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Phils pay a visit to D.C.

Apr 12, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies hope to get an improved performance from fifth starter Joe Blanton this evening when they travel to the nation's capital to begin a three-game set with the Washington Nationals.

Philadelphia has yet to lose a series in 2011 having captured two of three games from the Braves in Atlanta this past weekend, running its record to 7-2 on the young season. Sunday's 3-0 win came courtesy of seven strong innings from left-hander Cole Hamels, who limited the Braves to four hits, walked one and struck out eight.

"I felt really good (during my first outing), but things just didn't turn out well," said Hamels, who was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of a 7-1 loss to the New York Mets last Tuesday.

Ryan Madson worked around a single in the eighth and Jose Contreras closed the door in the ninth to notch his second save of the season. Shane Victorino finished 3-for-4 with a solo home run.

Blanton followed Hamels against the Mets last Wednesday in his season debut and was victimized for 10 hits and seven runs in only 4 1/3 innings, though his club helped bail out the 30-year-old right-hander in an eventual 10-7 Philadelphia win.

Blanton has made 12 career starts against the Nationals, posting a 3-3 record and subpar 5.73 earned-run average. He saw Washington three times during the 2010 season, going 1-0 with a 3.79 ERA. His last matchup with Washington on September 29 had Blanton firmly in control, firing seven solid frames and allowing only an unearned run on three hits in a 7-1 victory at Nationals Park.

The Nationals are coming of their first series win of the season over New York that ended with Sunday's 7-3 win. The game went extra innings and Ivan Rodriguez singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th and Laynce Nix followed with a three-run homer off Blaine Boyer to cap the scoring.

"I hope we keep getting clutch hits and keep it going into the next series," Nix said after the gutty win.

Drew Storen (1-1) picked up the win after holding the Mets off the board in the 10th. It was part of a terrific performance by the Nats' bullpen, which yielded just one hit and one walk over the last five innings. Starter Jason Marquis went the first six innings and was charged with three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out nine.

Veteran hurler Livan Hernandez looks to keep the momentum going for Washington tonight. The 36-year-old received the Opening Day start for Washington versus Atlanta and produced a solid 6 1/3-inning start, allowing two runs on four hits, though took a hard-luck decision in the 2-0 loss. The native Cuban came back last Wednesday and struggled against Florida, walking five and giving up four runs on six hits over five innings. The workhorse right-hander did not receive a decision in the eventual 7-4 Marlins win.

Hernandez has matched up against the Phillies in 27 career starts, going 11-10 in that time with a 3.60 ERA. He last pitched versus the Phils in 2009, making three starts and posting a 1-2 mark with a 6.06 ERA.

Philadelphia has amassed a solid 51-21 record against Washington since the start of the 2007 season. It won the 2010 series by a 12-6 count.