Power display charges emotions

PITTSBURGH | It was possibly the most emotional win the Washington Nationals had experienced in some time, a dramatic, back-and-forth, 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night that was sorely needed by a ballclub on the brink of collapse.

But could it actually have been too emotional?

The story of this Nationals victory should have been entirely about the power display put on by the majors’ least-productive offensive club: five home runs in a span of five innings, including the game-winner by Lastings Milledge with two outs in the ninth. With that blast off Pirates closer Matt Capps at PNC Park, Washington earned its second win in 10 games.

“We had some big-time performances today,” Milledge said. “We just had some guys step up today. It seemed like everybody wanted to be that leader, that guy that everybody kind of jumps on and rides.”

But the aftermath of Milledge’s homer, which featured manager Manny Acta chastising outfielder Elijah Dukes (who had begun the rally with a double off the right-center wall) for displaying too much emotion, put at least a slight damper on the evening’s proceedings.

As Dukes and Milledge crossed the plate, Dukes looked back at Capps (who blew his first save in 16 tries this season) in a move that could have been perceived as taunting the opposing pitcher.

When Dukes returned to the dugout, Acta had words for him. Dukes yelled back at his manager, prompting Acta to yell back himself and players to get between the two.

Dukes later took his position in right field for the bottom of the ninth with a menacing glare in his eyes, forcing Milledge at one point to come over and try to calm him down.

As the Nationals gathered in the middle of the diamond to congratulate each other at the conclusion of the game, Dukes did not offer his hand to Acta, who only smirked.

Dukes was not made available in the Nationals’ clubhouse after the game. Several players bristled when asked about the incident.

“It was just a little misunderstanding in the dugout that I’m not going to elaborate on,” Acta said. “We talked, and everything is fine.”

The Acta-Dukes situation couldn’t overshadow an otherwise remarkable ballgame for Washington, which entered with the majors’ lowest slugging percentage (.348) yet slammed five home runs off the Pirates’ pitching staff.

Second baseman Ronnie Belliard, in his first game back from the disabled list, clubbed two solo shots himself off Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm, the highlights of a 3-for-4, three RBI night.

Dmitri Young and Jesus Flores also homered off Maholm during a seventh inning rally that saw the Nationals come back to tie the game 4-4.

“That was good to see,” Acta said. “We’ve been lacking the power pretty much the whole season. To see them come in bunches today, that’s a good sign.”

Story Continues →