John Lannan

Charlie Manuel talked about two important baseball decisions last night at Nationals Park: Chase Utley's snap decision to steal home in the third inning. The manager's impending decision on whether to pitch Cole Hamels on Sunday against the New York Mets. The Phillies beat the Washington Nationals, 4-0, last night. It was a drama-free victory for the Phillies, who remained two games behind the Mets in the National League East. But afterward, the talk centered on Utley and Hamels.

On paper this seemed like a serious mismatch. In this instance, the paper didn't lie. The Phillies vs. the Washington Nationals? Sure, that one looks lopsided, but not as much as the Phillies against John Lannan. Or Roy Halladay against the Nationals. Thursday's 7-3 win over Washington at Citizens Bank Park improved Halladay's record to 5-1 this season, and he is now 10-1 lifetime against the Nationals. Meanwhile Lannan, who was sent to an early shower, allowed six runs, all earned, in two-plus innings to take the loss.

BOOSTED BY the play of some blossoming youngsters, the Washington Nationals walked out of Citi Field with a series sweep and a new spot in the standings. No wonder they're feeling pretty good about the future. Ian Desmond had a career-high five hits and Tommy Milone earned his first major league win, leading Washington over the slumping New York Mets, 10-1, yesterday for a rare four-game sweep. "I think you're seeing signs that we're starting to learn how to win," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.

WASHINGTON - Tuesday, it was Danny Espinosa. Yesterday, it was Laynce Nix. And both days, it was a Phillies offense that was unable to overcome the damage that the two unheralded Nationals players inflicted. Nix hit a go-ahead solo home run with two outs in the third inning, then protected that lead with a remarkable, belly-flopping catch in the sixth to rob the Phillies of the game-tying and go-ahead runs in what instead ended as a 2-1 loss that dropped the Phillies to 34-22.

Joe Savery understands the deal. He was called up by the Phillies from triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday and the lefthanded reliever realizes that it could be a short stay. The Phillies needed to fill a spot after placing John Lannan on the disabled list Thursday with a strained quadriceps tendon in his left knee. The injury is expected to keep the No. 5 starter out from six to eight weeks. Lannan's place in the rotation will come up Monday against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Phillies will be calling up a starter for that game and possibly beyond.

For all the futility the Nationals/Expos franchise has endured, last season set a mark. Never before had the team lost 100 games or more in back-to-back seasons. Washington one-upped the 102 losses in 2008 with 103 more in 2009. That has prompted changes. Gone are general manager Jim Bowden and manager Manny Acta. Replacing them are Mike Rizzo and Jim Riggleman. A few free agents actually chose to go to Washington over other franchises this off-season. Baby steps. And everything could hinge on the chosen one, Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in the June draft.

Rod Barajas hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning last night, rallying the New York Mets to a 5-4 victory after the host Cincinnati Reds had caught up with a homer of their own upheld after a review. Barajas hit the first pitch from closer Francisco Cordero (1-2) deep into the seats in left-centerfield, his seventh homer overall. The catcher has homered five times in his last nine games. "He's been impressive in that manner," Mets manager Jerry Manuel "He's had some big hits at some big moments.

WASHINGTON - The ball jumped off Domonic Brown's bat, headed for a patch of grass in left-center field, and this is how the Phillies would beat John Lannan for the 12th straight time. All three of the Phillies on base raced furiously for home, carrying the tying and go-ahead runs. Lannan, removed two batters earlier, watched from the dugout. Across the diamond, from Charlie Manuel's perch, it was a sure double. Brown tracked the flight of the ball from the moment he left the batter's box. "It was almost like I saw it in slow motion," Brown said.

On paper, this seemed like a serious mismatch. In this instance, the paper didn't lie. The Phillies vs. the Washington Nationals? Sure, that one looks lopsided, but not as much as the Phillies against John Lannan. Or Roy Halladay against the Nationals. With Thursday night's 7-3 win over Washington at Citizens Bank Park, Halladay improved to 5-1 this season, and he is now 10-1 lifetime against the Nationals. Lannan, who was sent to an early shower, allowed six runs, all earned, in two-plus innings to take the loss.

Last in a series   MAYBE Jayson Werth knew what he was doing, after all. A year removed from his decision to take the money and run from the powerhouse Phillies to the power-starved Nationals, Werth's total postseason deficit is one crushing NLDS defeat at the hands of the Cardinals. And no, the Nationals will not have a Holy Trinity like Halladay, Lee and Hamels in their rotation. But, despite a purge of recognizable if unproductive veterans, they might have a formidable club.