This post was written by DCist contributor Jeff Beam.

The announcement of a new owner can’t come soon enough for the reeling Nats, who lost 5-0 Wednesday afternoon to the Reds, completing the series sweep and dropping them seven games below .500 (7-14) on the young season. The Nats put themselves in early holes in all three games, and have not led since surrendering a 3-run homer in the 8th against Atlanta on Sunday – a span of 29 innings and counting.

Manager Frank Robinson chose to rest Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen Wednesday, and their bats were missed. For all intents and purposes, the rest of the team might as well have joined them on the bench for the afternoon. The Nats only managed to get one runner past first base all day, their only “rally” coming in the 4th, already trailing 4-0. They strung together a walk, a fielder’s choice, and a Zimmerman single before Ryan Church grounded out to end the inning.

The early deficits were largely preventable, with most of the damage coming during an error-filled 4th. Ramon Ortiz threw a potential double-play ball into center field, allowing a run to score, and Ryan Church nearly fell down fielding a ball in center—turning a 1-run single into a 2-run double.

Flickr photo taken by leafblower, used with permission