A curveball off the outside corner from Houston starter Roy Oswalt gets Washington's leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez looking for the first out of tonight's game. Cristian Guzman punches a single through short for a one-out hit. Ryan Zimmer...THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Fastball high and away and Zimmerman pushes it out to right for a two-run blast and a 2-0 Nationals' lead after a half. Lance Berkman, who went 5 for 5 last night, comes up against Odalis Perez in the bottom of the first with one on and two out...Berkman's now 6 for 6 this series, as he singles through short with Kaz Matsui running all the way to third. "El Caballo" Carlos Lee goes down swinging. Odalis is through the first. 

Oswalt drops a two-strike curve onto the outside edge to get Austin Kearns looking. Paul Lo Duca strikes out for the first time this season, and he does so staring. Wily Mo Pena swings through a fastball....Ryan Zimmerman backhands Hunter Pence's sharp grounder and throws to first in time. Odalis Perez issues a one-out walk to Ty WIggington. Brad Ausmus grounds into what should be a DP, but Guzman loses it on the transfer and can't make a throw. Odalis Perez gets the opposing pitcher to end the second. 2-0 DC.

Oswalt strikes out Odalis for his 7th K. Felipe Lopez splits the gap in right center and comes in standing at second as the ball's thrown back in. Cristian Guzman flies out to center, Lopez tags and advances. Zimmerman chases the outside curve, Oswalt has 8 K's after three. Odalis Perez gets Bourn, Matsui and Tejada in order for his third scoreless. 

The Discerning Eye of Nick Johnson takes a 3-2 curve for ball four and a leadoff walk. Lastings Milledge tries to bunt his way on, but settles for a sac bunt. Austin Kearns grounds out...Berkman goes 8 for 8 with a loooong home run over the left field wall and onto the train tracks. 2-1 Nationals. Ryan Zimmerman knocks down a screaming liner from Hunter Pence, but can't make a play. Odalis Perez hits Ty Wiggington on the toe. Hunter Pence steals third without so much as a glance from Paul Lo Duca. Wigginton steals second. Odalis Perez gets a friendly call from the Ump to get Brad Ausmus looking. Roy Oswalt singles up the middle on a high hanging curve, two runs score. 3-2 Astros. Nick Johnson snags Michael Bourn's hotshot, but Odalis Perez doesn't cover. Matsui flies out to end the fourth. 3-2 Houston. 

Oswalt retires the Nationals in order in the fifth. Odalis Perez gets a fly ball from Tejada...and POPS UP Berkman!! (8 for 9 ain't so special.) Carlos Lee grounds to short. 3-2 Houston after five. Guzman tops off a groundout to second. Roy Oswalt FINALLY hangs a curve, and Ryan Zimmer...THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman destroys Oswalt's curve, or at least enough to get it out to left. 3-3 ballgame. 

Mike O'Connor takes over for Odalis Perez. O'Connor issues a leadoff walk to Hunter Pence. Ty Wiggington rips one through short for a single. Brad Ausmus pops up a bunt, but it does the job. Roy Oswalt almost gets down the squeeze, but it rolls foul, and Oswalt ends up lining into O'Connor's glove. Bourn grounds to third, Zimmerman fields and throws. 3-3 after six. 

Oswalt pops up Kearns. Lo Duca suffers a hand or shoulder injury and is replaced by Wil Nieves who inherits two strikes, and provides one himself, flailing at an Oswalt curve. Wily Mo Pena doubles off the wall in left. Oswalt walks pinch hitter Aaron Boone. Felipe Lopez rips one to center...Michael Bourn comes up throwing, Wily Mo Pena's coming home, the throw...beats him, Ausmus tags, "YOOU'RRRE OUT!!" yells the Ump. 

"Wild" Joe Hanrahan takes the hill in the home half of the seventh, and walks Kaz Matsui. Matsui steals second. Miguel Tejada does his job, grounding out to the right side of the infield. Lance Berkman gets the intentionals...to bring up El Caballo, Carlos Lee, who gets down 0-2 and chases a slider, Hanrahan gets the K for the second out. Hunter Pence flies to center, Milledge closes his glove on the seventh. 3-3. 

Doug Brocail gives up a line drive single to Ryan Zimmerman with one out in the eigth. Nick Johnson chases a high fastball for a swinging strike three. Lastings Milledge grounds out to short. 3-3 middle of eight. Hanrahan's back, and he gets ground ball outs from Ty Wiggington and pinch hitter Darrin Erstad, and gets Michael Bourn swinging to end the eigth. 

Houston closer Jose Valverde comes on to keep it tied and retires Kearns, Nieves and Pena in order. Matsui, Tejada and Berkman due up...against Hanrahan again? Leadoff walk to Matsui. Matsui steals second, beating Nieves' throw. Miguel Tejada loses sight of a sinker that falls out of the sky...Berkman gets the intentionals...Jesus "Everyday" Colome comes on to face Carlos Lee. Colome throws a two-strike pitch in the dirt...Matsui takes third...Carlos Lee flies to center...Deep enough...4-3 Astros win.

Nationals now 14-20.