The first game of the first double header at Nationals Park brought the same old story.  Lannan pitched well for 6 innings, giving up only 2 runs on 4 hits.  He did struggle with control, giving up 4 walks and throwing only 51 of 97 pitches for strikes.  His only big mistake was a low pitch to Troy Glaus that put 2 runs on the board.  Wellemeyer answered back with 6 shut out innings on 5 hits. 

Guzman, Dukes, Milledge, Casto, Flores and Lopez all had hits, but together the Nats left 11 men on base.  Wily Mo had an awful game – striking out twice and stranding four.  He’s now batting just .202.  The Nats finally got on the board in the 8th off of Chris Perez.  Kasto drew a walk, advanced to 2nd on a walk to Mackowiak and scored on a Lopez base hit.

Hanrahan pitched the 7th and 8th and ran into some trouble.  The first batter he faced was pinch hitter Albert Pujols – who promptly homered to left field.   A walk and a double put another run on the board.  Ayala pitched a scoreless 9th and continues to see his ERA fall back to where it belongs.

There was a scary moment in the 4th inning when Wellemeyer’s 94 mph fastball nailed Jesus Flores on the left hand.  X-rays after the game were negative, but it sure looked swollen and bruised at Ladies Night.  He insisted that he was okay and we really hope he is. 

After the game, an insightful John Lannan predicted that the bats would pick it up for the evening match.  According to Zachary Osterman, Lannan said “The hits are gonna come…Tonight, we’re gonna score some runs. I feel.”

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