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Close Calls and a Bunted Ball: Nats Lose Another
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With Milledge on second base and no outs, the Nationals had perhaps the one player they would want up most in that situation: Flores, who was already 2 for 2 against Mets ace Johan Santana.
Unprompted, Flores tried to bunt Milledge to third -- a play that could either be interpreted as selfless or foolish, considering Flores leads the Nationals in RBI with 52.
"I was trying to move the runner," Flores said. "I don't know why I did it. It wasn't a decision for myself."
"That's part of the growing pains you go with when you deal with 23-year-olds," Acta said. "I don't think we'd be bunting in that situation."
The bunt was a sharp grounder back to Santana, Milledge was forced to remain at second base and momentum sputtered.
Santana pitched seven innings, allowed eight hits and three earned runs while striking out six batters. His third earned run came on a pinch-hit home run by Ryan Langerhans in the seventh inning. It was Langerhans's first home run since Sept. 24, 2007 -- also in a game against the Mets.
The loss spoiled a respectable pitching outing by Odalis Pérez, who rebounded from a difficult two-run first inning and finished with three earned runs allowed in six innings with five strikeouts.
"If I didn't allow those two runs in the first inning, I think we have a pretty good shot to win the game," Perez said.
The Nationals had an appealing opportunity slip from their grasp last night. Whether it was a bunt that was just a bit too hard or a pitch that was just a bit too high and inside, the margin was just enough to cause a one-run loss. And it was a revealing case study why, despite playing a respectable game, the Nationals still lost their fifth straight game and slipped to 44-76 for the season.
"It's very tough," Rivera said. "We'll be back. We're trying to win the series."
