Washington Nationals: Now That's How It's Done

Don't look now, but after five years of playing quadruple-A baseball, the Washington Nationals are starting to look like a legitimate Major League Baseball team. The Nats rode stellar defense, professional at-bats and a two-run home run from Rick Ankiel to a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

John Lannan picked up the win after five innings of one run, five-hit baseball. Lannan stuck out three while walking only one batter. Braves starter Tommy Hansen took the loss after three-and-two-third innings of work, in which he surrendered three earned runs. Hansen's day ended prematurely after a half-hour rain delay. Lannan came back to pitch a scoreless fifth inning after the delay.

Once again, the Nats put on a show with the gloves. Danny Espinosa flashed the leather with two sprawling stops, and he may be ready to contend a Gold Glove as a rookie. Jayson Werth, of all people, made the one defensive mistake on a ball he lost in the sun. The play was not scored an error, but on any other day, Werth makes that play.

On offense, the Nationals did the little things good teams do to win. They moved runners over, worked the count and got runners home.

Patience at the plate has been the name of the game through two. After wearing out Braves starter Derrick Lowe after 105 pitches spread out over five-and-two-third innings Thursday, the Nats forced Saturday's starter, Tommy Hansen, to throw 66 pitches through only three-and-two-thirds innings.

That patience allowed the Nationals hitters to get balls they could drive and drive them they did. Rick Ankiel worked Hansen to a 3-1 count and launched a fastball over the right field wall to give the Nats the lead for good in the third inning.

Before the season, I openly disagreed with Jim Riggleman's decision to start Ankiel in center, but I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong. Ankiel looks steady in the field and has done everything right at the plate, including a perfectly laid down squeeze bunt to score Ryan Zimmerman. Let's see if he can keep it up.

Ian Desmond went without a hit once again. And I'll keep saying it until Riggleman makes the change: Desmond is not a leadoff hitter; move Espinosa to lead off and slide Desmond to second in the order.

Not only will it put Desmond in a more comfortable position, but it will move Zimmerman back into the clean-up spot. Adam LaRoche has left 10 men on base through only two games, including eight on Saturday. The Nationals cannot afford to give away runs.

Speaking of giving away runs, it may be time to start worrying about Drew Storen. After a terrible spring, Storen surrendered an eighth-inning home run to Alex Gonzales. I wouldn't move him just yet because I like Tyler Clippard in that damage-control role, but if he continues to struggle, Riggleman has to start thinking about swapping their roles.

On Sunday, the Nats will look to take the series with Jordan Zimmermann taking on Tim Hudson.