April 3 -- ONE HIT? (AND YOUR LINEUP)

Well, that was something you don't see every day. In fact, it happens once every five years or so.

The Phillies were one-hit last night. By Nationals journeyman right-hander Tim Redding, who looked more like Cy Young for seven innings, and two relievers. The last time the Phillies had only one hit in a game? Try July 2, 2003, against the Cubs at Veterans Stadium.

"I couldn't believe, I looked up in the eighth inning and we had one [hit]," Geoff Jenkins said after the 1-0 loss.

It was all too real. Redding flummoxed the Phillies from the start. They never even advanced a runner to second base. That may be even harder to fathom than the one hit. I was in the press box, but I could imagine Harry Kalas doing his best impression of Bob Uecker in Major League: "One hit? That's all we got? One hit?" Ueck would've mixed in a few off-color words, of course.

And now, the Phillies are in danger of being swept in their season-opening homestand for the third time in as many years. In 2006, they lost four straight to the Cardinals. Last season, they dropped three straight against the Braves.

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Few changes in today's lineup against Nationals RHP Jason Bergmann, who, like myself (and also Nationals president Stan Kasten), graduated from Manalapan High School in New Jersey: SS Jimmy Rollins, CF Shane Victorino, 2B Chase Utley, 1B Ryan Howard, LF Pat Burrell, RF Geoff Jenkins, 3B Pedro Feliz, C Chris Coste, LHP Jamie Moyer.

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So, what's the deal with Wes Helms? It's explained within the notebook, but the Phillies have 10 days to dispose of his contract, either by trading, waiving or releasing him.

First, they'll try to swing a deal. That won't be easy. They've been shopping Helms since the end of January, when they signed Feliz, but there was absolutely no interest during spring training. If the Phillies can't trade Helms, they'll put him on waivers. But it would be foolish for a team to claim Helms because they would assume full responsibility for his $2.15 million salary in 2008 and the $750,000 buyout of his 2009 option.

That leaves the Phillies with releasing Helms. Once that happens, any team that signs him would have to pay him only $390,000 (the major-league minimum salary), and the Phillies would be responsible for the rest of the $2.5 million or so that's still owed to him. As we mentioned in today's notebook, the Dodgers may be interested in Helms, especially since Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche are injured. But they may be inclined to wait until the Phillies release him.

"If two or three teams have a need, it may not be that difficult," GM Pat Gillick said of the prospect of trading Helms. "But we can't be terribly optimistic."

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Check out how last night's game looked through Bill Bretzger's camera.

Enjoy today's game. More later.