Nationals 8, Marlins 7; Girardi upset by loss  —  WASHINGTON — Marlins manager Joe Girardi has appeared this exasperated before, but it has been a while.  —  Losing was difficult for him when the Marlins opened the season 11-31, but it is more agonizing since they have shown how good they can play.

Introspective Unit  —  Despite dominating early, Johnson upset after getting hit late  —  CLEVELAND — For six innings, Randy Johnson looked like The Big Unit circa 1999.  He breezed past the Indians, allowing only a fifth-inning single to Travis Hafner.  —  But by the eighth he quickly morphed …

A Top Prospect Gets His Shot on the Mound  —  Sometimes, these moments seem significant in retrospect, when a great veteran sits down and a promising young prospect takes his place.  It is an old Broadway theme: The understudy replaces the star just before the curtain rises, and the rest is history.

Cubs' silence speaks volumes  —  Players quietly go about their business as manager Dusty Baker is left twisting in wind  —  MILWAUKEE — It is a quiet place, with no music blaring and no one being overly raucous.  Televisions are tuned to the Western Open, players have a card game going …

Damon is likely out 'til after break  —  CLEVELAND — The Yankees are anticipating they will be without Johnny Damon until after the All-Star break because of his strained right abdominal muscle.  "He may be out for the weekend, whether we're conservative or not," manager Joe Torre said.

Another grand display  —  The Ortiz show powers Red Sox  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — On Tuesday night, Julio Lugo, the Tampa Bay shortstop, was lined up in the second baseman's plot of land, playing the Joe Maddon Shift, when David Ortiz lost a baseball in the seats.

Inner workings revealed  —  The breach in trust between Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino that led to Epstein's departure from the Red Sox, and how principal owner John W. Henry was able to persuade Epstein to return as general manager less than three months later, is explored in a new book by Seth Mnookin …

Gagne May Face Back Surgery  —  Eric Gagne could be facing back surgery that would end his season and, with free agency pending, possibly his career-long affiliation with the Dodgers.  —  An MRI showed as many as two herniated disks in the relief pitcher's lower back, which could be corrected by surgery.

Notes: Silent treatment for Thorman  —  Dugout ignores rookie after first Major League homer  —  ATLANTA — Scott Thorman's first career home run was followed by another big-league first for the 24-year-old rookie: the silent treatment.  —  In the sixth inning of Wednesday's 14-4 win …

Free to play ball  —  JUPITER — His name is Amaury Cazana Marti.  At least, the St. Louis Cardinals are pretty sure.  —  His age?  Depends whom you ask.  Marti, who came to this country from Cuba a little more than a year ago, insists he's 27.  Without a birth certificate or proof otherwise …

Kasten Hopes Others Feel Like Soriano  —  Stan Kasten, incoming president of the Washington Nationals, said yesterday he was heartened by the desire of left fielder Alfonso Soriano to remain with the team beyond this season, after which he will become a free agent.

Minor leaguer Steve Martin dies in crash  —  CHILLICOTHE, Ohio —A minor league baseball player was killed in a car accident just hours after being released by the Chillicothe Paints of the independent Frontier League.  —  Steve Martin's car crossed the center line and veered off a county road …

Notes: Intriguing prospect  —  Melvin reportedly trying to acquire Greg Maddux  —  rbraun@journalsentinel.com  —  Having entered play Thursday just 3½ games out of first in the National League Central, the Milwaukee Brewers are in a position to be a buyer rather than a seller …

From the grass at home to Yankee Stadium  —  Yankees star Johnny Damon is finally opening up about his pot-smoking past.  —  "It's part of life, it's natural, it's from the earth," proclaims the slugger, sounding like he's ready to give praise to Rastafari.

Cards still in market for hitter  —  HOUSTON  —  As recently as Monday afternoon, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty maintained that finding another hitter remained a higher priority than acquiring help for a tattered starting rotation.  But when a deal for Los Angeles Angels righthander …