the pga tour, lefty shares hisú  the following is a masn presentation. on tuesday night as adam dunn crushes a two-run shot in the eighth inning. a six-run comeback for the washington nationals as they stun the florida marlins 6-4 at nationals park. there's the sfean scene as fans file in. the nationals look for their fourth straight victory. taking on florida for the second time and trying to string wins together. welcome back to "nats xtra" presented to you by verizon wireless as we're ready to go here. three comeback victories in a row looking for number four. looking for the upset with john

lannan. nice way to do it in that eighth inning. >> that's a turn around for the sfean season. when you have those types of wins where you snatch the thing out of their hands, the bullpen suffered. johnson throwing the ballextremely well 6 2/3 inning a perfect game after he gave up two hits in the first inning. starts throwing breaking balls. hit by willie harris. another base hit. belliard pinch-hitting a double and adam dunn blasting one the opposite way as he's had a penchant to do lately going the op sit at way. 80 plus rbi's and this offense is rolling as they've begun to just score a lot of runs over the last 15 days. >> after the game, catcher wil nieves talked about finally defeating the fish. >> they've been doing that to us coming from behind and, you know, it's a little bit tough like that winning in the eighth and the ninth giving up the

lead. we did it like i say it was a great game. >> and we're seeing it recently from the nationals, ray. late n inning work getting things back into gear after being down in the game. talk about comebacks. sixth and seventh inning. eighth inning last night. twice against pirates. showing moxie in the late innings. >> big innings, too. 4-4 in pittsburgh as homered. dunn going the opposite way right in that corner. he's starting to do that more and more. zim jumping on a fastball down and in. line drive a screenl screerm a tough left-hander as fredi gonzalez went to his bullpen, called in mier and adam answered. >> you look at how things have gone nor the fanls -- for the nationals. they have found way to come back in late innings. they're one of the top teams in the majors doing it after the eighth. >> yeah, pretty incredible that the team has done this because early in the year there were so many times we were behind and

we couldn't mount a rally. we have games where we are the -- we started scoring early and weren't able to hold on. they have the ability to score runs in bunches and we've done that. we haven't really been able to sustain an offense throughout the year, throughout the whole ballgame. of late, we're able to put up crooked numbers in successive innings or three or four innings in a ballgame and that's allowed to score six or seven runs. >> great innings, you're scoring runs, but pitching has to stablize when you're down early. the bullpen has done their job. >> they've been incredible. we've had a little off time here and there. mainly, we have for the most part thrown exceptionally well. bergmann last night indication three strikeouts as he had that slider work. the fastball up around 94. villone, he's been a piece of granite. a big, huge rock for this ball club and macdougal showing that 96-mile-per-hour fastball ending the game with a little

double play there. so, our bullpen is in good shape. kensing has struggled a little bit. i really like his arm. how about tyler clippard? he's been a guy that's come in and struck out people and gone long. last night, the bullpen 4 2/3 innings. you take it on, partner. >> yeah, all doing their job last night. five strikeouts between them as they were able to hold the fort against the florida marlins and get the victory for the nationals. as for ron villone, what about the matchups for the bullpen? how are they designed now? >> i think everybody knows that every day we're going to mix and match depending on who is going to be rand who has been use add lot more. sometimes tough forget about what's gone on in the past and move on. i think as we've been trying to do for a good month, month and a half and move forward, so that's what we're doing. >> ray, that's an interesting point that ron makes talking about the sixth, the seventh, the eighth and ninth innings. you know, you may come into the six . you may come in in the

eighth. it's not defined exactly where those bullpen guys are going to be coming in. that has helped them actually. >> i think that's jim riggleman no question about it. manny got stuck. to have one guy for the sixth, one four for the seventh, one for the eighth. jim riggleman is not that. he matches up. he fs by his guts and looks at the stat sheets. when there's lander against a left-hander, it doesn't matter if he juft threw pitches to get a right-hander out. he's going to make that move because the game is in balance. i like that kind of gut building not afraid to go to the bullpen in that situation. knowing if you wait having a guy going go into the six, seven, eighth inning, it's seldom you have three guys on every night. that's where manny ran into trouble sometimes you can't depend on three guys each night. web. >> you -- when you're matching up, lite guy go as long as they can like clippard has done or bergmann has done getting two or three innings and reading when stuff gets short going to the bullpen. you'll have success that way. >> there's a time in the game when you finally take the lead

and you get the one-run lead. you look for insurance and the offense has come through by giving the bullpen a little bit oflyaway -- leeway scoring a lost runs for at last few weeks. >> it's key when you come in you have a little bit of space. i know coaches like to bring guys in so they don't have anybody on base. when you look how many runs we've scored since july, we've scored more runs than anybody. that graphic shocked me because it seemed like we went a lot of games ant -- and didn't do a lot. i know we had big runs. leading all of baseball, that's an impressive stat. >> 75 runs very good for the washington nationals. we'll take a look at the starting lineups for the nats. who is starting for the nats. who is starting for the marlins back home at nationals park. stay tuned.

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and corona light. relax responsibly. welcome back to "nats xtra" look at the florida marlins starting lineup. chris coghlan, big game number one. a triple run scored. three hips hits in the game for himleading the way for the florida marlins lineup out of left field. he'll bat first. nick johnson,' very -- a very familiar name batting second at first. hanley ramirez is in the shortstop position batting third. jorge cantu cleanup. dan uggla sat second base. cody ross is the right fielder. ronny paulino gets the call at catching. emilio bonifacio, the former national, the center fielder and rick vandenhurk is the starter for the florida marlins. adam dunn with three homers and 10 rbi's this season against the florida marlins. something the two-run shot yesterday for the game winner. he'll be in the lineup again tonight for washington. nyjer morgan leads off at center field. cristian guzman is the shortstop batting second. ryan zimmerman is at third base again back in the lineup after a one-game absence. adam dunn, there he is, in the cleanup spot. josh willingham is in left field. elijah dukes, the right

fielder. ronnie belliard the start at second tonight had a big base hit yesterday. wil nieves is the catcher and john lannan is the pitcher. byron kerr and ray knight with you. welcome back to "nats xtra". we'll take a look at news and notes. karin has been put on the 15- day disabled list with that thumb and jorge padilla, 12 years in the mine owrs gets a call to the nationals and in iewnl uniform tonight for washington. we're getting rld for the matchup against the marlins. ben guess -- guessling is here from the "the washington times" -- guessling here from the "the washington times". >> he we don't know enough about it to say definitively that's the reason why he's had some struggles most of the season. this has been something that's plagued him back to his minor league days off and on, but i think in the last few days, certainly, it's become more of eighteen issue and we'll find out more -- an issue and we'll

find out how long this thing will be. he's heading to baltimore to visit with a hand specialist up there and they'll decide whether he needs ran operation or he can play through it. you know, he's the kind of guy you never know if he's hurt because you doesn't speak up and say anything. you're not going to hear from him unless you ask him about it. it's a little tough to determine how big of a detriment it's been, but the last few days it's been an issue. >> jorge padilla, why jorge padilla? i know he's hitting well. i have not heard much about him. >> i think a little bit of it was give the guy a shot. he's been playing really well. he's hitting .370. his on-base percentage is good. i think another piece of it is you look at holes the options would have been. justin maxwell is probably a guy that would have gotten consideration. they want him playing every day where they have more control over his at-bats and progress. up here where you're getting an at-bat every couple of days going in as the pinch-hitter or defensive replacement, they wouldn't have had as much control over that. i think that was part of the

reason doing that and reward a guy who has been plugging away in the minors for a long time. >> thank you very much, ben. we appreciate t ben goessling from the "the washington times" joining us. now it's time for the stay in the game hold of the day presented to you by just for men hair color. looking at the hold for the most against the marlins this year. atlanta braves lead the way with 114 everyall. washington nationals on that list with 86. number three, the mets and giants also a part of that top list. just as these relievers keep their team in the game, you too can stave in the game with just for men hair color. coming up, had a chance to visit with josh willingham who has had the hot bat for the nationals. we'll talk with him as we continue with "nats xtra" getting ready for the marlins after this. ♪ ♪

(tucci) more bars in more places. at&t. the best coverage worldwide.  nyjer morgan wired for wednesday. good to hear what the center fielder has to say out in center field looking around seeing what's going on. we'll get a chance to hear what nyjer is going to talk about

tonight as we welcome you back getting ready for the florida marlins. byron kerr and ray knight. nyjer morgan had a couple of weeks where he could have been the n. l. player of the week. he got a chance from the national league. he was excited to get co-player of the week in the national league. >> absolutely. that week in general will be something i remember and probably get more special as time goes on. you know, anytime you're recognized by the league, it's special. >> did you get a lot of phone cawltion, a lot of text messages from buddies and stuff when you had the two grand slam performance. >> i did. when i got up to my phone, i want to say i had 30 text messages. it was a crazy night. aid lot of people then joid that night with me. >> when you're in the batter's box getting ready for the second at-bat, you're probably the only one that knows it could be a second grand slam because we didn't know you would have three guys on the second time. you didn't have much time to think about it. >> i didn't. it was one of those things when the bases were loaded i kind of told myself this is ironic. how many times do you get up

with the bases loaded after you had hit a grand slam. my primary focus was probably on the pitcher that i was about to face because i had never seen him before and i was talking to atkins trying to get my mind on what he might be getting from him. i'd belying if i said i didn't thing about hitting another one, but that wasn't the primary focus going to the plate. >> it wasn't just that game. since may 5, your slugging percentage has been high up there. you're close to albert pujols in some of the rankings as far as getting the ball out of the infield. are you in a time in your career right now where you're feeling as good as you've felt at the plate? >> yeah, i would say so. it's one of those things where my approach hadn't changed at all since the past couple of three years. i've been getting some good pitches to hit lately. i've been hitting them and they've been finding holes. there's been a lost times in my career i felt really good but might not be getting too many hits because one of the nine guys out -- guys out there would be cafng it -- catching it.

it's been nice to hit the ball hard lately and find holes. >> you've been telling me about finding the florida marlins a- team you were with so long and a lost buddies on that team. how does it feel to recommend necessary with those guys -- reminisce and talk with them? >> it was stranger in the beginning of the year. now it's just good to see them and be able to talk to them. there's a good, competitive spirit going between a lot of us. i keep up and keep in touch with a lot of those guys. they're close friends of minement when the game starts, we want to beat each other pretty bad. it's just one of those things where i love a lot of people over there and the feelings are mutual i think. it's also good to compete against them. >> nick johnson is now a member of the florida marlins. you knew him as a teammate here. did you have any advice? did he ask you for any advice? did you say, buddy, i'm getting traded to the martin luther king ?ns. >> not really. he was asking me about some of the guys over there. that's about it. you know, we miss nick over on our side as far as him as a person and what he brings to our ball club. i think the marlins are going to appreciate what he brings to

their ball club as well. >> it's been a tough season obviously. since the san diego series, mets series, end of milwaukee, played well in pittsburgh, nice comeback win against florida. feel like the team is getting in a nice tempo? >> i think so. we're starting to play a lot better and a lot more consistent. you you know, we've been catching the ball. we've been throwing the ball well and not walk very many people. i think that's the key anytime you catch the ball and have hauled solid pichtion every night to have a clans to win. we've been getting timely hitting as well. if we can keep doing that, keep getting the defense, we have a shot every night. >> you mention the beginning of the season you weren't starting and a lot of people talking about how you want to be a starter. any player wants to be a starter. does it feel a little better that you're getting in the groove playing every day? >> yeah, anytime especially an every day player is used to playing. when they're not playing, it's one of those things where it's hard to get in a groove. since i've been able to get some at-bats and play on a regular basis, i felt a will the better and been able to get

a little rhythm and just getting my comfort zone. that's what you want as an every day player. the cards weren't aligned right i guess at the beginning of the year for me, but i'm glad i'm getting a chance now. >> nice to chat with josh willingham as you look at what he's done last few months. every month getting better and better. >> yeah, he has. you mention that league on-base percentage and his slug percentage. .647 is second to albert and on- base percentage .437 is third in the national league. he's got .330 average since may 5. he's done a lost things. a lot of people think our big boy dunn disun leading the team in slug percentage. not hardly. .593 slugging percentage leading this ball club and dunn is at .550. >> great talk to him and mike rizzo talked by and -- walked by and we were talking ash are traition. he says it's not going to be an arbitration case with me,

right? rizzo said, no. he was laughing. >> not this hot. he better wait till he cools down if he wants to talk about arbitration. >> they had a rehabilitation assignment with potomac. 3 1/3 innings as he tries to fight whack the -- back into the lineup eye think they're going to give him a couple of tune-up starts. he threw the ball well last night. struck out six. only walked one. did give up a home run. they held him down pitch countwise. this guy, ladies and gentlemen, is going to be the star of this rotation if he stays healthy. no doubt that atlanta can pitch. this guy can dominate. he's a lot like john smoltz, those type people who can come into an organization once he gets a few dames under -- games under his belt he'll dominate because he can strikeout people. he's just got that aggressiveness on the mound. >> you you were talking about how you like him and lannan as the two top guys in the lineup when they're both healthy. >> yeah, i think he'll eventually surpass john. he certainly has the kind of stuff to. it's like smoltz and glavine.

smoltz was the power guy. glavine was the finesse guy. both of them won just about the same amount of games each season, but he's the guy that hitters aren't going to want to deal with. >> he got hit by a pitch in the hamstring so he's nurse that go a little bit and that elbow is a little tight. they're going to watch him this next week. hopefully, he'll be ready to go. nationalities-marlins counting down getting ready for the matchup as they try to get two in a row against florida after losing 10 straight. it's about the mentality about a team like florida. >> i think last night kind of busted all that stuff. forget about everything that happened in the past. we won one game and we're able to come back in big time fashion. >> don't forget you can help out the nationals and their cause saturday. there will be a blood drive here at nationals park from 8:00-2:00. they're try to get 250 piendz of blood. for more information, go to my-redcross.org here at anita

marks. lannan take on vandenhurk. 

 welcome back. "nats xtra" continues from nationals park getting ready for the nationals-florida marlins in game number two. byron kerr and ray knight standing by looking at the pitching matchup. the nationals go with left- hander and ace john lannan against rick vandenhurk for the florida marlins. this is our ace today. loves pitching at home. mr. lannan. >> yeah, he does. 1.91 earned run average over his career here and just the man that 8-10 of his last pitches have been quality starts. he's over 60% quality starts. you look at the graphic. bill gullicson for all-time earned run average at home all the way back in 1985. lannan right there at 1.91. if he had a great night tonight, he could press mr. gullic sorn. >> looking for win number eight our own john lannan. debbi taylor had a chance to talk with lannan before he gets ready for tonight's start.

>> thank you very much. john, the first thing i want to ask you is what is going to begoing through your mind as nick johnson steps to the plate? >> you know, it's going to be a little weird, but i know what i have to do against him. he's a great hitter. going to mix it up a little bit. it will be a challenge. >> he's such a patient hitter and his on-base percentage is incredible. do you enjoy that challenge of facing somebody like that? >> yeah, guys who make contact are guys i like facing because that's what i look for contact. he's very patient and i'm going to run the zone, so i'm going to give him pitches to hit. >> this is such an exclusive lineup. what's the key to containing the florida marlins? >> you've got to keep them uncomfortable. you know, you you can't let them have that outer part of the plate. you've got to go in and let them know you're there. that's my plan. >> john, is there any way to explain the way the marlins have dominated the nationals? >> no, you know, this year we had our bullpen problems.

we could have won three of them that were here. that's in the past. even last year they kind of beat up on us a little bit. i mean, just one of those things, you know. it's always a slugfest when these guys come to town and hopefully the story changes this series. >> you mentioned the bullpen. since the all-star break, the bullpen for the nationals has been pretty good a couple of hiccups here and there. what are you seeing out of bullpen? >> this past road trip they were phenomenal. doing a great job in the closer role and burnett stepping up on the setup. i think everybody is stepping their roald roles. i think that helps out with the comfort level out there so they know when they come in it's not so much the guessing game. they know what their role is and getting comfortable in it. >> and your thoughts on this team as you wind down the rest of the season? >> we've got to finish strong and build some momentum up. we've got a great team. these next couple years will be really exciting. we can't give up now and play

as many bltion as we can. >> john lannan's matchup against rick vandenhurk, the right-hander looking for his second win of the season. he has a little bit of experience with the nationals a couple years ago. he had a loss against the nationals at rfk. they don't know much about him, ray. there will be a chance the nationals get their ace and try to get two in a row against florida. >> vandenhurk actually from the netherlands. he came over as a 16-year-old as a catcher. they developed him into a pitcher. he's been in the minor leagues his third start against our best pitcher, a guy that should be able to handle the marlins. tough time his first start down there early in the year as he was only able to go three innings. i look for john to go seven plus tonight. >> and john lannan with those five earned runs against mawrk milwaukee. you know he's the kind of phi that -- guy that turns thingsaround quickly. >> he is. he's the kind of start hear it throws strikes. >> we're looking for that. hopefully, two in a row against the florida marlins. bob carpenter and rob dibble have a live play of play-by- play. afterall, ray and i will dissect the nationals, game two

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