Fundamental loss

"Take your pick of costly mistakes, because there is no shortage from which to choose," Barry Svrluga writes in his assessment of Saturday's game. Bad pitches, poor throws, missed opportunities on the bases, and more plagued the Nats yesterday. The biggest was the passed ball charged to Jesus Flores after Jesus Colome and Ray King walked the bases loaded in the eighth, allowing a run to score; the run came the difference when Flores hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Cards beat the Nats, 5-4, bringing the Nats back down to .500 after a 3-0 start. (Box score) The pitcher entrusted with breaking that losing streak is John Lannan, called up from Triple-A to keep the pitching staff on regular rest while Shawn Hill continues his rehab. "Just another opportunity," Lannan said about the opportunity. Hill, meanwhile, is still scheduled to pitch next Sunday after making a rehab start Tuesday for high-A Potomac. The team, those, is keeping its options ...