, i think manny acta is an excellent manager and he's not been given enough horses to win. got four rookie pitchers out there. your most veteran pitcher has 50 career starts under his belt. >> bob: to me the big perplexing thing about this ball club is the bad defense by veteran players. these aren't kids. guzman, nick johnson, very shaky defensively lately. and of course as a team very shaky all year. averaging an error per game. is that the manager's responsibility? probably, is it his fault? no. >> rob: no, he can't execute for the players on the field. >> bob: guzman hacks a one hopper to evan longoria. >> rob: as far as preparation, getting these players ready, all the coaching and manny acta have done since i've been here. yes, we talked about taking more infield. they've done all of that. they've done more of that. and the hitting has been there the entire season. it's going through a little bit of a valley right now. the pitching has gotten much better. i don't feel at all that a managerial change needs to be made. right now is not the time. they're actually playing

special, you ask, because manny acta was there and manny was talking about, to the youngsters, life isbaseball. >> life is about choices. the quarterback, you run the ball or do you pass the ball? basketball, either you shoot or pass. baseball, you either bunt or you let the guy hit. choices. everywhere you go. excuses are not valid. it doesn't matter where you're growing up, who you're growing up around. no. if you grew up with somebody, and they're taking the wrong turn, you don't have to follow them. you can still be buddies and you can still be friends. you don't have to follow them. it is a choice you have to make. if you think intensive is expensive, check out ignorance. that's a lot more expensive being ignorant than the education because there's a higher price to pay by being ignorant. >> ray, don't you wish that every single person watching our show tonight could visit with manny acta like you and i do around the batting cage, have a chance to sit down, go one-on-one with this gentleman and get the real feeling of what manny acta is all about? >> no question about it. i have b

steve mccatty and manny acta could tell you it is what he learns after that. it is not easy to be up here in less than 10 career starts. martis. and think you have it all figured out. you never have it all figured out. david weathers is still learning and pitched in 2,000 games. >> johnny: still learning. count is 2-1 to alex gonzalez the reds shortstop. lannan retired the first two batters he faces. >> rob: let's take another look at home numbers. there he is. second right now in the national league in homerun e.r.a. 10 starts. ted lily. >> johnny: lannan delivers to gonzalez. fouled back. count is even at 2-2. reds are 6-7 against opponents from to the national league east. the nationals looking for their 10th win at home this year. 16th overall. rob, we were talking before this ballgame, you were comparing this year's record at the same time compared to last year. and this is a much, much better ball club. line-drive to left field, base hit for gonzalez. and it is hard to believe it is a 15-42 team. >> rob: it is. and this team was nine games better last ye

manny acta knows one thing is for certain.defense wins ballgames. >> i don't think it's a secret that pitching and defense wins ballgames. the fact is that we haven't played good defense, and it goes both ways. if you play good defense, it makes your pitching better because there's a thousand of errors that they don't shoip on the box score. fly balls that we don't get to. fly balls that we don't catch. ground balls we don't get to that some of the guys get to it. it goes hand in hand. >> and ben goessling joining us from the "the washington times" in the hot corner segment. defense especially the series up in new york really got everybody's attention. >> yeah, it was different than anything we've seen this year. not only were the errors not there, they were making plays to save the game. you saw austin kearns throw out a guy. willie harris makes that catch to save a base runner that would have ended up scoring. cristian guzman robs derek jeter of a hit. it was striking to see it not only that there weren't -- they weren't los

manny acta's offense has totally disappeared in the second half of ballgames. since then, one unearned run after the fifth inning of any game. two outs, bases empty. here is corey patterson. a pitch up foul. >> rob: this would be a great time for corey patterson to break out that big whipping stick for a home run. >> bob: he's done it 104 times in his career. this may be a situation more suited for that approach than usual. >> rob: two outs. guys way ahead of you. nobody on base. that's a great swing. >> rob: that a boy. >> bob: corey patterson with his second bathe base hit as a nat. >> rob: that's as good as a double. >> bob: he could be running. this is interesting because guzman steps in. he's not a patient hitter. if you're going to send run aer, you have to send him early in the count and then you have a left-handed batter and a right arm of a catcher real close to each other. >> rob: we talked about this with corey patterson. he can stick with his ball club especially on his defense. he hits a little bit, he'll be in the lineup. goes the other way really

and manny acta changing things up. 3-2 reds bottom of the ninth, 16,274 braving the elements to come out for this game delayed almost two hours at its start time of 7:05 to almost close to 9:00. and the count is three balls and no strikes to hernandez. >> rob: i would take another pitch right here. >> johnny: make him throw strikes. >> johnny: again hernandez, back to background outs to second base. >> len: this could be the possible defining moment, given up a home run, strikes out with a man on second, david weathers, strikes him out beg strikeouts from the reds' bullpen. could be their defining moment. austin kearns going to try change all that. >> johnny: the reds one out away from winning their 16th game on the road, their 13th over all. the first time here in this city since july 26th, two batters of six have lost their last three games at rfk. their last three here last year at national's park. they have got a 3-2 lead with two outs here in the bottom of the ninth. austin kearn is down to the nationals last hope. it's a strike. tomorrow it is going to be harang andlen lannan a

you know, manny acta always has something nice it say for us. you know something? he is the same guy as he was. that's the first hit of the game as raul chavez sneaks one under the glove of nick johnson. chavez now hitting .276 with that base hit. a great chance -- i'm not sure, but for brett cecil who has never had a major league at- bat. >> rob: chavez goes the other way with it, just sneaks under the glove of nick johnson. great job on the x-mo. >> bob: this could be ugly. cecil just got reactivated and has not been around for any interleague play. he is a rookie. so you know as much about his hitting as we do. >> rob: first career at-bat. >> bob: he will do well to get the ball in play. >> rob: he could not have been that atrocious. he was a couple of years removed from college. >> bob: he was a closer for the terrapins. i don't know if wil was caught glancing at the catcher. why would he? that's a catcher running. >> bob: they call it a wild pitch. it was wide enough to call it that. but wil will tell you he should have had that. it will be gravy for them if h

manny acta earlier this inning talked about defense and the pitching. there you have it. aflac! you really need it these days. how come? well if you're hurt and can't work it pays you cash... yeah to help with everyday bills like gas, the mortgage... ...and groceries. it's like insurance for daily living. so...what's it called? uhhhhh aflaaac!!!! oh yeah! that's it! aflac. we've got you under our wing. a-a-a-aflaaac! are you insured? do you know when your beer is perfectly cold? or do you risk drinking a warm one? if you have the new coors light cold-activated can, you're covered. because now every can turns blue when your beer... is as cold as the rockies. it's cold insurance, only from coors light. cold beer: that's our policy. frost-brewed coors light. the world's most refreshing beer. . >> bob: that little la enjoying a night at the ballpark, so are we. great pitching. bob and rob back. ross detwiler saved himself some pitches right there. >> rob: absolutely. great first pitch change-up to alex rios, a hot hitter. normally, when a guy is hot, he is seeing balls bette

manny acta can only do so much.ching is great, they have plenty of offense but you got to do it as a team. >> johnny: and it's a one-two- three first inning against the reds. nick johnston, ryan zimmerman coming up. the ocean doesn't care. so grab your bag. times may be tough today, but the things we all look forward to haven't changed. like owning a home. watching our children grow. and retiring with confidence. so whatever you're looking forward to, m&t bank is here to help you get there. m&t bank. understanding what's important. . >> johnny: quick one-two-th for the cincinnati reds at the top of the first. detwiler sets them down. the lineup for the nats they'll go this way with cristian grews man in short, nick johnston number 2, ryan zimmerman, adams out of the clean-up spot with elijah dukes, willie harris center, hernandez in second base, ross detwiler. they have the .340 average in wins. he is 24 years old and has tremendous poison the mound for such a young guy. >> rob: yes he does and that's one of the

manny acta is going to make a pitching change up here. he does get the pop-up right there and saves a run at third. >> bob: and this is how he feels about joel hanrahan these days. like owning a home. watching our children grow. and retiring with confidence. so whatever you're looking forward to, m&t bank is here to help you get there. m&t bank. understanding what's important.

. >> rob: now you know why manny acta was trying to manufacture runs after we were up 3-0. >> bob: this team can score runs even if they are not slugging the ball. the nats have given up 345 runs, this team has scored 352 runs. longoria overmatched by craig stammen. that's a big strikeout. two down. straight change that went down and in to the right hander. you don't usually associate right handed to right handed. he is happy at the end of --

he keeps producing whenever manny acta calls on him.hat's going to drop into left center. 3-for-5, alberto gonzalez. let's see if willie harris can do anything on top of the amazing defense he gave us earlier. get catch by willie harris, then a double, stole third and then a sac fly by the number 8 hitter, wil nieves. that lasted five minute and then wells hit a homerun. and then the nationals came roaring back. if willie hit it down the first baseline, you have a left handed throwing first baseman in lyle overbay who can flip that thing to the shortstop. so this will not be an easy bunt if willie has that in mind. he pulls the bat back. can't bunt a pitch that up and away. that's ball 1. the switch hitter follows in josh bard. then you have the pitcher's spot and the only player available is ronnie belliard. runner going. down the line but it's hooking foul. and willie harris flirting with a long ball for the second time tonight. >> rob: willie harris. >> reporter: it looked good for a while and then it had that big hook. >> rob: there

manny acta still to come talking about tonight's loss to the orioles. - oh, it's on. - it's on. it's on. - it's on. - oh, it's on, all right. - it's on. - it is totally on. jimmy, it's on. it's on. oh, yeah, it's on. pilot: affirmative, it's on. this is humiliating. stand still so we can get an accurate reading. okay...um...eighteen pounds and a smidge. a smidge? y'know, there's really no need to weigh packages under 70 pounds. with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service, if it fits, it ships anywhere in the country for a low flat rate. cool. you know this scale is off by a good 7, 8 pounds. maybe five. priority mail flat rate boxes only from the postal service. a simpler way to ship. when she gives me that look. when at last we're alone. when we both decide. announcer: today, guys with erectile dysfunction can be ready with another dosing option from cialis. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. so relax and take your time. tell your doctor about your medical condition and

manny acta said before the game he wanted to see more of that scott olsen. he wanted him to get more first pitch strikes. scott's only win this season came april 29th at philadelphia. >> bob: in that ballgame, scott olsen went 5 2/3, struck out six and walked a couple. he went seven against the marlins at home. the nats had a late meltdown. he was up 6-3, but he left that game and the nats lost it. hanley ramirez 2 for 2 with a singular approach tonight. he's taken the ball up the middle twice, once for an rbi. >> rob: last time we saw him, he was struggling. >> bob: when you see a guy

steve mccatty and manny acta could tell you it is what he learns after that. it is not easy to be up here in less than 10 career starts. martis. and think you have it all figured out. you never have it all figured out. david weathers is still learning and pitched in 2,000 games. >> johnny: still learning. count is 2-1 to alex gonzalez the reds shortstop. lannan retired the first two batters he faces. >> rob: let's take another look at home numbers. there he is. second right now in the national

manny acta allowing zimmerman to have a couple of innings off on the hot night. >> jim: i played with cal ripken jr. -- sr., and he said nothing like the atom ball. i'm 18 years old going what is he talking about? is he getting into physics? molecular science. the atom ball? there you go. >> rob: that was at his foot. >> jim: 0-2 the count. albers last year left the game at wrigley field interleague game, and that was when it was diagnosed that his shoulder had the issues, and he elected to go the rehab route. last spring troy patton, the pitcher of the orioles, got in the me gel tejada trade. he elected to have the surgery.

manny acta coming out to calm down his pitcher. >> rob: right before that, i almost said out loud. i was thinking it to myself that cristian guzman or ronnie belliard should just go in and say something to him. say something to him in spanish. get him to calm down. they're the veterans. he's still kind of a young guy. he could be a big asset to this ball club. >> bob: flies it to center. right there is willie harris. after all that, the nats still a chance to put this game away. patterson, guzman, johnson ahead. ÷pñ)y

manny acta takes jordan zimmermann out, three batters later, three runs for the rays. >> rob: zobrist, the 93-mile an hour sinker, gets plate coverage and he just kills that ball. >> bob: ben zobrist adds to his career high with his 13th home run. the rays have scored four runs tonight, driving all of them in with the long ball. and they lead by two. >> rob: i'm sure manny will be asked about pulling zimmermann after 92 pitches. it was a long five innings for him.

and manny acta cannot believe that zobrist was safe at home. the rays get a run but the inning is over. @ geico's been saving people money on car insurance for over 70 years. and who doesn't want value for their dollar? been true since the day i made my first dollar. where is that dollar? i got it out to show you... uhh... was it rather old and wrinkly?

you've got a feel for manny acta. nobody wants to win more than him. >> win as good all about becoming champions. our ball club has not played well. the first year we came in here, i say with nationals came in with 13 arms out of the spring training in which two or three people knew. ic they overachieved. last year not getting a good read on the ball club. last year, manny says this is the best team we've had. then the bullpen is awful. >> winning changes everything. time for the stay of the game hold of the game brought to you by just for men hair color. most holes in inner league play

that's one thing you heard from manny acta when this kid has the ball work, everything is down in the zone, you're bet beeting him. that's what we saw against the yankees. they did not get a lot of good swings off craig stammen. >> bob: nothing but fastballs. the fact that ross is hitting over the top of the ball means that craig's got some good, late movement on that number one. >> rob: i like that on their scoreboard they do both pitchers at the same time. >> bob: the pitch counts? >> rob: yes. everybody does it different. here in florida, they dough do both guys' pitch counts on their scoreboard at the same time. >> bob: they do some nice things here inbetween promos where they make fun of the visiting team. the nationals jerseys have been used for a puddle to walkover. >> rob: well, it covers the puddle like a gentlemanly thing. that's a foul ball by cody. >> bob: look out, buddy.

manny acta hasn't been able to hand the ball from a starter to a closer only a time or two this year. >> jim p.: what was that stat yesterday that the nationals in this month had scored four or less runs, what, 18 times? so it's 19 out of 23 games. they're right at their limit. i don't mean that. i'm just saying, so any run. >> rob: you're just being honest. >> jim p.: i'm just looking at the numbers here. >> bob: in april the first half of may, they scored 7 or 8 a night and kept losing. >> jim p.: when the orioles came in, they were like fourth in the national league in runs scored. >> bob: two weeks before that, they were in the top two and top three in batting average and runs. >> jim p.: that's when the bullpen was imploding. >> rob: lannan, hitters are hitting .325 off of john lannan this year with two outs.

he said i'm going to put you in left, and manny acta after that great catch by harris tries to make the pitching change. she wants to make up. we decide to turn in early. we just know. announcer: finding the moment that's right for you both can take some time. that's why cialis gives men with erectile dysfunction options: 36-hour cialis or cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications and ask if you're healthy enough for

manny acta's ball club, second or third in the league in runs for a while now down to number 10. lately, the pitching has rescued that and josh bard has a four-pitch walk. both hitters that tallet walked tonight have been on four pitches. celebrate father's day at nationals park. nats-jays, 1:35. first 10,000 fans 18 and up receive that great-looking gym bag free. it's presented by geico. free pregame autographs and after the game kids run the bases this sunday. willie harris. willie bounced out to the second baseman first time up. willie struggling with the bat. it hasn't affected his defense

if manny acta and earl weaver was his manager instead of manny, he said, hey, can't get beat until you get somebody on. of course or they can't tie it up until you get somebody on. real negative-positive things. >> jim h.: there's that batting average. >> jim p.: and i know he's an orioles and i know we're doing both games, but have you seen a loft young, he just identifies that breaking ball and that's a pretty good breaking ball. >> rob: he does a fantastic job. you talk about batters eyes. this kid as good as any of them. >> jim p.: i guess on friday down at the cage, i was talking to nolan, i said, were you always like that way. hitting instructor said, well, most guys will learn how to hit for power once they get to the big leagues, he's already figured that out. watch him get back on his right foot. and that little toe tap. that's the smoo.thness of the swing. reimold down on strikes. >> rob: that last one was a 96- mile an hour moving fastball. hitters will let you know how you're throwing. that ball just runs away and down. you can't hit a two run homer with nobody on base. >>

june into may we have had rain what does manny acta think about that? has he been through this in his career? >> yes, i managed in the florida state league. florida, stomacher time every day after 4:00, it rains. you use the batting cages a lot. not in the big league level. this has been very unusual according to the people who live in this area. so, it has been kind of silly. >> and ray, as a big leaguer stopping and starting, you start the game and then you have a rain delay. how does that avenlth you? >> ray: it is the worst. if it happens once every 2 weeks, that is one thing. but you go in there and try to find a way to keep yourself going and keep yourself loose. it is a big downer. you either play cards, sign autographs, mail, get your mail out. but basically, killing time trying to stay in contact with the umpires. but for pitchers it is the

i'm sure manny acta thinks that. there is your get-me-over slider? did you ever throw a get-me- over slider? >> rob: yes, i did. >> bob: what was it, 93? >> rob: no, 70s. i just robbed -- lobbed in a soft slider. >> bob: tell about your exteammate that lobbed in bubbing bullpen. >> rob: you have to have guts, but you do it. >> jim: and you just throw it up there ano neck jerk. >> bob: 3-2 to dukes, melvin mora to his left with a good play and two outs. right back with you here tomorrow night and it is brought to you by m.&t. bank, understanding what is important. shairon martis coming off a rough outing. he was scored upon early and often by toronto sunday and jeremy guthrie, 5-7, trying to get that e.r.a. down. in fact, both of them over 5.00. >> jim: guthrie coming off a good start where he beat cole

manny acta saying what a franchise moment this is, he is also very confident steven has the makeup to live up to all this hype. we'll have lots more from the draft room in the press conference and the president's club. back over to you byron. >> thanks a lot debbie. if you look at what the nationals have available at that spot, look at what mike rid el had talked about, it may not be the best draft out there but they still have three of the first 80 picks. they can still get some quality people. >> they can get another pitcher. what they are doing is just stacking up on great young arms and we already have a truck load of good young arms and it's been evidenced by what the young men do up here. you can talk about stay monday, detwiler, zimmerman, you get a guy like strays bourg, this just takes you to another level. you know, we haven't signed him but assuming we're going to sign him. worst-case scenario we get the number 2 pick next we're but we don't want to waste another

>> johnny: and tomorrow wired wednesday with manny acta. >> rob: he'll be on headset. we'll pepper him with questions in the third inning, he always likes that. but he does a great job. >> johnny: he sure does. and then covering the bases with adam dunn. a high pop-up behind the plate, the catcher drifting back into the stands. and no play for ryan hanigan, the count is each with two balls and two strikes, 3-1 here in the bottom of the sixth. >> rob: ryan has made a lot of strides in one area where people say he struck out 200 times a year, he only struck out 164 times last year, 122 walks, he makes it very difficult on the pitchers, but he is kind of a throw-back. that's what you wanted your four-guy to be, a big power guy and now that he is that big power guy, that's when all these other guys now are saying "oh well he still strikes out," that's the evolution of this

manny acta has the headset on in the nationals dugout. i guess it's quite a day for you to have a chance to meet number two pick in this draft, drew storen. he seems like a terrific man. he wanted to get this deal done to play baseball. >> we're very excited about drew. we met him a week ago. we were happy when we saw our pick came up and he was still out there. >> does it help to see these kids in person and kind of get hands on and talk to them, look them in the eye and see what they have to offer? >> i believe so. even when we're not seeing them playing in college all year, getting to know them, seeing the first impression and talking to them to see their personality, i think it helps tremendously. we're trying to get good character people in here. that was a good first impression when we met the kid. >> johnny: shairon martis leads off the 3rd and fouls down the

manny acta, bob carpenter and rob dibble were talking about it.magine, if you as a manager had to go through something like this during your days, how absolutely torn apart the entire organization is. >> johnny, there's i did have it a couple of times, when members of our family, someone close to them passed, one of our players passed, in spring training, a minor league player. words just aren't enough to express the sadness and the condolences and you know the pain that a little 27-year-old young man is just ripped from us. adenhart gone, and josh, such a sensitive guy, we've seen him so many times with his little son rocco and close family. just terrible. >> manny acta a few minutes ago kind of puts things in perspective when you think about baseball and how fragile life is. let's go back down to tropicana field, manny acta was talking about this loss tonight, talking in particular about that inning that 7th inning against the nationals. >> yeah, it was a huge inning for them. obviously we didn't make very good pitches there and they took advant

 >> bob: some of the young men manny acta was able to visit with from boystown in our nation's capital. i feel like father flanagan with these two up here, jim palmer there, rob dibble. despite a lot of glitches by both pitchers, both are still in the game. >> jim p.: the score is similar to what it was going in the middle innings last night, then that eight-run inning the orioles were able to come up with. >> rob: this kind of performance, just what the doctor ordered. shairon martis going out throwing 90-mile an hour fastballs. shairon martis has the change- up and the fastball, keeping the orioles off balance. >> jim p.: you know this is a game of adjustment. when martis pitched against the orioles, adam jones hit a home run in washington. he is better tonight than he was back then. i know he struggled, but that's what i think you want to see in a 22-year-old pitcher. are you better as the season progresses even though you're going to struggle. that's part of learning the game. that's what steve mccaddie who has come on as a pitching coach said. >> rob: you have to make mist

this will be interesting with zimmerman on deck, does manny acta have confidence in nick johnson to make contact and start guzman on a 3-2 pitch? runner goes. ball four! that's a side door breaking ball that just stayed outside. two on, one out. ryan zimmerman, who is 0-5, gets another chance nick johnson on base for the sixth time tonight. >> bob: a huge spot for zimmerman. struck out with the bases loaded looking. strung struck out one on, one out swinging. chance to make up for those two bad ab's and get an extra inning win for the nats. winning run is at second base. backup breaking ball hangs up and in. >> rob: right man in the right place. >> bob: blue jays have good arms in the outfield all around. slider, 2-0. ryan zimmerman does some dwessing -- gegz up there now and then f he's ever going to get two men on, one out, this will be it. fastball, but he missed. 3-0. adam dunn is next. he misses again. bases loaded with one out and one of the most vektive -- selective, good batting eye hitters in the game coming in in adam dunn. now, they're waving the outfielders in. their defensiv

what do you think manny acta said to julian tavarez when he went out there on the mound in the 8th inningtake him out of the ballgame. here's what he said. >> i just told him that keep his delivery simple and stop doing any extra stuff with his legs and stop trying to pull that stuff and just keep his delivery simple so he can throw strikes. but it didn't work. >> and really surprised, ray, because one of the big proponents much putting the ball across the plate, manny acta's always talked about tavarez is here because he can throw strikes. >> i haven't seen it consistently. there's times when he goes out there and he is really effective, but then he'll go through a two or three day period where he can't find the plate. he's got tremendous movement and sometimes it's tough, if you're a little off centered, you have a little bit of balance problem, it's tough to get that ball to come back over that plate. i haven't seen him throw balls consistently for me to think that he's a control type pitcher that when you bring him in the game that you're not sitting over there growing a few more gray

zimmerman has to be hacking here unless he can guarantee manny acta he can bunt for a base hit. short lead by nick at first. that's up and in. >> rob: you don't need to bunt if he's going to walk you. >> bob: this is one of those situations where if somebody first-pitch swings, you would just look at them and say what are you thinking? alberto gonzalez for the pitcher two spots away. >> rob: what is he like 5-5 as a pinch-hitter? >> bob: we'll look it up. >> rob: you haven't gotten that far? >> bob: no. >> rob: oh, man. >> bob: gorman is not having a good night. >> rob: i'm telling you, bob. look at this. this pitch is up and away. >> bob: are you kidding me? >> rob: i mean, goodness gray mice. s -- >> bob: last two strike calls not even close. 1-1 to zimmerman. >> rob: come on, zim, get mad.  >> bob: winning run nobody out. ryan looking to protect on 1-2. >> rob: that was one of those -- >> bob: [ indiscernible ] >> rob: smack that guy. >> bob: have umpires ever been thrown out of a game? this might be the time. the ones in the seats.

manny acta knew this early. they knew we were going to have to score a lot more runs than 3. we have. joel hanrahan has to keep them right here. this is the most important inning of the game, 3-3 against the best offense in the american league. >> bob: i think joe west is giving the rays' dugout a hard time because of our lights. he knows everything going on out here. it's the bottom of the 7th. reid brignac, b. j. upton and carl crawford. brignac 0-for-1 with a dprowb a -- a ground ground ball and a walk. that ball right off the mask of josh bard. >> rob: we may have to explain to joe west how much money masn spends to televise these games. he needs to take a chill pill. we have the best crew in the game. top of the order now, b. j. up ton after the base hit by reid brignac. upton is a right hander. ron villone is ready for carl crawford. so this becomes a vitally important hitter for joel hanrahan. here is b. j. upton bunting -- is b. j. upton bunting as early as the 7th inning, knowing it will be lefty-lefty after this? >> i don't think so. 8th inning maybe. 9th inning may

manny acta will go out and have a little chitchat. what's going on. one of the biggest outs of the game right here, julian. >> bob: rain starting to fall again.   >> bob: this guy's almost unstoppable when a count gets to this point. >> rob: i don't think he's ever been put out at 2-0 and bases loaded. >> bob: that's ball three. julian tavarez has been in the big leagues for almost 20 years. he knows nibbling in the late innings gets you in trouble. the marlins always find different ways to beat the nats. not even close. four hitters ago there were two outs and the bases were empty. and now the marlins get a huge insurance run and lead 4-2. there's just no excuse for what manny acta has to watch here in the 8th inning. and these are two veteran guys, villone and now tavarez. joe beimel. ronny paulino could put this game out of reach. hot shot, zimmerman knocks it down. and how they got the runner at second i don't know on a really bad throw by zimmerman. when this shoe store added aflac to its employee benefi

. >> deb: we're back at national's park, manny acta's nats trailing the reds by a score of 3-1.five hours ago the nationals drafted highly touted pitcher stephen strasburg out of san diego state and the question is can he live up to all the hype. and manny acta thinks he has the right make up to deal with it. >> the main thing is what he's going to do after he signs. it's always going to be pressure when you're drafted number 1 overall because people are going to be expecting big things and comparing you with a lot of people taking first overall and all that. if he can stay away from all that and just be himself and if he is as good as advertised right now i don't think he'll have any problems. >> deb: and tonight's steven's college coach at san diego state describes him as a hard working humble kid who gets it and he wants to play big league baseball. >> and he said the same thing about rob dibble too. he said the guy always has humble. he did. >> rob: i was never humble. >> johnny: scoreless relief in each of his last 18 appearances. look at this number. 16 innings only 8 hits

there is nothing that gets by manny acta. i think one of the worst things this organization could do is fire this man at this point. he is not responsible for what's happened. >> bob: and in a world we live in today, where celebrities constantly make fools of themselves by throwing tantrums and emoting in public, i find it quite refreshing. >> rob: and i was one of those tantrum thrower as a player. i was a poor loser but manny is not about that. that's not his style. i can tell you, he privately -- which is very classy and respectable and that's how you get respect in this game, he won't call guys out publicly. i hated that about managers who would do that in the papers and do it publicly, press conferences, so if you are looking for that from manny, you are not going to get it. if you are looking for that from charlie manuel, you will note get it. >> bob: nick johnson will put the nationals on top. double, double. 2-1. the nats double their runs and nick johnson having an amazing series on base now 10 consecutive times to t

manny acta and the media discussing the win.sked about 11 come from behind wins for the nats. >> i thought it was key at-bats. will harris and hernandez put together there and then gonzalez. obviously not only a big base hit but also the hard slide at 2nd base, which you know was very nice to disturb phillips a little bit. >> your bullpen continues to impress. what do you think of them? >> they continue to pitch well. they have been for a while. we have got to get our offense going again. we struggled again with runners in scoring position. we know we can do it and we are just trying to take that next step. we continue to win a ballgame and take a step back. we need to take that next step and win another ballgame and build up a little winning streak. >> alberto's slide was so key because of the fact the way zimm hit the ball, hit it on the nose but right at the guy. it winds up being a big play. just goes to show you don't quit and make something happen. >> yeah. i don't think effort has been the problem here. and these guys wil

we will have more from manna acta and the boy -- manny acta and the boys. ryan zimmerman high-fiving his boys. they prepare to head of to tampa bay. smiles in the dugout for the nationals. welcome to chili's. something new is on the grill. try chili's new fire-grilled quesadillas, starting at just $6.99. like our bacon-ranch chicken quesadilla, flame-grilled tortillas layered with all white meat chicken, applewood smoked bacon, jack cheese, and ranch dressing. they're crispy on the outside, melted to perfection on the inside. you've never tasted quesadillas like this before. new fire-grilled quesadillas, starting at just $6.99. only at chili's. for the next minute, i'm gonna show you what it's like to have verizon fios. these are your widgets, they let you put whatever you're watching down here, while you check out local traffic, weather, even your news up there. i've got a news flash you're out of mayo. how did you get in here? door was open. you'd have tons of ways for you to search for content: by actor, director, any word at all. what about chicken? chi

. >> rob: do you think that manny acta, jim riggleman and steve mccatty are contemplating gens getting tallet out of the game by walking barajas. >> bob: first base was open definitely. >> rob: that he be is open. >> bob: you don't want to let this guy beat you. >> rob: exactly. two outs. >> bob: that's a fastball down the middle. it had enough tail on it to get a little inside near the trademark of that bat. you just cannot let the number eight man in the national league beat you and that's what they're talking about right now.  >> bob: there's a b right-handed batter. >> rob: those are two pitches that barajas knows he could have handled. a fastball up. a slider up. missed both of them. he is hitting .30 on the road. he's liking some -- .320 on the road, so he's liking some room service. >> bob: that's unusual because in toronto, it's an indoor stadium with a retractible roof. the lighting is perfect in there. you will talk to hitters and they see the ball really well there. they have that goofy, artificial surface like they do in tampa bay

manny acta's nats, 16-42 on the year.is is the interleague stretch that we have been looking for, 15 in a row against the rays, the yankees, the blue jay, the red sox, and, again, the orioles. first pitch scheduled for 7:38. we are about a minute late here as garza throws to guzman. 90-plus outside today and very comfortable, low 70s in here. so guzman batting at .327, on base average at .343. home plate umpire, joe west, tight little zone to start things off. joe west is one of the deans of umpiring in major league, crew chief in his 32nd year. paul nart, paul schneider and paul rapuano. the rest of the crew. >> rob: he can go deep in the ballgame. >> bob: guzman only walked five times this year. >> rob: you can hear the glove popping over our mikes, he throws low 90s, mid-90s, but he will throw a lot of fastball. he does not even believe that he needs to throw a lot of offspeed stuff. he likes to attack hitters. >> bob: how refreshing is that? >> rob: it's fun for us to watch the young kid, could watch him all night. as

. >> i think there was a great article about manny acta.hey fight, they scrap, they don't give up and there has to be good things just around the corner for this club. you've got to like the hustle of the young guys, the pitching staff has come along. so a great article by boswell this morning. >> yes, it was. now, we are seeing young pitchers keep us in ball games, close ball games. the bullpen has now been pull together after eight, ten changes. you have young guys coming up here and throwing the ball well, keeping us in the game through six innings. now we have to get offense, a little bit better situational hitting and then you start to win some ball games and series. >> in the 8th inning, willie harris comes up as a pinch hitter. he finishes 1-for-1 in the afternoon against the reds in that 3-2 comeback win. they say, yes, the win is nice but there is still work to be done. >> it definitely is a plus for us, especially going to tampa and then new york. this is not going to be an easy ride for us. no ride is easy, but the last couple of

his manager, manny acta. >> we expect that out of him now. i mean this type of outings, just every five days whenever we're struggling giving us a chance to be in the ballgame. it didn't start the way it ended. he at the beginning was a little bit off. actually gave up three walks in the first four innings. he had good sink to his fastball and had good command of the outer half of the plate. just gave a very solid outing. >> and there you see, john lannan's numbers. 3-0, 37 innings. this is last five starts, ray. he's had five quality starts this year. e.r.a. 2.19, strikeouts, walks, everything is going right now good for john lannan. >> you're going to have to dig real hard, in the national league or all of baseball to find a guy that goes out there over a matter of 49 starts, johnny, over two years and put together almost the same type game. he's just going to give you seven innings, he's going give up less than three runs, he's only going to walk a couple. he's going to keep your team in the ballgame and give them a chance to win. he said

because it's 5-1, so manny acta pitch count, will get john lannan. terrific job this afternoon.  (crowd cheers) (music plays) witness a piece of golf history. the travelers championship. june 22nd through 28th. the travelers championship. june 22nd through 28th. times may be tough today, but the things we all look forward to haven't changed. like owning a home. watching our children grow. and retiring with confidence. so whatever you're looking forward to, m&t bank is here to help you get there. m&t bank. understanding what's important.  >> jim h.: a nice day to be in harbor, downtown in baltimore, as the orioles and nationals close out this interleague series. good day for john lannan, goes 7 1/3. six base hits so far, one earned run. he walked three, only one of those walks hurt. a couple of strikeouts. he gives way to joe beimel who has been pitching very well now over the last couple of weeks. >> jim p.: it's about matching up. markakis 0 for 2, that's what joe beimel does. a lefty hitting .239. >> rob: fastball, curveball change, th

.: manny acta did not want john lannan to the first batter. >> rob: no, cardinal sin.ou don't want to do that. >> bob: the orioles have had their lead-off man on every inning. i haven't seen john lannan do this, the out of four lead- off walks. here's nolan reimold, hat he did last night, that drive that josh willingham never saw. jones and huff aboard. his ninth of the year. the big hit of that ballgame last night. he's been large in this series. >> jim p.: one of the stronger guys is sitting on deck is luke scott. he's a littler guy. >> rob: the astros gave jon. , the minshgave up you g >> jim p.: we did give up eric. >> rob: i won't get into that one. but you got adam jones, a fabulous player. you got luke scott who is a fabulous player. i think you guydid quite well. >> jim p.: tejada goes to houston. >> rob: that's two. there's eight more guys involved in those trades. >> jim p.: exactly. chris tillman also part of the bedard deal. >> bob: line drive, the runner makes a mistake, then hernandez bobbles the ball and blows the double play. >> jim p.: i don't think he

here is more from manny acta on that topic. >> they play together at some point.couple of those guys are together before. they motivate each other and feed off each other and it's good. they don't have any type of competition going on, but they're trying to outdo each other, followup in each other's step every feist days. >> debbi: for jordan zimmermann, he told me he needs to continue to pound the zone. he has a really good strikeout to walk ratio. he has nearly four strikeouts to each walk. >> bob: that is correct, debbi. a strikeout in the first inning gave him 61. only 16 walks in 58 innings this year. as rob has pointed out on numerous occasions, part of his problem, some of the strikes are too good, overred middle of the plate, too hittable. that's why opponents are batting .279 and his vearks 5.37. this is adam lind hitting .308. he's a edmundsy, indiana, kid, who went to the university of south alabama and a home grown blue jay. third-rounder in 2004. jordan looking quick with the heater tonight. this hitter is third in the american league with 36 extra- b

. >> rob: the one thing i've got to give manny acta a lot of credit for, they are getting these guys at-bats. they are getting at least one or two starts a week. he gives them an opportunity to work their way out of their slumps. >> bob: the easiest thing in the world to be to bury them, and you never see them again. >> rob: but manny acta and his coaches will not do that. >> jim p.: the easiest thing for him to get out of a slump is just get a base hit here. >> bob: a single. >> jim p.: that's all you have to do. willingham will be running on contact. >> bob: sometimes it's a little ground ball to the opposite side of the field that goes through. sometimes it's a hard line drive to left field, that drives in a run. austin kearns, his first rbi since early may. >> jim p.: he puts a good swing on it and guthrie trying to go up and in. watch zaun go in. he doesn't get it in. pretty much inner half of the plate. >> rob: look at the x-mo. he had the hands away from the body a little bit. he's been working very hard with eckstein. yesterday, you talk about adam balls. he's been hitting so