• If, after stealing second base in the first inning of today's series finale in Wrigley against the Cubs, Nyjer Morgan had just stayed there, he most certainly would have scored when Cristian Guzman doubled to right in the next AB, or if he'd been bunted over to third by Guzman, Morgan might have scored the easy way when Ryan Zimmerman launched his 27th HR of the season off Chicago right-hander Randy Wells in the three-spot. Morgan didn't stay at second though, the Nationals' prolific base stealer stole third, and he did score on Cristian Guzman's double for an early 1-0 DC lead, but when he crossed the plate and headed to the dugout he didn't return, because he'd apparently broken his hand sliding headfirst into third. You know how hard Morgan slides, we've all seen him slide right by second when stealing a bag, and he did the same heading into third today, almost diving in on a close play, and it looks like he rolled his left wrist. Morgan reacted immediately, grimacing as he popped up to his feet. The reports came shortly after the game ended, Nyjer Morgan out for the year.
• J.D. Martin had a 3-0 lead to work with before he even took the mound after Cristian Guzman's RBI single and Ryan Zimmerman's two-run HR in the top of the first, and Martin himself scored in the second after grounding into a force at second, going first to third on Willie Harris' single and crossing on another RBI groundout by Guzman. Once he'd completed his second scoreless frame, Adam Dunn hit #34 of 2009 off the Cubs' starter Randy Wells for a 5-0 Nationals' lead, but the Cubs struck back immediately, with Aramis Ramirez hitting a two-run HR in the bottom of the third to make it 5-2. Martin threw a scoreless fourth, but surrendered a solo shot to Derrek Lee in the fifth and Aramis Ramirez added an RBI single in the seventh off Tyler Clippard to make it 5-4. Clippard was replaced on the mound by left Sean Burnett, who entered the game with runners on first and third, and two down, and threw a pitch by DC backstop Josh Bard, but Bard recovered tossed to Burnett just as the runner from third D. Lee reached home, and though Burnett tagged Lee with the glove while the ball was in his other hand, he got the call. Burnett stayed on for the first out of the eighth, but after that it was Mike MacDougal with the 5-inning close of the 5-4 Nationals' win!!!!
NEXT!! - Friday night...8:15 pm EST from Busch Stadium. Lannan vs Smoltz.