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Jun 11, 2010 - 4:35 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Washington (29-31) at Cleveland (22-36), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Manny Acta is known for his patience and optimism. Those qualities have been tested in his first season as Cleveland Indians manager.

Acta will face the team that fired him last season for the first time Friday night when the Indians open a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals.

Washington (30-31) gave Acta his first managerial job in 2007, with the hopes of turning the moribund franchise around. He received a few votes for NL manager of the year that season as the Nationals avoided a last-place finish for the first time since moving to the nation's capital in 2005.

His second season was an injury-riddled campaign that resulted in 102 losses, before a 26-61 record at the All-Star break in 2009 was the impetus for his dismissal. The Nationals, though, appreciate their time under Acta.

"Personally, I like Manny, he was a good guy," left fielder Josh Willingham told the Nationals' official website. "I got along with him well. So it's going to be good to go back and see him and talk to him."

This series is also a reunion for Indians left fielder Austin Kearns, who is hitting .423 in his last seven games. Kearns spent the last three-plus seasons with the Nationals.

Bad luck has dogged Acta throughout his first season in Cleveland (23-36), with center fielder Grady Sizemore out for the season due to knee surgery. Promising shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera won't return until the All-Star break at the earliest due to a fractured forearm, while Russell Branyan missed most of the first month of the season with a herniated disc.

Branyan was the hero Thursday, as his looping two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Cleveland an 8-7 victory over Boston - its second straight win.

"I hit it and just held my breath until it hit the ground," Branyan said.

Acta's former club is seeking a season-high fourth straight victory after sweeping Pittsburgh at home in a series that will be remembered for phenom Stephen Strasburg's 14-strikeout debut in the opener. Acta was fired a month after the Nationals drafted Strasburg, who will start Sunday's finale.

Strasburg's electric debut has energized the Nationals. Michael Morse homered among his three hits in a 4-2 win Thursday.

"This last homestand was pretty good with Stephen coming in," Morse said. "It kind of gave us a little jump, and we're feeling good."

Acta also never managed Luis Atilano (5-2, 4.24 ERA), who has pitched fairly well in his rookie season for Washington. He gave up two runs in seven innings Saturday in a 5-1 home loss to Cincinnati.

This will be the first interleague outing for the right-hander, who is 4-0 with a 3.18 ERA in five road starts.

The Indians have lost five straight interleague starts by Jake Westbrook (3-3, 4.84), who is 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA in that span. The veteran right-hander allowed six runs over 4 2-3 innings on Sunday and did not get a decision in an 8-7 road loss to the Chicago White Sox.