Johnson's double sweeps bases, series

Livan Hernandez had no ill effects after throwing 150 pitches last Friday against the Marlins, for he pitched eight solid innings and helped the Nationals defeat the Athletics, 4-3, in front of 26,672 at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Thursday night.
The Nationals swept the three-game series from Oakland and have now won seven consecutive games -- 10 out of their last 11. They are now a season-high eight games over .500 at 34-26.

The last time the Nationals were this many games over .500 was on July 4, 2003, when the Expos dropped their record to 47-39 in an 8-6 loss to the Braves.

The game time temperature on Thursday was 80 degrees, but the humidity was very high. It was the humidity that forced Hernandez to cut short his work in the bullpen and not throw as hard early in the game. In fact, catcher Brian Schneider went to the mound a couple of times to give Hernandez a breather because of the humidity.

But Hernandez managed to shut out the Athletics for the first seven innings. Hernandez would allow two runs in the eighth inning. Bobby Crosby tripled home Jason Kendall, while Crosby came home on a sacrifice fly by Mark Kotsay.

"The velocity was not perfect. It was low -- 83, 85 [mph]," Hernandez said. "I threw a lot of sinkers early. I warmed up pretty good and I threw a little harder."

Hernandez, who has now won eight consecutive decisions, gave up two runs on seven hits. He struck out five batters and walked one, throwing 127 pitches -- 79 of them for strikes. Hernandez is now 9-2 with a 3.35 ERA. It's the first time he has won that many games in the first half, and Hernandez is on pace to win 20 games for the first time in his career.

"I don't think about how many wins I have. I want to continue to do my job and try to win some more games," Hernandez said. "The team is playing very good. Everybody is playing together."

By the time the Athletics scored their two runs, the Nationals had the game in hand after scoring all four runs in the third inning off Athletics starter Joe Blanton.

With the bases loaded and one out, Nick Johnson cleared the bases with a double to right-center field. By taking the lead, the Nationals snapped a 10-game streak by which they came from behind and won the game.

Johnson wound up driving in nine runs in the three-game series. Overall, Johnson is hitting .341 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs.

Johnson was not available for comment after the game because he had a dinner engagement with his agent, according to a source. But teammate Jose Guillen said that Johnson should be one of the team's representatives at the All-Star Game this year.

"When I came to Spring Training I heard that Nick gets hurt and he doesn't like to play, but without him and Ryan Church, we would not be where we are," Guillen said. "Nick is playing on a consistent basis everyday. He is getting good pitches to hit. He doesn't go out of the strike zone like I've been doing lately."

Vinny Castilla knocked in Washington's final run in the third when he drove in Johnson with a double to left-center field and make it a 4-0 game.

The Athletics scored the final run in the ninth inning with Chad Cordero on the mound. With two out and runners on first and second, Kendall hit a routine groundball to Castilla, who threw the ball to second baseman Carlos Baerga in what looked like a force play and the final out of the game. But the ball went past Baerga's glove and into short right-center field. Nick Swisher scored and runners were on second and third. Baerga was charged with an error on the play.

"I jumped and I just missed that ball. I have no excuses. The throw was kind of high," Baerga said.

But Cordero wasn't fazed as he induced Crosby to groundout to end the game and picked up his 17th save of the season.

With the victory the Nationals remain in first place, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies in the National League East. Manager Frank Robinson continues to duck questions about the Nationals being in the pennant race. He still wants to the Nationals to remain under the radar. Robinson has consistently said it's too early to think about the pennant race.

"ESPN is keeping us under the radar. I would plead [with the rest] of the media to do the same."

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/