The way Matt Chico spoke about his performance yesterday, the uninformed might have thought the Washington Nationals left-hander had tossed a gem, instead of allowing five runs in 41/3 innings.
“I know the line doesn’t look all that great,” Chico said. “But I’m taking a lot of positives out of this one that I haven’t from the last three or four.”
Coming off three straight poor outings in which he posted a combined 11.08 ERA, Chico was perhaps a little more effective yesterday in the Nationals’ 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, the 24-year-old’s manager would have preferred he did a better job holding the four-run lead his teammates provided after two innings.
Chico instead allowed a solo homer to Jose Bautista in the fourth and then surrendered four straight hits in the fifth before Acta pulled him.
“When you do have a lead, you should challenge guys more instead of going out there and walking guys and putting guys on bases,” manager Manny Acta said. “You should feel more relaxed. We’re not scoring that many runs. And a day like today when they give you five runs, you should be just eager to get on the mound, throw strikes and challenge guys.”
Chico (0-5, 6.87) was happy he avoided the temptation to press as he had in other previous starts, even if the results weren’t great.
“That was my biggest thing I wanted to not do, and I think I accomplished that,” he said. “I didn’t try to overthrow or anything. I just went out there and relaxed and tried to keep us in the game.”
Johnson rests
Nick Johnson got a rare day off, with the Pirates starting their third straight left-hander and Acta wanting to give Aaron Boone some at-bats.
Johnson also is in a bit of a funk at the plate, going hitless in his last nine at-bats to drop his batting average to a season-low .207.
“Just the normal struggle,” Acta said. “He has seen a lot of lefties. But he’ll be fine. He’s getting a little long [with his swing] at times with balls down in the zone, but he’s working on it.”
With Johnson out of the lineup, Lastings Milledge batted cleanup for the first time in his career.
Progress for Paul
Catcher Paul Lo Duca made his first start yesterday since returning from a bruised right hand and looked comfortable at the plate.
Lo Duca, who recorded a pinch-hit single Friday night after coming off the 15-day disabled list, singled again in his first at-bat yesterday. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
“I feel good,” he said. “I feel good at the plate. I’m ready to start playing every day, and I’m ready to go from there.”
Extra bases
Ryan Zimmerman played in his 370th game yesterday, becoming the Nationals’ career leader in games played. Zimmerman, who debuted in September 2005, passed Brian Schneider, who played in 369 games with Washington from 2005 to 2007. …
After homering twice Friday night, Bautista had three more hits yesterday, including a homer into the Red Porch seats in deep left-center field. Despite his .235 average, Bautista has earned Acta’s respect.
Acta managed him at Licey of the Dominican Winter League.
“I’ve seen him do that before and more,” Acta said.
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