WASHINGTON 6 Atlanta 4 (ESPN Boxscore)

I didn’t expect the rain to hold off enough to get the game in. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Levale Speigner’s first start was not terribly good, giving up two runs in the 1st and 4th innings. The Nats responded in the bottom frame of both of those innings though, scoring a run both times. Ryan Zimmerman doubled in Ronnie Belliard in the 1st and then homered in the 4th. In the fifth, Ryan Church cleared the bases with a 3-run double to put the Nats ahead. Earlier in the inning, Belliard had sacrificed CF Ryan Langerhans to put the Nats within one. Atlanta starter Kyle Davies was on the hook for all six Nationals runs. The bullpen produced a strong outing with Ray King, Wilson Abreu, Saul Rivera and Chad Cordero all earning holds. Jon Rauch picked up his second save with a perfect ninth. Billy Traber got the win.

Church, Bullpen Are Nats’ Saviors – The Post

A little Church music – The Wash. Times

Despite winning 5 of 6, Thomas Boswell is not bouncing off the walls with excitement (The Post). Quite the opposite in fact, he is very wary of the rotation as it is now — full of stopgap pieces like Speigner and Micah Bowie. He hasn’t given up hope though and wonders if the team can have a strong second half and bring excitement to RFK for its final few months as a ballpark.

Southeast Jerome Williams is the latest Nats pitcher with a torn labrum (The Post & The Wash. Times). The Nats probably lead the league in torn labrums over the last three years. Don’t expect Williams back anytime soon. At least John Patterson has resumed throwing again.

Jim Bowden is talking Bonus Babies in “his” Wash. Examiner column.

Express calls Manny Acta an “unapologetic optimist.” It must be the Successories.

I am not sure I am completely sold on the Cristian Guzman not being worse than Mario Mendoza thing (The Free Lance-Star), so I’ll reserve judgement until I see another four months of this level of play.