After a weekend of coming back from 8th inning deficits, the Nats nearly topped that improbable feat this afternoon. Ramon Ortiz had a no hitter through 8 innings. On the first pitch of the home half of the inning, he hit his first career homer to put the Nats up 3-0. Nick Johnson would double in another run later in the inning. Sadly, Ortiz’s historical bid came to an end in the top of the 9th when SS Aaron Miles singled to left. Oritz did get Chris Duncan to hit into a double play, but the next batter Albert Pujols smashed a homer to section 449, ending Ortiz’s day one out short of a shutout. Chad Coredero came in and struck out Scott Rolen to end the game

Ortiz’s final lines:

8.2 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 5 K 1 HR
3 AB 1 R 2 H 1 RBI 0 BB 1 K 1 LOB