INSIDE BASEBALL

Why would Washington sign Mike MacDougal, who was so bad with the Chicago White Sox he was released? Probably because he will fit right in if he’s ever called up from the minors. The Nationals’ bullpen blew 10 of its first 16 save chances and lost 10 of its first 11 decisions, leading to six defeats when they were tied or behind entering the ninth inning. . . . And how about the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen? Starting the weekend series, the Indians had been outscored 109-75 from the sixth inning. . . . Chris Carpenter can’t come back too soon from the strained muscle in his side. While St. Louis Cardinals starters had a 12-2 record and 3.26 ERA in April, they were 2-7 with a 6.61 (and 12 homers given up) in the first 11 May games. . . . Lou Piniella may want to make sure Sean Marshall starts against the Cardinals. Now that Ryan Ludwick is on the DL, the rest of the lineup was hitting .220 against left-handers. . . . In a 15-11 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday, the Colorado Rockies’ Jason Marquis gave up nine runs in 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings and Glendon Rusch gave up six runs in 12 hits in 2 2/3 innings. It was the first time a team had two pitchers give up 10 hits in a game since Aug. 13, 1999, when LaTroy Hawkins gave up 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings and Benj Sampson 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings for the Minnesota Twins in a 14-2 loss to the New York Yankees. . . . Wonder why the Tampa Bay Rays are struggling despite having three hitters (Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett and Carl Crawford) in the league’s top 10 hitters for the first time? Well, partly because Andy Sonnanstine was 1-4 with a 7.27 ERA, lasting only two innings Tuesday. . . . Seattle Mariners Manager Don Wakamatsu has become tired of watching one-time hotshot shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt flailing away. He walked only twice in his first 120 plate appearances. . . . After his well-publicized first starts, CC Sabathia has given up two runs in 17 innings for the New York Yankees. And after his much-publicized hot start, Nick Swisher went into a three-for-30 tailspin. . . . Seems Joe Crede would have been a better fit for the Detroit Tigers than the Twins. Crede has driven in the winning run in all four of the Twins’ victories over the Tigers this season. He has 24 homers against Detroit, his most against any team. . . . The San Diego Padres have scored six runs in Jake Peavy’s last 35 innings. . . . Veteran umpire Rick Reed could make his first big league appearance of the season late this week at U.S. Cellular Field after rehabilitating from two strokes in the minors. . . . Citi Field obviously isn’t U.S. Cellular Field: When the Mets had hit 14 homers in their new home, they had 13 triples.

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dvandyck@tribune.com