(Sports Network) - The Nationals franchise hasn't exactly been turning heads since it relocated to Washington from Montreal prior to the 2005 season. The club hasn't finished above fourth place since the move and is coming off a 102-loss season.

Sure, the signing of Adam Dunn likely sold some extra tickets heading into 2009, but any goodwill built up by the big-name signing was quickly erased when the Nats got off to an 0-7 start en route to a current 11-21 mark that is the worst in baseball.

Enter Ryan Zimmerman, who is doing his best to keep baseball relevant in the nation's capital.

Zimmerman took hold of the country's attention by reeling off a 30-game hitting streak that ended in Wednesday's victory over the San Francisco Giants. The third baseman went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks, one intentional, and got a nice applause from the San Francisco crowd once it seemed certain the streak would end.

Still, Zimmerman now owns the longest hit streak in Nats team history, which also shows just how impressive Joe DiMaggio's legendary 56-game burst is.

"It makes you realize how much better 56 is than 30," said Zimmerman, who signed a contract extension with Washington through 2013 earlier in the season. "It was fun. I enjoyed it. I learned a lot from it and now hopefully (I'll) start a new one."

The 2005 first-round pick did a good job of keeping the pressure off himself during his tear. Zimmerman managed to extend his hitting streak 14 times during his first plate appearance and only needed his final at-bat to extend the run three times.

In all, Zimmerman hit .382 (50-for-131) with 11 doubles, eight homers and 26 RBI during the stretch and will now get to focus on turning Washington's season around.

That is, until, he starts another lengthy streak.

METS: LEARNING HOW TO STEAL WINS

Through 20 games in their new home, Citi Field, the New York Mets have learned the ball isn't going to fly out at an alarming rate like say, new Yankee Stadium.

In other words, the Mets need to learn how to "steal" a few wins.

Despite hitting just 14 homers at home so far this year, New York still managed a 6-2 mark on a recent eight-game homestand. However, the Mets are in the process of adjusting to their new ballpark, something they will have to do all year.

Realizing that they aren't going to be able to mash their way to win after win, the Mets got some good practice in San Francisco's pitcher-friendly AT&T Park on Thursday. In a 7-4 victory over the Giants, New York stole a club- record seven bases, including four by David Wright.

"We have to do that at our ballpark. Coming here [to AT&T Park] it's like our place, where you can't sit back and play for the three-run home run," said Wright. "So, stealing bases, being a good situational hitting team -- this place kind of suits the style of play that we have to play back home."

What is even more impressive about Thursday's performance? How about the Mets swiped seven bags without getting any from Jose Reyes, who missed the game due to tightness in his right calf. Reyes is second in the NL with 11 steals and is a big reason why New York leads with circuit with 36 team swipes.

The Mets are also doing a good job of quickly getting their runners in scoring position. They lead the majors with 15 triples.



BRAVES: PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR THE ROTATION

The Atlanta Braves are on a roll right now. They have won six of their last eight games and are plating 5.9 runs per game in that span. However, there has been one glaring negative over that eight-game span: starting pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes.

Reyes entered Wednesday's start versus the Mets riding a nine-decision losing streak that spanned 17 outings (16 starts, one relief appearance) dating back to last year. He had notched a 7.11 earned run average in that span, but manager Bobby Cox continued to hand the ball to the lefty in hopes he could right the ship.

Reyes did not respond again in his most recent outing. Versus New York, the 24-year-old was beat up for five runs on four hits and three walks over just three-plus innings of an eventual no-decision. Cox did not give Reyes a ringing endorsement after the game.

"We had a great road trip," Cox told Atlanta's official site after the extra- inning win. "The one game we let slip away and the other game was Jo-Jo's game in Philadelphia. He threw the ball away in the second inning and they got four runs on one hit. We've played really well. Even in the loss [on Wednesday], we've played super baseball."

Should Reyes be nervous? The answer is yes, considering the options that Atlanta has in Triple-A Gwinnett. That is where right-hander Tommy Hanson, considered the fourth-best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, is currently pitching.

The Braves got a good look at Hanson in the spring, when he went 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA in five outings (3 starts). He impressed enough to get serious consideration for a rotation spot and hasn't slowed down in Triple-A, where he is 1-3 with a sparking 1.99 ERA in seven starts. The 22-year-old has also fanned 57 batters in 40 2/3 innings.

Not impressed? How about Kris Medlen, a 23-year-old righty who is 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA in seven outings, six of those starts, with Gwinnett. Medlen has yielded just four earned runs over 37 1/3 innings, including none over his last three outings spanning 19 2/3 innings.

With the way those two have pitched so far this year, don't think the Braves and Reyes haven't taken notice.



PHILLIES: ROLLINS ON THE FOREFRONT OF SLUMP

After an unsuccessful homestand, the Philadelphia Phillies will hit the road for 10 straight games and bring with them a suddenly-slumping offense. Now the rest of the club knows how Jimmy Rollins has felt all season.

Philadelphia went just 2-4 on its recent residency, losing two of three to both Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phils batted a mere .187 on the stand and scored just 24 runs. Take away a 10-6 victory over Atlanta, and Philadelphia averaged just 2.8 runs per game over the other five contests.

Rollins has been in a season-long slump just one year removed from helping the Phillies capture their first World Series title since 1980. Hitting just .200 on the season, the shortstop was 4-for-26 on the homestand with a homer and four runs batted in.

"We're just not putting it together," manager Charlie Manuel told Philadelphia's official site after losing the finale to the Dodgers on Thursday. "It's just not there right now. We've got to get it, too...I'm concerned about Jimmy, but I'm also concerned about our whole lineup. I'm talking about our lineup, our whole lineup in general."

Manuel has done what he thinks he can do to help Rollins. After leaving him alone for most of the season, he dropped his leadoff hitter to fifth in the order for the first two games of the Dodger series. However, Rollins returned to the top spot in Thursday's finale.

Rollins' inability to get on base and set the table for the rest of the lineup definitely has a trickle-down effect. Philadelphia needs its speedy shortstop to make it happen on the basepaths, and Rollins hasn't been doing that this year, having scored just 17 runs in 31 games this year.



MARLINS: RED FLAG FOR JOHNSON

Nothing is going right for the Florida Marlins right now. After an 11-1 start, the club is currently riding a four-game losing streak and has dropped below .500 (17-18) for the first time this year.

Now they might be dealing with an injury to their best pitcher.

Josh Johnson left Thursday's start versus Milwaukee after only four innings, allowing three runs (2 earned) on three hits and five walks in a no-decision. Although both Johnson and manager Fredi Gonzalez insisted after the contest that the right-hander is fine, this does bear some watching.

"We wanted to err on the side of caution," Gonzalez told Florida's official site. "[Johnson] told [pitching coach Mark Wiley] that he didn't feel quite right and that's good enough for me. He's fine. He could've gone back out, but we decided not to."

After all, Johnson isn't that far removed from Tommy John surgery that cost him most of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. In fact, Johnson returned early from the surgery to go 7-1 with a 3.61 earned run average in 14 starts a season ago.

Through eight starts this year, the 25-year-old is making a case as one of the top hurlers in the league with a 3-0 mark and 2.50 ERA. He began the season with a career-best 14 2/3-inning scoreless streak and has won each of his last six decisions dating back to last season.

Still, the way the Marlins are struggling, they can ill afford to lose their ace right now.









































































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