First Major League Victory

Nationals pitcher John Lannan scored his first major league victory last night. This was his second start--he didn't last too long in his first start, in which he was ejected for hitting Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in back-to-back pitches. The pitch that hit Utley broke his hand. So this kid is off to a great start. If I were a NL slugger, I know I wouldn't get too comfortable against this guy. "The guy who broke Chase Utley's hand in his first big league start."

Then there was this:

Lannan also survived a bizarre base running episode in the fourth after Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips singled with two outs and took off to steal second.

Phillips got a great jump and Nationals catcher Brian Schneider didn't bother with a risky throw, instead tossing the ball back to Lannan. Phillips never stopped, rounded second and headed for third. A second passed before Lannan realized that Phillips was still running.

Lannan turned and fired a quick throw to third base, but Phillips just beat Ryan Zimmerman's tag to record, on the same play, stolen bases Nos. 20 and 21 this season.

But Lannan retired the next batter, ensuring that the double steal remained a side note on a night that belonged to the rookie.

Phillips, former Indian, just kept going. A rookie mistake by Lannan? I'm not sure--isn't that play on the catcher?