The Nats win a series...against a first place team!

The Nationals are starting to pick it up. For only the second time this season the Nats have pulled off something that is routine for playoff teams, they won a series.

Not only did they claim the series, they actually at times looked like a playoff team with key hits, good pitching, and a shut down bullpen. The Nats have started do what made them an overachieving team last year, capitalize on everything. Today the Nats only had 4 hits and scored 2 runs, that’s extremely hard to do. Right now it really looks like if Ryan Zimmerman and Nick Johnson start producing to their ability, and start driving in runs, the Nationals could equal their surprising record from last year.

It had been a rough week for D.C. The Capitals were eliminated, the Wizards are getting their ass kicked by the Cavs, and the Redskins making personnel decisions scares everyone. It was good to have John Lannan come out and shut the door on the Cubs giving the Nats a good weekend and at least a little something for D.C sports fans to be happy about.

John Lannan shines at home

John Lannan came out and for the third straight game pitched a gem. After tossing seven shut out innings against a top notch hitting team in the Cubs he has extended his consecutive shutout innings streak to 19! Not bad for a 24 year old, former 11th round pick.

Today Lannan allowed only four hits in seven innings of work and lowered his ERA to 2.64 on the year. At times opposing batters looked just baffled, especially the heart of the order which went 1-10 on the day. Not only is Lannan’s stuff looking great, he’s pitching smart, he just does not make mistakes in the strike zone and forces the bottom of the order to beat him. The only thing more you can really ask from Lannan is to cut down on the walks…but with 19 straight scoreless innings, we can’t exactly ask for much more from him.

Lannan's Season Stats:

2-2, 2.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 31/14 K/BB

The Nationals Batting report-brought to you by Lenny Harris

Ryan Zimmerman had been picking it up coming into today’s game. He had been 4 for 11 in his last three games, however he had driven in only one run and had no extra base hits. It looked like all he was trying to do was poke the ball to try and find a way out of this miserable stretch he’s going through. It hasn’t helped…today Zimmerman couldn’t help his team at the plate going 0-4 with three K’s. (He did make a few great plays with the glove though)

Wil Nieves wants to stay in the majors. He knows when Lo Duca and Dukes come back at least one person needs to be sent down…and with him and Estrada already in the majors…its going to be hard to keep all three. Right now Wil Nieves has a five game hit streak, going 8-16 in that stretch including the game winning homer Friday night. He has played solid defensively as well, if it were up to me I’d just cut Estrada and keep Wil not Will Nieves.

Cristian Guzman continues to hit well this season. He is batting a strong .309 and is getting hits to move the leadoff hitter around. Unfortunately though he is still only getting on base at .339. He has only walked 5 times this season in 106 at bats, and as we talked about earlier this year, on base percentage is the key to winning baseball.