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Brewers-Nationals Preview

Aug 23, 2009 - 5:14 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Milwaukee (59-62) at Washington (43-79), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Milwaukee Brewers aren't necessarily playing better against the Washington Nationals than they did against their previous opponent, but at least the results have been more favorable.

Milwaukee will try to win its third straight Sunday as it continues a four-game series with the Nationals.

The Brewers (60-62) seem to have played themselves out of the playoff race with their recent struggles, which have dropped them 9 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Cardinals and 8 1/2 games back of Colorado for the NL wild card. While Milwaukee has dropped seven of its last 12, it has won its first two games against Washington (43-80), including an ugly 11-9 victory Saturday.

The Brewers chased Nationals starter John Lannan with a five-run second innings and took an 8-2 lead in the third, but Washington came back with a Ronnie Belliard grand slam in the third inning and two more runs in the fourth to tie it.

The teams each used five relievers and the Brewers won despite going 8 for 21 with runners in scoring position. Mike Cameron and Felipe Lopez each had four hits, with Cameron driving in three runs.

"It would have been (devastating) if we lost," Cameron said.

Milwaukee's back-to-back wins come after a four-game losing streak. The Brewers scored eight runs in a series with the NL Central-worst Pirates, falling behind early in all three games. Against the Nationals, Milwaukee's biggest problem has been protecting leads. On Friday, it scored two runs in the first but allowed Washington to tie the game in the bottom of the inning en route to a 7-3 win.

The major league-worst Nationals have lost five straight amid some horrendous starting pitching. Their rotation has an 8.10 ERA during the skid and has failed to make it out of the second inning twice.

"I'm the eternal optimist. I'm just very happy our guys are competing like they are," interim manager Jim Riggleman said. "They keep fighting, they keep coming back."

Craig Stammen (3-6, 5.13 ERA), who gets the start for Washington on Sunday, is coming off an effective start though he hasn't received a decision in his last three outings and hasn't recorded a win since July 22 against the New York Mets. The rookie right-hander gave up two runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 4-3 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday.

Stammen did not get a decision against the Brewers on July 27 in Milwaukee after allowing five runs, nine hits and two home runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 14-6 win.

Washington will try to snap its losing streak against Milwaukee starter Manny Parra (8-9, 6.33 ERA), who lost for the first time since June 13 after giving up four runs in six innings of a 5-2 defeat at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The left-hander had won his previous four starts despite a 6.48 ERA during that stretch, benefiting from an 11.5 run-support average.

Parra beat the Nationals on July 29 despite allowing five runs and walking five in six innings. He struck out seven in the 7-5 victory.