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Blue Jays-Nationals Preview

Jun 20, 2009 - 4:59 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Toronto (37-31) at Washington (18-46), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Washington Nationals have used three strong pitching performances to match their longest winning streak of the season.

Starting their third rookie in as many games, the Nationals seek another solid effort as they try for a season-high fourth straight victory Saturday night in the second of a three-game set against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

Seven Washington pitchers limited the potent Blue Jays offense to seven hits in Friday night's 2-1 win in 11 innings. That set the table for Adam Dunn to record his third straight game-winning RBI with a bases-loaded single to right field, giving the Nationals (19-46) their first extra-inning victory this season.

"I was trying to get something I could hit in the air. The first two pitches, (Jason Frasor) just kind of blew by me and I don't really have a two-strike swing," said Dunn, who has struck out 70 times in 231 at-bats. "But I told myself (to use) a more level swing, and I just tried to put the ball in play."

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann held the Blue Jays (37-32), who had 23 runs and 41 hits in a three-game sweep at Philadelphia, to one run and five hits over 5 2-3 innings.

The Nationals will try to help rookie left-hander Ross Detwiler (0-3, 5.23 ERA) earn his first major league victory and win four in a row for the first time since a seven-game win streak last Aug. 26-Sept. 1.

Detwiler, however, has only one quality start in his last four outings and has suffered all three of his defeats in that span. The rookie did not factor in the decision in Sunday's 5-4 loss in Tampa Bay after allowing four runs and five walks over six innings.

In addition to failing to record a strikeout for the first time in seven career appearances, he also gave up a tying home run to Gabe Kapler.

"I just didn't execute my pitch there," Detwiler told the Nationals' official Web site. "Left it down and in, and he's a low-ball hitter. You see what happens."

Toronto, second in the AL with a .278 average, received its only multihit performance in Friday's game from outfielder Vernon Wells and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Rob Barajas, who hit a pinch-hit homer to beat Philadelphia on Thursday, drove in his team's only run on a fifth-inning single.

"We lost the game lots of times," first baseman Lyle Overbay said. "We had plenty of chances. We just couldn't get it done."

Since enduring an 0-for-16 slump, Wells is 8 for 21 (.381) in his last four games, but hasn't homered in 158 at-bats - his longest career drought.

The Blue Jays hitters will try to help Roy Halladay's expected replacement - Brett Cecil - earn his third career victory, putting him within 138 of the former AL Cy Young Award winner. Halladay was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday because of a strained groin.

Cecil (2-1, 4.38) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas before the game and made four starts last month after his contract was purchased on May 1.

The 22-year-old, who has never faced the Nationals, went 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in five starts for the 51s after being returned to the minors May 21.