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For three of the four innings completed in today's Nationals-Brewers game, the Nationals have played head-to-head with the Brewers, outscoring them by a run. The problem was the first inning.
Before he recorded an out, Jason Marquis effectively killed the Nationals' chances of getting their fourth straight win. Actually, that should be amended, because Marquis didn't record an out; he allowed seven runs on four hits, walked a batter and hit two. He was pulled from the game before retiring a batter, and his replacement, Miguel Batista, gave up a grand slam. The Brewers led 10-0 before the Nationals got to the plate, and it's 10-1 now in the fifth.
The question that must be asked from here - and no doubt will be by a number of reporters - is: What's wrong with Marquis? He struggled all spring, lasted four innings in each of his first two starts and turned in the shortest start in Nationals history today, becoming the only Washington starter to not retire a batter. We'll have plenty more on that later.
The Nationals have eight hits against Doug Davis, and currently have the bases loaded, but it would take a monumental comeback to pull this one out.
