Last Night's DC Debuts...

Emilio Bonifacio - 1 for 4, .188 ('08) AVG. 1 R, 1 RBI.

Alberto Gonzalez - 1 for 2, .185 ('08) AVG. 1 R, 2 BB. 

- The New Nationals infield also combined for a slick late game DP that got DC starer Odalis Perez through the seventh inning, turning a grounder from Andy Phillips into an easy 6-4-3 inning-ender. 

But It Was Odalis Perez In Control Last Night...

- Lasting 1 out longer than he had so far this season, Odalis Perez held the Reds at bay, throwing 7.1 IP, and allowing just 3 hits, 1 run and 3 walks with 5 K's while earning just his second win in his last 8 starts. Saul "Sa-ool" Rivera came on to get the last two outs of the eighth and then "Wild" Joel Hanrahan continued a DC closer tradition of "making it interesting" by surrendering a solo HR to Big Jay Bruce and a one-out walk to Adam Dunn before two line outs to second were handled by Bonifacio...

Tonight's Starters....

On The Hill...

The visiting Cincinnati Reds throw right-hander Josh Fogg tonight in DC. In 9 starts against Washington/Montreal in the 31-year-old Fogg's 8-year career, he's put up a (1-3) record and 2.98 ERA over 54.1 innings pitched opposite the Nationals, to whom he's allowed 54 hits, 18 ER, 4 HR's and 22 walks with 22 K's, a 1.40 WHIP and .266 BAA. 

Last time out against Washington, Fogg threw 6.0 innings of 6-hit, 1-run ball in a game the Reds ended up winning 3-2 on an RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth. 8 of Fogg's 15 '08 appearances have been starts, though he's received decisions in only 5 of the 15 outings, combining for a (2-3) record and a 7.84 ERA over 49.1 combined innings pitched as a starter and reliever for Cincinnati. 

Fogg's struggled through a rough July, (after a brutal June), giving up 23 hits in 21.1 innings pitched in 4 July starts and allowing 12 runs, 4 HR's and 7 walks with 12 K's collected, and Fogg's just 1-1 in the last month, though the Reds are 3-1 over his last four starting appearances...On the road in '08 - Fogg's (1-1) in 3 starts and 8 appearances, with a high 8.06 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched...

Washington counters with DC righty and Neptune...(New Jersey) native Jason Bergmann, who brings a (1-8) record and a 4.13 ERA to the mound in DC, where he's (0-2) in 7 starts and 8 appearances this season. Over his 4-year MLB career with the Nationals, Bergmann's faced the Reds 3 times, once as a starter, with an (0-1) record in 8.0 innings pitched, giving up 9 hits, 3 ER, 1 HR and 4 walks with 5 K's and a 3.38 ERA against the Ohio-based Redlegs...

Bergmann faced the Reds in Great American Ball Park back on the 4th of July, allowing 6 hits, 2 ER and 1 HR with 3 walks, 5 K's and a 3.00 ERA in the holiday start, in which Washington was shutout 3-0 by Cincinnati. 

And though I'm loathe to remind everyone of Bergmann's "streak" I will...In 13 starts since his last win on May 15th in NY, Jason Bergmann is (0-7) and the Nationals just 1-12 since Bergmann last placed a second "W" in front of his '08 loss total...

Nationals' #'s Against Josh Fogg...

Ronnie Belliard - 3 for 6, .500 AVG. 

Elijah Dukes - 1 for 3, .333 AVG, 1 2B. 

Ryan Zimmerman - 3 for 8, .375 AVG, 2 2B, 1 RBI.

The "If They Were Playing" List...

Nick Johnson - 4 for 9, .444 AVG, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 5 BB.

Aaron Boone - 5 for 10, .500 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.

Wily Mo Pena - 2 for 3, .667 AVG, 2 2B, 1 RBI.

The "If They Were Still Nationals" List...

Paul Lo Duca (hehe) - 8 for 19, .421 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI. 

"Oft-Injured" Alex Gonzalez - 7 for 20, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.

(ed. note - More Game Thread info to follow this afternoon...)

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...