Now that was a good ballgame. I really think when John Lannan hits the hill it brings out the best in the Nationals. He’s had his struggles as a young pitcher will, but when he’s on and fooling the best hitters in the majors I think everyone just feels a little more confident on the field and raises their game. This of course is always more important when your trying to keep the brooms away in the last game of a series…no sweep for the Astros.
The Nats did everything right, they got out early, had good pitching to support the early lead, and then in the late innings pounded in the insurance runs. Everyone on the Nats got involved last night, from the guys who don’t see much playing time in Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak, to the teams stars in Ryan Zimmerman and Stonehands Guzman.
Line up change
Line up change
Maybe it was to avoid the sweep, maybe some of the players were tired, but for some reason 
Manny Acta had some major changes in the order last night. It worked out well enough. Milledge, Wily Mo, and Lopez, and whoever you may consider the starting catcher all received nights off. Harris, Belliard, Mackowiak, and Wil Nieves earned their keep. This is something I wouldn’t mind seeing Acta do more often; at times this line up can seem very stagnant and sometimes this is all a manager can do.
Zimmerman stays hot
The day off definitely helped. Whether he was tired, needed a day to refocus, or just thought he did, the results are undeniable. In the Houston series Zimmerman has returned to the threat in the middle of the order he once was, hopefully the Nats can rally around that. The first two game of the series he was hitting for power and in the last game he sprayed three singles.
Game 1: 2/5, 1 double 1 RBI
Game 2: 3/4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Game 3: 3/5, 3 singles
Overall: 8/14, 4 RBI
Manny Acta had some major changes in the order last night. It worked out well enough. Milledge, Wily Mo, and Lopez, and whoever you may consider the starting catcher all received nights off. Harris, Belliard, Mackowiak, and Wil Nieves earned their keep. This is something I wouldn’t mind seeing Acta do more often; at times this line up can seem very stagnant and sometimes this is all a manager can do.Zimmerman stays hot
The day off definitely helped. Whether he was tired, needed a day to refocus, or just thought he did, the results are undeniable. In the Houston series Zimmerman has returned to the threat in the middle of the order he once was, hopefully the Nats can rally around that. The first two game of the series he was hitting for power and in the last game he sprayed three singles.
Game 1: 2/5, 1 double 1 RBI
Game 2: 3/4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Game 3: 3/5, 3 singles
Overall: 8/14, 4 RBI
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