Who's On First?

[lz477]

nice... tied for first with the phillies. i see the mets are coming back though... better watch out for them

Yea, Delgado was hitting around .150 when I played them the first month of the season and now he's up around .350. I'm more afraid of them than I am of Philly or Atlanta.

[lz477]

This MVPSavreader you are using??

Yeaper.

[lz477]

June 15th

Game 66: Nationals (35-30) at Orioles (30-35)

Baltimore Takes Game Two, With Two Out Hit In Ninth

Left: Scott McCLain smashes his second homer of the game in the seventh. Right: Aubrey Huff wins it for the Orioles with a two out single to score Miquel Tejada in the ninth.

Washington dropped a second straight game to the Orioles Wednesday night losing 3-2 on a two out single off the bat of Aubrey Huff. Huff's single came off Chad Paronto who was charged with his fourth loss after relieving for Chris Michalak who made a solid start for the Nationals. Michalak gave up two runs off six hits and striking out three over seven innings.

The Orioles Eric Bedard was even better giving up two runs off three hits and striking out five over eight innings. Baltimore's closer Chris Ray picked up his first victory, pitching a scoreless ninth, before Huff's game winning single.

Both of Washington's runs came off the bat of Scott McClain, who had his second multi-homerun game of the season, by going deep in the fifth and again in the seventh.

Huff tied it 2-2 in the bottom half of the seventh with a two run blast over the right field scoreboard, then won it for the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth, knocking in Miguel Tejada.

Marty McLeary (4-4) will make the start for the Nationals in the series finale Thursday night and the Orioles will send Daniel Cabrera (2-7) to the mound.

Boxscore: WAS 2 - BAL 3

League News

Diamondbacks (SP) Edgar Gonzalez out 6 days with dislocated six fingers.

Yankees (RP) Kyle Farnsworth out 20 days with strained right forearm.

[lz477]

June 16th

Game 67: Nationals (35-31) at Orioles (31-35)

Orioles Complete Sweep of Nationals

Left: Miquel Tejada leaps over George Lombard after throing to first to complete an inning ending double play in the fourth. Right: Jay Payton heads to first after smacking his sixth inning two-run homer.

Wednesday night, left fielder, Aubrey Huff beat Washington with his bat, Thursday night it was his glove that helped Baltimore complete a three game sweep of the Nationals. Huff made a running catch on a deep line drive off the bat of Danny Ardoin in the first, then robbed Matt Erickson of a hit and Washington of a run in the second by making a sliding catch with runners on the corners.

In the Orioles half of the second, Jay Payton hit an RBI grounder to score Jay Gibbons. Nick Markakis followed that with his fifth homerun of the year to put Baltimore up 2-0.

In the fourth, Doug Clark tied it 2-2, with a homerun to left center after Chad Mottola singled. Washingon then loaded the bases, but failed to score when Chris Coste hit into an inning-ending double play.

Baltimore's starter, Daniel Cabrera left in the fifth after inducing a pop fly out off the bat of Andy Tracy on his 81st pitch of the game. Hayden Penn then came on and picked up the victory, giving up one run off three hits and striking out six over 2 1/3 innings.

The Orioles took the lead for good in the fifth when Payton scored on a infield ground out off the bat of Markakis. Baltimore added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, thanks to a two run homer from Payton and a solo shot from Melvin Mora.

Chad Mottola chased Penn from the game when he hit a solo homerun in the eighth, but that would be the last of the runs Washington would get as Jaime Walker pitched a scoreless eighth and Chris Ray struck out the side in the ninth for his 11th save and secure the series sweep for the Orioles.

The Nationals will travel north to Toronto, to take on the Blue Jays for a three game weekend series starting Friday.

Washington finally called up starting pitcher Jason Simontacchi from Triple-A Columbus and optioned reliever Jeff Harris, who had struggled as of late. On the season Harris is 0-2 with one save and a 5.34 ERA. Simontacchi was strong in his only rehab start against Richmond on Monday, but despite his solid outing, Nationals G.M. Bowden and Manny Acta were not sure if he should make an additional start in the minors before his call-up or not. Obviously, they decided he did not, though the recent struggles by the starting rotation could have been all the justification needed to call up Simontacchi, who had been one of Washington's best starters before going on the DL.

Boxscore: WAS 3 - BAL 6

League News

Diamondbacks trade (SP) D.J. Carrasco to Devil Rays for (1B) Carlos Pena

[lz477]

June 17th

Game 68: Nationals (35-32 ) at Blue Jays (36-31 )

Toronto's Late Comeback Falls Short

Left: Toronto centerfielder, Vernon Wells makes a diving catch. Right: Matt Erickson knocked in his first three runs of the season Friday, and also hit his first homerun of the year.

The Blue Jays scored two runs in the final frame, but still fell two runs short of the early Nationals lead to lose the opening game of the three game series 4-2, Friday night.

Washington first got on the board in the second, when Matt Erickson hit a two run double to knock in Doug Clark and Joe Dillon and give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Washington added another run when Andy Tracy hit a sacrifice fly to score Chris Coste in the third.

In the fifth, Washington missed another scoring opportunity when Chad Mottola flew out deep to left center with the bases loaded to end the inning. The Nationals did get one more run across in the sixth when Matt Erickson came through again, this time with his first homerun of the year to give Washington a 4-0 lead.

The Blue Jays started their comeback attempt in the ninth when Troy Glaus led off the inning with a solo homerun to left. Micah Bowie then relived Chad Paronto, who had pitched a scoreless eighth, before giving up Glaus' homerun. Bowie didn't last long however, as he gave up back to back singles and loaded the bases when he hit Greg Zaun with a pitch. Bowie then turned it over to Lee Gardner, who induced a ground ball double play from Reed Johnson to score Matt Stairs from third, before Alex Rios grounded out to end the game.

Gardner picked up his 19th save of the year and Stephen Randolph was awarded his fifth victory after giving up no runs off nine hits and striking out four over 7 innings.

All of the Nationals runs came off Toronto starter Victor Zambrano who exited after the six, giving up four runs off nine his, while striking out six, in being charged with his seventh loss of the season.

Game two of the three game set is Saturday afternoon. Travis Smith (8-3) is scheduled to make the start for the Nationals, while the Jays will counter with John Thompson (3-6).

Boxscore: WAS 4 - TOR 2

League News

Braves trade (RF) Jamal Strong to Brewers fro (RP) Steve Bray

Mariners sign (1B) Greg Creek for 3 years at 100K.

Rangers, (SP) Vicente Padilla out 20 days with strained left forearm.

Angels, (1B) Casey Kotchman out 15 days with pulled hamstring.

[lz477]

June 18th

Game 69: Nationals (36-32) at Blue Jays (36-32 )

Wells' 11th Inning Blast Lifts Jays Over Nats

Left: Travis Smith's solid nine innings were not enough to pick up a win. Right: Vernon Wells' two-out homer in the bottom of the eleventh win's it for the Jays..

Toronto center fielder, Vernon Wells broke a 2-2 tie with two outs in the bottom of the 11th to lift the Blue Jays over the Nationals Saturday afternoon.

The scoring was back and forth for most of the afternoon, with Washington getting on the board first when Chad Mottola's sacrifice fly plated Chris Coste in the opening frame. Vernon Wells answered that with a sac fly of his own to score Alex Rios in the next half inning and tie it one apiece.

Mottola struck again for the Nationals in the fourth when he blast his 11th homerun of the year to give Washington the lead. The Jays came right back in their half of the fourth, as Matt Stairs knocked in Wells with an infield ground out.

In the ninth, the Nationals missed a big scoring opportunity when Matt Erickson struck out on a failed hit and run that left pinch runner Pedro Swann out to dry, allowing Toronto catcher, Greg Zaun to easily throw him out at second for the inning-ending strike 'em out, throw 'em out, double play.

Two innings later, Well's 12th blast of the year gave the Jays the 3-2 win over Washington. Toronto closer B.J. Ryan picked up his fourth victory of the year, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five. Chad Paronto was charged with his fifth loss.

"You hate to waste a good start by your starter, but that happens sometimes and you have to overcome," Nationals manager Manny Acta said after the game, regarding Travis Smith's nine inning performance, in which he gave up two runs off seven hits while striking out four.

The Nationals and Blue Jays will decide the series winner Sunday, when Masumi Kuwata, (2-3) who has struggled of late, will make the start for Washington, while Toronto will send former CY Young winner, Roy Halladay (5-7) to the mound.

Boxscore: WAS 2 - TOR 3

League News

Marlins sign (LF) Wilkin Ramirez for 2 years at 100K.

Orioles sign (1B) Pat Dobson for 3 years at 100K.

Royals sign (RP) Kent Mercker for 3 years at 800K.

[lz477]

June 19th

Game 70: Nationals (36-33) at Blue Jays (37-32)

Pitchers Duel Decided In 22nd Inning

Left: Toronto starter Roy Halladay struck out 9 of the first 10 hitters he faced. Right: Joe Dillon watches Greg Zaun's 22nd inning homerun just clear the right field wall to win it for the Jays.

For a second straight afternoon, it took extra innings for the Toronto Blue Jays to defeat the Washington Nationals. The difference between Sunday's contest and Saturday's was 11 more innings. The outcome for the Nationals however was the same as a solo homerun, this time off the bat of Greg Zaun was the game winner for the Jays.

Toronto center fielder, Vernon Wells, whose 11th inning homer one it Saturday, continued his hot hitting against the Nationals by smacking his 13th homer of the year in the fourth to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Jays starter, Roy Halladay was un-hittable the first five innings, until Doug Clark doubled to left then reached third on Joe Dillon's following single. Neither however would score, as Halladay didn't give up a run until the sixth, when Matt Erickson scored on Chad Mottola's single to tie it 1-1.

Not only was the Blue Jays starting pitcher un-hittable the first five innings, but he was untouchable the first two, striking out five straight hitters, before Clark hit a infield pop-up in the second. Halladay proceeded to strikeout the next four hitters after that and ended the day with 16 K's over seven innings, giving up one run off five hits and walking one.

All was quiet after Mottola's game tying single until the 15th, when Russ Johnson pinch ran for Sal Fasano, then left the game after fracturing his finger breaking up a double play at second base. The Blue Jays announced after the game that Johnson would miss close to a month with the fracture.

In the 17th, Toronto loaded the bases with no one out, but failed to score on starter, turned reliever, Marty McLeary. With McLeary pitching 5 1/3 innings in the loss it became clear whose spot in the rotation Jason Simontacchi would likely take now that he is fully recovered from the arm fracture he suffered back in the beginning of May.

"We had a need for a long reliever Sunday and we had all but decided Jason would make his first start since being called up in Marty's spot," Nationals manager Manny Acta commented after the game. "Marty had been pressing a bit in his starts and we thought placing him in the bull pen might help him get back to the form he was at to start the season and if tonight's performance is any indication of how he'll do from now on, he might not stay in the pen very long."

McCleary lasted until the 21st when Jim Crowell relieved him and gave up the game winning homerun to Zaun with two outs in the bottom of the 22nd.

Interesting enough, down on the farm, the Columbus Clippers and the Syracuse Skychiefs, triple-A affiliates for the Nationals and Blue Jays respectively, played a 16 inning contest Sunday afternoon, with the SkyChiefs defeating the Clippers 11-10.

The Nationals will head back to D.C. without a day off to start a three game series with the Tigers beginning Monday. Detroit will come in having won seven straight and are looking to continue a rebound from their early season struggles that still has them ten games under .500.

Boxscore: WAS 1 - TOR 2

League News

Royals, (2B) Mark Grudzielanek out 12 days with minor PCL sprain.

Cardinals sign (RP) Dustin Hermanson for 3 years at 800K.

Orioles sign (LF) Jay Garthwaite for 3 years at 100K.

[lz477]

Week 11 Standings and Stats

Player of the Week

Doug Clark

.300 AVG, 2 homeruns, 3 Runs, 3 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 walks for the week.

[lz477]

June 20th

Game 71: Tigers (30-40) at Nationals (36-34)

Ordonez Leads Tigers Over Nationals

Left: Mike Maroth struck out eight Nationals over seven innings to pick up his third win. Right: Magglio Ordonez smacks his second of two homeruns on the day.

Magglio Ordonez knocked in four of Detroit's five runs, to lead the Tigers over the Nationals Monday night. All of Ordonez' RBI's came courtesy of two, two-run homers. His 11th and 12th of the season.

Ordonez' first long ball came in the fifth after Craig Monroe homered to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Brandon Inge then followed that with his second triple of the game. Another two run blast from Ordonez in the seventh put Detriot up 5-0, which was all the offense they would need to hold off Washington's two-run seventh and pull out the win.

The Nationals first run came when Mike Kinkade hit into a run scoring 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded that plated Scott McClain in the bottom of the seventh. Augie Ojeda followed with an RBI single to score Chad Mottola and shrink the lead to 5-2.

Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya combined to pitch a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to insure Mike Maroth would pick up his third victory of the year. Maroth finished with seven innings of work, giving up two runs off six hits, while walking one and striking out eight.

Chris Michalak was charged with the loss, his third of the year, pitching six innings, giving up three runs off four hits.

With the loss, Washington is now just one game over .500 and have dropped six of their last seven. When asked about his teams recent decline, manager Manny Acta said, "You can't let it get to you." I've said it before, every team is going to have rough spots and this team no different from any other in that regard." "Our guys have more to overcome and they've got more to prove, so we're not done yet," Acta added. "Don't count these guys out just yet, there's a lot of baseball to play."

Before Monday's game, Washington demoted outfielder, Pedro Swann back down to triple-A Columbus and activated first baseman, Andy Abad from the DL. Swann saw very little action in his short time with the major league club, appearing in just one game as a pinch runner last Saturday.

The Nationals also called up third baseman, Mike Kinkade from Columbus and optioned infielder Howie Clark back to the minors. Clark also had seen limited action with the big league team and Washington GM, Jim Bowden said he felt Kinkade's recent performance with the Clippers warranted a call up. Kinkade was hitting .362 with 3 homeruns and 6 RBI's in two plus weeks since coming over in a trade with the Cubs.

The Tigers and Nationals will duke it out again Tuesday night when Kenny Rogers (6-5) and Jason Simontacchi (3-3) will man the hill for their respective teams. Simontacchi will be making his first start since May 5th, when he fractured his left arm on a line drive off the bat of the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez.

Boxscore: DET 5 - WAS 2

League News

Devil Rays, (1B) Ty Wigginton out 15 days with pulled groin.

[lz477]

June 21st

Game 72: Tigers (31-40) at Nationals (36-35)

Nationals Silence Tigers Roar

Left: Magglio Ordonez misplays a single from Joe Dillon that would reach the wall and score two runs to tie the game. Right: Curtis Granderson leaps to dodge an errant throw in the dirt from Chad Paronto.

Both the Tigers, Kenny Rogers and Washington's, Jason Simontacchi were un-hittable for the first five innings, until Scott McClain singled to break up Rogers no-hit bid in the fifth and Magglio Ordonez doubled in the sixth to put an end to Simontacchi's. Three and a half innings later, the Nationals would put an end to Detroit's eight game win streak and come away with a 3-2 victory.

The Tigers were the first team to get on the board, when Placido Polanco doubled in Ordonez and Rogers in the sixth after breaking up Simontacchi's no-no.

Simontacchi, making his first start for the Nationals since May 6th, pitched six strong innings, giving up two runs off two hits and striking out three.

"I felt good out there," Simontacchi remarked after the game about his start. "You're always anxious to get back out there after a little time away, but once I got out of the first inning I felt right at home."

Washington struck back in their half of the sixth inning. Last nights hero for Detroit, Ordonez, blasted two homeruns and knocked in four of the Tigers five runs on Monday. Tuesday, Ordonez was the teams goat when he misplayed a one hop single from Joe Dillon, that rolled to the wall, plating Augie Ojeda and allowing Dillon to come all the way around to score and tie the game 2-2.

Ojeda broke that tie in the very next inning, when he knocked in Doug Clark with an RBI single to put Washington up 3-2. Chad Paronto and Lee Gardner held onto that lead, combining to pitch a scoreless eighth and ninth, allowing Paronto to pick up his fourth win of the year and Gardner to grab save number 20.

The rubber match of the three game set is Wednesday night. Flame thrower, Justin Verlander (5-6) will make the start for the Tigers and Stephen Randolph (5-2) will man the hill for Washington.

Boxscore: DET 2 - WAS 3

League News

Astros (RP) Chad Qualls suspended 8 games.

Diamondbacks (OF) Eric Byrnes out 9 days with inflamed left elbow.

Blue Jays trade (3B) Rob Cosby and (RP) Lee Gronkiewicz to the Indians for (2B) Argenis Reyes and (SP) Sung-Wei Tseung.

[lz477]

June 22nd

Game 73: Tigers (31-41) at Nationals (37-35)

Nationals Tame Tigers In Ten

Left: Justin Verlander shatters Scott McClain's bat with a hard inside fastball. Right: Andy Abad ties it 1-1 with a pinch hit RBI single in the tenth inning.

It took nine innings and two outs for Washington to score, but the two runs they did score were enough for the Nationals to take the game and series victory over the Tigers, Wednesday night by a score of 2-1.

Justin Verlander, the AL Rookie of the Year last season was outstanding, giving up just four hits and striking out eight over eigth shutout innings, before turning things over to Fernando Rodney, who pitched a scoreless ninth for the Tigers.

In the tenth, Detroit's, Magglio Ordonez, got his fourth hit and scored his fourth run of the series when he homered for the third time in as many days to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Washington came right back in their half of the inning, when Chad Mottola and Doug Clark hit back to back singles off Detroit closer Joel Zumaya to start the tenth. Zumaya then struck out Scott McClain and induced a fly ball out from Matt Erickson. Andy Abad, then hit a pinch hit single to score Mottola and tie the game at one apiece. George Lombard then slashed a two-out two-strike fastball to the left field wall to score Clark and give the Nationals the 2-1 win.

Nationals starter, Stephen Randolph was solid giving up just four hits over six innings and Micah Bowie pitched two scoreless innings to hold off the Tigers, until Bryan Corey gave up Ordonez' homerun and got credit for his second win of the year.

The Nationals will welcome the Cleveland Indians to town on Friday to start a three game series over the weekend. Fausto Carmona (4- for the Indians and Travis Smith for Washington (8-3) are the two scheduled starters.

Boxscore: DET 1 - WAS 2

League News

Phillies trade © Tim Gradoville to White Sox for (RP) Josh Fields.

Astros sign (1B) Grant Psomas for 3 years at 100K.

[lz477]

June 24th

Game 74: Indians (37-36) at Nationals (38-35)

Washington Wipes Out Indians

Left: Doug Clark ties the game 1-1 with a solo homerun in the second. Right: Jhonny Peralta fields a deflected hit by Augie Ojeda, that ricocheted off Carmona allowing Clark to score.

Travis Smith pitched his shortest outing in a month, but it was enough to pick up his ninth victory of the year as the Washington Nationals defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-3 in the opening game of the three game series Friday night.

Smith last six innings and gave up three runs off seven hits while striking out two. Much better than the Indians starter, Fausto Carmona, who gave up five runs off seven hits, walked two and struck out three over 3 1/3 innings of work. Carmona was strong until the fourth when he gave up and RBI double to Clark and an RBI single to Augie Ojeda, then walked Chris Coste with the bases loaded to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead. Paul Byrd relieved Carmona and threw four straight balls to walk Danny Ardoin and plate another run for Washington. Byrd was apparently just warming up, however has he then struck out the next three hitters he faced to end the inning.

Before that, Cleveland got on the board first in the second inning, when Johnny Peralta's RBI single scored Casey Blake to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Doug Clark answered that with a solo homerun in the Nationals half of the inning to tie it one-all.

Peralta struck again for the Indians in the fourth when he doubled in David Dellucci to give the Indians the lead. Washington answered that with a four-run fourth to go up 5-2.

Victor Martinez led off the fifth with his ninth homerun of the year to cut the lead to two, but that would be all the runs Cleveland would be able to get off Smith and the Nationals bullpen as they fall to Washington 6-3.

Cleveland and Washington will meet up again Saturday night. Jeremy Sowers (3-7) will make the start for the Indians, while Masumi Kuwata (2-3) will be on the hill for the Nationals.

Boxscore: CLE 3 - WAS 6

League News

Cubs trade (SP) Wade Miller to Angels for (SP) Brian Anderson.

Rangers, © Gerald Laird out 6 days with dislocated finger.

Angels, © Jose Molina out 18 days with tendonitis of the elbow.

Pirates (OF) Chris Duffy out 7 days with inflammed left elbow.

[lz477]

June 25th

Game 75: Indians (37-37) at Nationals (39-35)

Nationals Clinch Cleveland Series With 7-4 Victory Over Tribe

Left: Johnny Peralta smashes his second homerun of the game in the seventh. Right: The Nationals celebrate their series clinching victory.

Washington clinched the series victory against the Indians by defeating Cleveland for a second straight night Saturday.

Masumi Kuwata, who had lost his last three starts and not won since May 22nd, had his best outing in a month, giving up just one run off two hits, walking one and striking out six over six innings to pick up his third victory of the season.

Kuwata was also a force at the plate, going 1-2 and scored the first run of the game after he doubled and reached third base on a single by Joe Dillon in the third inning. Kuwata then scored when Cleveland starter, Jeremy Sowers threw a pickoff attempt over third baseman Andy Marte's head.

Sowers would exit after 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs off eight hits, walking two and striking out eight, while picking up his eighth loss of the year.

Johnny Peralta continued his hot hitting against Washington, going 3-4 at the plate, including two homeruns. The first of which came in the fifth, to tie the game up 1-1.

In the Nationals half of the sixth, Danny Ardoin and Scott McClain teamed up to hit back to back homeruns and give Washington a three run lead. Two batters later, George Lombard doubled and two batters after that Cleveland intentionally walked Augie Ojeda to bring up the pitchers spot and pinch hitter Chris Heintz, who blasted a 2-0 fastball into the left field bullpen to put the Nationals up 7-1 and chase Sowers from the game.

Cleveland put two more runs on the board in the seventh when Grady Sizemore tripled, then scored on a ground out off the bat of David Dellucci. Peralta then hit his second homer of the game to shorten Washington's lead to 7-3.

In the eighth, Sizemore doubled to right off reliever Bryan Corey to score Josh Barfield, but that would be all the Indians would get as Lee Gardner came on in the ninth to pick up his 22nd save and hold the 7-4 lead to give his team the victory and a second straight series win.

Game three of the series is set for Sunday afternoon. C.C. Sabathia (8-7) is scheduled to make the start for the Indians, while Washington will counter with Chris Michalak (5-3).

Boxscore: CLE 4 - WAS 7

League News

Angels trade (3B) Matt Brown to Red Sox for © John Otness.

[RussFeathers]

22 innings? Man i once made it to the 21st inning in a game, then gave up a double, and just gave up because i was so annoyed. Nice perserverence. I love how once you get to extras it seems as if both teams suddenly cant hit anything.

[lz477]

22 innings? Man i once made it to the 21st inning in a game, then gave up a double, and just gave up because i was so annoyed. Nice perserverence. I love how once you get to extras it seems as if both teams suddenly cant hit anything.

Yea, Halladay was lights out to start, then I couldn't do anything against B.J. Ryan and my reliever, Marty McLeary suddenly became Nolan Ryan. I don't know how long it took me to play it, but it went by fast, because the half innings were so quick.

[philliesphan18]

Yea, Halladay was lights out to start, then I couldn't do anything against B.J. Ryan and my reliever, Marty McLeary suddenly became Nolan Ryan. I don't know how long it took me to play it, but it went by fast, because the half innings were so quick.

Am I missing something? Cause I'm not seeing this 22 inninger.

[RaysFTW]

Man. Everytime I come back here this dynasty gets better and better. I tip my hat off to you, man. :)

[lz477]

Am I missing something? Cause I'm not seeing this 22 inninger.

Game 70 on June 19th

[lz477]

Man. Everytime I come back here this dynasty gets better and better. I tip my hat off to you, man.

Thanks a lot Kazmir. I'm having a ball playing with these guys and look forward to the impending All-Star break to see if there are any Nationals on the Mid-Summer Classic roster.

[philliesphan18]

Game 70 on June 19th

Yeah, I just saw it right before I read this post!

[lz477]

June 26th

Game 76: Indians (37-38) at Nationals (40-35)

Washington Wins 5th Straight

Left: Chad Mottola hits a three-run homer in the first inning. Right: Augie Ojeda scores on Doug Clark's double to put Washington up 4-3 in the eighth.

The Nationals survived a late comeback by the Indians to complete the three game sweep of the Tribe, Sunday afternoon. Chad Mottola's three run homerun in the first gave the Nationals an early 3-0 lead that Cleveland would slowly chip away at for the next eight innings.

Travis Hafner hit an RBI single in the third to score Josh Barfield, who reached second on a throwing error by shortstop Augie Ojeda on a double play attempt.

Barfield tripled in the fifth inning to score C.C. Sabathia and shorten the Nationals lead to 3-2. In the eighth Barfield struck again, homering just over the wall in left on the first pitch by reliever Bryan Corey to tie the game at 3-3. Washington came right back in their half of the eighth to take back the lead, when Ojeda led off with a single, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Luis Figueroa. Ojeda then scored when Doug Clark, who entered in a double switch earlier in the game, doubled off Joe Borowski to put the Nationals up 4-3.

Lee Gardner closed out the ninth for his 23rd save, striking out David Dellucci and Andy Marte and even getting Nationals killer, Jhonny Peralta to fly out. Peralta did finish the day 2-4 and collected at least two hits in all three of games in the series.

The Nationals are now on a five game winning streak and will head south to Atlanta to take on the Braves for three games starting on Monday.

Boxscore: CLE 3 - WAS 4

League News

Cubs trade (1B) Brian Dopirak to Marlins for (2B) James Gurrero.

Mariners sign (RP) Jason Anderson for 3 years at 700K.

Devil Rays, (SP) Jeff Niemann suspended 6 games.

[TwentySeven]

I've been watching this dynasty from the start, and I still can't believe how good it is. You haven't gotten the attention JoeRudi's Cubs dynasty has, but this is at least as good. Keep up the great work!

[Timp]

I see just now that BJ Ryan pitched 13.2 innings in that 22 inning game you had. Thats pretty wild. Did he get hurt?

[lz477]

I've been watching this dynasty from the start, and I still can't believe how good it is. You haven't gotten the attention JoeRudi's Cubs dynasty has, but this is at least as good. Keep up the great work!

I appreciate the positive comment "twentyseven". I'm having a ball and am glad others are enjoying it as well.

[lz477]

I see just now that BJ Ryan pitched 13.2 innings in that 22 inning game you had. Thats pretty wild. Did he get hurt?

Yea, I think this was some sort of bug in the game. Obviously, your closer is never gonna go that long and the Jays had two guys throwing in the bullpen for the majority of that time. Oddly enough, those guys in the 'pen never lost any stamina.

After the 21st inning, I made the decision to take control of the team and remove Ryan from the game myself. I wrestled with doing that for the majority of the time he was on the mound, but since I wasn't hitting him, I didn't think it unfair. Evetually, the unrealistic idea of him going that long got to me and I just had to do it and wouldn't you know it, Zaun's game winner came in the next half-inning.