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Nationals cuff slumping Dodgers

Aug 27, 2008 - 3:24 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals added to the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers' misery with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

Lastings Milledge gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a leadoff home run, his 13th of the season, off Derek Lowe.

"It was a good pitch, just in the wrong location," Milledge said. "You just have to wait him out so you can get a pitch you can drive. He's a great pitcher."

Emilio Bonifacio singled to center field to open the third and moved to second on a sacrifice by Collin Balester. Cristian Guzman, who had three hits, delivered a run-scoring single to left to double the advantage.

The Dodgers, who have lost five straight and seven of eight, scored on an odd play in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Matt Kemp hit a grounder to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who stepped on third and threw to catcher Jesus Flores in an attempt to get Nomar Garciaparra at home.

Flores dropped the ball, picked it up and tagged home, but the force had been taken off when Zimmerman stepped on third. Garciaparra snuck back in and touched the plate for the run.

"Another one of those tough games. We had a number of opportunities and couldn't cash in," Dodger manager Joe Torre said. "Derek Lowe pitched his tail off, and it certainly was a winnable game, but we just couldn't get it done.

Marco Estra came on for Balester with none out and runners on the corners in the sixth but got out of the jam thanks to an unassisted double play by Zimmerman and an inning-ending strikeout of Lowe with the bases loaded.

Zimmerman also started inning-ending double plays in the second, third, and eighth innings as the Nationals turned four overall.

"He's a special player," Torre said of Zimmerman. "We had good luck with him swinging the bat tonight, but he beat us with his glove, basically. He's a big guy, but he's quick."

"I take a lot of pride in my defense, obviously," Zimmerman said. "It's fun, I enjoy it."

Balester (3-6) worked five-plus innings, allowing a run, five hits and two walks for the Nationals. Three relievers bridged the gap to Joel Hanrahan, who notched his fifth save by escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth.

"Everybody came in and did their job tonight," Hanrahan said.

Lowe (10-11) tossed his first complete game of the year, surrendering two runs, six hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

"I look at it as a disappointing start," Lowe said. "Sometimes the starting pitching needs to pick up the offense and vice versa. We need to relax as a collective group, and hopefully things will change."

Manny Ramirez had three hits for the Dodgers, who are 5-for-45 with runners in scoring position during their slide.