2011, Week 4

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Game 20 - WAS 13, FLA 3 (13-7)
PJ Phillips led the offensive attack going 4 for 5 with a home run, double and 3 RBI's. Miguel Cabrera was 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBI's, Brian McCann added 3 hits and Sean Casey hit a 3 run homer to contribute as well. Gaby Hernandez got his first win of the season, doing enough to get by giving up 3 runs in 6 innings.

Game 21 - WAS 6, FLA 2 (14-7)
Jonathan Broxton got off to a shaky start giving up a couple runs in the 1st inning on 2 triples and 2 singles. He settled down in his first start of the season and didn't alPlow a run through the next 5, finishing the game with 13 strikeouts. The hitting attack was balanced and the runs came late in the 6th, 7th and 8th as Juan Cruz was credited with the win working 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Richie Wilhite recorded an out for his 4th save of the season. Grady Sizemore went 3 for 4 and Bill Hall had 2 hits, one a home run to lead the Nats attack.

Game 22 - WAS 3, FLA 0 (15-7)
April 27, 2011 has gone right up there with Barry Bonds' passing of Hank Aaron's HR record as the most historic games in the Washington Nationals' brief history. What more could Joe Nathan do this season? Coming into the game, Nathan was 4-0 with a 0.56 ERA, almost perfect. Today, 32,232 fans would witness Nathan being absolutely perfect. Nathan faced 27 hitters, not a one reaching base, to record the first perfect game in franchise history. Nathan was so good with his control, he did not even reach any 3 ball counts in the game. With Miguel Olivo stepping up to the plate in place of pitcher Greg Miller and representing the Marlins' last chance at a runner, Nathan needed just three pitches to strike him out and finish perfection. Nathan recorded 10 strikeouts to continue a dominant stretch to open up the 2011 season. The former starter-turned closer-turned starter again is now 5-0 with a minuscule 0.44 ERA. Grady Sizemore gave Nathan all he would need as he homered in the 1st inning, his 8th of the year. Brian McCann hit a 2 run home run in a pinch hit at bat for Bill Hall, who caught the first 7 innings of Nathan's milestone performance.

Game 23 - NYM 3, WAS 0 (15-8 )
The Nationals just could not muster much offense in this game as Thomas Diamond and JJ Putz combined on the shutout. Shawn Hill who recorded one of the 5 National hits on the day, pitched well but fell to 1-3 on the year as he gave up 3 runs on 6 hits in the complete game effort.

Game 24 - WAS 2, NYM 1 (16-8 )
Colton Willems delivered a big-time performance in front of a sellout Shea Stadium crowd to give the Nationals just what they needed against their NL East rivals. Willems allowed just an Albert Pujols solo home run for the only Mets scoring. He gave up 6 hits in 8 innings, striking out 4 while walking none before handing the ball to Richie Wilhite who completed his 5th save of the season. Bill Hall had two doubles and an RBI and Grady Sizemore reached base all four times, doubling once and walking three times.

Game 25 - NYM 4, WAS 2 (16-9)
Chien-Ming Wang shut the Nats out for 8 innings before they could cross the plate in the 9th against reliever Ramon Ramirez. Gaby Hernandez continued his early season struggles as he yielded 4 runs through 6 innings to fall to 1-3 on the season. Sean Casey was 2 for 3 with a double for the Nationals offensively.

The M's hosted the Yankees and the Angels this week taking 2 out of 3 games in both series.

Offensive stars of the week included red hot Jose Lopez: 14-28,3 2B,1 3B,2 HR,8R,8RBI(.500,.533,1.107), Chris Snelling: 7-15,1 2B,1 HR(.466,.556,.733), Nomar Garciaparra:10-25,4 2B,2 HR,5R,6RBI(.400,0444,.800), and Magglio Ordonez: 9-22,2 2B,1HR,3R,3RBI(.409,.409,.636).

Pitching highlights include Matt Cain's 5.1 innings 3 run, only 2 earned, no decision to start the week and his 7 inning 1 run 5H 3K win to end the week. Jake woods first start of the season was a no Decision where he pitched 5 shutout innings only giving up 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 2. The star reliever of the week was Logan Kensing, he appeared in 2 games pitching 5.2 innings without giving up a run and striking out 7.