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Rockies-Nationals Preview

Apr 22, 2010 - 5:14 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (7-7) at Washington (7-7), 4:35 p.m. EDT

Ubaldo Jimenez knows he won't throw a no-hitter every time he takes the mound, but is confident he'll do it again at some point.

Making his first start since throwing the first no-hitter in the Colorado Rockies' 18-year history, Jimenez looks to continue his early-season dominance Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

Jimenez (3-0, 1.29 ERA) tossed the majors' first no-hitter of the season as Colorado (7-8) posted a 4-0 win over Atlanta on Saturday. He walked six - none after the fifth inning - and struck out seven, and the right-hander was still reaching 98 mph in the ninth.

"It is every pitcher's dream to be out there for nine innings and throw a no-hitter," said Jimenez, who has allowed three runs while striking out 20 in 21 innings this season.

Jimenez also has emerged as one of the league's top pitchers - going 12-3 with a 2.77 ERA in 18 starts since last season's All-Star break - and believes he has what it takes to throw another no-hitter.

"I've been confident the whole time," Jimenez told the Rockies' official website. "I want to keep doing the same things.

"It's something that God gave me the opportunity to do once in a lifetime, probably twice. I don't know when. It's not something that's going to happen every day."

Cincinnati's Johnny Vander Meer in the only pitcher in major league history to throw back-to-back no-hitters, accomplishing the feat in June 1938.

Jimenez was solid in his only start against the Nationals last season, allowing two runs and seven hits in eight innings of a 4-3 win on Aug. 18.

Just as Jimenez is coming off a memorable performance, Washington's Livan Hernandez (2-0, 0.00) is coming off a brilliant outing of his own.

Thought to be a placeholder until phenom Stephen Strasburg is summoned from the minors, Hernandez has yet to allow a run in 16 innings. The 14-year veteran gave up four hits and walked two in Saturday's 8-0 win over Milwaukee for his first complete-game shutout since throwing a three-hitter in a 9-0 victory over Florida on July 30, 2004 when he was with Montreal.

Hernandez hasn't opened a season with three consecutive victories since 2008 with Minnesota. He also pitched for Colorado later that season, and has been very tough against his former team. The right-hander has posted a 1.91 ERA in his last six starts against the Rockies, going 1-1.

Washington (8-7) is coming off a 6-4 win Wednesday. This is the latest into a season the Nationals have been over .500 since finishing 81-80 in 2005.

Last year, Washington got off to a 3-12 start.

"It's 15 games into the season, is all it is," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said, "but we are where we are, and we know we haven't hit our stride."

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is batting .450 with a homer and six RBIs in the last five games for Washington, but left in the seventh inning Wednesday with a right hamstring injury. Zimmerman, who is just 2 for 11 lifetime against Jimenez, wouldn't rule out being available to play Thursday.

Rockies left fielder and leadoff hitter Carlos Gonzalez tied a career-high with four hits Wednesday, raising his batting average 50 points to .383.