Detroit 9 WASHINGTON 8 (ESPN Boxscore)

It had been a while since Matt Chico got a decision and even though he gave up eight runs, the Nats nearly got him off the hook. In the sixth, the Nats scored four runs to make it interesting. After Wilson Abreau allowed a homer to Marcus Thames in the fifth, the bullpen didn’t give up a run to the visiting Tigers.

In the ninth, SS Cristian Guzman tripled home two runs and then scored on a Felipe Lopez single. When 3B Ryan Zimmerman singled the Nats had the winning run at first base with no outs, a seemingly unlikely development after falling so far behind. Tigers closer Todd Jones got former Tiger 1B Dimitri Young to strike out swinging. RF Austin Kearns hit into a fielders choice for the second out and PH Ronnie Belliard grounded out to shortstop to end the game. Close, but not enough.

While Chico didn’t pitch well, the defense behind him didn’t help matters.

Costly Mistakes Too Much for Nats to Overcome – The Post

Young strikes out vs. his old team – The Wash. Times

CF Nook Logan gave up on being a switch (The Post) hitter (The Wash. Times), but has yet to see success as just a righty.

In pitching, pitching, pitching news Mike O’Connor has been added to the 40 man roster. He will pitch for AA Harrisburg for the foreseeable future. Tomorrow, Jason Bergmann will pitch for AAA Columbus while Thursday will see Jason Bergmann on the hill for the P-Nats and Jerome Williams starting for Harrisburg.

Brandon Watson went 0-5 for Columbus last night, ending his IL record 43 game hitting streak (The Post). He sounds like a more attractive option than Logan in center, doesn’t he? I realize neither is part of The Plan, but it is hard to ignore a hitting streak like that one and he has a better number (00) than Logan.

For the record, Young holds no grudges with the Tigers (The Free Lance-Star), who released him last season on their way to the pennant.