Logan hits his stride on big night

HOUSTON — Nook Logan didn’t know he became a part of franchise history with his five hits Tuesday night.

But the Washington outfielder became the 16th player in the Nationals/Expos franchise history with at least five hits in a game.

I didn’t know it was anything in the team history or on the leader board for hits in a game or anything like that, Logan said. I just took the same approach I do every time out there. I know I won’t have that same success every night.

Logan went 5-for-6 at the plate and tied a career high with three RBI. He didn’t have five hits in a game at any level before Tuesday’s clinic.

Logan said he knows those things balance out over the course of a season.

On our last homestand, in two games against New York and Philadelphia, I lined out to every infield position, Logan said. You just try to go out and get hits, find holes.

Finding holes was Logan’s specialty Tuesday as the outfielder followed up a first-inning fly-out with a double and four singles.

Before Logan’s final single, Washington had the longest five-hit drought in the major leagues. Mark Grudzielanek was the last player to collect five hits in a game when he did it for the Expos on May 8, 1998.

Logan has been one of the Nationals’ most consistent offensive weapons since the All-Star break and was batting .388 in August heading into last night’s game.

Although he didn’t know he was making a bit of history, Logan did feel confident the performance was part of the reason he was in the starting lineup again last night.

I think that will help anybody, but you only have three outfield spots, and our outfielders are all playing well now, he said.

The Nationals outfield, which includes of Logan, Wily Mo Pena, Austin Kearns and Ryan Church, had been in three different arrangements in as many games before last night, when the team went with Pena in left, Logan in center and Kearns in right for the second straight time.

Nationals manager Manny Acta said he’s not worried about having to rotate the players.

It’s better than not having enough [outfielders], Acta said. Most of the guys here have got enough at-bats. We want to find out more about Pena and see if Logan can continue the success he’s been having out there.

Back in the bullpen

Jesus Colome made his second straight relief appearance Tuesday after returning from the disabled list Sunday.

In his combined three innings of work over the first two games of the Houston series, the right-hander allowed four hits and one run (earned) while getting a strikeout and walking a batter.

The addition of Colome gave us the lift [the bullpen] needed in the past two days, Acta said.

Extra bases

Outfielder Ryan Langerhans, who was designated for assignment when Colome was brought back from the disabled list, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus.

The 27-year-old was batting .153 with five homers and 20 RBI in 108 games with Atlanta, Oakland and Washington.

There’s a better version of him we’ve already seen back in Atlanta, Acta said. He’s going down to get some at-bats and try to get that back. There’s a very good chance he’ll be coming up [in September].