Dunn hit seven homers the first 11 days of August. That called for a miserable 8-for-65 slump that had Dunn and hitting coach Rick Eckstein watching video this afternoon to figure out what was wrong. They found the key – though Dunn wasn’t exactly sharing his adjustments with reporters after the game. He wouldn’t even admit that the slump was over. But he did feel things about to turn his way, even telling manager Jim Riggleman before the game that he was going to have a big day.

“[Dunn] and Rick Eckstein found a little something. They were talking about it in the video room and they pointed it out,” Riggleman said. “Both of them have a very trained eye for details. Found a little something they thought might have something to do with it, took it into batting practice.”

A two-run double and a three-run homer later and all was right with the world. In reality, Dunn believes he’d taken some good swings in recent days. Things finally broke right for him on Saturday night. And while Riggleman dropped him to No. 5 in the lineup – a spot Dunn hadn’t occupied since 2008 when he still played for the Cincinnati Reds – both men hinted that move had a mental benefit, at best.

“I could care less where I hit,” Dunn said. “I’ll hit anywhere from leadoff to ninth if they want.”

Guaranteed that’s not true – at least the batting ninth part. But dropping one spot really has no affect on a batter – other than a small chance he gets one less at-bat per game.

“Once you get in the batter’s box it’s all 60 feet, six inches. It really shouldn’t have too much affect on a player,” Riggleman admitted. “But just trying to give some guys a different feel when they took the plate, a different situation than maybe they’re normally in.”

Riggleman also batted Nyjer Morgan eighth – he didn’t want to comment on that move – and Adam Kennedy led off. Kennedy had two base hits, an RBI and scored twice. Roger Bernadina was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the six-run eighth inning. He also scored two runs. Ryan Zimmermann had two hits and an RBI. Morse was 4-for-4 with two doubles. Ivan Rodriguez had two hits and two RBI, too. Willie Harris even posted a pinch-hit double to score two runs and break the game open in the eighth. Only Ian Desmond failed to reach base among the starters – and his controversial third-inning out after appearing to reach on a throwing error led directly to the ejection of first-base coach Dan Radison and pitcher Scott Olsen.

That was more than enough offense for starting pitcher Livan Hernandez, who lasted 6 1/3 innings for Washington. He did allow five runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. But he also shook off a three-run first inning, retiring 10 of the next 11 St. Louis batters. The Cardinals got to him again in the fifth inning and it certainly wasn’t Hernandez’s best start of the season. But again – a win is a win. He improved his record to 9-9 with a 3.49 ERA. After those three early runs, Hernandez was able to keep his sinker down in the zone and pitched inside effectively. As he said – when that sinker is up he’s going to get hit hard almost every time. It hasn’t happened often in 2010.

“I’m the kind of guy, I give up two or three runs it’s not affect me too much,” Hernandez said. “I came back in the second inning and try to be relaxed. I know the pitch I throw to [Jon] Jay [for a two-run double] is a mistake and he hit it good. But I also knew I had good stuff today. I kept fighting and fighting and I got lucky and got the win.”

Nats Notes

» Saturday’s win was Washington’s 100that Nationals Park since it opened in 2008.

» With a pair of doubles, Morse has four extra-base hits in his last eight at-bats.

» Harris has a two-run double and a two-run homer in his last two pinch-hit appearances.

» St. Louis has lost four of its last five games.  

» Attendance at Nationals Park was 30,688.

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