By TODD JACOBSON
WASHINGTON--Bill Bray needed just one pitch to earn a win in his major league debut a week ago.
His workload was significantly heavier in the Nationals' 9-8 12-inning win over the Philadelphia Phillies Friday, and Washington's rookie left-hander may have proved much more.
Bray pitched three perfect innings to help Washington avoid a potentially embarrassing defeat Friday, running his scoreless streak to 5 innings since he was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans June 2.
Robert Fick's pinch-hit single in the 12th inning provided the winning run in a wild five-and-a-half hour affair and closer Chad Cordero got the win after pitching two scoreless innings.
But it was Bray's breakout performance that drew plenty of praise from manager Frank Robinson after the game.
"He answered a lot of questions last night and he also answered that he can go three effective innings," Robinson said. "Now am I at ease with him, and [would I] put him in any type of situation? Just about. Yes."
The Nationals had been looking forward to Bray's arrival since he was the team's first-round draft pick in 2004 out of William & Mary, but Robinson had steered away from using the 23-year-old in tight situations during his first week in the majors, though in his debut he threw just one pitch to earn the win over the Milwaukee Brewers June 3.
But he really didn't officially retire a batter in that game. Catcher Brian Schneider threw out Corey Koskie to end the eighth inning.
He didn't need any help Friday.
"I think I proved a little bit to myself that I could go out there and get the job done," Bray said. "So that's a good feeling."
Guillen activatedAs tough as it was for Jose Guillen to go on the disabled list last month, he's hoping the two-week rest can rejuvenate his season.
Guillen, who has battled a sore right hamstring since early May, was activated from the disabled list before yesterday's game and popped up in his only at-bat after entering the game as an eighth-inning replacement for Marlon Anderson.
Guillen is expected to start today's series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Right fielder Mike Vento (.278 in nine games) was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Guillen.
"This is pretty much a new start for me," Guillen said. "I just want to start from the beginning now and just go on from here today."
Guillen was hitting .212 with five homers and 19 RBIs when he went on the disabled list May 26. He left Washington for the team's minor league complex in Viera, Fla., the next day, and without Guillen in the clubhouse, the Nationals were 9-4.
"The key thing is he is healthy," Robinson said. "We wanted to make sure we got it right this time."
Fick's rewardThe chatter coming from Robert Fick's mouth almost never stops, and he's never been shy of telling Robinson that he belongs in the lineup.
But Fick's key hit in Friday's win may have made the loudest statement.
"It makes me feel more a part of the team," Fick said. "Especially we've been winning a lot lately and we gave up the lead yesterday and we really needed to win that game. That was a game where it could change our luck. We lose that game, who knows what could happen?"
Fick had surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow in March and though he was activated from the disabled list May 13, he had only 13 at-bats and two starts entering yesterday's game.
"He is off the wall anyway, so I don't pay attention to him," Robinson said. "But the one thing that I've always admired about him is that he can hit and he knows how to hit."
Fick got that playing time he wanted, too. Catcher Brian Schneider will get the day off today and Fick will start in his place.
Bunt issuesAfter Damian Jackson failed to lay down a bunt in a key situation for the second time in the last two weeks, Robinson had a suggestion for him.
"If I am Damian Jackson I would be out here every day working on my bunting," Robinson said. "Every day, to the point where I would at least come to where I could get the ball down say 50 percent of the time anyway."
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com