--RHP Shawn Hill will rest indefinitely before beginning a throwing program to rehab his sore right forearm; the Nationals would not place a timetable on Hill's return on Friday. "There's nothing that we can do medically. We've had all the experts look at it," general manager Jim Bowden said. "He's structurally sound. So we have to somehow let the muscle here rest and become healthy. So we're going to try no activity, shut it down, and see if we can get it healthy that way. I can't put a timetable on it."
--INF Willie Harris started for the fourth straight game, the third at second base, but manager Manny Acta would not name the 30-year-old his starter over the underachieving Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard. "We're just trying to put out there the best team on an everyday basis," Acta said. "He's been swinging the bat well and giving us a lot of energy, so we're just playing him. He's not our regular second baseman yet." --RF Austin Kearns is 1-for-3 with three walks after the first two games of his rehab assignment with Class A Hagerstown (Md.). "He felt well," manager Manny Acta said after Kearns' first game. "I just communicated with him, and he said that he feels good." Kearns could rejoin the Nationals in Cincinnati next weekend if his rehab stint -- which will include a trip to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) -- goes well.
--LHP Odalis Perez threw 76 pitches in his first start since leaving on June 3 with shoulder tendinitis. Perez, who was working on an 80-pitch limit, threw four scoreless innings, walking three while striking out three.
--CF Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI in the Nationals' win over the Orioles, giving him back-to-back multi-hit games after a 1-for-29 slump. The RBI was Milledge's 31st, which leads the Nationals.
BY THE NUMBERS: 14 -- Consecutive starts in which RHP Tim Redding has pitched at least five but no more than 6 1/3 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everybody knows the baggage he had coming into this season, but he is by far, unquestionably, one of the best ballplayers we have in this clubhouse." -- RHP Tim Redding, on teammate Elijah Dukes' recent resurgence at the plate.
