Nats Notes: Lead Change Yields Mixed Results

ONE WEEK, FOUR WINS and a four-strikeout performance later, Manny Acta's lineup shuffle has produced mixed results.

Washington went 4-3 through the first week of Acta's flip, when he moved shortstop Cristian Guzman to the leadoff spot and put Felipe Lopez in the No. 2 hole. The Nats are averaging 6.2 runs per game since the switch when both players are in the lineup, well above their season average of 3.9.

"I want to see if Felipe can snap out of [his slump]," Acta said. "And I don't think Guzman's approach at the plate is any different if he's hitting leadoff or hitting second anyway."

Though the Nationals are winning, the shuffle hasn't significantly benefited either player's average.

Guzman — who was hitting .346 on the year before the change — was down to .325 after Monday night's game. He's 5-for-20 since the June 12 switch, but has walked five times.

"I see the ball and swing," Guzman said with a shrug and a laugh when trying to explain his early season success. "I think this is the [best] stretch I've had. Nothing's chanced [mechanically]."

Lopez has raised his average modestly to .234 (from .231), but he whiffed four times on Sunday — a stat indicative of the overaggressive plate approach Acta was trying to temper with the move. Still, Lopez had taken four walks in six games entering Tuesday and had also driven in eight runs.

» MR. CONSISTENCY? Chad Cordero appears to have turned things around after blowing as many saves as he did all of last year (four) in his first 12 chances of 2007.

The right-handed closer — who recorded his 100th career save last week — has notched three saves in four opportunities since June 12.

"They have a lot of confidence to give me the ball even though I'm still young," Cordero said.

» HOT ARM: The Nationals have won all six games Micah Bowie has started since he was moved into the rotation in late May.

Bowie is 4-0 as a starter, including a six-inning, two-run performance against Toronto on Sunday. Washington also won both of his no-decisions.

Written by Express contributor Eric Brandner
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post