Nats thumped in return

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

As impressive as their recent resurgence has been, the Washington Nationals have known all along one dirty little secret: Most of these wins have come against lesser competition.

So while optimism was high when the Nationals returned to RFK Stadium last night for the start of a nine-game homestand, deep down manager Manny Acta's team knew it faced a far more difficult challenge in the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

These two West Coast powers are in a different class than Washington, a pair of postseason contenders capable of dominating the Nationals.

The Dodgers dismantled the Nationals 10-0 last night, outslugging, outpitching and outperforming the home team. After this reality check, Acta's bunch only can hope this wasn't a sign of things to come this week, though it certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.

"L.A.'s good. San Diego's good," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "They have quality arms they're going to run out there every day. So we're really going to have to stick with our game plan and battle, and we're going to have to beat some good pitchers. It'll be a good test, but I think we can do it."

They couldn't come close to doing it last night. While Washington (21-31) showed last week it could hold its own against the dregs of the NL -- St. Louis, Cincinnati -- it really can't match up with a team like Los Angeles (30-21).

The Dodgers' lineup has gone through some ups and downs this season, but when it's on, it's capable of causing some significant damage.

So it was that Los Angeles, buoyed by leadoff hitter Juan Pierre's career night (4-for-5 with three doubles and a triple), busted out against Nationals starter Jason Simontacchi, who gave up six runs and 11 hits in 61/3 innings.

"Against a team that's clicking like that and you leave the ball up [in the strike zone]? I mean, you're going to be turning some heads, and some guys are going to be running," Simontacchi said.

The right-hander's final line was a bit misleading because he made it through six innings having allowed just three runs. But things fell apart in a six-run seventh that broke the game wide open.