One in the books

(How many consecutive days can I use that as a title for a post?)

So Jason Simontacchi started today, and he's known for his control. Not going to overpower anybody, especially after a series of arm problems. Pitched in independent ball last year. Nice changeup.

And Simontacchi needed only 11 pitches to get out of the first inning, nine of them strikes. The oddity: Both of the balls hit batters -- an 0-2 pitch to Adam Everett and an 0-2 pitch to Lance Berkman. Simontacchi used a double-play ball to get out of the inning (a double play started by 2B Felipe Lopez, who has looked pretty good at second thus far).

And what do you know? The Nationals jump to a lead! The Nationals jump to a lead! They got a scoreless first inning from their starter, and then ...

One-out walk to Guzman (the patient hitter we know and love); Zimmerman single to left (shocker); Kearns a double to left, scoring Guzman to go up 1-0; Schneider looks at strike three; two-run single from Chris Snelling; Travis Lee grounds out.

End of one: Nationals 3, Astros 0