The Washington Nationals sprayed 11 hits and scored six runs in the first inning to support the pitching of righty Jason Marquis — and took the final game of a three game set from the Marlins on Sunday, 8-4. The victory marked another solid outing for emerging staff ace Marquis, who threw 6.2 while giving up only two earned runs. The Nats finally loosened up their bats, with Roger Bernadina, “Pudge” Rodriguez and Jayson Werth (oh, and Marquis) getting two hits each. Rodriguez’s hit in the first drove in two to give the Nats a lead they never relinquished. Bernadina’s lead-off bunt single was the third for him in as many games. Bernadina is scorching the ball, and hitting .344.

The Nationals’ bullpen, which has been struggling of late, came through in relief of Marquis: Todd Coffey (who took a line drive off a spot just above his elbow), Tyler Clippard and Cole Kimball gave up just two hits and no runs in pitching just over an inning. After a rocky start of the 9th inning, Kimball looks like he could fit in, notching a strikeout and keeping his ERA in the early going to 0.00. The Nationals now await the arrival of the Pittsburgh Pirates who, since being the focus of an MLB gabfest for playing .500, have dropped five in a row.

Those Are The Details, Now For The Headlines: Baseball fans have been told the news that Harmon Killebrew has ended his fight against cancer and will enter hospice care for his final days. The former Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins great had a Hall of Fame career, banging out 573 home runs. Everyone who ever met him says he’s one of the real gentlemen of the game, contradicting his baseball nickname of “Killer” Killebrew. Killebrew was never much with the glove (and was moved around a lot in the field in an effort to hide his defensive . . . indifference), but he was a terror at the plate, and played an astounding 22 years. His home runs were legendary.

For our purposes, there remain two mysteries: the first is the ongoing debate as to whether his stance provides the profile for the MLB Logo (some argue it is Ripken, others argue it was Killebrew — while the designer says it was “no one in particular” — but what does he know, and it’s a damn good story anyway), and the second is why the 1955 Topps baseball card set all have the Washington Senators listed as the “Washington Nationals.” No one has answered that question to our satisfaction, and even the back of the cards list the players as playing for “the Nats.” Not to overdo the point but . . . the 1955 Topps Killebrew is a beautiful card, right up there with the 1955 Sandy Koufax and 1955 Jackie Robinson. So here it is . . . again:

The Nationals seem to have recovered from their three game pasting in Philadelphia, winning their second straight against the Florida Fish and climbing back to within a game of .500. The hero of Saturday night’s 5-2 win was emerging ace lefty Tom Gorzelanny — and a host of slick nose-in-the-dirt plays behind him. The Nationals also banged out nine hits, including a badly needed two run first inning single from struggling first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Lefty Gorzelanny has hit his stride. The from-the-Cubs fifth starter has been one of the feel-good stories of the Nats’ 2011 season, emerging as a stopper at the back of the rotation. On Saturday he pitched through seven complete innings while giving up only two hits, befuddling Marlins’ hitters and relying on a snappy defense: right fielder Jayson Werth snuffed a potential Fish rally when he threw behind Mike Stanton in the sixth (catching him off of first base), while Danny Espinosa made three spectacular defensive plays, including a third inning catch of what should have been a Hanley Ramirez single.

The Fish face-off was notable for Gorzelanny, Espinosa, Werth and LaRoche — but also for Roger Bernadina, who has rejoined the club after regular center fielder Rick Ankiel went on the DL. Bernadina has injected some needed speed and excitement at the top of the Nats line-up. He was a spark plug on Saturday (you could almost hear Nats’ fans cheering) as he led off the first with a single, the first time a Nats’ lead off hitter has been in base in just about forever. Bernadina was 2-4 on the night, and Nats’ skipper Riggleman says he’ll get a good long look by the club.

Those Are The Details, Now For The Headlines: The San Francisco-Colorado knock-down, drag-out continues apace in the Series By The Bay. The Giants took the second game of the three game set last night, with another walk off win against the Heltons (the second in as many days) on a game winning sacrifice fly from shortstop Mike Fontenot. This suddenly looks like a different team than the one that showed up in D.C. last week. The Giants have great pitching, but the key to their recent success has been the hitting of second sacker Freddy Sanchez, who was 3-5 last night and drove in the game-ending run the night before. You can almost hear Bruce Bochy’s sigh of relief all the way to Washington; the Giants are getting hits when they need them, which wasn’t true in April . . .

The disappointment in the early going for the Giants has been the strength they relied on all last year: their pitching. San Francisco’s pitching has been good, but not good enough, leaving a traditionally anemic batting order to scrape and claw for runs. Sounds familiar. Winderkind Madison Bumgarner has been the hard-luck case on the McCovey staff (last night’s outing seemed a replay of his May 2 outing against Tommy Gorzelanny), with the lefty pitching well, but not well enough. After wrestling with a stratospheric ERA in April, Bumgarner has settled down, though he just can’t seem to get a win. In predictable Crash Davis fashion, Bumgarner says he’s more interested in the team win:  “I don’t care if I don’t win a game all year if we win; if it works out like that, I don’t care,” he said following the victory.

The twin walk offs on two exciting games (you can watch them late-night if you have MLB Extra Innings, following a Nats victory in Florida, or wherever) has our California readers (we have some, and here they are) excited, with one of them writing about Sanchez’s heroics after the walk-off on Friday (“Freddy, Freddy, Freddy” — which sounds a whole lot better than “Fred, Fred, Fred”), which was followed by a raucous standing ovation for the home town heroes. The two wins against the Purples leave the Giants two games behind Colorado, with cash-strapped Los Angeles fading fast.

Bill Ladson parses the Nationals 2010 campaign in a posting on the Nats website, and there’s not a whole lot exciting or new in his analysis. But what’s interesting is that Ladson goes to some lengthes to draw attention to all-world utility player and when-Zim-gets-hurt tough guy Alberto Gonzalez. It’s about time that Gonzalez got some attention. Alberto’s slick glove but poor bat made his 2009 season one to forget, but he came to Florida last spring newly energized and confident that he could swing enough lumber to regularly put himself in the Nats line-up, the result of a torrid September — when the Nats emerged from their year-long doldrums. Now, at the end of another losing campaign, it’s clear that Gonzalez is one of the most important cogs in the Nats’ hit or miss machine.

Ladson describes the super utility guy this way: “Willing to play anywhere just to get into a game,” and then (later on in the story) adds that “Gonzalez proved he could play spectacular defense at third.” Gonzalez’ 2010 numbers are the best evidence of his improvement at the plate — for despite his lack of power, skipper Riggleman had no problem pinch hitting him or inserting him as a late inning defensive replacement. Gonzalez undoubtedly would like more playing time, but his numbers are more than good in a spot starting role: a .247 average in 114 games. While this is hardly knocking the horsehide from the sphere, it’s far better than most major leaguers who are part time players (like, ah, Willie what’s-his-name).

Add to this the fact that the hot fielding sometime-third-sacker has actually saved games with his glove: like the snag he made while subbing for Ryan Zimmerman at third during the Astros series — which preserved a shaky 7-2 Nats win. Nats skipper Jim Riggleman recognizes Alberto’s value: he recently noted that he’d be happy with Gonzalez as the team’s middle-infield back-up, a sub for Desmond and Espinosa and a more than adequate replacement should anyone go down with any injury. So it is that, in a season where the Nats bench seemed particularly weak, Gonzalez was one of the few bright spots — a guy with a line-drive bat, a snappy glove and a good attitude. Which means we can expect to see him around next year.

Stan Kasten was pretty adamant in talking about Stephen Strasburg on Sunday, telling Nats beat report Bill Ladson that, as good as Stephen Strasburg is now, he’ll get even better. That’s good news for Nats fans, because the team itself seems to be getting worse. On Sunday, the Nationals lost their fourth in a row and their third in a row to the league worst Baltimore Orioles, 4-3. It was the third consecutive game in which the Nationals dropped a contest in which they led, and should have won. The team is now ten games under .500 — and sinking fast. But for skipper Jim Riggleman, at least, the glass is (as he is fond of repeating, and repeating) half full: “I like the fact that we scored runs early,” Riggleman said. “We had a chance to win the ballgame, and we didn’t get blown out. It’s a small consolation. We had runners out there to be driven in. We got some of them in. We are going to have to get more in. We have to get [good] pitching performances. There are a lot of good things to draw from.” We love Jim, really we do. But what glass is he talking about? Because the one that is half empty is filled with errors.

Kasten’s comments were fairly predictable, while signaling that the Nats will continue the Kasten-Rizzo philosophy of focusing on pitching — and building from within: “His [Strasburg's] role as a symbol is very important,” Kasten told Ladson. “When we came in four years ago, we talked about wanting to build through scouting/development with an emphasis on pitching. Continuing with the fulfillment of that commitment, I think it’s very important that fans could see that we are close to turning the corner. We are close to having a really terrific, good, stable young rotation as some of our guys come up from the Minor Leagues and come back from rehab. But clearly the symbol of that movement is Stephen.”

Kasten could not have been more explicit; rather than depending on a big free agent signing, or making a blockbuster trade, the Nats will sink or swim with their young arms, and likely await the arrival (and return) of Jordan Zimmermann, Ross Detwiler, Jason Marquis and Chien-Ming Wang. Nats fans would be pleased if any of those four (but particularly Marquis and Wang) returned to form — filling in a now shaky rotation that is having trouble pitching into the seventh inning. Sadly, as the Nats triumverate of Kasten, Rizzo and Riggleman would undoubtedly agree, if Desmond, Kennedy, Guzman and Gonzalez could field as well as Strasburg pitches, the Nats would have emerged from Baltimore as winners, instead of also-rans.

Those Are The Details, Now For The Headlines: The CFG Board of Directors (here they are, remember?) has directed our editorial staff to conduct a reset of some earlier predictions. We have refused. While the “Amazins” are contending for the division title, we stand by our claim: the Nats will finish ahead of the Apples in the NL Least. There’s a long way to go. And this we say — while everyone is focusing on “The Rise of Ike Davis” and the expertise of some guy named Pelfrey (oh, and R.A. Dickey, whoever that is), we know the truth. The truth is that the key to the New York Metropolitans is Jose Reyes. Always has been, always will be. Without him, they’re lost . . .

But in at least another instance we are inclined to offer a “redo” on our too outspoken view that the Pale Hose, which was sinking like a rock when we (arrogantly, and filled with confidence) wrote that the South Siders would be sellers and would eventually be forced to shop Jake Peavy. The day after we wrote that, the White Sox launched a breathtaking winning streak, with Peavy in the lead. They have now recouped their season and their team and the confidence of their manager. Their win streak ended at 11 yesterday, in a loss to the North Side Drama Queens. Our bet now is that, barring the resurrection of Joe DiMaggio (and his agreement on a trade to the City of Big Shoulders), Jumpin’ Jake ain’t goin anywhere . . .

And we note with interest that in spite of Stanley’s talk of focusing on development and arms in the minors, the Nats are scouting D-Backs ace Dan Haren. Here’s our question: what’s to scout? Long into the night (and we’re deadly serious), we dream of that delivery, the same delivery every single time, like the mechanism of a finely tuned watch: head down, right leg up (then, the hesitation), the head snaps to the plate, the glove is thrown out (into the face of the batter) and the arm coming perfectly over the top. It’s a thing of beauty. I swear. It’s enough to send you back to church. Go get ‘em Stan, go get ‘em Mike . . .

With Orlando Hudson going to the Twinkies, the Nationals moved quickly to sign 34-year-old Adam Kennedy, solidifying their defense at second base — and all but guaranteeing that (barring a trade) Cristian Guzman will be the team’s starting shortstop when the season begins. While the announcement is not yet official, Kennedy has said he is pleased to be coming to Washington — because he likes the way the team is structuring its roster. The signing of Kennedy, and apparently for a bargain price, puts the finishing touches on the Nats’ off-season, though Mike Rizzo admits that the team would like to add another starting pitcher. Or, as MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds said on Friday night: “Right now the starting rotation is Marquis, Lannan and question, question, question.”

The signing of Kennedy was necessitated after the Nats’ front office remained adamant on what they were willing to pay for Hudson, who was undoubtedly the first choice to fill the void up the middle. Hudson accepted a one year $5 million deal to play in the cold confines of the new Target Field in Minneapolis. What that might mean for snow dates aside, the Twinkies now look as solid as any team in the AL Central — and have to be an early favorite to win the division title. Not so the Nats, though it seems clear that the team’s off-season additions have more than marginally strengthened the team: then too, Kennedy was a bargain for one year at a reported $1.25 million, with a club second option year. “It should be fun — everybody kind of blending in and ready for a good season,” Kennedy said of coming to the Nats.

In truth (and though it might sound like sour grapes), Kennedy matches up well with Hudson. If the stars line up right, this could be the one signing that team looks back on as Mike Rizzo’s best off-season move. Both Kennedy and Hudson have a reputation for hard play and good gloves, both have experience on playing for winning clubs — and both are ready to recover their careers after suffering through sometimes strange interludes of simply not showing up. Last year, Kennedy hit .289 with 11 home runs, 63 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 129 games for the Athletics, but during the previous three seasons his presence and play were spotty – and only partly because he was slowed by injuries. His offensive numbers were mediocre. Maybe this was because in his last year in Anaheim (in 2004), Kennedy started swinging for the fences: his average plummeted, his on-field presence seemed an afterthought, and teams started losing interest. He tried to straighten that out last year: with positive results.

This is a good signing, and while a lot of Nats’ watchers might have preferred Hudson, Kennedy is a solid glove man at a good price. And honestly, if Hudson’s wrist acts up and if Kennedy can play more than the 129 games he logged last year, then this decision could turn into another Rizzo miracle.

CFG writer and droog DWilly (here he is, in case you’ve forgotten), is pessimistic about the possibility the Nats will sign Belinski free agent pitcher John Lackey: “The Red Sox will be in the mix and they’ll bid him up, but only to make sure the Yankees don’t get him,” he opined during a break in the action this last week. “And for good reason: can you imagine the Phillies facing C.C., Pettitte and Lackey in the World Series? Forget Burnett – in that mix he’d be number four. For the Red Sox, the Yankees getting Lackey would be their worst nightmare.” Add the Angels to that list: Anaheim owner Arte Moreno says that he can afford either Lackey or third sacker Chone Figgins, but not both — making his choice a no-brainer. With the crosstown Dodgers taking a pass on Lackey that leaves the Red Sox, Yankees, and Nats bidding for his services. Oh, and the Mets, who are desperate for pitching. Bart Hubbach of the New York Post says that Lackey tops the Chokes’ wish list, ranking well ahead of both Jason Marquis (who “badly wants to be a Met”) and Joel Piniero — the 31-year-old Cardinal slinger.

The Lackey-to-the Nats rumor surfaced last week, when Nats beat writer Bill Ladson reported that the Nats “are looking for an ace who can tutor pitchers such as John Lannan, Ross Detwiler and Stephen Strasburg. Washington has been looking for this type of pitcher since after the Trade Deadine.” True enough, but Lackey won’t be cheap — and at least some baseball executives are questioning his health: Lackey got off to a slow start last year due to a sore elbow and he’s spent a part of each of the last two years on the DL. And the price tag? The figures are all over the place, but current betting is that Lackey would ask for (and get) an A.J. Burnett contract – somewhere in the range of five years and $82 million. At the top end, the contract would max out at five years and $100 million, at the low end a Lackey contract would be for three years and $30 million. Lackey’s a tough, nose-in-the-dirt pitcher who could feast on N.L. hitters, but that’s a lot of change for a potential sore elbow and a tutor. And it’s a lot of change if, after spending (say) $80 million, you have nothing left to shore up your infield or add to your bullpen.

Signing a top flight innings-eating pitcher had to be a priority of Nats GM Mike Rizzo — but it will do little good for the Nats to spend oodles on Lackey and have little left over. So a rejiggering the priority list makes a lot of sense: back in ’08, the Nats spent a good part of their season scrambling to put together a roster that had Ryan Zimmerman struggling to overcome a left shoulder tear. Zim ended up losing 56 games, a nightmare for a team that has few marque players. While this unthinkable knock-on-wood scenario seems unlikely for 2010 (knock on wood, and hard), the Nats’ unsettled up-the-middle problems — including the distinct possibility that wunderkind Ian Desmond might not be the solution to the Nats’ shortstop woes that they think he is — would stretch the Nats to the breaking point were something to happen to Zim (or Adam Dunn, or Josh Willingham, or Cristian Guzman).

Which means that John Lackey isn’t the only priority for the Nats, and maybe not even the top priority. The Nats need pitching and desperately, but if they want a tutor and innings eater they can find one among a free agent class that includes Jon Garland, Joel Piniero, Jason Marquis or even (gasp) Carl Pavano. Garland (just as an example) won’t be cheap ($25 million over three years), but he won’t be as expensive as Lackey — and the Nats can use the savings they might have spent on JL for Mark DeRosa. The more you think about DeRosa the more you have to like him, especially as a fit for the wobbly Nats’ infield. Forget for just a moment that he’s a helluva player. Remember, instead, that his glove work eclipses that of Desmond or Guzman or Gonzalez. He can play short and second and he can spell Willingham in left and if worse comes to worse (knock on wood) he can play third. And he can hit. Then too, taking a pass on Lackey means there’s more money to not only plug the holes in the infield, but in the bullpen.

Here’s what all of this might come down to: signing John Lackey (and no one else) doesn’t make the Nats at .500 ballclub, but signing Garland (or Piniero, or Marquis) with DeRosa behind them and Mike Gonzalez in the bullpen does.