Nationals 3 - 1 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Mariners send Elias to mound versus Nationals

Aug 30, 2014 - 2:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Roenis Elias takes the mound on Saturday when the Seattle Mariners continue a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Safeco Field.

Elias is 9-11 with a 4.01 earned run average and has lost two straight starts and six of his last eight decisions. He allowed one run in five innings of a 2-0 loss to Texas on Monday and has never faced Washington.

The left-hander, who is 4-6 with a 4.32 ERA in 14 home starts, has allowed no more than two runs in each of his previous six appearances.

Washington, meanwhile, will turn to righty Stephen Strasburg, who is coming off a miserable showing himself. Strasburg was also lucky not to get a loss on Sunday, as the San Francisco Giants lit him up for five runs and eight hits in four innings. The Nats took him off the hook, though, by scoring 14 runs, leaving Strasburg with a no-decision.

Strasburg had given up just one earned run in his previous two starts and is 10-10 on the year with a 3.59 ERA.

Washington rocked Felix Hernandez on Friday, as Wilson Ramos smacked a pair of solo homers and the Nationals rolled to an 8-3 win.

Jayson Werth cracked a two-run shot, while Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper clubbed solo blasts for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"We brought a good approach to the plate today," said Desmond. "We forced (Hernandez) to get the ball up and were able to make him pay."

Rendon finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored and Harper posted three hits.

Jordan Zimmermann (10-5) struck out eight and surrendered two runs on seven hits and a walk over six frames to notch the win.

Hernandez (13-5) served up a career-high four homers, allowing five runs on 10 hits and a walk over seven innings for Seattle, which has dropped three of its last four contests.

"Felix is human," Mariners interim manager Trent Jewett said. "It's going to happen."

The Mariners have yet to beat the Nationals in 10 meetings since Washington relocated from Montreal in 2005.

This is the first series between these teams since 2011.






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