Game Thread: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros- 2008 Game 35 of 162.

On the Hill...

The Washington Nationals have dropped two straight on the road in Houston, Texas, and tonight they look to salvage the trip by taking at least one at Minute Maid Park, before heading back home to Nationals Park to face Florida in DC on Friday night. The pitching matchup tonight...

John Lannan (2-3, 3.74 ERA) vs Brandon Backe (2-3, 4.42 ERA)

Washington's left-handed starter John "Cool Hand" Lannan had a rough outing last time on the mound at home against Pittsburgh, lasting only 3.0 innings and giving up 6 hits, 4  ER, 1 HR and 2 walks...but of course that outing followed two shutout starts of 7.0 innings a piece against Atlanta and Chicago...Lannan's (1-0) in 1 start against the Astros going 5 innings and allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 HR and 5 walks, in a 7-6 win last August here in Minute Maid Park...

Brandon Backe is (2-0) in 3 starts at home in Minute Maid Park this season, and in his career, Backe's (16-5) in home starts, (8-13) on the road, with nearly two runs a game difference in his ERA (3.59 home - 5.58 away). Backe's last trip to the rubber strip was May 3rd in Houston against Milwaukee, a start Backe won with 5.2 innings of 5-hit, 2-run ball, that were rewarded by 5 Astros' runs to give Houston the lead in the bottom of the fifth, earning Backe the win. In 7-year MLB career, the right-handed Backe is (1-1) in 2 starts against DC, with a 3.75 ERA in 12.0 innings. 

Nationals' #'s Against Brandon Backe...

Wily Mo Pena - 0 for 4

Austin Kearns - 0 for 6

Ryan Zimmerman - 0 for 2, 2 K's

Felipe Lopez - 3 for 8, .375 AVG, 4 walks

Nick Johnson - 3 for 7, .429 AVG, 1 2B

Cristian Guzman - 0 for 3

Aaron Boone - 1 for 2, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's

Lo Duca Update...

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, "Lo Duca reaggravates right hand injury", Nationals' catcher Paul Lo Duca is heading for an MRI tomorrow after reinjuring his right hand, which landed him on the DL in mid-April, and now threatens to cost Lo Duca another extended stay on the bench. As the catcher explains it to Mr. Ladson:

"'...It's been tolerable, sore the last couple of days. Tonight it didn't feel right. I thought to myself, 'Keep both hands on the bat,' and I couldn't do it.'"

Do the Nationals now stick with Johnny Estrada and Wil Nieves if Lo Duca is out for an extended period of time? Or do they call down to Columbus and get Jesus Flores headed East? 

And the Other Change in the Lineup...

Meaning Chico to the pen, O'Connor a starter...it's still on, in spite of what it looked like last night with O'Connor's relief appearance, the lefty is still scheduled to start Saturday night against the Marlins. 

(ed. note - "Game time tonight is 8:05 pm EST live from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Lannan vs Backe...Would that excite anyone who is not a DC or 'Stros fan? I want to see how Lannan recovers, and if Zimmerman can hit two more...?")