Message #73219

[2k6nats]

May 8, 2007 - Miller Park, 8:05

Dave Bush 2-3, 6.03 ERA	Jason Simontacchi 0-0, 0.00 ERA
Rickie Weeks (2B) J.J. Hardy (SS) Prince Fielder (1B) Bill Hall (CF) Johnny Estrada (C) Kevin Mench (LF) Geoff Jenkins (LF) Tony Graffanino (3B) Dave Bush (P)	Felipe Lopez (2B) Cristian Guzman (SS) Ryan Zimmerman (3B) Ryan Church (LF) Austin Kearns (RF) Dmitri Young (1B) Brian Schneider (C) Nook Logan (CF) Jason Simontacchi (P)

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Bush (2-3, 6.03 ERA), though, has suffered the loss in both defeats. Through the early part of the season, Bush has been the least effective member of the team's starting rotation, posting the highest ERA and allowing the most earned runs (25).

Allowing the big inning seems to be his downfall.

Tuesday, the Nationals are expected to send Jason Simontacchi  to the mound for his first appearance since 2004 and first start since 2003.

The right-hander, who was pitching at Triple-A Columbus, went 20-10 with a 4.77 ERA for St. Louis from 2002-04, then missed 2005 after undergoing shoulder surgery. He pitched as a reliever for Bridgeport of the independent Atlantic League in 2006.