Nationals Lose Again, Tie for NL East Lead

Sole possession of first place is gone, and a matchup with Roger Clemens is looming for the Washington Nationals. No wonder baseball's feel-good story from the first half of the season isn't feeling

Friday, July 22nd 2005, 6:40 am

By: News On 6

Sole possession of first place is gone, and a matchup with Roger Clemens is looming for the Washington Nationals. No wonder baseball's feel-good story from the first half of the season isn't feeling so good about its current situation.

``Things are going bad,'' first baseman Brad Wilkerson said. ``They keep swamping on us right now.''

Roy Oswalt threw eight shutout innings and delivered his first RBI of the season, part of an 11-hit effort that helped the Houston Astros beat Washington 3-2 on Thursday night.

Washington was perhaps baseball's biggest surprise during most of its first season since moving from Montreal, and led the NL East by 5 1/2 games on July 3. But the Nationals have lost six of eight since the All-Star break and 11 of their last 15, falling into a tie with the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East.

On Friday, the Nationals face Clemens (7-4, 1.47 ERA) in the second game of the four-game series. They follow that with a six-game road trip to Atlanta and Florida, which could determine if they are still on top when they close the month.

``What we're going to have to do,'' Nationals manager Frank Robinson said, ``is get this thing going before we fall too far behind.''

In other NL games, it was: the New York Mets 12, San Diego 0; the Los Angeles Dodgers 1, Philadelphia 0; Milwaukee 12, St. Louis 7; Cincinnati 9, the Chicago Cubs 6; and Pittsburgh 8, Colorado 1.

While Washington struggles, Houston has turned things around after a dismal start. The Astros have won 12 of 16, and Thursday's victory moved them within 4 1/2 games of the Braves and Nationals for the wild-card lead.

``We have made up a lot of ground since the All-Star break,'' said Oswalt, who has won seven of his past eight starts. ``You have to win ... on the road. That is the biggest thing.''

Oswalt (13-8) gave up six hits, struck out six and walked none. Brad Lidge allowed Preston Wilson's two-run homer in the ninth before finishing for his 22nd save.

Nationals starter Esteban Loaiza (6-6) went seven innings, allowing three runs _ two earned.

Washington also is dealing with a couple of key injuries. Outfielder Jose Guillen, leading the team with 19 homers and 54 RBIs, said he might get a cortisone shot on his injured left side, which would force him to miss time.

The only good news for the Nationals on Thursday was ace Livan Hernandez saying he would continue to pitch despite knee pain. After a loss Wednesday night, the All-Star said he might opt for surgery and not pitch again this season.

``I feel good today. Not 100 percent, but I feel much better, and I'm not going to miss a start,'' Hernandez said.

Mets 12, Padres 0

At New York, David Wright singled and doubled during a seven-run sixth inning, and the Mets roughed up All-Star Jake Peavy (8-4) to complete a three-game sweep.

Wright became the first Met this season to have two hits in an inning, and Kazuhisa Ishii (3-8) won at home for the first time since the Mets acquired him from Los Angeles during spring training.

Jose Reyes hit three singles, scored twice, drove in two runs and stole his 31st base. Doug Mientkiewicz homered and drove in two runs, and Ramon Castro hit a two-run homer for New York.

Dodgers 1, Phillies 0

At Philadelphia, Odalis Perez took a no-hitter into the sixth, and Jeff Kent drove in the run.

Left-hander Perez (5-5) allowed just three hits in seven innings, walked none and matched his season high with seven strikeouts.

Jon Lieber (9-9) gave up just five hits, struck out seven and walked one in eight innings, but lost only the second 1-0 game in Citizens Bank Park's two-year history.

Brewers 12, Cardinals 7

At St. Louis, Geoff Jenkins had three hits and three RBIs to extend his batting streak to a career-best 14 games, and Milwaukee capitalized on shoddy defense.

The Brewers' 14-hit effort featured RBI singles from starter Chris Capuano (11-6) and reliever Matt Wise.

Albert Pujols had three hits and an RBI for the Cardinals, although his run of homering in three straight games ended. Jason Marquis (9-7) gave up seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings.

Reds 9, Cubs 6

At Cincinnati, Roberto Novoa balked home the tying run in the eighth, and Austin Kearns followed with a decisive two-run single to rally the Reds.

Javier Valentin homered twice and Rich Aurilia hit a solo shot. They drove in three runs apiece and reliever Brian Shackelford (1-0) got for his first major league win as the Reds gained a split of the four-game series.

Greg Maddux lasted only five innings on a steamy afternoon, turning a 5-3 lead over to the bullpen. But Novoa (2-3) and three other Chicago relievers cost him the victory.

Pirates 8, Rockies 1

At Pittsburgh, rookie Zach Duke won his third consecutive start, and Jason Bay went 3-for-4 with a homer as the Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak.

Duke (3-0) allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked four in seven innings.

Colorado starter Jeff Francis (8-7) allowed eight hits and seven runs in the first 1 1-3 innings and lasted just five.