Pedro Martinez and Esteban Loaiza dueled for seven innings, with Martinez giving up 3 runs off of 8 hits, but giving up just 1 walk and striking out 6. Loaiza lasted one full inning longer than Martinez and gave up just 1 run off of 6 hits, 1 walk and striking out 8 (Loaiza faced 1 batter in the 9th). Martinez left the game and enters the all-star break with a record of 9-3, 2.80 era. Loaiza enters the all-star break with a record of 5-5 and an era of 3.61 (well, both probably have one more start, at least Loaiza is scheduled for one more start before the break). While Loaiza was charged with a run, it was super-closer Cordero that made things exciting when he allowed the inherited runner score, and then allowed another run past the plate (though he didn't get charged for it, as Guillen committed an error - way over-threw home-plate). The score was 3-2 in the top of the ninth with 2 outs, would Cordero blow it? Will Robinson pull him? No, after the 2nd run scored, Cordero notched his 30th save of the year when he got Daubach (hitting for Woodward) to pop out to Carroll playing shortstop.

ESPN: Box Score, Play-by-play, recap, Nationals.com recap, Washington Post.com recap, Washington Times recap, CNNSI recap. As CNNSI notes, while the rest of the league that has faced Martinez has managed to hit a low .177, the Nationals managed to hit .286 off of him. Also, CNNSI notes that Nationals starters are 7-0 "with a 2.70 ERA in their last 11 games."


Game Notes: Wilkerson went hitless, Vidro played a full game at 2B and managed 1 hit in 4 AB, recording an RBI and scoring 1 run, Guillen went 3-3 with an RBI (and an error), Baerga played 1B and went hitless in clean-up, Castilla struck-out 3 times and got 1 hit in 4 AB, someone named Cepicky played LF and went hitless, Byrd replaced Cepicky and went hitless, Schneider went 1 for 4 and recorded a RBI, Carroll played SS, scored a run, and got 1 hit in 3 AB and Loaiza helped his cause by getting 1 hit in 2 AB (and raising his batting average to .235).

Cepicky had one AB on July 4th, but otherwise hasn't played before in the majors this season. He has appeared in a total of 71 games (including 2 this year) for the Montreal/Washington franchise (and for no one else), getting 146 AB's over 4 seasons (including this one), and ending up with a career batting average of .212.

Tonight:
Hernandez (12-2, 3.32) faces the Mets Glavine (5-7, 4.95). Nationals.com preview, ESPN.com stat pack.


NOTES:
Washington remains in first, 4.5 above Atlanta, 8 above Florida, 9.5 above Philly and 10 over the Mets.

Cordero named NL pitcher of the month for June.

Johnson placed on DL. 6th consecutive year Johnson has spent some part of the season on the DL.

Other Sports News: London chosen for 2012 Summer Olympics.