Lannan allows 4 hits in 7 innings; Nats blank Cubs 2-0

[April 28, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- John Lannan pitched four-hit ball for seven innnings, and Wily Mo Pena and Wil Nieves had back-to-back RBI singles to lead the Washington Nationals to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Lannan (2-2) matched a career high with his seven innings in helping the Nationals bounce back from a 7-0 loss to the Cubs Saturday. The left-hander struck out three, walked four and didn't allow a hit until Ronny Cedeno singled to start the fifth.

Luis Ayala and Jon Rauch each pitch a hitless inning to complete the shutout. Rauch finished for his fourth save.

Lilly (1-4), making his 200th start, gave up two runs on four hits in six innings, with most of his trouble coming in the second inning when Pena and Nieves had back-to-back RBI singles. Washington got only one hit the rest of the game.

Nick Johnson started the second-inning rally with a leadoff single. Lastings Milledge moved Johnson to second with a sacrifice, and Pena brought him in two batters later with a two-out single to left.

Pena went to second on the throw home and scored on Nieves' single.

Chicago missed scoring chances in the fifth and sixth. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Ryan Theriot grounded into a double play.

They put runners at second and third with one out in the sixth, but Lannan then got Mark DeRosa and Cedeno to ground out.

Notes: Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made his 200th consecutive start. ... The victory gave the Nationals their first home-series win this season as they took two of three from the Cubs. ... Cedeno now has hits in seven of his last eight games.

[Associated Press; By JOHN MARSHALL]

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