The last three days have been a unwanted intrusion of reality for the Nats. Their bats have gone quiet. Their starting pitching, for the most part, has continued to struggle. The bullpen, steady since the All-Star break, has even had a few rough nights. Last week’s eight-game winning streak is a fading memory now. After three humbling losses in a row, Washington tries to get back on track tonight in Game No. 2 of this four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. Garrett Mock (1-4, 6.14 ERA) goes for the Nats. He is coming off a nice outing against the Diamondbacks – six innings, two runs, five hits. He earned his first career win as a starter and a pie to the face for his efforts.
Meanwhile, they face Aaron Harang, Cincinnati’s ace, who has struggled much of the year. He is 6-13 with a 4.43 ERA and has never beaten Washington. That’s a welcome change from Bronson Arroyo, Thursday’s starter, who absolutely owns the Nats – as he proved again in a tidy 2 hour, 15-minute game where he gave up just two singles in a complete-game 7-0 victory.
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In draft news – as we continue to wait on the Stephen Strasburg negotiations – the Nats on Friday announced the signing of eighth-round draft pick Roberto Perez, a shortstop from Puerto Rico. That means Washington has signed 10 of its top 12 draft picks from June. Only Strasburg and fifth-rounder Miguel Pena, a left-handed pitcher, remain unsigned. Overall, 27 picks have signed – all of those players chosen in round No. 34 or sooner.
In Reds news, the club has traded shortstop Alex Gonzalez to Boston for minor-league shortstop Kris Negron. Considering Gonzalez is batting .210 with abysmal offensive numbers across the board (an on-base percentage at .258, an OPS of .554) they won’t miss him much. He has been a fine fielder throughout his career, though. Gonzalez won a World Series title with the Marlins in 2003 and had a previous stint in Boston in 2005 before signing with Cincinnati. Here are tonight’s lineups from Great American Ball Park. Nats Elijah Dukes gets the night off with Willie Harris going to left and Josh Willingham shifting to right. Wil Nieves gets the nod at catcher.
Nats
CF – N. Morgan
SS – C. Guzman
3B – R. Zimmerman
1B – A. Dunn
RF – J. Willingham
LF – W. Harris
2B – R. Belliard
C – W. Nieves
P – G. Mock
Reds
CF – W. Taveras
SS – P. Janish
1B – J. Votto
2B – B. Phillips
LF – L. Nix
RF – J. Gomes
3B – A. Rosales
C – C. Tatum
P – A. Harang
