Nationalsclub.com | Washington Nationals News, nationals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> The Nationals avoided a sweep with an 8-1 win over the Mets on Sunday, but they have continued to struggle with the same issues that led them to 13 losses in their first 16 games this season. Washington's remade bullpen hasn't blown a save since the Nationals sent three players to the minors on April 19, but a lack of productive hitting and a spate of errors led to back-to-back one run losses on Wednesday and Friday. The topper was an 8-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday, when the fly ball Elijah Dukes lost in the sun led to three Mets runs.</div>PLAYER NEWS: --LHP Joe Beimel said his left hip injury has healed completely and that he's ready to return. But the reliever isn't eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list until Wednesday, so he'll have to wait a while longer. Beimel, who injured himself April 20, spent the last week at extended spring training in Viera, Fla. He'll pitch an inning of relief for Class A Potomac (Woodbridge, Va.) on Friday and again Sunday and then will be on track to come off the DL on Wednesday for the start of an eight-game road trip. --RHP Julian Tavarez suffered a ninth-inning meltdown Thursday against the Cardinals just one night after earning his first save in three years as one of the members of the Nationals' new closer-by-committee plan. Tavarez, who pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday in Philadelphia to preserve a 4-1 win, entered Thursday with the game tied 4-4 and proceeded to allow five runs to score on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. The veteran said he won't let this blow-up linger. "Maybe because I've been around it's easier for me to put behind," he said. "Not to put it behind 100 percent. I still take this to the hotel with me tonight. But I think for me it's easier to handle it than (others in the Nationals bullpen) because they have not been around as long." --1B Nick Johnson continues to enjoy life as a No. 2 hitter. Since moving to the second spot in manager Manny Acta's lineup, Johnson is hitting .352 (19-for-54) with a .426 on-base percentage. Though Johnson isn't hitting for much power or driving in runs, he'll likely remain at that spot in the lineup because Acta likes to have him on base in front of 3B Ryan Zimmerman and OF Adam Dunn. MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Joe Beimel (strained left hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21. He will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac on May 1. 1B Dmitri Young (strained back and hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He was expected to begin a 20-day rehab stint with Class AAA Syracuse in early May. RHP Terrell Young (inflamed right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He started a throwing program at extended spring training in early April. OF Roger Bernadina (broken right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 19, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. He had surgery April 18, and he will miss a minimum of two months before beginning a rehab assignment. LHP Matt Chico (Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 28. He will miss at least the first half of the season. ROTATION: LHP John Lannan LHP Scott Olsen RHP Daniel Cabrera RHP Shairon Martis RHP Jordan Zimmermann BULLPEN: RHP Julian Tavarez RHP Kip Wells RHP Mike Hinckley RHP Joel Hanrahan RHP Saul Rivera RHP Garrett Mock RHP Logan Kensing CATCHERS: Jesus Flores Wil Nieves INFIELDERS: 1B Nick Johnson 2B Anderson Hernandez SS Cristian Guzman 3B Ryan Zimmerman INF Ronnie Belliard INF Alex Cintron OUTFIELDERS: LF Adam Dunn CF Elijah Dukes RF Austin Kearns OF Josh Willingham OF/2B Willie Harris

The Nationals avoided a sweep with an 8-1 win over the Mets on Sunday, but they have continued to struggle with the same issues that led them to 13 losses in their first 16 games this season. Washington's remade bullpen hasn't blown a save since the Nationals sent three players to the minors on April 19, but a lack of productive hitting and a spate of errors led to back-to-back one run losses on Wednesday and Friday. The topper was an 8-2 loss to the Mets on Saturday, when the fly ball Elijah Dukes lost in the sun led to three Mets runs.

PLAYER NEWS:

--LHP Joe Beimel said his left hip injury has healed completely and that he's ready to return. But the reliever isn't eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list until Wednesday, so he'll have to wait a while longer. Beimel, who injured himself April 20, spent the last week at extended spring training in Viera, Fla. He'll pitch an inning of relief for Class A Potomac (Woodbridge, Va.) on Friday and again Sunday and then will be on track to come off the DL on Wednesday for the start of an eight-game road trip.

--RHP Julian Tavarez suffered a ninth-inning meltdown Thursday against the Cardinals just one night after earning his first save in three years as one of the members of the Nationals' new closer-by-committee plan. Tavarez, who pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday in Philadelphia to preserve a 4-1 win, entered Thursday with the game tied 4-4 and proceeded to allow five runs to score on two hits, two walks and a hit batter. The veteran said he won't let this blow-up linger. "Maybe because I've been around it's easier for me to put behind," he said. "Not to put it behind 100 percent. I still take this to the hotel with me tonight. But I think for me it's easier to handle it than (others in the Nationals bullpen) because they have not been around as long."

--1B Nick Johnson continues to enjoy life as a No. 2 hitter. Since moving to the second spot in manager Manny Acta's lineup, Johnson is hitting .352 (19-for-54) with a .426 on-base percentage. Though Johnson isn't hitting for much power or driving in runs, he'll likely remain at that spot in the lineup because Acta likes to have him on base in front of 3B Ryan Zimmerman and OF Adam Dunn.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Joe Beimel (strained left hip flexor) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21. He will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Potomac on May 1.

1B Dmitri Young (strained back and hip) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 1. He was expected to begin a 20-day rehab stint with Class AAA Syracuse in early May.

RHP Terrell Young (inflamed right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He started a throwing program at extended spring training in early April.

OF Roger Bernadina (broken right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 19, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. He had surgery April 18, and he will miss a minimum of two months before beginning a rehab assignment.

LHP Matt Chico (Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2008) went on the 60-day disabled list March 28. He will miss at least the first half of the season.

ROTATION:

LHP John Lannan

LHP Scott Olsen

RHP Daniel Cabrera

RHP Shairon Martis

RHP Jordan Zimmermann

BULLPEN:

RHP Julian Tavarez

RHP Kip Wells

RHP Mike Hinckley

RHP Joel Hanrahan

RHP Saul Rivera

RHP Garrett Mock

RHP Logan Kensing

CATCHERS:

Jesus Flores

Wil Nieves

INFIELDERS:

1B Nick Johnson

2B Anderson Hernandez

SS Cristian Guzman

3B Ryan Zimmerman

INF Ronnie Belliard

INF Alex Cintron

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Adam Dunn

CF Elijah Dukes

RF Austin Kearns

OF Josh Willingham

OF/2B Willie Harris