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Nationals-Giants Preview

May 24, 2010 - 6:31 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Washington (23-22) at San Francisco (22-21), 10:15 p.m. EDT

The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of their worst offensive slump of the season and mired in their longest losing streak in more than a year.

Trying to get things turned around against the surprisingly strong Livan Hernandez probably won't be easy.

The Giants look to avoid losing their sixth in a row when they open a three-game series against Hernandez and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night at AT&T Park.

After beating San Diego last Tuesday to pull within one-half game of the first-place Padres in the NL West, San Francisco (22-21) has lost five straight to drop 3 1/2 back.

A scuffling offense has been the biggest reason for this skid, the Giants' longest since dropping six in a row April 10-16, 2009.

They have scored one run or fewer four times during the losing streak and are coming off back-to-back three-hit shutouts. San Francisco, which lost 3-0 to Oakland on Sunday, was limited to one run while going 0 for 18 with runners in scoring position in the three-game series against the A's.

"It's really, really tough. It's frustrating," said catcher Bengie Molina, who snapped an 0-for-17 funk Sunday. "It's very sad. Every day we go out there and don't score."

Manager Bruce Bochy shook up his lineup Sunday, moving Andres Torres to the leadoff spot and Aaron Rowand to the sixth hole, but the results were the same.

"We didn't get a run - can't say that worked," Bochy said.

Although Torres was hitless in three at-bats Sunday, Bochy plans to stick with him at the top of the order against Hernandez (4-2, 1.62 ERA).

Hernandez is one of the biggest surprises in baseball. His ERA is the third-best in the majors and nearly three runs fewer than his career average.

Pitching on three days' rest Wednesday against the New York Mets, Hernandez didn't receive a decision after giving up two runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 victory.

While Hernandez is enjoying an All-Star caliber season, he hasn't had much success against his former team recently.

The right-hander, who pitched for San Francisco from 1999-2002, has posted an 8.31 ERA in his last three starts against the Giants.

Washington is opening a 10-game road trip after Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning win over Baltimore. Josh Willingham hit a one-out homer in the 10th to give the Nationals their second win in a row after a 1-7 stretch.

"We just have to keep playing hard," Willingham told the Nationals' official website. "This game is an emotional win for us and hopefully we can carry it on and have a good road trip."

Washington hasn't had much success in San Francisco, though, losing five of six over the past two seasons.

Despite the Nationals' struggles at AT&T Park, Ryan Zimmerman is batting .440 with two homers and four RBIs in his last five games there.

Zimmerman and the Nationals will open this series against Todd Wellemeyer (2-4, 5.71), who is trying to put another shaky outing behind him.

In Wednesday's 13-1 loss at Arizona, Wellemeyer only gave up four hits, but three of them were home runs. He also walked five and allowed five runs in five innings.

Wellemeyer hopes to bounce back at AT&T Park, where he's 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA in four outings.

The right-hander has also had success against the Nationals, posting a 1.38 ERA in winning both starts.