Brian McNally, The Examiner
2008-07-30 07:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

He might be a rookie. But that does not make Nationals starting pitcher Collin Balester any more immune to his team’s hapless offense.

Teammates John Lannan and Jason Bergmann, two of the least-supported pitchers in Major League Baseball, each have solid ERAs and ugly win-loss records. Both felt Balester’s pain after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park.

The 22-year-old right-hander — a prospect Nats officials see as a key part of the rotation when better days arrive — lost after the best outing of his brief career.

“Collin looked outstanding to me out there,” said Nats manager Manny Acta. “He threw every one of his pitches for strikes, his change-up especially.”

Balester pitched six strong innings, scattering six hits. He didn’t walk a batter for the first time in five major-league starts and struck out five. But one of Balester’s few mistakes — a 1-0 fastball that Phillies star Chase Utley deposited into the right field stands in the third — proved too much.

It’s not a new story line. Washington (38-68) has scored three runs total in its last five games. The Nats have lost seven in a row, their offense ranks last in the league in runs scored (389) and — not surprisingly — they also sport the worst record in baseball.

So any positive news is welcome. And Balester delivered, showing poise escaping a second-inning jam with runners at first and second after a botched double-play by middle infielders Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard. He wouldn’t allow another Philadelphia batter to reach scoring position before he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth. The Nats finally scored in the eighth on a Willie Harris ground out, but Belliard grounded out with a runner on third to end the threat.