Nats look to show heart

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - A dismal first half for the Nationals was filled with far too many losses, both on and off the field.

Injuries led to a revolving lineup and bad news piled upon the organization this month: Legal problems with the D.C. government, abysmal television ratings and general manager Jim Bowden being interviewed by the FBI in an ongoing investigation.

The Nats, who feature the worst record in the Major Leagues at 36-60, will try to regroup in the second half, which begins tonight at 7:35 p.m. in Atlanta.

“We need better offense and better defense and we get that when our [injured players] are in the lineup,” Nats manager Manny Acta said. “Once guys like [outfielder Austin Kearns and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman] went down we went from being one of the top two or three [defensive] teams all the way to the bottom. And it hurt our offense, too.”

Zimmerman (small labral tear, left shoulder) is on a rehabilitation assignment at AAA Columbus and should return soon and outfielder Lastings Milledge (groin) may be back by the end of the month. Outfielder Elijah Dukes (knee surgery), however, is likely out until at least mid-August.

Those reinforcements, combined with four starting pitchers with ERAs below 4.02, could again make the Nats a dangerous late-season opponent — as they were last September when they helped torpedo the New York Mets' playoff hopes.

But who exactly will remain in D.C.? Closer Jon Rauch and starters Odalis Perez and Tim Redding, among others, will all draw interest from contenders as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

“You need to have some pride,” said catcher Paul Lo Duca. “There are other teams out there that if you're not going to be here next year are looking at you. You have to look at it that way.”

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