Long, long first inning-and-a-half here at Nationals Park, where the Nats actually took an early lead on the Cubs, 1-0. Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano needed an absurd 40 pitches to get through the bottom of the first. But it could have been worse. The Nats had a runner thrown out stealing third base. And they left the bases loaded, too.
Third base coach Pat Listach played it conservative on an error by Cubs’ shortstop Ryan Theriot. An easy grounder with two outs was booted into shallow center – but Listach held up runner Nick Johnson. Looked like a pretty easy run from six stories up in the press box. But that’s why the coaches make the big bucks. A run scored anyway when Willie Harris drew a bases-loaded walk. But a diving stop by Cubs second baseman Mike Fontenot kept the Nats’ lead at 1-0.
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Unfortunately for Washington, Zambrano helped his own cause with a two-run double in the top of the second off Nats starter Craig Stammen to put Chicago on top, 2-1.
In pregame news, shortstop Cristian Guzman was a late scratch thanks to a sore foot that bothers him from time to time. The red-hot Alberto Gonzalez took his place. He has already had a busy first two innings with an error followed by two fine defensive plays that each saved a run.
