The score between the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres remained the same as the final score on Friday night, but it was a different team pulling out the close victory on Saturday. The Padres defeated the Nationals 2-1 in a hard fought contest the Nats just fell short in.
The Nationals continue to have trouble putting some offense together. Perhaps the Nationals should consider cloning outfielder Laynce Nix who contributed the lone Nationals run Saturday. In the bottom of the seventh-inning Nix took Padres pitcher Tim Stauffer yard in a solo shot. Aside from a couple spread out hits, it was all the Nationals could muster. In the eighth-inning they had a chance to get the tying run in after Jerry Hairston Jr. began the inning with a lead-off double however the Padres got three relatively easy outs afterward to end the inning.
No walk-off magic on Saturday.
Starter Jordan Zimmermann had yet another serviceable performance going six-innings giving up two runs on five hits. It is a performance that should be able to win its fair share of ballgames on any normal day, but unfortunately general manager Mike Rizzo's 2011 Nationals are anything but a normally functioning team at this juncture.
The Nationals fall to 22-29 and are in the cellar of the NL East.