The Washington Nationals are not off to a good start in their quest to take a series against the worst team in baseball. The Houston Astros scored in the first and second innings and hold a 2-0 lead after five innings. The two teams have split the previous two games of the series.
The Astros got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning. Hunter Pence tripled to left field with two outs, and Carlos Lee drove him home with a single up the middle. The Astros added another run in the bottom of the second inning when Humberto Quintero hit a one-out double to score Clint Barmes from first base.
Livan Hernandez has been OK otherwise, giving up six hits in five innings. The Nationals, meanwhile, have managed five hits against Astros starter Brett Myers, but haven't been able to capitalize on any. One of those hits was a double by Jayson Werth, his first extra-base hit since June 28.