Elsewhere in the NL East this weekend:

Ex Met Mike Jacobs is expected back Monday, after missing some time due to a thumb injury. The Marlins beat the Nats earlier today 12-6.  The Nats Jerome Williams gave up 10 runs, and Manny Acta pulled Ryan Church for not running out a grounder.  Its only assumed Acta is using lessons learned from the book of Willie Randolph as he tries to get the young Nats team turned around.  Zimmerman had a grand slam to make the game almost close, and but Uggla went long twice, Cabrera once and another from Willingham in the Marlins runfest.  The Marlins are now 8-10, the Nats 6-13.

Philly beat the Reds, and Ryan Howard returned after being day to day with a strain and getting an MRI.  He had a homerun as part of his welcome back party and Utley added two doubles.  The team was reported to have held a players only meeting this weekend, and have now won two in a row. The two game streak included Philly pulling a triple play on the Reds yesterday.  Red catcher, Ross, grounded to third allowing the force out there, followed by a relay to Utley (2nd) and Helms (1st) to make it three.  The last Philly triple play was against the Mets.

While the Mets lost their series to the Braves, and head back to Shea with a 4-2 record, here’s a quick look at what else is going on in the NL East:

The Nats were swept by the Diamondbacks in a four game series at RFK. The games have been been both close (3-1 in their last loss) and not so much (7-1 Friday). The starting staff’s ERA’s are running a little high (Patterson 9.35, Williams 6.0, Bergmann 9.82). The Nats are now 1-6.

The Phillies are also struggling, dropping five of six, including a 6-4 loss today at Dolphins Stadium vs the Marlins. Ryan Howard is batting .217, Utley .259, and Met fan favorite Jimmy Rollins a .304 with 3 homeruns.

The Marlins, after finishing with Philly, is now 4-2. After 22 at bats is hitting .500 with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBI’s. D-Train is 2-0, having given up 5 runs, 4 earned, in 12 innings pitched. He’s struck out 12 and walked 3.