Plenty of opportunities, but zero runs early (Nats lose 1-0)

MILWAUKEE - The Nationals are giving themselves plenty of opportunities to get on the board against Jimmy Nelson. They just aren't making anything out of those opportunities so far.

Despite six baserunners in three innings - four of them reaching at least second base - the Nationals have posted nothing but zeroes against the Brewers, making for a frustrating start to tonight's game.

Nelson has baffled them, in particular with a curveball that he is rarely throwing in the strike zone but is still inducing swings-and-misses. The right-hander has eight strikeouts in four innings.

The Nationals saw Daniel Murphy single and advance to second base in the top of the first, only to be stranded when Ryan Zimmerman struck out on a curveball down and away.

Howie Kendrick singled, stole second and took third on a throwing error in the top of the second, yet was stranded when Jayson Werth and Michael A. Taylor struck out and Tanner Roark flied out to left.

Trea Turner then walked, stole second and took third on a passed ball to lead off the top of the third, giving the Nationals their best chance yet. But despite loading the bases after Wilmer Difo walked and Zimmerman was hit by a pitch in the left arm, they still stranded everyone without so much as making contact. Murphy struck out on a high fastball, Kendrick struck out looking at a fastball and Werth struck out swinging at a curveball down and away.

That leaves the Nationals 0-for-6 with five strikeouts with runners in scoring position tonight.

Roark has pitched well himself, with six strikeouts through four innings. But the right-hander was done in by one mistake: a hanging curveball to Neil Walker in the bottom of the first, which Walker launched to right field for a solo homer.

That leaves the Nationals trailing 1-0 after four innings.

Update: With six innings in the books, this remains a 1-0 Brewers lead. The Nats contunue not to do anything against Nelson, who matched his career high with 11 strikeouts by the end of the fifth.

Roark has been able to keep his teammates in the game, though, thanks in no small part to a great escape act in the bottom of the fifth. The Brewers had the bases loaded with nobody out, but Roark got Orlando Arcia to tap a ball five feet in front of the plate, and Jose Lobaton pulled off a rare 2-3 double play. Roark then struck out Nelson to quash the rally and keep this a 1-0 game.

Update II: This was a 1-0 game after one inning, and it remained a 1-0 game after nine innings. The Nats simply could not push across a run, and thus were shut out for the fifth time this season (all coming in the last two months). They wasted Roark's 10-strikeout gem. On the bright side, the Marlins lost again, so the magic number is down to 14.