It just keeps getting worse

Tell us if you recognize this pattern: the Nationals score two or three runs, the starting pitcher throws a good game and leaves with the game tied or with a small lead, the Nats can't score any runs late in the game, and the bullpen gives up the winning run in a game the Nationals will probably regret during the stretch run. This is the pattern of most of the Nationals losses recently, and tonight's game proceeded according to this same script.

The Nationals scored in the top of the third when, with Brian Schneider at first, Cristian Guzman and Livan Hernandez hit consecutive ground balls that advanced Schneider to third. Brad Wilkerson then drove him home with a single. The Nationals had a chance at a big rally in the top of the fifth after Livan Hernandez and Brad Wilkerson singled. Unfortunately, with men on first and second and no one out, Jose Vidro promptly grounded into a double play. Jose Guillen drove home Hernandez with a single, but Nick Johnson grounded out to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Livan Hernandez was pitching a masterful game. In eight innings he gave up only five hits and a walk, while striking out five. His only earned run came in the bottom of the eighth when Adam LaRoche homered. It was then 2-1, and you had to feel good about the Nats' chances with Chad Cordero coming in to close out the game in the ninth.

That good feeling soon disappeared. Andruw Jones doubled and Chipper Jones singled to put men at first and third with no outs. LaRoche hit a sacrifice fly, and just like that the game was tied and the Nationals had wasted Hernandez' great start. Now the game was on the line. Thankfully, Wilson Betemit, who was running for Chipper Jones, was caught trying to steal second and Ryan Langerhans grounded out.

The Nationals had avoided the loss in the bottom of the ninth, but we've learned that they cannot score late in games, so it seemed like just a matter of time before the Nats lost. Sure enough, in the top of the tenth the Nationals went out meekly in order.

The bottom of the tenth started just about as badly as the bottom of the ninth had. With Mike Stanton pitching, Brian McCann singled, and Julio Franco sacrificed Jeff Francoeur, who was running for McCann, to second. Stanton then walked Rafael Furcal intentionally, and got Kelly Johnson to pop out. With two outs, Luis Ayala relieved Stanton. In retrospect, that was a terrible decision. Ayala hit Marcus Giles to load the bases and walked Andruw Jones on four pitches to give the Braves the 3-2 victory.

This was a thoroughly depressing game, and a loss that the Nationals could not afford. Everything was set up for them--a great pitching performance from Hernandez, just enough runs to give them the lead going into the ninth, and a save opportunity for Chad Cordero. But Cordero blew the save and the Nationals lost yet another game in July that they had in hand.

One game behind the Braves now, the Nationals are operating with no margin for error. They don't score enough runs for the team to win when either the starters or the relievers pitch badly, and they are incapable both of holding the small leads it often takes into the middle and late innings and scoring the runs it needs to retake the lead. That means that when one of the pitchers does pitch badly, as both Cordero and Ayala did tonight, the team is likely to lose. That doesn't sound like a playoff team to us.