on in the AL-fifth, and then blows away Ichiro with a fastball to bring up Derek Jeter...who grounds back to the mound. 1-0 NL after five. “Jeter Stinks!” Scout chants. I text Runner...”Jeter stinks. Reyes is the best SS in NY!! Oh wait, Reyes isn’t an All-Star, I don’t have to cheer for him tonight!” “I bet your player (Guzman) doesn’t even get in the game, jerk!” Runner responds. “If he (Guzman) gets in, he will probably face Rivera or Papelbon...maybe he should just sit.” “Maybe?” Scout responds. 

Hanley Ramirez singles off Justin Duchscherer to start the sixth and moves to third as Chase Utley hits the second straight single of the inning. “That’s NL ball (expletive deleted)!!” Scout yells. Lance Berkman flies out to deep center. Ramirez tags and scores. 2-0 NL. Albert Pujols singles up the middle. Will Duchscherer get pulled in the ASG? “Blow this open, C.Jones,” my brother implores Chipper Jones as he steps up with two on and one out. Chipper swings through a high fastball for strike three. Duchscherer pops up Holliday to end the sixth.

After 13 votes, as of 10:49 pm EST, Federal Baseball readers think Cristian Guzman will K if he gets a chance at bat. “13 votes,” Runner taunts, “I guess ALL the Nationals’ fans are on your site.” “Of the 9,000 that watch on TV, that’s not bad,” I try to defend the site, but receive no response...

JD Drew ties it with one down and two on in the AL seventh. Reds’ righty Edinson Volquez is rolling before Drew takes him deep. 2-2 in the seventh. “Do you want (Mets’ closer) Billy Wagner coming in here?” I ask Runner. “Sure...” Runner responds sarcastically, “We all know he will give up a hit and a walk, let’s just get it over with...”

Miguel Tejada starts the NL eighth with a single, steals second, and takes third on an errant throw from Rays’ catcher Dioner Navarro, before he scores on a sac fly from Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres. 3-2 NL leads. David Wright up at bat...K’s looking to end the inning...

(ed. note - "Testing Runner's Predictions for Wagner...") - Mets’ closer Billy Wagner comes on with two down in the eighth to face left-handed hitter Grady Sizemore, who promptly singles...Evan Longoria gets in as a pinch hitter. Longoria reaches down and drives an RBI double to right to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth. WAGNER!!! (ed. note - "Runner was close, but it's a single and double instead of the single and walk he predicted. Runner is either asleep, or no longer responding, either way, it's a tie ballgame...") 

Cubs’ third baseman Aramis Ramirez walks to start the NL ninth. NL Manager Clint Hurdle calls Guzman over and tells him the plan...AND CRISTIAN GUZMAN IS ON TO PINCH RUN!!! GUZMAN at first...

In The Comments Section...

"(NL Manager) Clint Hurdle just called on GUZMAN!!! TO PINCH RUN!!!! GUZMAN! GUZMAN! GUZMAN! GUZMAN!!!!!" - e chigliak

 

"Run, Guz, run!" - Doghouse 

 

...Cards’ outfielder Ryan Ludwick goes down swinging, Guzman’s running...and he gets NAILED by Dioner Navarro, Strike’em out throw’em out to end the top of the ninth...Ryan Dempster retires the AL in order and it’s going to All-Star extras...

 

"NOOOOO!!! GUZMAN NAILED STEALING!! STRIKE 'EM OUT, THROW 'EM OUT!! NO GUZ NO!!!" - e chigliak

 

"Not our year, I guess..." - Doghouse 

NL BALL! NL BALL! After Nate McLouth K's swinging, Dodgers’ catcher Russell Martin singles off Mariano Rivera and takes third on a hit and run single from Miguel Tejada. Rivera gets a DP grounder from Dan Uggla to end the top of the tenth...Two straight errors on Dan Uggla on ground balls from Michael Young and Carlos Quentin, and Rockies’ righty Aaron Cook is in deep trouble in the bottom of the tenth. Carlos Guillen up, first and third, 0 outs. Guillen gets the intentionals to load the bases. “Now they have to hope for something back to the pitcher,” Scout says...Grady Sizemore grounds to second, Uggla throws home without an error, but the throw to first is too late. Bases still loaded. Evan Longoria grounds to Guzman who throws home for a force. Two down. Justin Morneau grounds weakly to short...Tejada fires sidearm to first, IN TIME!! On to the eleventh...

KC closer Joakin Soria gives up a leadoff single to Adrian Gonzalez to start the eleventh. David Wright  K’s...and it’s the GUZZZZZ...

Fastball for a low strike, 92 mph...second pitch, same place again at 91, and Guzman lines out to center for the second out on the third pitch...

...Brewer Corey Hart flies out to right to end the NL eleventh.

Aaron Cook comes back out and gives up a single to Ian Kinsler, who drops a bloop hit into center. Kinsler runs, Cook and catcher Russell Martin combine to pitch out and throw Kinsler out. Cook walks Dioner Navarro. JD Drew...singles up the middle. Michael Young, singles up the middle...

...Navarro comes around third, Pirates’ outfielder Nate McLouth comes up throwing and NAILS Navarro at home!!! Carlos Quentin grounds to third, GUZMAN fields and throws to first, IN TIME!! Twelfth inning?

Joakim Soria walks Ryan Ludwick to start the twelfth. “So now, ‘It counts’, and you have a Royal and Nationals’ player on the field? When the game is decided?” Scout asks. I just stare at him. “You heard me,” Scout says. Nate McLouth beats out a sac bunt attempt. Russell Martin lays down the sac bunt. Soria walks Miguel Tejada to load the bases. Dan Uggla? Soria gets Uggla on three straight pitches, with a devastating curve to end the at bat. Two down, and Orioles’ closer George Sherrill’s on to face Adrian Gonzalez. Three straight strikes. Three stranded runners. 3-3 ballgame...Carlos Guillen doubles off Aaron Cook, who is somehow still in the game? Grady Sizemore grounds out to second, Guillen to third. Cook strikes out Evan Longoria! Justin Morneau gets the intentionals. Ian Kinsler grounds out to third, Guzman throws to first, Thirteen? 

David Wright hits a broken bat single off George Sherrill to start the thirteenth...

...Cristian Guzman takes a high ball outside from Sherrill...low strike, 1-1 count, Guzman bunts back to the mound, “Too hard, right back at the mound, terrible, terrible bunt, it’s called a sacrifice Guzman, don’t try to hit,” Scout chides Guzman. 

...Corey Hart swings through a high two-strike fastball. Ryan Ludwick pops out to second. AL’s turn to try for the win...Cubs’ righty Carlos Marmol takes over for the NL in the thirteenth. JD Drew reaches on a one-out grounder that Dan Uggla misplays, for his third error of the evening. Drew safe at first. Michael Young K’s looking at a nasty Marmol curve, but Drew steals second safely on the pitch. Carlos Quentin swings over a two-strike slider. Fourteen innings? Really? 

Nate McLouth’s fly ball shot at immortality dies on the warning track. Russell Martin’s fly ball doesn’t even get to the track...and Miguel Tejada? Miggy grounds out to short...Tejada helps D-Backs’ righty Brandon Webb, diving to rob Carlos Guillen of a line drive hit. Grady Sizemore strikes out swinging. Evan Longoria goes down swinging...15? Dan Uggla K’s swinging at Rays’ lefty Scott Kazmir’s high two-strike fastball. Adrian Gonzalez flies out. David Wright works a two-out walk to bring up...

Cristian Guzman...The Guzzz grounds out to first...

Walk-off or it’s over? Philly closer Brad Lidge vs Justin Morneau. Morneau singles to center. Ian Kinsler hits a line driv...Ryan Ludwick dives to rob Kinsler of an extra base hit. Dioner Navarro singles to center. Morneau stops at second. JD Drew works the count full...and walks to load the bases for Michael Young. Lidge gives up a fly ball to right...Corey Hart catches it coming in and throws home...Morneau slides in, “SAFE! SAFE!” the Ump yells, and somewhere Bud Selig breathes a sigh of relief...AL wins 4-3. 

Cristian Guzman's first All-Star game was Cal Ripken's last. On July 10, 2001, in Seattle, Washington's SAFECO Field, the Baltimore Orioles' Hall of Fame shortstop started at short before stepping over to third for then-Rangers' shortstop Alex Rodriguez, who'd been voted in as the starter, and whose idea it was for Ripken to begin the game in the position he manned expertly for most of twenty-one Major League seasons with the O's. After Ripken for an inning, A-Rod and then Derek Jeter at short for the American League, Minnesota shortstop Cristian Guzman got his shot as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh with Yankees' catcher Jorge Posada on third, two outs and Cards' righty Matt Morris on the mound for the trailing National League...Guzman struck out, and then played the top of the eighth and ninth innings in the field in the AL's 4-1 win...(Ripken, you'll remember, homered in his final All-Star at bat, taking the first pitch of the third inning from Dodgers' pitcher Chan Ho Park for a ride...)

Guzman might get some time in the field tonight, as one of only three shortstops on the NL's roster...What to expect? What do you think? One of the 2 triples? 5 HR's? or 26 doubles Guzman's connected on out of the 126 hits he has in 405 '08 AB's? Or, more likely...another one of the 93 slap singles Guzman's collected so far this season on his way to leading the National League in hits at the Break...Guzman's "1st Half" #'s - (.315 AVG, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR's, 30 RBI's and 3 steals, with just 35 K's in 94 games.)

Guzman's #'s Against the AL's All-Star Pitchers...

Guzman...

 vs. Justin Duchsherer (Oak) - 2 for 4, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

vs. Roy Hallyday (Tor) - 5 for 18, .278 AVG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI's.

vs. Cliff Lee (Cle) - 6 for 14, .429 AVG.

Scott Kazmir (Tam) - No AB's.

vs. Joe Nathan (Min) - 0 for 1, .000 AVG.

Jonathan Papelbon (Bos) - No AB's.

vs. Mariano Rivera - (NYY) - 1 for 5, .200 AVG.

vs. Francisco Rodriguez - (LAA) - 1 for 2, .500 AVG. 

George Sherrill - (Bal) - No AB's.

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game gets underway at some time after the festivities get underway around 8:00 pm EST out of Yankee Stadium. This Time It Counts! This Time There Are Enough Players! One more time in Old/New Yankees Stadium. NL Ben Sheets (Mil) vs AL Cliff Lee (Cle) to start the night. Although the AL hasn't lost an All-Star Game since 1996, the National League still leads the All-Time series (41-35) with 2 ties...? Everyone remembers the most recent All-Star tie? Does anyone know when the other All-Star Game tie was? (ed. note- "Answer in the Comments section.")

Nationals News Update...

"Zimmerman Watch" - Federal Baseball's 24-Hour, 22 Hou...12 Hour... Intermittent Dodgy Coverage of the BREAKING NEWS! And ACTION!!......

The Class-A Potomac Nationals, or P-Nats, saw the debut of their new 23-year old third baseman tonight, one Ryan Zimmerman, who was the P-Nats' DH against Houston Astros' Class A affiliate, the Salem(Va.) Avalanche. Zimmerman doubled twice, going 2 for 5 with a run scored in an 8-6 P-Nats' loss. 

While Washington's '05 1st Round Draft pick's rehab stint was getting underway, the Nationals' top pick in '07, lefty starter Ross Detwiler was making his 18th start for the P-Nats, coming off 6.0 shutout innings in his previous outing, and tonight allowing 9 hits and 4 runs in 6.1 innings and taking the loss to the Avalanche, which dropped Detwiler's record to (5-5), with 81.1 innings pitched, over which he's given up 94 hits, 49 ER's, 6 HR's and 41 walks with 77 K's collected. 

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Zimmerman back in action in Minors", the plan is for:

"Zimmerman (to) wrap up his stint with Potomac tomorrow in Salem, and then head to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday."

Just As Zimmerman Starts On The Comeback Trail...

Wily Mo Pena's headed for surgery, according to Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman's article entitled, "Sugery might put Pena out for season", in which Mr. Zuckerman reports that:

"An enhanced MRI taken Monday on Pena's shoulder revealed a small tear and impingement in his rotator cuff and fraying in his labrum, according to team orthopedist Ben Shaffer..."

In 64 games and 195 at bats this season, WMP is batting .205 with 6 doubles, 2 HR's and 10 RBI's. So much for seeing what WMP can do with 500 AB's? Maybe next season...

No word in this or any other article I've seen about who'll replace Pena on the DC roster, but there probably won't be until Thursday or Friday, when the '08 campaign gets back underway with the Nationals in Atlanta for a three-game weekend set...

Who's watching the All-Star Game? What will Guzman do?...POLL!!!

Originally signed as a 16-year old amateur free agent out of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic by the New York Yankees on August 24, 1994, Cristian Guzman hit for a .294 AVG in his first 42 professional games with the rookie level Gulf Coast Yankees in 1996, collecting 8 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 21 RBI's and 7 stolen bases. The next season it was A-ball with the Greensboro Bats, where Guzman hits .273 in 124 games with 21 doubles, 4 triples, 4 HR's, 52 RBI's and 23 steals, earning himself inclusion, along with the Yankees' top pitching prospect at the time, Eric Milton, outfielder Brian Buchanan, and pitcher Daniel Motain, in the Yankees' February 6, 1998 deal with Minnesota, for leadoff hitter Chuck Knoblauch. 

Buster Olney, writing for the New York Times back in '98, in an article entitled, "Baseball; Yanks' Deal for Knoblauch in Selig's Court", reported that Guzman, and not Milton, might end up being the best player included in the deal:

"Several scouts with other teams say Guzman has the greatest potential of those headed to Minnesota, but he is a middle infielder and the Yankees may have Jeter and Knoblauch playing short and second for many years."

Guzman played just one season in the Minnesota system in 1998, and by the next April, Guzman, then 21, had debuted with the Twins on 4/6/09. By his 3rd season on the Twins' roster, Guzman was hitting .302 in 118 games of the '01 campaign, earning his first All-Star appearance, and the next season, in 2002, his first Playoff appearance, during which he hit .286 with 2 doubles, 1 HR and 4 RBI's against the A's in the Division series, before hitting just .186 in Minnesota's NLCS loss to Anaheim. 

In '03 Guzman posted a .268 AVG, with 15 doubles, 14 triples, 3 HR's and 53 RBI's with 18 stolen bases, but he hit in just 2 of 13 at bats (.154 AVG) with just 1 run scored in a 4-game NLDS defeat at the hands of the Yankees. In 2004 the Twins were able to once again win the AL Central, with Guzman batting .274, and smacking 31 doubles, 4 triples, 8 HR's, 46 RBI's, while stealing 10 bases, and in the Postseason, as the Twins were losing another 4-game series to NY, Guzman was 5 for 15, .333 AVG with 0 extra base hits or RBI's, 2 walks and a .412 OBP.

Signed by the brand new Nationals just weeks after he was granted free agency in November of 2004, Guzman arrived in DC with a 4-year $16.8 Million dollar deal, signing at the same time as veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla, in deals DC GM Jim Bowden made, as he told MLB.com's Bill Ladson at the time, in an article entitled, "Nationals sign Castilla, Guzman", because:

"'Guzman and Castilla will be above-average defensively on the left side of the infield and that's important,' interim general manager Jim Bowden said. 'These two guys have been to the postseason and that's important, especially for this franchise that has a lot of players that haven't been to the postseason.'"

Cristian Guzman, who arrived at the '04 All-Star break batting .285 with 17 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR's, 28 RBI's and 5 steals for the Twins, was hitting just .201 in 76 games played as a National before the All-Star Break in '05 , with just 6 doubles, 4 triples, 3 HR's and 13 RBI's. When the season ended, Guzman had played in 142 games and hit .219 with an abysmal .260 OBP, 19 doubles, 6 triples, 4 HR's and 31 RBI's, and then Guzman never made it out of Spring Training in '06, diagnosed with a "SLAP" tear of his throwing shoulder which would cost the shortstop the entire '06 season.

Guzman returned to the Nationals for the '07 campaign, which lasted just 46 games, as Guzman injured his hamstring on Opening Day and then returned in June, only to hurt his thumb late in the month, an injury which kept him out of the lineup until September of that season, though he did hit .328 when he was in the lineup... 

Even with a long history of success leading one to believe that Guzman's first three injury-filled seasons in DC were the abberation, I'm willing to bet that not too many Nationals' fans would have predicted that heading into the '08 All-Star Break, Cristian Guzman would be DC's lone All-Star representative...would be batting .313 with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR's and 30 RBI's...and would be leading the National League in hits with 126 in 93 games and 403 at bats...

...But the Guzzz is getting it done, and on Tuesday night Guzman's giving Nationals' fans a reason to watch, before he heads out on the road with DC for the second "half" of the season, and then hopefully resigns with Washington before his contract expires and he once again tests the market...as a .300 hitter...

Astros’ leadoff batter Darin Erstad starts the Sunday Matinee with a single through second. “Opening Night” Odalis Perez gives up a second single to Kazuo Matsui, up the middle. Pete Orr fields Lance Berkman’s grounder at second, steps on the bag and throws to first for the easy DP. El Caballo, Carlos Lee swings over a two-strike curve to end the top of the first...Houston righty Brandon Backe gets fly balls to center and right from Willie Harris and Paul Lo Duca, respectively, and throws an offspeed pitch by a swinging Cristian Guzman for a scoreless first frame. 

Odalis Perez gets in on Miguel Tejada’s fists, inducing a fly out to center. Ty WIggington takes a breaking ball inside and line it out to right for a solo shot in the second. 1-0 Houston after one and half...AK lines out to El Caballo. Ronnie Belliard beats Tejada to the backhand side for a one out single. Kory Casto follows with his own single to put two on for Pete Orr. Orr lines to center...Darin Erstad slides, but can’t come up with it....Casto’s out at second with no chance on the play. Wil Nieves takes a two-out walk to load the bases for Odalis Perez. Backe gets the opposing pitcher looking for a second scoreless frame. 

Brandon Backe doubles to left to lead off the third, and moves to third base on Hunter Pence’s groundout to second. Kazuo Matsui swings at a two-strike curve in the dirt. Backe stays at third. Lance Berkman strokes a two-out single under Pete Orr’s glove at second and into center for an RBI single. 2-0 Houston. Berkman steals second with Erstad at bat, and scores on a second consecutive single to center. 3-0 Astros after two and a half...Willie Harris works a leadoff walk, but gets nailed trying to steal second. Paul Lo Duca singles to left. The Guzzz takes a walk. Kearns up with two on, one out...grounds sharply to third, Wiggington gets the force at second, but Kearns beats the throw to first. First and third for Belliard...Strike three swinging. 3-0 Houston after three.

Odalis Perez walks Ty Wiggington to start the fourth. Hunter Pence finds the gap in right center and doubles off the out-of-town scoreboard. Wiggy to third. Astros’ backstop J.R. Towles grounds out unproductively to second. Brandon Backe goes down swinging. Odalis Perez breaks Darin Erstad’s bat, resulting in a groundout to first and the end of the inning...Darin Erstad catches Kory Casto’s fly out in center. Orr grounds out to first. Wil Nieves goes the other way for a two-out double, but Odalis Perez flies out to end the fourth. 3-0 Astros. 

Kazuo Matsui singles to start the fifth. Odalis Perez gets Berkman swinging through a fastball. El Caballo and Miguel Tejada both fly out to Willie Harris in deep center to end the top of the fifth...Backe retires the Nationals in order in the fifth. Top of six, Odalis Perez gives up a single to Wiggington to start the inning. Hunter Pence K’s swinging at a high outside fastball. Catcher J.R. Towles grounds to Belliard, to Orr to Lo Duca, double play to end the Astros’ sixth...Austin Kearns finds open grass in left center for a leadoff single. Ronnie Belliard grounds to Wiggington, to Matsui, to Berkman, double play. Casto grounds out to first. Six scoreless for Backe...

DC lefty Charlie Manning gives up a leadoff single to the opposing pitcher. Ronnie Belliard dives likes he’s Zimmerman to rob Matsui of a single. Manning issues the intentionals to Lance Berkman. Manning’s lifted for righty Jesus “Everyday” Colome. Wild pitch advances both runners. Carlos Lee singles in both runners, but gets caught between second and third to end the inning. 5-0 Astros. Stand up and stretch...Darin Erstad tracks Pete Orr’s fly ball into the corner in the wall in center field for the first out of the bottom of the frame. Wil Nieves lines out to Wiggington at third. Ryan Langerhans fouls off a few pitches and then stares at a called strike three to end the seventh...

Luis Ayala vs Miguel Tejada to start the eighth...Leadoff single to right. Ty Wiggington makes the DP easy for DC' s infield. Hunter Pence grounds out to Lo Duca at first. Backe’s back for the eighth, and he walks Willie Harris to start the inning and ends his day after 7.0 IP...Chris Sampson’s on in relief for the Astros...Lo Duca grounds to the mound, to Tejada, to Berkman, double play. Cristian Guzman grounds back to Sampson. 5-0 ‘Stros after eight...The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History pops up catcher J.R. Towles to start the ninth. Rauch issues a one-out walk to Chris Sampson, the opposing pitcher. Rauch throws a two-strike fastball by a swinging Darin Erstad, and gets a fly ball from Matsui to end the top of the frame...Kearns, Belliard and Casto vs Sampson. Kearns fouls the third strike into the catcher’s mitt. Belliard flies out to Pence in right. Kory Casto grounds out to first. Astros win 5-0. Houston takes two of three in DC to end the so-called “first-half” of the ‘08 campaign.

Nationals now 36-60.

Shairon Martis: April 10, 2008 (via mashmore98)

On the Hill...In NY.

Columbus Clippers' righty Shairon Martis pitched 7.0 innings in his last start opposite the Indianapolis Indians, allowing 5 hits and 1 run, with 3 walks and 5 K's, ending the night with a 3.80 ERA after 4 starts and 23.2 innings pitched with the Nationals' Triple-AAA affiliate. Martis started the season with Double-AA Harrisburg before earning the call-up to Columbus after going (4-4) in 14 starts with a 3.98 ERA over 74.2 IP. 

Acquired from the San Francisco Giants in July '06 in return for lefty reliever Mike Stanton, Martis, now 21, was 19 at the time, and DC GM Jim Bowden talked about Martis, in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Nats acquire hurler Martis from Giants", proclaiming:

"'We like Martis a lot...We like his arm,' Bowden said. 'He throws 91-95 miles per hour. We like his delivery. He is only 19 years old. He has a high ceiling. Certainly, it's down the road. It's a building for the future.'"

Martis was selected as the Nationals' and his home country of Curacao's lone representative at tomorrow's XM MLB All-Star Futures Game, which takes place at 12:35 pm EST live from Yankee Stadium. Keep an eye on the future before (or possibly) while the Nationals are finishing their three game series with the visiting Houston Astros...

On The Hill...In DC.

Odalis "Balk-Move" Perez (2-6, 3.66 ERA) takes the mound for the Nationals in the finale, and rubber match, of their three game series with the visiting Houston Astros, who turn the ball over to 30-year old right-hander Brandon Backe (5-9, 5.07 ERA) as both teams head into the extended All-Star week break. 

Odalis Perez pitched against the Astros during the Nationals' trip to Texas in early May, giving up 5 hits, 1 HR and 3 runs in 5.0 IP but receiving no decision in the Nationals' 4-3 loss to the Astros. In his career against Houston, Perez is (0-4) in 7 games and 6 starts with an 11.57 ERA, a 2.39 WHIP. with a .355 BAA in 28 innings pitched against the Astros, during which he's allowed 44 hits, 36 ER's, 5 HR's and 23 walks with 24 K's. 

Old "Balk-Move" is (0-3) in 8 starts in Nationals Park this season with a 2.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, holding opposing hitters to a .225 BAA, and in 2 day games this year, the 31-year old lefty has two no-decisions, a 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a .204 BAA, and he's just plain cruel to lefties this season, holding his backward brethren to a pitiful .182 BAA and 0.75 WHIP in the random stat pile...

Brandon Backe's pitched 104.2 innings in '08, 6.0 of them against Washington, and of the 119 hits, 59 runs, 22 HR's, 46 walks and 78 K's Backe's on the books for in 19 starts this season, the Nationals are responsible for 6 of the hits, 4 ER's, 1 HR, 3 walks and 9 of Backe's K's all in their one game back on May 8th in Houston which the Astros lost 8-3, dropping Backe' record to (2-4) at the time. 

In his career against DC, Backe's (1-2) in 3 starts with a 4.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .227 BAA, 18 IP, 15 hits surrendedered, 9 ER's allowed and 2 HR's launched by the Nationals. In 11 road starts, Backe's just (2-6) with a 5.15 ERA in 57.2 innings pitched during which opposing hitters have hit at a .295 clip.

Backe's lost 4 of his last 8 starts, with 1 win and 3 no-decisions, and Houston's (2-6). Backe's last outing was cut short after 3.0 shutout innings by inclement weather. Odalis Perez is (0-2) in his last four starts, with the Nationals (1-3). Perez's last outing was cut short after 2.2 IP by Umpire Angel Hernandez.

Nationals' #'s Against Brandon Backe...

Willie Harris - 1 for 4, .250 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB.

Austin Kearns - 1 for 9, .111 AVG, 2 RBI's.

Paul Lo Duca - 2 for 5, .400 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

Aaron Boone - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Felipe Lopez - 3 for 8, .375 AVG, 4 BB's.

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Nick Johnson - 4 for 8, .500 AVG, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 BB.

Johnny Estrada - (ed. note - "For the last time, yes, he's a National.") - 0 for 12.

Odalis "Balk-Move" Perez Might Want To Just Go Ahead And Walk...

Lance Berkman - 8 for 12, .667 AVG, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI's, 2 BB.

Ty Wiggington - 4 for 11, .364 AVG.

Darin Erstad - 5 for 17, .294 AVG, 3 RBI's. 

CLASSIC ASTRO MATCHUP vs Odalis Perez...

Jeff Bagwell - 4 for 7, .571 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

File this under something to look forward to...

"Zimmerman Watch" - Federal Baseball's 24-Hour, 22 Hou...12 Hour... Intermittent Dodgy Coverage of the BREAKING NEWS! And ACTION!!......

MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Zimmerman's rehab plan announced."

Finally some good news heading into the "second-half"...

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park... 

Shairon Martis' Game Thread Starts at around 12:35 pm for anyone watching the Futures Game...The Nationals and Astros get underway at 1:35 pm EST in Nationals Park. The final game before the BREAK! After today, the Nationals don't play again until Friday night in Atlanta, except for DC All-Star Cristian Guzman, who'll be representing DC in the ASG in NY...Who's watching the Nationals?

95 mph fastball from DC starter Collin Balester to start Darin Erstad, who leads off the first for the Astros, and the at bat ends when Erstad lines to Wily Mo Pena in left. Kazuo Matsui lines a single over Balester’s right hip and into center. Lance Berkman blasts a single under a diving Paul Lo Duca at first, Matsui takes third. El Caballo swings down on a high fastball and drives it by Ronnie Belliard at third. Matsui scores. 1-0 Astros. Balester pops up Miguel Tejada with an outside heater. Geoff Blum gets hold of a curve, but just flies out to Austin Kearns in right....Willie Harris hits a double so hard the cable goes out...He’s somehow on second when it returns...Paul Lo Duca grounds out productively to second, Harris takes third. The Guzzz gets one...just deep enough to score Harris. 1-1 ballgame. 

Balester vs Pence. The second pitch is in on the fists and grounded weakly out to short, where Guzman guns the runner. Brad Ausmus pops out to Kearns in right. Wandy Rodriguez gets a liner by Balester’s glove and into center for a two-out single. Erstad flies out to center...Ronnie Belliard hits a line drive into the wall 380 ft away and is standing at second by the time Erstad gets there. WWJD? Jesus Flores takes an outside fastball to right center for an RBI single. 2-1 DC. 

Kazuo Matsui flies out to Wily Mo Pena. Balester vs Berkman. Balester gets a groundout to short, Guzman fires to first. El Caballo? 95 mph fastball outside, and Carlos Lee grounds to Guzman to end the Astros’ third...Balester lines an outside fastball back up the middle for the first hit of his MLB career. Willie Harris makes Balester slide at second with a DP grounder. Paul Lo Duca grounds out to short. 2-1 DC after three.

Miguel Tejada bunts for a hit to lead off the fourth. Geoff Blum lines right to Kearns in right. 1-0 fastball to Hunter Pence, and Pence takes it off the top of the zone and drives it to left and gone in a hurry. Two-run blast. 3-2 Astros. Balester gets Ausmus looking and drops a bender on Wandy Rodriguez for the final out of the fourth...Guzman flies out foul of first. Wandy Rodriguez gets Kearns swinging over a curve. Ronnie Belliard blasts a line drive to third, where Geoff Blum open his eyes and finds it in his glove. 3-2 Houston after four. 

Darin Erstad reaches safely when Belliard’s errant throw to first, on an admittedly hard-hit grounder, pulls Lo Duca off the bag. Balester keeps a 1-2 pitch down in the zone, but Kazuo Matsui reaches down and golfs a double to right, beating out Kearns' throw and advancing Erstad to third. Lance Berkman slices a double to the wall in left center, two runs score, 5-2 Houston. Carlos Lee goes with an outside fastball and singles through the left side of the infield. Miguel Tejada gets one high and tight from Balester for ball one, and then a 75 mph curve off the plate for a strike. Fastball low, 91mph is fouled off. Ball two up and in again. Curve ball off the plate, and Tejada chases, strike three swinging. Ground ball from Geoff Blum to Lo Duca,(B) who tags the bag, and neglects to tag Carlos Lee, who sneaks back to first. 6-2 Houston when Hunter Pence takes advantage of the extra out to single in Berkman. Brad Ausmus singles. Balester’s done.  Jesus “Everyday” Colome is on in relief to face the opposing pitcher with the bases loaded. Fastball away. Strike three swinging. 6-2 Astros...Jesus Flores lines out to right on the first pitch. WMP gets the top of a fastball and grounds out to third. Felipe Lopez hits a two-out double to the wall in left center. Ryan Langerhans grounds out to third to end the fifth.

Darin Erstad’s grounder goes off Belliard’s glove at third for an infield single to start the sixth. Kazuo Matsui grounds to second, allowing Felipe Lopez to tag out Erstad, but beating out the DP. Berkman grounds to Guzman, who steps on the bag and fires to first, double play...Willie Harris gets all of a 1-2 fastball and lines it to right and GONE! In a flash! 6-3 Houston. WIllie Harris Wants To Play. Lo Duca singles. Cristian Guzman grounds out to second, but too weakly for a DP. Lo Duca safe at second base. Austin Kearns’ Discerning Eye draws a one-out walk from Wandy Rodriguez. Belliard singles through short to load the bases. WWJD? Chris Sampson on in relief for Houston, and he hits Flores with the first pitch. Lo Duca scores. 6-4 Astros. WMP? Grounds back to the mound, Sampson throws home, Ausmus to first, double play. 

Cristian Guzman throws from his knees on an El Caballo grounder, and the ball gets by Lo Duca allowing Carlos Lee to take second. Tejada lines out to Belliard at third. Geoff Blum grounds back to the mound. Hunter Pence takes Saul Rivera to a full count with two down, and takes ball four on a slider outside. Brad Ausmus swings through a 2-2 fastball. Stand up and stretch...Chris Sampson gets a swinging K from Felipe, a pinch hit fly out from Kory Casto and a line drive to first from Willie Harris for the final out of the seventh. 

“Wild” Joel Hanrahan starts the eighth. David Newhan pops out to second. Darin Erstad pops out to left. Kazuo Matsui takes a two-out walk to bring up Lance Berkman. Hanrahan gets a groundout to end the top of the frame...Lo Duca starts the DC eighth with a one-hop liner to right. Astros’ righty Geoff Geary throws a full-count fastball by Cristian Guzman. AK? Grounds a curve to short, Tejada to Matsui to Berkman, double play. Still 6-4 Astros after eight. 

Hanrahan’s back up for the ninth. El Caballo flies out to a charging Pena in short left. Miguel Tejada grounds out to Lo Duca, and Hanrahan covers. Hanrahan gets Geoff Blum staring to end the top of the ninth...3 outs to get 2 runs...Jose Valverde’s gonna try to close it out for the Astros. Ronnie Belliard fights off a few full count fastballs, and flies out to Pence on the line in right. Jesus Flores grounds out to Tejada at short. WMP grounds out to short. 6-4 Houston wins. 

Nationals now 36-59.