Brian McNally, The Examiner
2008-04-29 07:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

It was a small step in the right direction after yet another miserable start.

But the Nationals still have some work to do if they want to dig out of their early-season hole.

That starts tonight as a season-long 11-game homestand continues with a brief two-game series against the Atlanta Braves. The Nats (9-17) won three of their five games at Nationals Park last week against quality opponents in the New York Mets (13-11) and Chicago Cubs (16-9).

“Especially to beat teams of that caliber it shows what kind of baseball we can play,” said Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is trying to break out of an April slump with a .222 batting average. “It’s a sign of things to come if we keep playing the kind of baseball we have the last week.”

Tonight, they face future Hall-of-Famer Tom Glavine, making his first start since he left a game at Nationals Park on April 13 with a right hamstring injury.

Glavine (0-1, 2.38 ERA), who didn’t record a single out in that game before suffering the injury, immediately went on the disabled list for the first time in his 22-year career. The Nats won, 5-4.

Washington again counters with Tim Redding (3-2, 3.67 ERA), also the starting pitcher that afternoon against the Braves. He allowed three runs and six hits in five innings en route to the victory.

Redding likely must deal with Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones, who is off to a red-hot start. Jones is batting .433 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. One of those homers came on Opening Night at Nationals Park. Jones sat out Atlanta’s previous two games with back spasms, but is expected back in the lineup tonight.

The Nats have had their own injury problems this season. They will cross their fingers for Wednesday’s starter Shawn Hill, whose right forearm pain has subsided slightly in recent weeks but is still an issue. He started the year on the disabled list, but has gone five innings in two starts since returning. Hill (0-0, 5.40 ERA) allowed four runs to Florida and two against the Mets. Atlanta’s Jair Jurrjens (3-2, 3.45 ERA) opposes him in a rare weekday afternoon game at Nationals Park.