Nationals Vs. Astros Final: Nationals Power Past Astros 5-2

It took the Washington Nationals a little while to figure out Houston Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles, but they did and went big in a 5-2 victory. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman both hit solo home runs while Laynce Nix delivered a timely two-run single in the top of the ninth, part of a three run ninth inning. Zimmerman also had a RBI in the ninth and finished the night 2-for-4 and two RBIs.

Pitcher Jason Marquis turned in another brilliant performance going eight innings giving up two runs on six hits. He walked only one batter while striking out nine. Marquis long run through the game took a lot of pressure off the Nats bullpen and only one reliever entered the game. That reliever was closer Drew Storen who came in to the ninth to close out the game. He gave up only one double to Carlos Lee, but second base is the closest the Astros got to home plate in the bottom of the ninth as Storen shut the door and got his 25th save of the year.

The Jayson Werth Slump watch continues as he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He took an important walk in the ninth inning that helped in the Nats rally, but that bit of good cheer was killed when he made some bad base running decisions in the same inning to kill the rally. Wilson Ramos popped out in the ninth and then Werth for some reason got caught trying to go home on a play from third.

The Washington Nationals move back to .500 with a 48-48 record and into third place in the NL East.

Nationals Vs. Astros Score: Michael Morse Rips His 16th Of Season, Nationals And Astros Tied 1-1

Washington Nationals first baseman Michael Morse is having a shocking and stellar 2011 campaign that continued on Monday night when he ripped his 16th home run of the season over the left field wall of Minute Maid Park in Houston to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead over the Houston Astros in the the fifth inning. However, the Stros struck back in the bottom of the frame to even the score 1-1 with a Carlos Corporan RBI double.

Nats starter Jason Marquis has struck out seven batters and given up only three hits and walked one. His opposition, the Astros Jordan Lyles however has kept the Nationals offense pretty much shut down allowing only the Morse solo shot as the only hit for Washington going into the sixth inning.

If you are one of those types that love to see someone suffering then look no further than right fielder Jayson Werth because he is still in his slump going 0-for-2 with a strikeout so far and his average continue to dissolve to a .212.

Nationals Vs. Astros: Nationals Get Set For A Collision With Astros In Houston

The Washington Nationals head into Texas on Monday night and though the space shuttle program has been shutdown, the Nationals will still have the Houston Astros to contend with. Washington and Houston collide at Minute Maid Park and both teams have a little something to prove.

The Nationals are coming off a rough ninth inning walk-off loss to the Atlanta Braves which saw their pitching completely unravel. The Nats have been hovering close to .500 since late in the first half of the season, but every time it seems they get a positive foothold they suffer enough setbacks to put them back or under the halfway mark. They will be looking for a little more consistency from all aspects of their game and will give pitcher Jason Marquis (7-4, 4.05 ERA) the call to the mound to try and secure a victory. Marquis has faced the Astros more than any other opponent during his career.

If Washington is looking for consistency then they might not be a facing a better team as Houston as the Stros have been struggling all season and have the worst record in all the Majors at 31-64. The Nationals offense will get a shot at Jordan Lyles (0-4, 4.60 ERA) who has yet to earn a victory in 2011 after eight starts.

The Nationals will get a little more extra help off the bench Monday night as Jerry Hairston Jr. joins the team in Houston after coming off the DL with a sore wrist injury.

Nationals Line-Up

1. Roger Bernadina, CF

2. Danny Espinosa, 2B

3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B

4. Laynce Nix, LF

5. Michael Morse, 1B

6. Jayson Werth, RF

7. Wilson Ramos, C

8. Ian Desmond, SS

9. Jason Marquis, SP

Astros Line-Up

1. Michael Bourn, CF

2. Angel Sanchez, SS

3. Jeff Keppinger, 2B

4. Hunter Pence, RF

5. Carlos Lee, 1B

6. Jason Michaels, LF

7. Chris Johnson, 3B

8. Carlos Corporan, C

9. Jordan Lyles, SP