Scott Olsen follows through on a pitch in the first inning against the Astros last night. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Astros 6, Nationals 5: They’ve got to be running out of new ways to lose games — as manager Manny Acta put it succinctly after the game: “well, we blew another one.” Tonight, it was a foul pop-up — which the left side of the Nats defense inexplicably decided to let drop to Earth — and a Gold Glove tag from Pudge Rodriguez that cost Washington dearly as they dropped their fifth straight game. Starter Scott Olsen (6 IP, 4 ER) provided an adequate enough effort, and the Nats looked prime to grab a win after an impressive four-run top of the seventh. In that frame, Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham started off the outburst with back-to-back doubles, and four of the next five batters singled to give Washington a 5-4 lead. But after the previously mentioned unaddressed pop-up, pinch-hitter Jeff Keppinger squared matters with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth. And after Harris couldn’t score from second on Nyjer Morgan’s base hit in the top of the ninth, Mike MacDougal loaded the bases in the home half. Astros third-baseman Geoff Blum provided the death blow, singling in the winning run. Moreso than Blum, though, the Nationals will certainly be cursing Astros center fielder Michael Bourn, who was plus-six on the night — knocking in three, scoring once, and earning two assists by impressively throwing out two Nats at the dish.

Kastles 25, Sportimes 13: In a matchup with the conference leaders, the Kastles wiped the floor with legend John McEnroe and the Sportimes, winning the first four matches of the evening to move out of last place. The Kastles key to success? Break points. The Kastles managed to take games when served to at a stout 70% clip.