Nats Fall to Mets 6-3, Nats Farm Report

SP John Lannan (3-4) received some growing pains last night, getting pounded for 12 hits and 4 runs over 6 innings to take the loss as the Nationals fell to the Mets 6-3. After going on a mini-tear, the Nats have now lost 6 of their last 8. Luis Ayala continued to struggle in his slump out of the bullpen, yielding 2 runs in 1 inning of work, giving up 2 hits and a walk. Ayala now has an inflated 5.86 ERA out of the pen.
Offensively, the Nationals fell as flat as their bullpen has been lately, managing just 4 hits. Ryan Zimmerman provided the only real offense, going 1 for 4 and hitting his 6th homer of the year, as he continues to lift himself out of his slump. Zimmerman has a three game hitting streak. Elijah Dukes got his first hit of the season after coming back from an Opening Day injury. He doubled and scored a run.
Player of the Game: Ryan Zimmerman, 1-4, HR (6), 2 RBIs
On the Farm:
Colin Balestar led the Columbus Clippers (AAA) to a 7-5 win last night. Balestar pitched 6.1 innings, yielded 4 runs and struck out 2. He is now 4-2 with an ERA of 3.79. Balestar is considered to be the next pitching prospect behind Lannan that is near major league ready and appears to be set, if he continues pitching well, to see the Nationals roster sometime in 2008. Tim Murphy, Peter Orr, and Larry Broadway each had 2 hits and OF Ryan Langerhans doubled in two runs.
Keep an eye on … P Bobby Brownlie. Brownlie led the Clippers to a Monday night win after being promoted from Harrisburg. Brownlie pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and striking out 7 to earn his first AAA win. Brownlie also went 2 for 2 at the plate and drive in a run. Between Columbus and Harrisburg, Brownlie is an impressive 5-0 with an ERA of 2.28.
Harrisburg (AA) fell to Reading 3-2. OF Justin Maxwell is heating up going 2 for 5 and hitting his 6th homer, driving in 2 runs. Maxwell is 7 for 18 in his last five games. Maxwell also extended his hitting streak to 6 games. He has hit 3 homers during that 6 game stretch. Tristan Crawford pitched a nice game, going 6 innings and yielding 2 runs on 6 strikeouts. But he got no decision because of an absent Senators offense. Zechery Zincola (1-1) took the loss.
Also … Jordon Zimmerman even his AA record at 1-1 on Monday night, ptiching 6.2 innings, giving up 3 runs and striking out 8 to earn the win. Between Harrisburg and Potomac, Zimmerman is 4-2 with an ERA of 2.04.
Potomac (A) lost 1-0. Chris Marrero was the only Nationals offense going 2 for 4. He is hitting .219. Bad luck for Potomac pitcher Terrence Engles who pitched a nice game of 1 run ball through 4.1 innings and recording 7 whiffs. But that one run brought Engles the loss. He is 0-3.
Hagerstown (Low A) walked away with a 6-5 win last night over Lexington. Daniel Lyons was 2 for 5 and Tim Pahuta went 3 for 5 including homer number 4. Aaron Suess was 2 for 3 and drive in 2 runs.
To check out the MINOR LEAGUE Leaders for the Nationals, we have just UPDATED out Table on our Nationals Page.  (Disclaimer:  Yeah, we know, the schedule is not updated, we’re getting there!)
Vermont Lake Monsters (Short Season A) start their season June 17. Gulf Coast League Nationals kick off 3 days later in June 20.