WASHINGTON 3 Pittsburgh 2 (ESPN Boxscore)

First off, congratulations to the Maryland Bureau Chief; his Buccos took the season series over the Nats 4-2. I look forward to paying off my wager, a bottle of Gentleman Jack, sometime soon.

C Jesus Flores hit his first MLB home run yesterday, a two run shot in the sixth, scoring LF Robert Fick. Previously, Fick knocked in 1B Dimitri Young. Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm was on the hook for all three runs, falling to 4-11 on the season.

On the mound, Mike Bascik pitched 6+ innings for his first win since May, upping his record to 2-5 on the season. Both runs were allowed in the 7th inning. The “optimum” bullpen alignment of Luis Ayala, Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero pitched shutout innings in relief for a hold, hold and a save, respectively.

The Nats are now halfway done with the schedule and stand at 33-48, second worse in baseball (thanks Reds!), but hardly the historically bad pace that was expected. Nationals Journal (The Post) notes this is the same record as last year and breaks down the numbers between the two seasons.

Nationals Seek Their Better Half – The Post

Nats end first half with win – The Wash. Times

Dimitri Young will represent the Nats at the All-Star Game (The Wash. Times) next week. “Let this be a lesson to people who deal with adversity. Never quit and keep fighting.”

Unless it is with your girlfriend? Fighting with her is bad.

John Patterson is off to Toronto for treatment (The Wash. Times) on the compressed radial nerve in his pitching arm. If successful, he could retake the mound (The Post) in September (why bother at that point). Should that fail, South American medicine men are lining up to take the case.

Saturday’s game

Pittsburgh 7 WASHINGTON 2 (ESPN Boxscore)

The Nats lost badly as Jason Bergmann got lit up for six runs over four innings. It was the only game of the season series that was decided by more than a run.

With Nats Stuck in Neutral, Acta Tries to Rev Up Engine – The Post

Defeated — again – The Wash. Times