Soriano speeds toward 40-40 club

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ATLANTA -- Alfonso Soriano has more than a month left to try to join the exclusive 40-40 club, but it doesn't look like he'll need all of it.

With a pair of stolen bases in yesterday's 13-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Nationals left fielder moved closer to the power-speed milestone. He already has 41 home runs. He now has 34 steals to go along with them.

Soriano might be rubbing a few people the wrong way with his over-aggressive baserunning -- he took off for third yesterday with two outs in the fourth inning and Washington trailing by four runs, and he also was picked off first earlier in the game -- but he said he's just trying to help spark his team.

If Soriano steals six more bases, he'll become only the fourth player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in one season, joining Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996) and Alex Rodriguez (1998). And if he makes a real push down the stretch, he might actually become the charter member of the 50-50 club.

"If I got off to a better start, maybe, but now it's too tough," he said. "There's one month left, and I know I cannot get 16 stolen bases in one month. If I get it, I'm going to be surprised."

Soriano also tied a franchise record yesterday with three doubles, though he wasn't gloating much about the accomplishment after another Nationals loss.

"It's very tough, because I like to win and I like to play hard every day," he said. "When I lose, it's like whatever I did on the field means nothing because we lost the game."

Who starts Saturday?

The Nationals haven't settled on a starter for Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the first time they'll need to expand their rotation to five members since last week.

Jason Bergmann, who was moved to the bullpen because of off days, will be available to start Saturday if needed. The club also is considering Mike O'Connor, who is on a rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA New Orleans. The left-hander has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 30 with a strained elbow tendon.

O'Connor figures to be one of five or so minor leaguers the Nationals call up once rosters expand to 40 players on Friday. General manager Jim Bowden didn't want to reveal specific plans yesterday, but it's believed the Nationals will promote players in stages, with several not joining the big-league club until the minor-league season ends Sept. 5.

Extra bases

Nick Johnson was held out of yesterday's game, but the first baseman said he's feeling much better after suffering whiplash from his collision with Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur on Saturday. Johnson had a tough time sleeping Saturday night because of some headaches, but he said he felt much better yesterday and is hopeful he can return to the lineup tomorrow. ...

Shortstop Felipe Lopez also sat out the game with a leg injury that has been bothering him for some time. It's not considered serious, but manager Frank Robinson wanted to give him a chance to rest for a couple of days. Also, Lopez will be switching his uniform number from 7 to 2, the same number he wore in Cincinnati that was held by Damian Jackson until the veteran infielder was released this week. ...

Reliever Micah Bowie, on the DL since Aug. 10 with a strained upper back, hopes to throw off a mound tomorrow for the first time since the injury as he attempts to return to the Washington bullpen before the end of the season.