Good, Bad & Ugly: Livan Leads, Nats Bullpen Loses; 9-4 To Cubs

  "It's nice. I want to come back and pitch in the city. I love the city and playing there. Always the Nationals are my first option and it's something I want to do a long time."-- Livan Hernandez, on his return to D.C., Aug. 26, 2009. THE RESULT: Livan Hernandez returned to the Washington Nationals rotation, and did to the Chicago Cubs what he had done so many times against the Nats while he was gone. But the bullpen ruined the feel-good story, giving up seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings, as the Cubbies took a 9-4 win before 36,562 at Wrigley Field. Hernandez was vintage, throwing 116 pitches through six innings, and allowing just two earned runs on five hits and two walks. He even struck out six for good measure. The only runs he allowed were on a Milton Bradley two-run shot in the third inning. Hernandez (7-8, 5.36) was released by the Mets last week following three shaky starts in which he yielded 26 hits and 18 earned runs in 14.1 innings. He ...