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Marlins-Nationals Preview

May 8, 2010 - 10:02 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Florida (14-15) at Washington (15-14), 1:35 p.m. EDT

As a 22-year-old rookie, Livan Hernandez helped the Florida Marlins win their first World Series in 1997. Thirteen years later, Hernandez shows no signs of slowing down with his current team.

Hernandez looks to continue his brilliant start Sunday when the Washington Nationals try to win their series against the visiting Marlins.

After going 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts for Florida in 1997, Hernandez was even better in the postseason, going 4-0 and being named World Series MVP after winning twice against the Cleveland Indians.

Not ready to retire after splitting time with the New York Mets and Washington last season, Hernandez (4-1, 0.99 ERA) signed a minor league deal with the Nationals in February and has been by far the team's most effective starter. He's allowed five runs in 36 1-3 innings while holding opponents to a .186 average.

Despite walking a season-high five in a season-low 5 1/3 innings Tuesday, the right-hander beat Atlanta as he allowed two runs - one earned - in a 6-3 win. He threw 41 of his season-high 123 pitches in the first inning, but the Braves scored just once.

"I'll say this about Livan, the repertoire might not blow your mind, but that guy knows how to pitch," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. "He changes speeds on every single pitch that he has."

Hernandez is 13-8 with a 3.60 ERA in 28 career starts versus Florida.

He'll try to help the Nationals (16-14) win their second straight after they snapped a three-game slide to the Marlins with Saturday's 5-4 victory.

Florida (14-16) will try to bounce back behind Anibal Sanchez (1-2, 4.06) as it closes the first leg of its six-game trip. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings in all five of his starts and has a 2.37 ERA in the last three.

Sanchez, 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA in nine starts against Washington, was solid in his last outing in Tuesday's 9-6, 12-inning loss to San Francisco. He went six innings, giving up three runs and five hits.

"Anibal gave us an opportunity to do what we did, against a very tough pitcher (two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum)," manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Marlins' official website. "We had it going. It was just one of those games."

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, held to one hit in his last nine at-bats versus Sanchez, will look to extend his hitting streak against Florida to 13. Zimmerman, 5 for 11 in his last three games, is batting .408 with seven home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 12 games versus the Marlins.

Florida first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who had the game-winning single in Friday's 4-2 victory, hit a two-run homer Saturday and is batting .346 lifetime against Washington. He has never faced Hernandez.

Gonzalez said outfielder Bryan Petersen will make his first career start Sunday. Petersen had a pinch-hit single in his first major league at-bat Friday.

Florida has won 15 of 23 against Washington since the beginning of last season.