For the first time in nearly a month, the Nationals have won back-to-back games and taken a series from their opponent. With a 5-2 victory over the Mariners, they've now won on consecutive days for the first time since May 18 (at Baltimore) and May 19 (vs. Philadelphia) and earned their first series victory since taking three of four at Shea Stadium the week before that.

The credit for this latest win should go both to Tyler Clippard (who allowed two runs over six strong innings) and Jesus Flores, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and smashed a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Miguel Batista in the seventh inning.

Flores is now hitting .327 with four homers and 23 RBI in 32 games. His .584 slugging percentage and .400 on-base percentage lead the club, and there's no doubt anymore that he'll remain Washington's starting catcher even after Paul Lo Duca returns from the DL on Tuesday.

"There's still about four months to go and a lot of at-bats left," manager Manny Acta said. "But the way he's playing right now, there's no way we're going to be able to not play the kid and not be able to feel like he's part of our lineup right now."

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