The Nationals' offensive woes have been a season-long problem. Through it all, though, manager Manny Acta has tried to remain positive and insist things will get better.
But after a 5-2 loss to the Padres on Thursday, Acta showed a few rare signs of frustration and exasperation with his club. Following a performance in which his team managed only four hits while frequently failing to put together quality at-bats in important situations, he sounded like a man out of answers. "What can we do? These are the guys we brought to spring training," the manager said. "These are the guys we're expecting to have the offense going for us. And they're just not getting it done."
Among the biggest culprits in Washington's lineup: left fielder Wily Mo Pena (.207 average, one homer, eight RBI in 36 games), right fielder Elijah Dukes (.143-0-2 in 19 games) and first baseman Dmitri Young (.190-1-4 in 15 games).
PADRES 5, NATIONALS 2: Jody Gerut's three-run homer off reliever Charlie Manning in the eighth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and handed Washington yet another demoralizing loss. The Nationals had clawed their way back, getting a pinch RBI single from Ryan Langerhans in the seventh to tie the game. But Manning, who was brought up from Class AAA Columbus last week to retire left-handed hitters, served up his second tiebreaking homer to a left-hander in three days. Washington's moribund offense, meanwhile, managed only four hits.
