GUZMAN'S BACK

Since I didn't watch much baseball last weekend, I missed the Cubs/Nationals contests, although the outcome was pretty much what I thought it would be. Thanks no doubt to the universal love fans have for the Cubs, the attendance Sunday at RFK was the second highest of this season, following the Nationals' opening day. But despite a Cubs victory on Friday, Zambrano's elbow tightness on Saturday allowed the Nationals to score 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th (thankfully, Chicago's bullpen kept D.C. at bay for the rest of the game, an opportunity the Cubs could not turn into a victory). On Sunday, Maddux imploded in the 5th and was relieved after allowing 4 runs, including a 2-run homer that was painful to watch (while wearing my Cubs hat, not my Nationals hat, of course). By this time, the game was tied, but the Nationals scored again an inning later and eventually won.

On the Nationals side, I'm pleased to report that Christian Guzman (SS) is back from his stint on the DL, which helps restore some of the offensive power and defensive tightness D.C. didn't seem to really miss while he was gone (and while Vidro still recovers)! I saw the play when he got zinged in the tricep by a pitch, and remember holding my arm in sympathetic pain for 20 minutes thereafter.

Right now, the Nationals, in the top of the third, are tied with Milwaukee, 1-1, and D.C. pitcher Tony Armas is starting to show signs of not focusing. A quick chat with catcher Bennett and the pitching coach gets him on track: three-pitch strikeout. Woohoo!