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Strasburg faces Marlins seeking another dominating effort

Apr 15, 2014 - 3:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Former No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg aims for a second straight dominant effort against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night when the Washington Nationals visit them for the middle game of a three- game series.

The right-hander had been just so-so in his first two starts of 2014 - allowing 10 runs in 10 1/3 innings - but he struck out 12 and walked one in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-1 defeat of the Marlins on Thursday in Washington.

He retired 14 straight batters in one stretch and is 2-0 in his last three outings against Miami.

Strasburg is opposed by Miami righty Tom Koehler, who was on the other side of the 7-1 verdict on Thursday.

Koehler gave up five hits and struck out six in six innings in the loss.

The Marlins have lost eight straight games since a 5-1 start and have scored just 22 runs in eight games after pushing 40 runs across in their first six.

Washington won its fifth in a row in the series on Monday, when Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven solid innings and the Nationals recorded 11 extra-base hits in a 9-2 victory.

Zimmermann (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out seven for the Nationals, who were swept by the Braves over the weekend. He tied Livan Hernandez for the most wins as a Nationals pitcher with 44.

Sandy Leon and Tyler Moore homered for Washington, which had 16 hits.

Anthony Rendon went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Bryce Harper had two doubles and an RBI triple.

Garrett Jones hit a solo homer for the Marlins.

Miami starter Brad Hand (0-1) lasted just three innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. Kevin Slowey allowed four runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 frames.

The Nats swept that three-game set with the Marlins last week at home and won five of nine in Miami a season ago.