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: --3B Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a single off Todd Wellemeyer in the third inning of Friday's game against the Cardinals. Zimmerman also singled in the eighth inning. His streak is the longest since the team moved to Washington in 2005, besting his 2006 streak by three games. "I just hope I can continue with the approach that I've had," Zimmerman said. "The streak thing doesn't really mean much to me. I just enjoy doing well." --RHP Joel Hanrahan struck out two in the ninth inning, needing just 10 pitches to get through three hitters. Hanrahan lost his closer's job Tuesday after blowing his third save of the season Monday, but manager Manny Acta said the team is trying to rehabilitate Hanrahan's confidence to get back in the role. "He's the ideal guy at the end of the game," Acta said. "Little by little, he'll have the opportunity to get back." --C Jesus Flores tripled for the second time in as many nights, equaling the number of triples he'd had in his first 187 big-league games. He is batting .326 with two homers in his last 13 games. 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 and is expected to return on May 6. 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:

--3B Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a single off Todd Wellemeyer in the third inning of Friday's game against the Cardinals. Zimmerman also singled in the eighth inning. His streak is the longest since the team moved to Washington in 2005, besting his 2006 streak by three games. "I just hope I can continue with the approach that I've had," Zimmerman said. "The streak thing doesn't really mean much to me. I just enjoy doing well."

--RHP Joel Hanrahan struck out two in the ninth inning, needing just 10 pitches to get through three hitters. Hanrahan lost his closer's job Tuesday after blowing his third save of the season Monday, but manager Manny Acta said the team is trying to rehabilitate Hanrahan's confidence to get back in the role. "He's the ideal guy at the end of the game," Acta said. "Little by little, he'll have the opportunity to get back."

--C Jesus Flores tripled for the second time in as many nights, equaling the number of triples he'd had in his first 187 big-league games. He is batting .326 with two homers in his last 13 games.

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 and is expected to return on May 6.

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