Washington Nationals Lose 3 Of 4 To Houston Astros, This One Hurt.

Texas Top 5: 

5. E: 143: With a league-leading 50 errors in 55 games, after the Washington Nationals get back-to-back three-error outings from their starting shortstops, Ian Desmond last night and Cristian Guzman today, the Nats, who were built this year with defense in mind, are slipping back into their old ways. Jeff Keppinger reaches on a throwing error by Guzman in the first this afternoon, and two singles later scores to get the Astros out to an early lead. In the fifth, Guzman's second error puts Lance Berkman on with two down, but he's stranded, so no harm, but Guzman's third error costs the Nationals the lead in the ninth. 

4. E: 50: Moved to right field in the eighth in a defensive switch, Guzman's out there in the ninth after the Nationals take 4-3 lead in the top of the frame, but Lance Berkman lines to right with two down and Guzman allows it to get under his glove, scoring Michael Bourn to tie it at 4-4 two sliders before El Caballo, Carlos Lee wins it for the Astros with a two-run blast to left off the Nationals' closer, Matt Capps, who's now blown 3 of his last 4 save opportunities... 

3. STOREN WARNING!: It took future Nats' closer Drew Storen five pitches to pop Jason Michaels up in the sixth, stranding runners on first and third after Nats' starter J.D. Martin had given up a one-out double and two-out single before he was lifted, having throw 5.2 IP in which he surrendered 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 ER, 1 walk and 2 HR's. Storen's back in the seventh, and he walks leadoff batter Michael Bourn and gives up a line drive single to Jeff Keppinger before retiring Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence without allowing a run to cross...Just making it interesting. It's part of the training...

2. Zimmer Walks: The Houston Astros' radio team threw this one out there after Ryan Zimmerman walked with one out in the seventh. The walk was Zimmerman's 28th in 47 games played, and the 9th in 4 games against the Astros this week. Houston wanted nothing to do with Ryan Zimmerman and his .311/.411/602. (1.014 OPS)...

1. ROAD TRIP...Finally Over - The Washington Nationals left for their 10-game swing through the western United States with 23-22 record, and they return home to the nation's capital 26-29, once again last in the NL East, having lost three of four to the Houston Astros, and five of the last six games on the trip. Up next it's three with the Cincinnati Reds, who are tied with the St. Louis Cardinals atop the NL Central, and three with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the first of three against Milledge and Friends featuring the MLB debut of the Nats' '09 no.1 overall pick...

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• Final Score: Astros 6, Nationals 4.

Nationals now 26-29.