NL Beat: Wood loses in first start since last July

Kerry Wood walked off the mound after the first inning of his latest comeback, and the fans gave him a standing ovation. Eight pitches and two strikeouts were all it took to retire the Washington Nationals.

For that brief time, he looked like the ace he once was for the Chicago Cubs.

Then his pitches started drifting over the plate and the Nationals started knocking them over the fence. Washington hit three homers over the next two innings and went on to a 5-3 victory Thursday.

Making his first start since July 20 and first appearance since a relief outing Aug. 29 before season-ending shoulder surgery, Wood lasted five innings on a 53-degree day at Wrigley Field.

Wood gave up five hits and four runs with no walks and six strikeouts during a 71-pitch outing.

"I made a couple of bad pitches and a stupid pitch, and it cost me four runs," Wood said. "I expect every time to go out and not give up any runs. But I can't sit here and say I pitched bad. It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to."

Atlanta: The Braves activated relief pitcher Lance Cormier from the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Anthony Lerew back to Class AAA Richmond. Cormier was 2-1 with a 3.00 earned-run average when he went on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle on May 3.

Cincinnati: INF Rich Aurilia, on the DL since May 4 with a strained right groin, will be activated today, with INF Ray Olmedo going down to Class AAA Louisville.

New York: Bench coach Jerry Manuel was ejected in the third inning of Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, apparently for arguing balls and strikes. Manuel said he intervened to save manager Willie Randolph from getting tossed. Randolph said he wasn't going to comment on the umpires, "period." ... Rookie pitcher Brian Bannister abandoned a rehab start for Class AAA Norfolk after only five pitches due to tightness in his right hamstring. Bannister, on the DL since April 28, was to undergo an MRI exam today.

Pittsburgh: OF Chris Duffy, unhappy the Pirates tried to alter his hitting approach after a successful rookie season, was placed on the minor-league restricted list after failing to report to Class AAA Indianapolis.

San Francisco: Commissioner Bud Selig would prefer that fans tone down taunts aimed at Barry Bonds. At one game in Houston this week, a fan dressed up as a syringe. In Philadelphia earlier in the month, there were T-shirts with "Cheater" or "Steroids" on the back. "I don't like manifestations of controversy," Selig said. "There's ugliness and there's nastiness. I would rather not have that. But given the whole entire situation, I'm not surprised at what's gone on."

Washington: The $450 million sale of the Nationals to Theodore Lerner and Stan Kasten was unanimously approved by baseball owners.

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