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Nationals-Orioles Preview

Jun 25, 2010 - 4:45 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (33-40) at Baltimore (19-52), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Washington Nationals have struggled to score lately. Facing the lowly Baltimore Orioles could help cure that.

Looking to rebound from their third shutout of the season, the Nationals open a six-game trip Friday night at Camden Yards.

Despite Stephen Strasburg's nine-strikeout effort over six innings, Washington (33-40) had just six hits - all singles - and lost 1-0 to Kansas City on Wednesday that prevented a series sweep and handed the Nationals' 21-year-old phenom his first defeat.

"If we don't score runs," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said, "it doesn't matter who's pitching."

Washington is batting .217 and scoring 2.7 runs per game while dropping nine of 12.

The Nationals, though, averaged 4.7 runs and hit .295 while taking two of three from the visiting Orioles from May 21-23. The Nationals have lost 17 of 21 on the road, and have dropped two of three in each of their last two visits to Baltimore.

J.D. Martin (0-3, 3.55 ERA) gets the ball for Washington and will go for his first victory since Sept. 18. While the right-hander is 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA in his last seven outings, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman has been pleased with his efforts of late.

"He pitched well (at Triple-A Syracuse), came here and showed us that maybe we made the wrong decision to begin with," Riggleman told MLB.com of the team's decision to send him to the minors following spring training. "... He is 0-3, but he has given us a chance to win the ballgame each time."

Martin struck out a career-best six and yielded one run and eight hits in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Nationals had a season-low three hits in that game.

They'll look for better offensive production against Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta (2-1, 5.06). Trying to become the first player in team history to win his first three major league starts, Arrieta surrendered seasons highs with six runs and five hits Sunday in a 9-4 loss at San Diego.

After getting staked to a 4-0 first-inning lead, he walked three in a season-low three innings.

"(The offense) came out and scored four in the first inning. I just didn't hold up my end of the bargain today," Arrieta said.

Arrieta is likely hoping for a repeat effort from the Orioles (20-52), who had a season high-tying 17 hits and snapped a five-game home losing streak Thursday with an 11-5 win over Florida. It was the Orioles' most runs since a 12-9 victory over Boston on May 1.

"We all tried to contribute," said Miguel Tejada, who hit his first home run in 205 at-bats and had a season high-tying four RBIs. "Tonight is a night we've been looking for."

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will look to continue his hot streak at the plate after going 3 for 5 with a homer Thursday. He has five consecutive multihit games and is batting .524 (11 for 21) with three homers and six RBIs during this stretch. He went 3 for 9 with two homers and four RBIs in the series in the nation's capital last month and is batting .431 in 15 career games versus Washington.

Zimmerman, who is batting .161 with two RBIs in the last nine games, is hitting .326 in 12 career games in Baltimore.