by Sports Xchange

Updated: July 19, 2008, 5:00 AM EST

add this RSS blog email print

A season full of injuries produced perhaps its oddest concoction on Friday, when catcher Johnny Estrada was activated from the disabled list, giving Washington more catchers (four) than it has outfielders (three).

Because the Nationals have enough players versatile enough to play multiple positions, the lineup works for now. But odds are Washington won't carry four catchers for long.

Jesus Flores has established himself as the starter a year earlier than expected, which could mean one of the two veterans the Nationals signed in the offseason -- Paul Lo Duca or Estrada -- might be on his way out of town. Lo Duca could be traded before the end of the month. There's also a chance Estrada could be released, if the team decides journeyman Wil Nieves is a more dependable backup.

"We have to take a look at him, and see where he's at right now," manager Manny Acta said. "It is July, we do have four catchers and we have to make some decisions."

BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6: Despite the fact that Washington scored five earned runs off Tim Hudson -- or half the total it had managed in 11 games against the right-hander before Friday -- Hudson ran his career record against the Nationals to 8-1.

That was mostly because of the Braves' four-run third inning off Washington's Tim Redding. Both of Redding's walks in the inning turned into runs on a bases-clearing double by Brian McCann. He gave up six runs in four innings, tying his shortest start of the season.

Washington pulled within one in the ninth inning, getting the tying run to third with two outs, but Jeff Francoeur caught a hard liner from Austin Kearns to end the game.