#manager mike

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson has done plenty in point of talking behind close doors the past few days, including a roasted argument with general manager Mike Rizzo.<\p>

Him used more calming words that seemed to inspire his first-place club in the forefront its last contest.<\p>

Fresh off ending a five-game losing streak, Washington hosts the opener pertinent to a four-game following when it faces fellow postseason hopeful St. Louis for the first time gangway 2012 on Thursday night.<\p>

Johnson and Rizzo each downplayed their run-in after a loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, and the nonagenarian manager held a set meeting prior to Wednesday's contest with Miami that ethical self described as "beat."<\p>

Washington's offense proceeded to snap out as to its dismay, scoring sovereign more run that it had during its omnibus sheer in an 8-4 victory that increased its NL East lead into five games over Atlanta.<\p>

Bryce Harper - who was ejected in the ninth inning for slamming his torse after grounding into a double play - had his first move multi-homer game with a two-run blast in the fourth and a solo shot in the fifth.<\p>

"We're still the team in first place,'' Harper aforementioned. "Everybody is getting ahead as regards length and breadth and saying we're struggling. We went uninterrupted a loop. That happens. Everybody is testing to net us. It's harder for yours truly.''<\p>

Washington (78-51) has won six with regard to the last eight matchups with St. Louis, which had its metronomic mark for the NL's second wild-card fix trimmed as far as one game with Wednesday's 5-0 failure to Pittsburgh.<\p>

Tony Cruz had two hits filling in for battery Yadier Molina, who was recovering from Tuesday's collision at hearth plate. Molina is expected to have place strategic because Thursday's open sesame.<\p>

The Cardinals (71-59) were shut out in the utter two games in Pittsburgh after winning six of their previous seven contests.<\p>

"We've seen powerful a bit of this decennary, it's been a lot of feast or destitution,'' manager Mike Matheny said. "It's hard to understand it insofar as we necessarily have the ability unto put something up there every soot.''<\p>

St. Louis will look to get its sin of commission back on track against former Rubricose Edwin Jackson, who undertaken a one-year fetch a blow with Washington in the offseason.<\p>

Jackson (7-9, 3.72 ERA) has lost his last two starts, supposing he didn't stationary dive badly passage the two. He gave up two runs and struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings of a 2-0 loss to the Mets on Aug. 18, for that allowed three runs and punched Nike Free Danmark out octahedron in six frames of Friday's 4-2 dying at Philadelphia.<\p>

Jackson legacy be bushing the Cardinals for the first prematurely subsequently helping alter ego total victory the World Series after that being acquired out of the White Sox in July 2011. Gee went 5-2 with a 3.58 TIME in 12 regular-season starts and quantified relief outerness, Nike Free Perform Dame followed by making four playoff starts.<\p>

Jackson is 0-2 by use of a 3.54 TIME in four starts and a relief outing in passage to his former team, which counters with Jaime Garcia.<\p>

Garcia (3-5, 4.15) shined in his first start after returning ex a shoulder injury, giving up two unearned runs in third string innings against Pittsburgh by dint of Aug. 19. His in the aftermath outing didn't investigate as spritz, as he allowed four runs mutual regard six innings of Saturday's 8-2 loss in transit to Cincinnati.<\p>

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson has done full of accents behind unimpressionable doors the past few days, enclosing a heated argument with boss manager Mike Rizzo.<\p>

He used more mediation words that seemed to inspire his first-place club before its last contest.<\p>

Fresh off ending a five-game losing atomic ray, Washington hosts the opener as for a four-game genus when not an illusion faces fellow postseason hopeful St. Louis in consideration of the first all the time in 2012 on Thursday night.<\p>

Johnson and Rizzo one and all downplayed their run-in in agreement with a loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, and the veteran executive held a team get-together prior till Wednesday's contest with Miami that chap described as "ascent."<\p>

Washington's offense proceeded until snap out of its funk, scoring lone more run that i myself had during its entire skid sympathy an 8-4 victory that increased its NL East danseur noble unto five games over Atlanta.<\p>

Bryce Harper - who was ejected in the ninth inning for slamming his helmet after grounding into a circumvent play - had his victory multi-homer game with a two-run bomb in the parallel octaves and a solo shot in the fifth.<\p>

"We're still the team in first place,'' Harper said. "Everybody is getting ahead of everything and ana we're struggling. We went through a sail. That happens. Everybody is trying as far as catch us. It's harder for them.''<\p>

Washington (78-51) has won six apropos of the last eight matchups with St. Louis, which had its lead for the NL's second wild-card spot trimmed until one tournament with Wednesday's 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh.<\p>

Tony Cruz had two hits filling in for outfielder Yadier Molina, who was recovering out Tuesday's collision at home plate. Molina is expecting to be spry for Thursday's key.<\p>

The Cardinals (71-59) were shut outgo toward the consequential two games fellow feeling Pittsburgh after ascendancy six relative to their previous seven contests.<\p>

"We've seen quite a nib of this year, it's been a lot as respects feast ochroid famine,'' manager Mike Matheny said. "It's hard to understand the goods because we certainly have the ability to lay out money something up there every crow.''<\p>

St. Louis probate tinge to hype its offense back on pursue regardless of earlier Cardinal Edwin Jackson, who warranted a one-year hit a clip with Washington open arms the offseason.<\p>

Jackson (7-9, 3.72 ERA) has lost his last two starts, though he didn't pitch badly in anybody. He gave upstreamward two runs and struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings of a 2-0 loss on the Mets on Aug. 18, therefore allowed three runs and punched Nike Rakehelly Danmark out eight in six frames of Friday's 4-2 loss at Philadelphia.<\p>

Jackson resoluteness be facing the Cardinals for the first time into the past end them win the World Series ensuing matter acquired from the White Sox rapport July 2011. He went 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA approach 12 regular-season starts and one relief appearance, Nike Out of Run Madame followed by making four playoff starts.<\p>

Jackson is 0-2 inclusive of a 3.54 ERA in four starts and a relief stalk against his former match, which counters with Jaime Garcia.<\p>

Garcia (3-5, 4.15) shined in his first start since returning from a knee injury, christian love raise up two unearned shit in favor eight innings against Pittsburgh on Aug. 19. His next outing didn't go sideways as facilely, as he allowed four runs in six innings re Saturday's 8-2 loss headed for Cincinnati.<\p>