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Lannan, Nationals blank Cubs

Apr 27, 2008 - 10:25 PM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs entered their series with the Washington Nationals as the National League's best hitting team. They left wondering what went wrong.

John Lannan pitched seven solid innings Sunday to lead the Nationals to a 2-0 victory over the Cubs.

Washington won its first series at month-old Nationals Park, taking two of three from NL Central-leading Chicago. In the weekend series, the Cubs scored 10 runs - seven in Saturday's win.

"When you don't score runs, any team, any team can beat you," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Give Washington credit, they played good this weekend."

Washington had lost 16 of its previous 20 games. But the Nationals got the strong start they needed from Lannan (2-2), who had suffered from a distinct lack of run support.

In Lannan's first four starts, the Nationals scored just four runs on his behalf. They scored just two more on Sunday, but it was enough to beat the Cubs. Lannan has reeled off 19 consecutive scoreless innings.

Lannan surrendered just four hits and walked four Sunday, striking out three in his 11th career start. The seven innings equaled a career high.

"I just stayed in the moment and made pitches," Lannan said. "You've got to forget what happened in the past."

Luis Ayala pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Jon Rauch tossed a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Lannan didn't allow a hit through the first four innings and was helped by some excellent plays by his teammates. Right fielder Austin Kearns speared a sinking line drive by Aramis Ramirez to lead off the fourth and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman followed with a diving stop to his left on Kosuke Fukudome's grounder.

Washington scored two runs in the second off Ted Lilly (1-4).

Nick Johnson led off with a single and, after moving to second on a bunt by Lastings Milledge, scored on a two-out single by Wily Mo Pena.

It was just Pena's second RBI in 45 at-bats. Pena took second on the throw home and scored on Wil Nieves' single to right.

Lannan pitched out of trouble in the fifth and sixth. The Cubs loaded the bases on three hits in the fifth, but Ryan Theriot hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the sixth, Chicago had runners on second and third with two outs, and again Lannan pitched out of trouble.

"He showed me a lot today by being able to make pitches when he had to, especially in a couple of situations where he got himself into it," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He had the ability to make good pitches in those type of situations and not allow any runs. That shows a lot for a kid that age."

Nieves won Friday's game with a two-run home run in the ninth and on Sunday, caught Lannan's gem.

"He got in trouble twice, two innings in a row, and he was calm and he kept making his pitches and he got out of trouble," Nieves said. "He just seems like he knows what he's doing out there, and he's confident."

"We had a few chances. We didn't do much," Piniella said. "We're going to have a few more (droughts) before the end of the season. When you don't capitalize, you lose. When you capitalize, you don't lose."

Lilly worked six innings and allowed two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out seven. It was his 200th career start - 189 more than Lannan.

"What was that guy throwing today?," said Lilly of Lannan. "He wasn't throwing 93 (miles per hour) and he threw seven shutout innings."