Jays can't score in Washington

So, the Blue Jays have had a weird road trip thus far.

First, a three-game sweep in Philadelphia against the NL East-leading and defending WS champion Phillies.

Now, the Jays can't beat the worst team in baseball--by far--in Washington. The Nationals were 18-46 going into the series, and have been terrible this season.

But after a pair of extra-inning wins over Toronto, you just have to wonder if the Nats' pitching is that good, or the Jays' hitting that bad.

Brian Tallet pitched well--again--on Friday night, giving up just a run in five innings (before being pinch-hit for in the sixth). Brett Cecil did the job on Saturday, giving up three runs in seven innings.

And yet the Jays lost 2-1 in 11 innings Friday, and followed that up with a 5-3 defeat in 12 on Saturday.

It was Adam Dunn with his bases-loaded single in the first game, sticking it to the Jays (remember how the GM, J.P., dissed Dunn last season, when the Nats slugger was still in Cincinnati?). Then in this latest loss, it was Willie Harris' two-run "walk-off" bomb off Scott Richmond, normally a starter coming on in relief to save the bullpen.

On a night when the Yankees lost 2-1 in Florida (and the Angels losing at the moment to the Dodgers in the Weaver-Weaver brother pitching matchup), the Jays could have gained ground in the Wild Card race by beating the majors' worst team.

But they just couldn't do it.