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Nationals-Rockies Preview

May 15, 2010 - 1:56 AM Washington (20-15) at Colorado (16-18), 8:10 p.m. EDT

At this stage in Livan Hernandez's 15-year career, perhaps even he is surprised to be part of a pair of compelling pitching matchups in Saturday's day-night doubleheader.

After Friday's game was rained out, Hernandez and the Washington Nationals match up with Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies for the second time this season in an anticipated duel between starters with the top two ERAs in the major leagues.

The nightcap features surprising Nationals rookie Luis Atilano going for his fourth straight win while trying to spoil Jason Hammel's return from the disabled list.

The 35-year-old Hernandez (4-1, 1.04 ERA) had a forgettable 2009, finishing with eight starts for Washington after being released by the New York Mets. He also had an ERA above 5.00 for the second straight season.

Still, the Nationals gave the right-hander a minor league contract in February, and he's thrived since being called up April 11.

Hernandez's ERA is second only to that of Jimenez (6-1, 0.93). They were teammates briefly with Colorado in 2008.

Hernandez didn't earn a win Sunday despite giving up one run in seven innings of a 3-2 victory over Florida. He has not surrendered more than two runs in any of his six starts, and opponents are batting .187 against him.

The only loss for Hernandez this year was against Colorado on April 22, when he allowed two runs in eight innings of a 2-0 defeat, and fell to 7-10 with a 4.25 ERA in 26 career starts against the Rockies.

Jimenez struck out five in 7 1-3 innings to earn the win in that contest, five days after throwing the first no-hitter in Rockies history. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five starts versus the Nationals.

Jimenez failed in his attempt to become the first Rockies pitcher to start 7-0. He allowed one run and two hits in seven innings as Colorado was defeated 2-0 by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jimenez has tossed 48 1-3 innings without allowing a home run, and didn't face sluggers Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham in last month's contest. Zimmerman sat out due to a hamstring injury and Willingham was rested.

That duo has combined for 14 homers and 44 RBIs, and Zimmerman hit two homers and had a career-high six RBIs in a 14-6 win in Thursday's series opener, a game that ended after eight innings due to rain.

The surprising Nationals (20-15) first will go for their sixth win in seven games.

"We got a good team," Hernandez said. "We play hard every day and the numbers talk."

Atilano (3-0, 3.57) will try to record another victory and stay unbeaten in his fifth major league start. The right-hander comes off arguably his best outing after pitching 5 1-3 scoreless innings in Monday's 3-2 win in New York.

He'll be opposed by Hammel (0-2, 9.16), who will make his first appearance since April 26. Thats was when a strained right groin caused him to leave a 5-3 loss to Arizona after three innings.

"Fifteen days is a long time to sit, knowing that you're not really helping the team," Hammel said.

Hammel hopes the time off also gave him a chance to work on his consistency. Thirteen of the right-hander's 18 2-3 innings this season have been scoreless, but he's given up 20 runs in the other frames - all but one earned.

He surrendered four runs in the third inning April 21 in Washington but avoided taking the loss in a 6-4 defeat. Hammel is 1-0 with a 3.66 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals.