The Washington Nationals were able to produce 14 hits and 14 runs against the Houston Astros and win their 26 game by the score of 14-4. Washington saw seven players get at least a hit and five players drive in at least a run. Washington got three hit games from Cristian Guzman and Nyjer Morgan. Guzman hit a double from one of those hits, giving him his eighth double on the year. Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham each provided two hits. Zimmerman and Dunn each had one of their hits be a double, giving Zimmerman number 13 and Dunn 15. Ian Desmond and Carlos Maldonado each provided one hit.
The Nationals got on the board in the top of the first, as Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly to center that drove in Guzman and put Washington up 1-0. Then in the top of the third, Dunn hit a double that drove in Guzman, Morgan and Zimmerman and giving Washington a 4-1 lead. In the fifth, Willingham hit a single that drove in Morgan and it gave Washington a 5-1 lead. After that, the Washington offense exploded for nine runs in the top of the seventh. It started with a Dunn infield single that drove in Morgan and putting Washington up 6-2. Then, Desmond hit a single to left that drove in Zimmerman and Dunn, which made the score 8-2. Carlos Maldonado came up to the plate in the top of the seventh and was able to hit his first home run as a Washington National. Maldonado hit a three run shot off of Chris Sampson and pushed Washington to a 11-2 lead. Finally, with two outs in the top of the seventh, Zimmerman hit a three run shot on Sampson and put Washington up to a 14-2 lead, which was plenty of run support for Washington to win.
All in all, Zimmerman’s four RBI’s gave him 31 on the year and Dunn’s four gave him 27 this season. Maldonado had his first three RBI’s in a Washington uniform, while Desmond’s two runs batted in gave him 27 on the year. Willingham established his team leading 35 RBI this season.
Rookie Luis Atilano was able to get his fifth win of the season and moved his record to an impressive 5-1. Atilano pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Atilano provided two walks but was able to get two strikeouts. Tyler Walker finished out the final 2 1/3 innings of work. Walker did an outstanding job, only allowing a hit but did walk two. Walker was able to provide a strikeout.
Yesterday, Washington was unable to beat the San Diego Padres in extra innings by the score of 4-3. Livan Hernandez got the no decision, as he put up the line of 6 1/3 innings pitched with eight hits and two runs. Sean Burnett got his third loss of the season, as he pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits but allowed the game winning hit to Padres Catcher Nick Hundley. The Washington offense was pretty nonexistent. Dunn and Zimmerman combined for five of the seven hits and Zimmerman had the only two runs in the game. Both runs came from solo home runs, both which were off of starter Jon Garland. Zimmerman hit one in the top of the first to right field and the other in the top of the sixth to left field. San Diego was able to win the series 2-1.
Washington did announce some very big news. Rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg will make his major league debut on Tuesday June 8 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 p.m.
The Nationals are 26-26 and are tied for third in the National League East with the Florida Marlins and New York Mets. Washington is 3.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves (29-22) for first place. and are three games back of the Philadelphia Phillies (28-22), who are second in the standings.
The Nationals play against the Astros tomorrow at 8:05 p.m. Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.60 ERA) will go up against Brett Myers (3-3, 3.22 ERA) on the first day in June.
