Henry Rodriguez News

Ryan Mattheus allowed five runs in one inning of Washington's 13-4 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Where the Nationals could afford to make change, though, is the structure of their bullpen.

On at least two occasions Sunday, play was halted at Petco Park when beach balls fell onto the warning track, which also provided about the lone semblance of respite the Nationals' pitching staff would get all day.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson joked before Thursday's game about walking through the locker room and having his relief pitchers come up and introduce themselves.

Henry Rodriguez pitched 1/3 of an inning during Sunday's Nationals - Reds game. Obviously, it wasn't a great outing as he walked 3 and gave up an earned run.

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo have been telling fans in the nation's capital to just be patient with right-handed flame thrower Henry Rodriguez for some time now and in his last few outings he's begun to reward the team's faith.

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In the slog that is a 162-game baseball season, the importance of the way a team starts the season often teeters on a highwire.