Baker confirms Giolito will start Sunday; Cole held his own vs. Rockies

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed after yesterday's game what was expected: Right-hander Lucas Giolito will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday to start against the Rockies in the deciding game of a three-game set.

"Tomorrow it's going to be Giolito, so I'm hoping he throws up a gem against a very tough lineup," Baker said following the Nationals' 9-4 11-inning loss to Colorado.

This will be Giolito's fourth start for the Nationals. He is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts. His last minor league performance was Aug. 17 against Toledo when he pitched seven innings, allowed seven hits and one run, with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

It has been a big year for the Nats' top pitching prospects. Reynaldo Lopez and A.J. Cole have started games as the club fought through disabled list stints by starters Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross.

Cole did well Saturday against the Rockies, lasting 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, with three walks and four strikeouts. He fired 112 pitches, 71 for strikes. He once again kept the Nats in the game, giving them a shot at winning. The start was similar to his outing against the Orioles, when he went seven innings and allowed four runs.

"I felt pretty good," Cole said. "My location was a little off, but I made the best of it and went about it.

"I pitched in the same ways I did with the other lineup. I have a great defense behind me, as well. I'm not worried about making certain pitches because I know they're going to be there. It helps a lot."

But Cole's wild pitch on an attempted intentional walk allowed a run to score. After the game, he still didn't know what happened.

"I really don't know," Cole said. "It was one of those things that happened. First time I've ever done it and hopefully it never happens again."

Saturday was Cole's first start at Nationals Park, and he appreciated the ovation as he walk off the field.

"The fans here are great," Cole said. "To go out there and pitch the best that I can and then get an ovation like that, it means a lot to me.

"I got the chance to come up here last year and get a feel for it. Then, when I got back down, I knew what I had to work on. I was working really hard on that. When I got back up here, I went about my business."

Left fielder Jayson Werth said he certainly has appreciated what young starters like Cole have done to try to get this club through a rough stretch of 20 games without a day off.

"Yeah, he's really done a great job for us,' Werth said. "Unfortunately, couldn't score enough to give him a chance at the win. But we're banged-up right now. Like I said, it's a rough stretch. This is the time of year when it's tough.

"You got a lot of stuff working against you right now. We just got to get through this. We have an off-day coming up, hopefully that helps. September's close, we got reinforcements coming. Hopefully we can pick up that game tomorrow and win the series, then go on the road, so we're fine. Just going through a rough stretch, but we're right where we need to be."

Programming note: Check out "Nats Insider" today at noon on 106.7 The Fan with my guests, Nationals chief revenue and marketing officer Valerie Camillo and MLB.com's Bill Ladson. We'll also have a Tanner Roark interview and Craig Heist visits with Ken Rosenthal, plus your phone calls.

Update: To make room for Giolito, infielder Wilmer Difo has been optioned to Double-A Harrisburg.