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Nationals-Marlins Preview

Sep 11, 2009 - 4:49 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Washington (47-92) at Florida (74-65), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Even if the Florida Marlins don't make the postseason, they're having fun trying. Facing the Washington Nationals could further increase their enjoyment level.

With Josh Johnson on the mound, the Marlins look for a fourth straight win overall and 11th in a row at home over the lowly Nationals on Friday night.

Florida (75-65) completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets with a 13-4 win Thursday to conclude a 5-1 road trip that it began by taking two of three at Washington.

The Marlins, who've won seven of eight, are five games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East and 5 1/2 back of wild-card leader Colorado with 22 games remaining. Florida has six games left against the Phillies, who fell 8-7 to the Nationals on Thursday.

"It's a fun part of the year if you're doing it," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said of scoreboard watching.

Nick Johnson drove in four runs and Dan Uggla hit his 27th homer Thursday for the Marlins, who are batting .317 and averaging 7.6 runs in their last eight contests.

Nick Johnson is batting .355 with 15 RBIs in 19 games since being acquired from Washington on July 31. The veteran first baseman is hitting .381 with five RBIs against his former club since the trade.

"It's been a while for me but this is what it's all about," Johnson said about being in a playoff race.

The Marlins are 11-4 this season against the major league-worst Nationals (48-92), who haven't won at Florida since July 1, 2008.

Josh Johnson (14-4, 3.04 ERA), looks to remain perfect against the Nationals while facing them for the second time in seven days.

The right-hander is 5-0 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts against the Nationals, including 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five this season. He allowed one run and two hits in five innings to earn the victory in a 9-5 win at Washington on Saturday.

The Marlins' ace was removed after 82 pitches because Gonzalez was worried that throwing 48 pitches in the first two innings might have overextended him. Johnson's thrown a career-high 183 1/3 innings this season.

"I know they're going to be watching out for me a little bit, so those are just those things that you can't do anything about," said Johnson, who's 7-2 with a 2.39 ERA in 14 home starts this season.

Washington's J.D. Martin (3-4, 4.35) will also be making his second straight start against the Marlins. He gave up two runs in a career high-tying 6 2-3 innings Sunday, but didn't earn a decision in the Nationals' 5-4 win over Florida.

The rookie right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.06 ERA in his last six starts.

Adam Dunn hit his 36th home run while shortstop Ian Desmond homered and drove in four runs in his major league debut Thursday for the Nationals, who won for the second time in 12 games.

Dunn is batting .346 with four homers and 12 RBIs this season against the Marlins, but is 3 for 13 with five strikeouts versus Johnson.