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Nats shoot for rare win streak at Chavez Ravine

Jul 23, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals try to make it two wins in a row this evening when they continue a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

The Nationals picked up a rare win at Chavez Ravine in Friday's opener, as John Lannan pitched into the seventh inning and belted his first career home run, leading Washington to a 7-2 victory.

Lannan (7-6) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits, while fanning six and walking four. He also had two hits for the Nats, who earned just their fifth win in 18 tries in LA since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005.

Jerry Hairston Jr. cracked a grand slam to break the game open in the ninth inning and Michael Morse added an RBI double.

"I knew he didn't want to walk [me] so I wanted to be a little aggressive in the zone," Hairston said. "I was just looking for a pitch out over the plate and wanted to put a good swing on it. Fortunately I was able to hit it hard."

Hiroki Kuroda (6-12) worked 6 1/3 innings, yielding three runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking three. He's dropped nine of his last 10 decisions.

Aaron Miles ripped a double, while Andre Ethier and Juan Rivera picked up the other two hits for the Dodgers, who have lost five of their last six games.

"Obviously we have to put some numbers on the board," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Other than the one inning there, we didn't really mount a whole lot of charges after that. The main thing is we need to throw some numbers up there and give ourselves chances."

Tonight, the Nats turn to lefty Tom Gorzelanny, who left his last start after two innings with an ankle injury. Gorzelanny had given up two runs and walked three batters before leaving following a play at the plate and did not factor in the decision of his team's 9-8 loss.

He is 2-6 on the year with a 4.07 ERA and hasn't won since May 7.

Gorzelanny has faced the Dodgers six times (five starts) and is 2-1 with a 5.16 ERA against them.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Ted Lilly, who is 6-10 with a 4.83 ERA. Lilly lost for the fifth time in six starts on Sunday in Arizona, as he allowed four runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He also fanned nine and walked two in the setback.

Lily is 4-3 lifetime against the Nationals with a 2.49 ERA in eight starts.

Washington split its six meetings with the Dodgers last season.