Who's On First?

[philliesphan18]

Iz, are you in the lead for the Wild Card?

[lz477]

Iz, are you in the lead for the Wild Card?

1 game back of the Astros.

[lz477]

August 8th

Game 112: Nationals (58-53) at Giants (47-64)

Petagine Powers Nationals Over Giants

Left: Matt Cain is caught up in a rundown between second and third. Right: Roberto Petagine blasts his second of two homeruns on the day into the right centerfield bleachers.

Roberto Petagine, who had struggled at the plate since being acquired in a trade last month came alive Monday night, going 2-4 with both hits being his third and fourth homeruns of the season, to help lead Washington over the Giants at AT&T park.

Petagine's first long ball came in the fourth inning, a solo shot to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. San Francisco missed a scoring opportunity in the previous half inning, when Omar Vizquel doubled off the right field wall. Nationals right fielder, George Lombard played the ball perfectly off the brick and threw to Augie Ojeda who turned and threw pitcher Matt Cain out trying to advance to third. On the very next play, Vizquel was thrown out by Hiram Bocachica at home, trying to score on a single up the middle by Randy Winn.

The Giants did get on the board in the fifth, after Bengie Molina singled, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cain that Washington, catcher Danny Ardoin fielded, then threw over Matt Erickson's head at second base when he tried to get Molina advancing on the play. Molina then scored on an RBI single by Vizquel in the next at bat to tie the game up at one apiece.

In the sixth inning, Bocachica gave the Nationals back the lead when he smacked a solo homerun over the right center field wall. Petagine followed with his second blast of the day, putting Washington up 3-1.

Andy Tracy added to the Nationals lead, with a pinch hit double in the seventh inning to score Erickson and Lombard followed that with a two run single to give the Nationals a 6-1 lead and chase Cain from the game. Cain finished with six runs off eight hits, one walk and eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Washington's starter, Jason Simontacchi, who exited after the sixth inning finished the day with one run off eight hits en route to his sixth victory of the season.

Bryan Corey, who relieved Simontacchi in the seventh came on again in the eighth, but exited after Randy Winn led off the inning with a solo homerun. Micah Bowie came on to relieve and retired Ray Durham and Barry Bonds on two pitches before surrendering to righty Char Paronto. Paronto immediately gave up a double to Pedro Feliz, but Bocachica ended the inning and prevented the Giants from scoring any more runs when he threw Feliz out at the plate trying to score on a base hit by Rich Aurilia. Paronto then pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win and keep the Nationals just one game out of first place in the National League East.

Game two of the three game set will be tomorrow. Stephen Randolph (7-4) when head to the hill for Washington, while the Giants will send Jonathan Sanchez (2-6) to counter.

Boxscore: WAS 6 - SF 2

[lz477]

August 9th

Game 113: Nationals (59-53) at Giants (47-65)

Giants Make Small Work Of Nationals

Left: Pedro Feliz watches his sixth inning homerun leave the park. Right: Jonathan Sanchez strikes out Chris Coste, one of his 14 K's on the day.

San Francisco's, Jonathan Sanchez had struggled for the majority of the year coming into Tuesday's game, but the hard-throwing south paw shut down the Nationals offense for 6 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits, while walking two and striking out a career high 14.

Sanchez mowed through the Nationals lineup by not allowing a single base runner until he gave up a single to Chris Heintz with one out in the fifth. Washington then loaded the bases with back to back walks, but the Giants young lefty got out of the inning unscathed, when he struck out the next two batters.

Unfortunately, the youngster exited in the seventh after complaining of a sore shoulder after he struck out Washington's, Luis Figueroa. An MRI after the game came back negative and the team announced Sanchez would be out for about two weeks with an inflamed left shoulder.

Despite having to come out sooner than he would have liked, the damage had already been done offensively on the Giants side to allow Sanchez to pick up his third victory of the year. San Francisco started the scoring in the fourth when Barry Bonds and Pedro Feliz teamed up to hit back to back doubles and give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, Jose Bautista added a run to that lead with a solo shot to left and a two-run blast by Feliz in the sixth made it 4-0 Giants. San Francisco's fifth and final run came in the eighth inning when Ray Durham scored all the way from second on a hit and run grounder off the bat of Dmitri Young in the hole between first and second base, that Figueroa was able to knock down and make a play to at least get Young at first.

After the game Nationals manager, Manny Acta commented on his teams inability to muster any offense off the Giants, Sanchez, saying, "Give that kid some credit, he kept our guys off-balance all day." "If he keeps throwing like that he's going to be in this league a long time," Acta added. "Thankfully, we shouldn't have to face him any more after this week."

Washington will have to face the Giants two more games in the series though and game three is set for tomorrow night. Travis Smith (13-5) will make the start for the Nationals while San Fran will send another young lefty, Noah Lowry (6-9) to the hill.

Boxscore: WAS 0 - SF 5

[GoRedSox34]

Looks like Sanchez was on fire that game man, get the next one.

[philliesphan18]

Just curious iz, I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but I've been forgetting to. How do you get your pictures with that drop shadow?

[lz477]

Just curious iz, I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but I've been forgetting to. How do you get your pictures with that drop shadow?

The drop shadow is just a normal title tool effect in photoshop. When I save the .jpeg of the game pictures in photoshop, I leave a little excess on the background layer, which is the same color as the background on the message board so that it looks like the pictures are attached straight to the message board.

[lz477]

August 10th

Game 114: Nationals (59-54) at Giants (48-65)

Smith Wins 14th As Nationals Shutout Giants

Left: Scott McClain's two-run homerun was the difference in Thursday nights game. Right: Barry Bonds makes a one-handed grab on a deep drive off the bat of Cody Ransom.

All of the night's scoring came with one swing of the bat when Scott McClain blasted a two-run homerun off Noah Lowry in the seventh inning. The homerun was McClain's 11th of the year and was all Nationals starting pitcher Travis Smith would need to pick up his 14th victory of the year.

Smith threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out two, before turning things over to Chad Paronto and Lee Gardner, who picked up his 36th save of the year in the win.

Despite being charged with the loss, Lowry made an equally strong start, allowing just two runs off four hits, while striking out six over eight innings.

"That was quite a pitchers duel out there today," Nationals manager Manny Acta remarked after the game. "Fortunately, we were on the positive side of things."

The victory keeps Washington just one game back of the Braves for the National League East lead, with the Mets two games back, while the Phillies stay 4.5 back.

Washington will look to forward to a three game series with the Braves in Atlanta after the fourth and final game against San Francisco, Thursday afternoon. Washington will send knuckleballer, Jared Fernandez (1-1) to face the Giants Tim Lincecum (3-4) in the series finale.

Boxscore: WAS 2 - SF 0

League News

Cardinals, (SP) Mark Mulder out 9 days with dislocated finger.

[lz477]

August 11th

Game 115: Nationals (60-54) at Giants (48-66)

Nationals Welcome Back Infielder With 2-0 Victory Over Giants

Left: Omar Vizquel leaps over a sliding Danny Ardoin and makes a perfect throw to complete the second inning double play. Right: Roberto Petagine leads off the sixth inning with a homerun to increase the Nationals lead to two.

Washington made a few organizational moves prior to Thursday's game. In order to make room for infielder, Jolbert Cabrera to be activated from the disabled list, the Nationals sent infielder, Cody Ransom back down to Triple-A Columbus. The organization also optioned backup catcher, Chris Heintz to the Clippers and called up lefty reliever, Erasmo Ramirez, which in effect gives manager, Manny Acta a 12th pitcher on his staff.

"We felt there was a stronger need for an additional arm out of the pen and Erasmo should provide that for us," General Manager, Jim Bowden said. As far as optioning the teams backup catcher to make room for such a move, Bowden said, "Manny and I talked about it and we felt Chris (Coste) can handle the backup duties for Ardoin for the time being." "Should the need arise, there is a plethora of talent at both the Triple-A and Double-A levels available at our fingertips."

Cabrera was in the starting lineup Thursday, his first start since tearing a shoulder muscle while sliding into second base on June 12th and the Nationals welcomed him back by defeating the Giants by a score of 2-0 for a second straight night, Thursday.

Cabrera finished the day 1-4 at the plate, with his 15th double of the year, but his first at bat wasn't so memorable as he grounded into a double play that Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel made an accurate throw to first in time to get Cabrera, despite a hard slide into second base by Danny Ardoin. Vizquel went deep in the hole and made another perfect throw to first just in time to get Matt Erickson, to end the inning and prevent Chad Mottola, who was on third from scoring.

Washington would get a run across in the next inning though, when George Lombard laid down a perfect bunt single, then advanced to second on a poor throw from third baseman, Pedro Feliz, over first baseman, Rich Aurilia's head. A single by Hiram Bocachica in the next at bat plated Lombard and put Washington up 1-0.

Because of the error, the run didn't count against Tim Lincecum's earned run average, who allowed two runs, one earned off eight hits, while walking one and striking out nine over eight innings. That earned run Lincecum gave up came after Roberto Petagine smacked his fifth homerun of the year in the sixth inning.

Nationals starter, Jared Fernandez threw five shutout innings and allowed five hits before bowing to pinch hitter Andy Tracy in the sixth after Washington loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, Tracy struck out to end the inning, but luckily, Erasmo Ramirez, John Bale and Lee Gardner teamed up to pitch four more shutout innings to hold on to victory and give Fernandez his second win of the year and a 37th save of the season for Gardner.

The Nationals will head south to take on the Diamondbacks in Arizona for three games over the weekend, before coming back home to start three games against divisional rivals Philadelphia at RFK stadium in Washington.

Boxscore: WAS 2 - SF 0

League News

Mariners, (OF) Jeremy Reed out 7 days with minor PCL sprain.

[lz477]

August 12th

Game 116: Nationals (61-54) at DIamondbacks (56-60)

Four Leadoff Homeruns and One, Two-Out Game Winner In Extra Inning Contest

Left: Danny Ardoin puts the tag on a sliding Orlando Hudson in the second inning to prevent the Diamondbacks from scoring. Right: Chad Tracy hits the game winning homerun with two outs in the bottom of the 11th.

It all started in the second inning, when Andy Tracy led off the inning with his 10th homerun of the year to give Washington a 1-0 lead. Tracy's homerun, would be the first of four leadoff homeruns hit in the game, that would eventually end on a two-out walk-off shot in the bottom of the 11th.

After Tracy's blast, the Diamondbacks tried to tie it in their half of the inning, but a perfect throw from left fielder Chad Mottola on a double by Orlando Hudson was in time to prevent Carlos Quentin from scoring. In the very next at bat, Chris Snyder singled to centerfield, but another great throw, this time by Hiram Bocachica, was right on target to prevent Hudson from tying the game.

Another leadoff homerun by Danny Ardoin in the fifth inning, gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead, but Arizona got in on the leadoff homerun act in their half of the same inning when Hudson hit a slicing line drive over the right field fence off Washington starter Chris Michalak.

Stephen Drew then led off the sixth inning with another solo shot, this one hit to deep right field to tie the game at 2-2. In the seventh inning, the Nationals got runners on first and second base, with one out but are unable to score off Arizona starter, Dustin Nippert. Nippert would exit via pinch hitter in the next half-inning and would finish with two runs allowed off seven hits, walking three and striking out nine. Neither he nor Washington's starting pitcher, Michalak, who exited after the eighth with two runs allowed off seven hits, would factor in the decision.

Marty McLeary came on to relieve in the ninth inning and gave the Nationals a scare when Carlos Quentin hit a deep drive to the left centerfield gap that Chad Mottola was able to get to and catch on the warning track.

That deep fly-ball out wouldn't be the final frightening moment for the capital cities team nor their relief pitcher, as the Diamondbacks managed to load the bases in the 10th inning with no one out, but a 3-2-1 double play started by Roberto Petagine on a groundball by Chris Young prevented Arizona from scoring. With runners still on second and third, Miguel Montero hit a hard liner down the line that Petagine was able to snare to end the inning.

McLeary wouldn't be so lucky in the 11th though as Chad Tracy, who proved to be a National killer earlier in the season struck again for the Diamondbacks, when he smacked a two-out game winning homerun.

After the game, Nationals manager Manny Acta commented on his team's loss. "That was a tough one." "Like I've said all year, you hate to waste a strong outing by your starter, but that's how it goes sometimes," Acta said. "We're got to start capitalizing on some of the missed scoring opportunities we've had." "It's getting late in the year and chances like that aren't going to come as often."

Game two is tomorrow as the Nationals will send Jason Simontacchi (6-6) to the hill Saturday afternoon to face the Diamondbacks veteran starter Livan Hernandez (11-9).

Boxscore: WAS 2 - ARZ 3

League News

Mariners, © Jorge Posada suspended 8 games.

[lz477]

August 13th

Game 117: Nationals (61-55) at Diamondbacks (57-60)

Diamondbacks Bite Nationals Early And Often

Left: Carlos Quentin rounds the bases after his first inning three-run homer. Right: Andy Tracy puts Washington on the board in the seventh with a solo homerun.

Arizona cleanup hitter, Carlos Quentin smashed a three-run homerun over the swimming pool in right centerfield to give the Diamondbacks a 3-0 lead over Jason Simontacchi and the Nationals in the first inning, Saturday. Orlando Hudson would add another run to that lead when he stroked his 21st homerun of the season later in the first frame.

Meanwhile, Arizona starting pitcher Livan Hernandez looked great on the mound, striking out the side the first inning and getting through the second and third with little trouble, allowing just one hit. Unfortunately, Hernandez left the game in the fourth on a 1-1 pitch to Chris Coste. No immediate information was available on the cause of Hernandez's early exit. Lefty reliever, Dana Eveland came on for relief and threw three shutout innings also allowing just one hit.

When Eveland first entered the contest, Washington jumped on the young reliever quickly, loading the bases after Chad Mottola hit a high pop fly that Quentin lost in the sun in right field. An inning-ending double play by Matt Erickson, however got Eveland out of the frame unscathed. The southpaw would throw two more scoreless innings and would eventually get credit for his fourth victory of the year.

The Diamondbacks added three more runs in the sixth inning after Hudson scored on an RBI single hit back up the middle by Chris Young. Scott Hairston knocked in Miguel Montero with a pinch hit sacrifice fly in the next at bat, prompting Nationals manager, Manny Acta to remove Simontacchi from the game. Erasmo Ramirez came on to relieve and gave up an RBI double to Stephen Drew to officially end Simontacchi's day with 5 2/3 innings of work, seven runs allowed off 11 hits with four strikeouts.

Down 7-0, the Nationals started a rally in the seventh inning, when Andy Tracy smacked the first pitch he saw from Shawn Hill, over the right field wall for his 11th homerun of the year. Mottola followed that with his 19th blast of the year to shrink the Diamondbacks lead to 7-2.

Arizona tried to get a rally of their own started in their half of the inning, but a perfect throw by Mottola from the wall in left was right on target to get Quentin trying to stretch a single into a double.

The Nationals came out like a house of fire in the top of the eighth, as the first three hitters reached base, then scored when Tracy drew a bases loaded walk. With the tying run on base, Chad Mottola then hit a massive 450 foot blast just foul down the left field line, before striking out moments later. Erickson then flew out to third and it seemed Washington's rally would end there. However, a two-run double down the first base line by Jolbert Cabrera kept the inning alive and shortened the Diamondbacks lead to two at 7-5.

Cabrera's double, which was his 17th of the year, prompted Arizona manager, Bob Melvin to bring on Edgar Gonzalez from the bullpen. Gonzalez then struck out Doug Clark to end the inning.

The Diamondbacks then got one of their runs back in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to a solo shot by Montero, to make it 8-5.

Brandon Medders came on to close it out in the ninth and picked up his 19th save, but only after Scott McClain was thrown out at second trying to stretch his base hit into a double down the right field line. Medders got the next two hitters with little trouble to give the Diamondbacks their second straight victory over the Nationals.

The third and final game of the series will be Sunday afternoon, where Stephen Randolph (7-5) will look to cease Washington's two game losing streak when he makes the start against Arizona's Doug Davis (8-11).

Boxscore: WAS 5 - ARZ 8

[LupeFiasco]

hey you got some mods!

[lz477]

hey you got some mods!

Yea, I think I downloaded the new uniforms earlier in the season, but I must have forgotten to re-install that mod when I had a corrupt file and had to reload the game a few months back. Arizona's old uni's helped me realize my mistake. I should be good to go for the rest of the season.

[lz477]

August 14th

Game 118: Nationals (61-56) at Diamondbacks (58-60)

Davis Dominate for Diamondbacks In Series Sweep of Nationals

Left: Stepehn Randolph hits Carlos Quentin with a pitch in retaliation of the homerun he had just surrendered to Chad Tracy. Right: Orlando Hudson showed how he has one two consecutive gold gloves with two outstanding catches in Sunday's game.

Scott McClain hit a two-out solo homerun in the first inning to give Washington an early 1-0 lead, but that would be the all the offense the Nationals would be able to muster off Diamondbacks starting pitcher, Doug Davis. Davis ended the day with one run allowed off eight hits, walking two and striking out seven over nine complete innings.

Washington's lead only lasted for a half inning as Stephen Drew hit a slicing line-drive just over the left field wall to start Arizona's half of the first frame. In bottom of the second, the Diamondbacks gave Chad Mottola a workout as he made two running catches and fielded a double off the bat of Chris Snyder, before the left fielder nearly over-ran a fly ball out in foul territory off the bat of Chris Young.

Orlando Hudson was the defensive standout on the Diamondbacks side of things, making a diving catch on a line drive, robbing Hiram Bocachica of a hit in the third inning, then robbing Jolbert Cabrera of a sure hit with another diving stop in the eighth.

Carlos Quentin broke the 1-1 tie in the fourth inning, when he smacked a solo homerun just over the right center field wall. Quentin's homerun would be the beginning of the end for Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Randolph, who gave up another homerun in the fifth inning. That drive came courtesy of pitcher, Davis and a third shot in the sixth by Chad Tracy with a runner on gave Arizona a 5-1 lead. Foloowing Tracy's homerun, Randolph retaliated by beaning Quentin, who had homered earlier in the game. Randolph would close out the sixth, before bowing to a pinch hitter in the next half-inning.

Marty McLeary would come on and pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth inning of relief, but the damage had already been done as Washington dropped it's third straight game to the Diamondbacks.

The Nationals did manage to load the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, but Davis struck out Bocachica and McClain, before inducing a deep fly ball out by Chris Coste to end the inning and any potential rally.

The Nationals will take Monday off and mercifully head back east to D.C., where they will begin a three game series with Phillies starting Tuesday, followed by a three game set with the division leading, Mets next weekend.

Boxscore: WAS 1 - ARZ 5

League News

Astros (2B) Graig Biggio suspended 8 games

[lz477]

Week 19 Standings and Stats

Player of the Week

Travis Smith

Win, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 K's vs Giants, Wednesday.

[lz477]

August 16th

Game119: Phillies (60-57) at Nationals (61-57)

Fightin' Phils Hold Out As Washington Drops Fourth Straight

Left: Carlos Ruiz led off Philadelphia's big fifth inning with a bloop single that George Lombard just missed making a diving catch on. Right: After Chase Utley's second homerun put the Phillies up 7-1, Travis Smith hit Pat Burrell in the back with the next pitch.

Nationals killer Chase Utley, continued his dominance of Washington pitching Tuesday night, going 2-4 at the plate, with two homeruns and four RBI as the Phillies dropped the Nationals 7-5 in the first game of a three game series.

Utley's first blast came in the first inning off Washington starter Travis Smith, who had one of his worst starts of the season allowing seven runs off nine hits over five inning to pick up his sixth loss of the year.

Down 2-0 in the third inning, Hiram Bocachica singled to right with the bases loaded to shrink Philadelphia's lead to one, but a two-run homerun by Jimmy Rollins in the fifth allowed the Phillies to start to pull away with a score of 4-1. Ryan Howard would rip an RBI single later in the inning to add to the lead, then Utley followed with his second two-run homerun two batters later to put the Phils up 7-1. Travis Smith then hit Pat Burrell in the back with a pitch, prompting a warning to both benches from the home plate umpire. Smith would finish the inning and Marty McLeary would come on to pitch four shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit, allowing Washington the opportunity to get back into the contest.

Pinch hitter, Andy Tracy started that comeback rally with a double off the center field wall to start the Nationals half of the fifth inning. Bocachica followed with an RBI double to right to score Tracy. Moments later, after advancing to third Bocachica would score on a ground out by Roberto Petagine to shrink Philadelphia's lead to 7-3.

In the eighth and down by four runs, Nationals manager Manny Acta took a gamble and kept McLeary in the ballgame to hit for himself and the gamble paid off as the starting pitcher, turned reliever sliced a leadoff single to right field to start the inning. McLeary would then score on a mamoth two run blast by Chad Mottola in the very next at bat, Mottola's 20th long ball of the season.

Jon Leiber, who had pitched well up until Mottola's shot, exited after giving up a single to Danny Ardoin. Leiber finished the day with five runs allowed off eight hits, with two walks and nine strikeouts over 7 2/3 inning. Geoff Geary came on to relieve and gave up singles to Jolbert Cabrera and Matt Erickson, before getting Tracy to fly out with the bases loaded to end in the inning.

Tom Gordon then came on to pitch a scoreless ninth to pick up his 27th save and give Leiber his ninth win of the season.

After the game, Nationals manager Manny Acta commented on his decision to keep McLeary in the game to hit in the eighth, after the pitcher had already worked three innings saying, "Marty looked great out there today and I learned earlier in the year that if someone is going good, don't mess with it and let them go, so that's what I did." "Luckily, it paid off and Marty got a hit for us to start a rally, but unfortunately it wasn't enough for us to take the game," Acta added.

Washington will try to take game two tomorrow and get out of their current funk of four straight losses as they host Philadelphia for the second game of the three game set tomorrow night. Veteran lefty, Jaime Moyer (8-7) will be on the hill for the visiting Phillies, while the Nationals will counter with another soft tosser, knuckleball pitcher Jared Fernandez (2-1).

Boxscore: PHI 7 - WAS 5

[stEdfuNk]

oo the standings are close

[lz477]

oo the standings are close

True, the NL East will come down to the wire between four different teams and the Astros and Reds are right in the mix with everyone else for the wild card.

[lz477]

August 17th

Game 120: Phillies (61-57) at Nationals (61-58)

Nationals End Drought, Drop Phillies 4-3

Left: George Lombard shatters his bat on an inside cut fastball from Jaime Moyer. Right: Danny Aroind score Washington's first run, sliding just ahead of Carlos Ruiz's tag.

After dropping four straight games, Washington finally got back on the winning side of things with a 4-3 win over divisional rival Philadelphia, Wednesday night.

Danny Ardoin got the Nationals on the board first in the second inning, when he scored on a single by Augie Ojeda, just ahead of Phillies catcher, Carlos Ruiz's tag on a throw from right fielder Shane Victorino.

Philadelphia came back to tie it in the in the fourth when reigning National League MVP, Ryan Howard blasted his 25th homerun of the year. The Phillies missed another scoring opportunity later in the inning when Chase Utley failed to score on a fly ball to deep center field off the bat of Victorino, that Hiram Bocachica was able to get back and make a lunging catch on. Utley, obviously thinking the ball was over Bocachica's head failed to tag up on the play and had to return to the bag. Ruiz then flew out to end the inning and keep the game tied at one apiece.

Aaron Rowand would get Philadelphia that go ahead run in the next inning though, as he singled up the middle to plate Alexi Casilla, who singled and stole second earlier in the frame. One of two stolen bases on the day for the Phillies third baseman.

Casilla nearly scored again in the seventh inning, but a perfect throw by Bocachica on a hard hit single by Jimmy Rollins prevented the youngster from adding to the Phillies lead. Bocachica's throw made it two runs the Nationals center fielder had prevented Philadelphia from scoring, which in the end would be prove to be game-saving for Washington.

In the eighth inning, Geoff Geary came on to hold Jamie Moyer's two-run lead, but the Nationals had other plans. Andy Tracy and George Lombard singled to begin the inning, then Bocachica came up a knocked a game tying bloop double to right field after missing two straight sacrifice bunt attempts. Lombard, who advanced to third on the play came up lame running to the bag, but an MRI after the game came out negative and the team announced he would miss the next 10-11 days with a minor PCL sprain. Doug Clark pinch ran for Lombard and gave Washington the lead when he scored on a line drive off the foot of Geary by Scott McClain, who nearly beat the Phillies pitchers throw to first. Bocachica, who had advanced to second on McClain's ground ball out, then stole third and scored an invaluable insurance run on an infield single up the middle by Coste, that Utley managed to get to, but threw wide of first, pulling Howard off the bag allowing the run to score.

Down 4-2 going into the final inning, Shane Victorino hit a lead-off homerun off Bryan Corey, prompting Nationals manager Manny Acta to bring on closer Lee Gardner to close out the game and eventually pick up his 38th save of the season.

Jared Fernandez who pitched eight strong innings, allowed two runs off nine hits and picked up his third win of the year. There have been rumors among the organization that Fernandez would be optioned back down to Triple-A Columbus and either R.A. Dickey or Randy Keisler would be called up to take the place of the knuckleballer's rotation sport. After today's performance, those rumors will likely prove to be irrelevant.

With the Nationals winning, Washington and the Phillies swap places in the standings. At 62-58, the Nationals are now one game back of the Mets, who are 63-57, while Philadelphia at 61-58 are 1 1/2 games back and the Braves two back with a record of 61-59.

The Phillies and Nationals will meet up again Thursday, with Cole Hamels (7-7) toeing the rubber for the visiting Phills, while Washington will counter with Chris Michalak (8-5).

Because of Lombard's injury, after Wednesday's game, the Nationals called up outfielder, Jim Rushford from Triple-A Columbus and optioned relief pitcher John Bale, to put 11 pitchers on the roster and give manager Manny Acta another option for the outfield, though Clark is expected to get the majority of the starts in right field the next few days.

Boxscore: PHI 3 - WAS 4

[JoeRudi26]

Fantasic dynasty, Iz. Way to pull out the close one.

Nice to see you're sticking with it. :)

[lz477]

Fantasic dynasty, Iz. Way to pull out the close one.

Nice to see you're sticking with it.

Thanks much JoeR. You had a pretty fantastic dynasty going yourself. Have you decided what you'll do now that the season is over?

[JoeRudi26]

Thanks much JoeR. You had a pretty fantastic dynasty going yourself. Have you decided what you'll do now that the season is over?

Not really, Iz. I'm leaning towards a 78 dynasty with the Yankees, but I could very well take the Cubs into '08.

BTW, check your PMs.

[philliesphan18]

Nice job pullin' one out over the Phils.

[lz477]

August 18th

Game 121: Phillies (61-58) at Nationals (62-58)

Nationals Take Game Two and Series

Left: Pat Burrell drops a deep fly ball by Chris Coste, giving Washington's infielder the change to reach base safely and eventually tie the game on a single by Danny Ardoin later in the second inning. (Right)

Philadelphia scored first, but the Nationals would score last and more to take game two of the three game series and insure the series victory. The Phillies first run came in the first inning after Jimmy Rollins singled, stole second base, then scored on a base hit by Ryan Howard. Hiram Bocachica prevented Philadelphia from doing any more damage later in the inning, when he threw out Howard trying to score on a single by Shane Victorino.

Washington came back to tie it in the second inning when Pat Burrell let a deep fly ball by Chris Coste pop out of his glove, allowing the Nationals third baseman to reach second base on the play. Coste would eventually score on a single down the first base line by Danny Ardoin. Victorino prevented the Nationals from doing any more damage in the inning by making a nice running catch on a ball hit deep down the right field line by Jolbert Cabrera.

Déjà vu for Pat Burrell in the fourth inning, when he hit a deep fly ball that this time, Chad Mottola had trouble handling and let pop out of his glove, allowing Burrell to make it safely to second base. Fortunately for the Nationals, starter, Chris Michalak was able to shut down the Phillies and get out of the inning unscathed. Michalak would exit after working the fifth inning, allowing one run off five hits and striking out two.

Carlos Ruiz put Philadelphia on top in the seventh with a leadoff homerun and Howard's RBI double later in the inning gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Washington came right back in their half of the inning though, when Mottola scored on a ground ball out by Augie Ojeda.

For a second straight night, Philadelphia manager, Charlie Manuel went to reliever, Geoff Geary with his team ahead in the eighth inning. And just like the previous night, the Nationals offense came alive with his entrance, first tying the game at 3 apiece after Bocachica scored on a single by Scott McClain. Then with runners on the corners and no one out, Chris Coste flew out to first and it looked as though Geary would get out of the inning unscathed. In the next at bat, Mottola hit a hard ground ball that third baseman, Alexi Casilla fielded and threw to second base to get Scott McClain sliding into the bag, but a high throw by Chase Utley to first base allowed Mottola to be safe, ruining the chance at an inning-ending double play. That missed opportunity to end the frame would come back to haunt the Phillies as the Nationals were able to take the lead when Ardoin and Cabrera each hit back to back RBI singles to put Washington up 5-3. A diving stop by Jimmy Rollins on a hard line drive by Ojeda put an end to the inning in the next at bat.

Of course, Nationals manager, Manny Acta went with his fireman, Lee Gardner to close out the ninth and he did so to pick up his major league leading 39th save.

Now with a two-game winning streak, the Nationals are currently tied with the Mets for first place in the National League East, with the Braves just a game back and Philadelphia 1.5 back. Washington will welcome the New York Metropolitan franchise to the nations capital for a three game series starting Friday, with Tom Glavine (10-7) and Jason Simontacchi (6-7) scheduled to make the start for their teams.

Boxscore: PHI 3 - WAS 5

League News

Dodgers, (3B) Andy LaRoche out 6 days with sprained wrist.

[MrDudleyDoWright]

Is it still a tie in the east lz?