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The Nationals and Astros are in the third inning, but Washington's chances of securing a series win and setting up a sweep of Houston with Stephen Strasburg on the mound on Sunday already appear remote. They have John Lannan - and to some extent, Michael Morse - to thank for that.
Lannan gave up six runs - four of them earned - in the third inning, though things got started in the third inning when Morse misplayed another ball in left field, allowing Jordan Schafer to get to third after his double. Lannan made a wild throw home after fielding a Jose Altuve chopper, and Carlos Corporan pushed a bunt past him on a suicide squeeze for the final run of the inning. It's 6-0 Astros, and Yunesky Maya relieved Lannan in the third.
Lannan's final line for the night: 2 1/3 innings, eight hits, six runs, four earned runs, one walk and one strikeout, in addition to a throwing error. He threw 55 pitches in that time, 36 of them strikes.
He had one shorter outing this year, lasting only two innings in Philadelphia in May, but considering the opponent, this one might be worse. It's only the third time in his career he's failed to get through at least three innings (the first time was Aug. 22, 2009, when he lasted just 1 2/3 innings).
The Nationals will try to dig out of a big hole in the final 6 1/2 innings of this one.
