By Chico Harlan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 14, 2008

SEATTLE, June 13 -- Depending on perspective, the difference between Jason Bergmann's best and worst can be measured by wide fluctuations -- he had a 1.30 ERA in May; he's had a 10.57 ERA in June -- or simply by centimeters.

After his latest start, when he allowed six runs (four earned) in 4 2/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, the Washington Nationals' right-hander analyzed the video. He compared it to footage from his outings in May, a month when Bergmann limited batters to a .190 average in four starts. In two starts since, both losses, they're hitting .474.

And the difference?

"So small. I could show you the camera angle with two pitches, barely a difference," said Bergmann, who then raised his right arm to demonstrate.

"This is a breaking ball, sharp, back foot, hard break." Then, he tilted his hand just to the right, a movement no greater than the tick of watch's second hand. "And this right here is a ball up and away with very little action. And it's so true. Game of inches? I think it's a game of centimeters."

Three rocky starts in April sent Bergmann to the minors. In four May starts after his recall, he pitched like an ace.

"When he's on, he's very good," Manager Manny Acta said. "And I'll be lying -- I don't think anybody can think he'll be as good as he was for those four games. Very few guys can dominate the way he has. We just want to find that happy medium type of guy, where the day he's not going to dominate, he's not going to blow up in our faces."

Catcher Paul Lo Duca will spend a few more days in the minor leagues before ending a rehab assignment and rejoining the Nationals.

A fracture in his right hand sent Lo Duca, batting .200, to the disabled list May 9. He began his rehab assignment almost a week ago, first with Class A Potomac, then with Class AAA Columbus. So far, he has gone 3 for 9.