When the Nationals traded veteran catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church to the New York Mets last winter the move was an obvious short-term loss.
Schneider was a top defensive catcher and vocal presence in the clubhouse. Church showed flashes of becoming an above-average starter if he could finally stay healthy.
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Despite the results of Thursday’s 7-2 loss to the Mets at Nationals Park, where Schneider hit two home runs and Church delivered a pair of RBI singles, the Nats certainly don’t want a do-over on the trade.
But with at least 18 games scheduled against New York every season, the front office knew there would be nights like this one. If the trade for 23-year-old outfielder Lastings Milledge is a winner for Washington, general manager Jim Bowden said recently, it will be two or three years down the road. Not in 2008.
“It was good for them. We got behind in the count on Schneider and he hit a home run on 2-0 and then first-pitch fastball he hit a home run,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “We wish them well. But Lastings Milledge won the game the other night for us. So it’s a good trade. I wish those guys the best. But I’m happy with the guys I have.”
Schneider and Church’s offensive support was more than enough for Mets ace Johan Santana (14-7, 2.65 ERA), who allowed just one run in seven innings. Schneider also threw out a runner at second base. Milledge was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and his first-inning error in centerfield allowed an unearned run to score.
After a leadoff double by Jose Reyes, Milledge started to charge a line drive by Daniel Murphy, hesitated, and then allowed the ball to skip past him all the way to the wall in deep center. Reyes scored easily and Murphy went to third on the two-base error. That run put the Nats in an early hole from which they never recovered. New York scored at least once in each of the first five innings and led 7-0 into the seventh.
“Couldn’t stop it. I was going to dive, but didn’t,” said Milledge, who has endured poor stretches throughout the season judging balls hit directly at him. “That’s it. I thought I had a shot, but didn’t and then tried to let up and it kind of ate me up.”
Acta has consistently said that Milledge will be given time to learn the position, where he is playing full-time for the first time in his career. Milledge played 52 games in right field over the previous two years with the Mets, 37 in left and just 14 in center. He has now started 128 games in center for the Nats this season.
“It’s not [disappointing]. It happens to every centerfielder in the game,” Acta said. “We are very happy with all the progress [Milledge] has made throughout the year. No one said here early – or right now – that he is Carlos Beltran or Andruw Jones. But we are very happy with the progress he has made.”
After solid outings from left-handers John Lannan and Odalis Perez to begin the four-game series, Washington’s starting pitching has struggled the last two days. Shairon Martis allowed six runs in three innings on Wednesday. Tim Redding fared no better Thursday and was also dispatched after three innings.
The Mets scored five runs, four earned, on seven hits and a walk against Redding (10-10, 4.67 ERA). Jason Bergmann allowed two runs in two innings of relief, including Schneider’s second homer, and Steven Shell tacked on two scoreless innings of relief.
With the win, the Mets (85-67) earned a split in the series and remained 1/2 game behind first-place Philadelphia (86-67) in the National League East. The Phillies held on for a 4-3 win at Atlanta. But New York added to its lead in the wild-card standings – now 1 ½ games – after Milwaukee (84-69) lost at the Chicago Cubs, 7-6.
“You go up 2-0 in a four-game series against a rival, regardless of whether we’re in a playoff race or not, you’re not satisfied with a [series] split,” said Redding, who is still looking to reach his career-high 11th win. “We [had] to come away with one of these last two games.”
Nats notes
» Seeking a new Triple-A affiliate, Nationals owner Mark Lerner, team president Stan Kasten and general manager Jim Bowden were in Syracuse on Thursday to make their pitch to officials from the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League.
The Nats’ AAA affiliate the past two seasons has been the Columbus Clippers. But that organization officially signed a player-development contract with the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.
All minor-league affiliate agreements must last at least two years. Teams could not begin official negotiations with their minor-league counterparts until Thursday. Multiple reports have the New York Mets agreeing to terms with the Buffalo Bisons as soon as Monday. That leaves Syracuse, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Albuquerque as the lone remaining AAA cities available. Syracuse recently ended a 31-year relationship with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers are also seeking new AAA affiliates
