Nationals 0 - 8 Marlins
Final
  for this game

Nats' Hernandez set to face former club

May 8, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - Veteran right-hander and ex-Florida standout Livan Hernandez makes a 33rd career start against his former team today when the Washington Nationals visit the Marlins in the final game of a three-game weekend set at Sun Life Stadium.

The Nationals won their second straight in the series on Saturday when Tom Gorzelanny tossed seven strong innings to help Washington take a 5-2 win.

Gorzelanny (2-2) gave up just two runs on two hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Adam LaRoche hit a two-run single, while Ian Desmond scored twice and drove in a run.

John Buck clubbed a two-run home run for the Marlins, who have lost three straight and four of five.

Chris Volstad (2-2) was tagged for three runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts over six innings to pick up the loss.

The 36-year-old Hernandez, a postseason hero for the Marlins en route to the 1997 World Series title, is 13-10 against them in 32 starts over a career that's also seen him pitch for San Francisco, Montreal, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado and the New York Mets, in addition to the Nationals and Florida.

He got a no-decision in the most recent effort on April 6 in Miami, where he allowed six hits and four runs in five innings of a game the Nationals lost, 7-4.

He's won three of five decisions since that start, beating Philadelphia, Milwaukee and the Mets.

Hernandez dropped a 4-1 verdict at Philadelphia in his last start on May 3 after scattering 10 hits and allowing four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Washington is 3-4 in games he's pitched.

For Florida, Venezuelan-born Anibal Sanchez can stay perfect against the Nationals.

The 27-year-old has faced Washington 14 times in an 88-outing big-league career, going 5-0 with a 2.34 ERA across 84 2/3 innings.

He got a no-decision as well in the most recent matchup, allowing seven hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-2 Marlins win.

Florida is 2-4 in his six starts this season and Sanchez is 1-0 with two no- decisions in three home efforts.

The Marlins took two of three matchups versus Washington from April 5-7 this season and have won 12 of their last 16 against the Nationals.






Related News