This has not been a good afternoon so far for Washington pitchers. Daniel Cabrera and Ross Detwiler each struggled against the Cardinals, though via different paths.

Cabrera, who usually deals with control issues, actually found the plate too much in his two innings. He was roughed up for four hits (three of them extra bases) and allowed two runs (one earned). Threw 22 of his 34 pitches for strikes. Unfortunately, too many of those were promptly drilled into the outfield at Roger Dean Stadium.

Detwiler, meanwhile, was all over the place in the third inning. He faced five batters. He walked the first three (including Albert Pujols on four pitches), then served up a 2-run double to Ryan Ludwick and then walked Chris Duncan before Manny Acta mercifully ended his afternoon. Detwiler's final line: 0 ip, 1 h, 3 er, 4 bb, 0 k. You've got to assume the kid was nervous pitching against a Cardinals team he grew up rooting for. (The left-hander grew up near St. Louis in Wentzville, Mo., and I'm sure is a Pujols fan. Will be interested to hear what he has to say about it.)

So now in the fourth inning here, it's Cards 5, Nats 0. No hits for D.C. yet; only man to reach was Lastings Milledge on an HBP.

Finally, your up-to-the-minute GM update (is this really what we've come to?): Stan Kasten was seen at the Nats' "B-squad" game against Team Italy in Viera a little while ago. No sign of Bowden there, but I am told by a reliable source that he is still Nats GM at this moment.

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