At this point, the Nationals just want to win a ballgame, somehow, some way. But through the season's first four games, it still hasn't happened.
Washington's latest setback was a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Braves in 10 innings Friday night. A 3-hour, 58-minute marathon that also featured a 2-hour, 2-minute rain delay left everyone in the visiting clubhouse at Turner Field in a sour mood, especially considering all the opportunities the Nationals had to pull off a victory. Washington stranded 16 men on base and left the bases loaded three times.
"It's a funny game," manager Manny Acta said. "I don't think I've ever seen it in my career: four times with the bases loaded and one out and not be able to score runs. We can't blame anybody but ourselves."
The Nationals fell to 0-4 and haven't won since Sept. 23, 2008. That they played a better ballgame Friday and had a chance to win did soften the sting of another loss just a bit.
"You can't just sit here and talk about it. We've got to do it," left fielder Adam Dunn said. "But the good thing is, the last couple of games we've been in position to win it. One big, clutch hit and I think we blow both (the last two) games open. I'm not giving up yet."
BRAVES 6, NATIONALS 5 (10): Despite rallying to tie the game in the ninth, Washington couldn't complete the rally and wound up losing a heartbreaker in extra innings for its fourth straight loss to begin the season. A 2-hour, 2-minute rain delay in the top of the fourth forced starter Shairon Martis out early, putting a strain on the bullpen. The Nationals' offense, though, proved to be the ultimate culprit, stranding 16 men on base and failing to capitalize on four bases-loaded situations.
