This game started out ugly. In typical Ricky Nolasco fashion, it took him 31 pitches to get out of the first inning in which he gave up yet another home run. In this case, it was a 2-run shot that would ultimately prove to be the only runs the Nats would score all day.
Tanner Roark was dealing, and a Luis Valbuena double would be the ONLY hit the Angels would manage over the first 4 innings as this game was cruising right along. Nolasco, who escaped a bases loaded jam in the 4th was thankful to Luis Valbuena (again), when he launched a solo home run to center field in the 5th.