Nationalsclub.com | Washington Nationals News, nationals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --RHP Chris Schroder rejoined the Nationals bullpen Monday, hoping to carry the success he had at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) over to the majors. Schroder posted a 1.26 ERA and three saves in 100 appearances with the Clippers, earning the promotion back to Washington. Manager Manny Acta, who has been searching for a fourth reliable reliever to join RHPs Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala and Saul Rivera in tight situations, said he would like to try Schroder out in that role.</div>--LHP Matt Chico hasn't learned yet whether he'll be starting Thursday against the Mets, but the left-hander (who was demoted to the bullpen a week ago) is approaching matters as though he's still a starter. "All I know is a starter's mentality," Chico said. "That's how I'm going off this. I don't know really how to approach anything as a reliever. I'm only four days into it. So everything to me right now is a starter's mentality." If Chico doesn't get the start Thursday, the Nationals could promote RHP Jason Bergmann from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio). --C Jesus Flores gunned down Mets SS Jose Reyes trying to steal second base during the fourth inning of Monday's game, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive opponents who had successfully stolen a base off the Nationals. Manager Manny Acta has placed the blame more on Washington's pitchers than catchers, but the club hopes that the return of Flores from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) following injuries to C Paul Lo Duca and C Johnny Estrada will help solve the problem. --LHP Odalis Perez not only earned his first win of the season Monday night, but the veteran left-hander recorded the first three-hit game of his career. Perez, who had been winless in his first eight starts despite posting a 3.43 ERA, put 13 men on base in 6 1/3 innings Monday against the Mets. But thanks to some rare run support, he recorded a victory at last. The career .130 hitter also contributed to the offensive explosion, singling three times and driving in two runs to become the first Nationals pitcher to record a three-hit game since RHP Livan Hernandez on April 19, 2006. "I'm a lucky guy," Perez said. "I'm not saying I'm a good hitter, but if I see a cookie at the middle of the plate and I swing at it, I will swing as hard as I can... It was nice to contribute to my team in both ways." --OF Lastings Milledge snapped a 10-game RBI-less streak with a two-run double Monday in the Nationals' 10-4 win over the Mets. Milledge hasn't shown much power in his first season in Washington; he has only one homer in 139 at-bats but says he thinks the power will come once he starts making better and more consistent contact. BY THE NUMBERS: 1-8 -- Washington's record against the Marlins this season. The team is 14-15 against all of its other opponents. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I could point out 50 different things why I can be positive about (the season so far). Last year, when we had 25 losses, we only had nine wins. We haven't even lost 25 yet and we've got 15 wins. I have different things where I can point positive stuff at it." -- Manager Manny Acta, on the Nationals' early struggles.

--RHP Chris Schroder rejoined the Nationals bullpen Monday, hoping to carry the success he had at Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) over to the majors. Schroder posted a 1.26 ERA and three saves in 100 appearances with the Clippers, earning the promotion back to Washington. Manager Manny Acta, who has been searching for a fourth reliable reliever to join RHPs Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala and Saul Rivera in tight situations, said he would like to try Schroder out in that role.

--LHP Matt Chico hasn't learned yet whether he'll be starting Thursday against the Mets, but the left-hander (who was demoted to the bullpen a week ago) is approaching matters as though he's still a starter. "All I know is a starter's mentality," Chico said. "That's how I'm going off this. I don't know really how to approach anything as a reliever. I'm only four days into it. So everything to me right now is a starter's mentality." If Chico doesn't get the start Thursday, the Nationals could promote RHP Jason Bergmann from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio).

--C Jesus Flores gunned down Mets SS Jose Reyes trying to steal second base during the fourth inning of Monday's game, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive opponents who had successfully stolen a base off the Nationals. Manager Manny Acta has placed the blame more on Washington's pitchers than catchers, but the club hopes that the return of Flores from Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) following injuries to C Paul Lo Duca and C Johnny Estrada will help solve the problem.

--LHP Odalis Perez not only earned his first win of the season Monday night, but the veteran left-hander recorded the first three-hit game of his career. Perez, who had been winless in his first eight starts despite posting a 3.43 ERA, put 13 men on base in 6 1/3 innings Monday against the Mets. But thanks to some rare run support, he recorded a victory at last. The career .130 hitter also contributed to the offensive explosion, singling three times and driving in two runs to become the first Nationals pitcher to record a three-hit game since RHP Livan Hernandez on April 19, 2006. "I'm a lucky guy," Perez said. "I'm not saying I'm a good hitter, but if I see a cookie at the middle of the plate and I swing at it, I will swing as hard as I can... It was nice to contribute to my team in both ways."

--OF Lastings Milledge snapped a 10-game RBI-less streak with a two-run double Monday in the Nationals' 10-4 win over the Mets. Milledge hasn't shown much power in his first season in Washington; he has only one homer in 139 at-bats but says he thinks the power will come once he starts making better and more consistent contact.

BY THE NUMBERS: 1-8 -- Washington's record against the Marlins this season. The team is 14-15 against all of its other opponents.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I could point out 50 different things why I can be positive about (the season so far). Last year, when we had 25 losses, we only had nine wins. We haven't even lost 25 yet and we've got 15 wins. I have different things where I can point positive stuff at it." -- Manager Manny Acta, on the Nationals' early struggles.