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Nats aim to extend win streak in finale with O's

Jun 19, 2011 - 3:11 PM (Sports Network) - With a chance to get back to .500 and an opportunity to extend their winning streak to nine games, the Washington Nationals head into this Father's Day aiming for a weekend sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.

The Nats have been on a roll and their current eight-game run is the longest for the team since August 2-9, 2009. They haven't won nine in a row since June 2-12, 2005, which was a 10-game surge. That came the first year the team relocated from Montreal to the nation's capital.

Not only is the current winning streak impressive, but also a bit surprising is Washington's chance to get back to .500 today for the first time since May 11.

They'll try to keep the string intact when Tom Gorzelanny takes the mound, as he comes off the disabled list today. The lefty hasn't pitched since May 23 at Milwaukee due to left elbow inflammation. Gorzelanny dropped two straight starts just prior to heading to the DL, and in those games he yielded a total of 16 hits and nine runs over 10 2/3 innings.

Chris Jakubauskas takes the hill for the struggling Orioles. The reliever, turned starter, gave up seven hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no- decision at Toronto on Tuesday. This will be his first career interleague start.

Yesterday, Michael Morse hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to help the Nationals to a 4-2 win. Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored while Ivan Rodriguez drove in the other run for the Nationals.

Jordan Zimmermann (5-6) went 6 1/3 innings to improve to 3-0 over his last four starts as he gave up two runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

"I always want to go out there and do my best. The starting pitchers have been doing a great job and the whole team has been coming around," Jordan Zimmermann said about the team's winning streak. "We've been hitting, the relievers have been putting up zeros and we're just playing some good ball right now."

Adam Jones hit a solo home run and J.J. Hardy drove in the other run for the Orioles, who have dropped two straight and six of seven. Brian Matusz (1-2) was touched for four runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss. He left in the sixth inning with a cramp in his left hamstring.

"There's still a lot of room to go, still a lot of building, a lot more room for improvement. You want to go out there every day when you pitch and compete well enough to give your team a chance to win. Today it was just not enough," Matusz said about his performance.

Washington has taken three of the five games against Baltimore this season.