This entry was written by DCist contributor Benjamin Kabak.
This weekend’s action for the Nationals started on Friday afternoon when Major League officials, representatives from Comcast and Mayor Anthony Williams appeared in front of Rep. Tom Davis‘ (R-Va.) House Government Reform Committee. Davis, in an effort to get all Nationals’ games shown on DC-area cable networks, is attempting to broker a deal between Comcast and Peter Angelos that resolves a dispute that has left most Washington-area cable customers with just 40 games on TV this year. Both sides claim they are open to a compromise, and a recent proposal by Orioles owner Peter Angelos may bring this saga one step closer to a conclusion.
Friday: Astros 6, Nationals 1
Friday’s game was a tale of a mismanaged bullpen. Tony Armas and the Nats, who couldn’t put much together against Brandon Backe and the Astros bullpen, had kept the game close through five innings, but the flood gates opened when Frank Robinson went to the bullpen. Robinson opted for the fairly inexperienced Peter Bergmann to start the sixth. Bergmann, arguably the last guy out of the pen, couldn’t do much of anything. He faced six batters, giving up three hits – including two home runs – and three walks. He was yanked after hitting Astros’ catcher Brad Ausmus with a pitch. While Felix Rodriguez stemmed the bleeding, the fun runs given up by Bergmann put the game out of reach for the Nats who managed just two hits over the final three innings of play. On Saturday, the Nationals sent Bergmann back to the Minors.
