Manager Manny Acta, asked Monday whether he had any advice for Alvarez, said he would tell the shortstop not to worry about his age and play well enough that youth won't be an issue.

"Regardless of his age, if he can really play, he'll be able to make it to the big leagues. He's not the first one. He's not going to be the last one," Acta said. "What is he now, 23? If he makes it to the big leagues in three years, he'll be 26 years old. You have a bunch of guys in Double A and Triple A that are 26 years old."

Even if other players make jokes about the name and age issues, Acta said, Alvarez can't lose focus.

"People tease each other in school, on the streets, so he's going to have to move on. It's part of nature," Acta said. "It's being done right now to somebody somewhere - whether it's because of their weight, their height or where they come from. He's got to move on. He made a mistake, and now he's got to live with it. I don't think it's going to last forever, though."

Nationals 8, ASTROS 6 (10)

Washington scored five runs in the first inning off Felipe Paulino, three of them coming on Austin Kearns' home run. The Nationals got another run in the second and had a 6-4 lead after three despite Collin Balester's off-night.

Ross Detwiler gave up a run in two innings of work, and Terrell Young surrendered a run in the ninth. But Brad Eldred hit a two-run homer to left in the 10th off Sergio Perez to win it for the Nationals.