The Washingtonal Nationals quest for .500 and a nine game winning streak has hit a bit of a hiccup Sunday, as the Baltimore Orioles lead 5-3 after five innings of play.
Minor leage first baseman-turned big league starter Chris Jakubauskas has held a suddenly explosive Nationals offense to three runs on six hits. He has struck out five and walked only one in his five innings of work.
Fresh off the disabled list, Tom Gorzelanny took the mound for Washington, and did not have a good outing. Gorzelanny lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), striking out none, walking one and surrendering one home run.
Derrek Lee has continued his weekend assault of Washington pitching, as the Orioles first baseman has two more hits in three at-bats, driving in a run. J.J. Hardy has gone two for three in the leadoff spot for Baltimore, clobbering a home run off Gorzelanny in the top of the third inning.
Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa have each driven in a run for the Nationals. Roger Bernandina hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fight to make the score 5-3.