Quality vs. quantity

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - There is not much more Nationals pitcher John Lannan can do at this point.

Time after time the savvy 23-year-old left-hander finds a way to keep his team close. Time after time the run support just isn’t there.

So it was again on Sunday afternoon against the Texas Rangers in a 5-3 loss. Lannan allowed two solo home runs, four hits and walked none. But he left after six innings trailing 2-0 and the bullpen faltered late as the Rangers escaped with a 5-3 win at Nationals Park.

“I just try to go out there and keep my team in the ball game,” said Lannan, who was hit on the right wrist after a line drive by Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the sixth inning, but finished the frame. “You just have to move forward and take something positive out. ... I can’t control wins and losses.”

No major-league pitcher has received less run support than Lannan. He earned his third no-decision of the year and has a 4-8 record despite a team-high 11 quality starts, including five in a row. Lannan’s staff-best ERA is now down to 3.34. Over his last five starts, he has a miniscule 1.69 ERA.

“Typical John Lannan. He went out there and gave us six innings and two runs,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “That’s another quality start for a rookie like him — that’s 11 — and that’s very impressive.”

Because of the Saltalamacchia line drive, Lannan underwent x-rays on his right wrist after leaving the game. They were negative, but as a precaution he will undergo a CT scan today. Lannan insisted afterwards he would not miss his next start against Baltimore at home Saturday night.

“I don’t feel bad for [Lannan]. He’s pitching tremendous,” Acta said. “He knows that everybody here is paying attention of how good he’s pitching. Would I want him to have six, seven more wins than he has? Yes, I do. ... But he’s doing his part.”

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