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Nats, Marlins begin set in Washington

Jul 26, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Two teams from the basement of the National League East trying to generate any level of momentum with the month of July ready to close clash in the first of three straight at Nationals Park tonight as Washington hosts the Florida Marlins.

The Nationals are at home for the first time since the All-Star break and have hosting gigs against the Mets and Braves on the slate following this series against a disappointing Marlins group. Both clubs are searching for their 50th win of the season and are anxious to draw closer to .500 on the campaign as they, like the Mets, watch the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves run away with all the attention in the division.

For the Nationals, already 15 games out of contention, they've dropped two straight and four of their last five following a 3-1 setback versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. In that game Roger Bernadina scored the only run for the squad in the top of the first inning. Washington tallied just two total hits, one each from Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, the latter being credited with an RBI.

Washington starter Jason Marquis permitted three runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out just two, over six innings. The Nationals pitchers logged a mere three strikeouts, compared to 13 for the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Marlins played yet another close game against the Mets two days ago, this time coming away with the 5-4 win at home to take the last two of the three-game set. The hitting stars for the hosts were Logan Morrison, who crushed a game-tying home run to begin the eighth, and pinch-hitter John Buck, who delivered a two-out, RBI double later in the frame to get the Marlins into the win column yet again. Mike Stanton accounted for two hits and two runs scored as he belted his 22nd home run of the campaign.

Florida starter Anibal Sanchez failed to earn the decision as he scattered 11 hits and four runs over seven innings of action. On a positive note, Sanchez did notch his 500th strikeout in the affair. Reliever Randy Choate faced just a single batter as he qualified for his first win of the season, while Leo Nunez stepped in for his 28th save of 2011.

Right-handed starter Ricky Nolasco has already shown the ability over his career to handle the Washington Nationals, sporting an 8-3 record in 13 games overall while striking out 77 and walking just 12 batters in 76 innings of action, so the Marlins have to be happy about the fact that he's the one who has landed in the right place at the right time in the rotation tonight.

The California native, who is now in his sixth major league season, has won only once in the month of July, a triumph versus Houston more than two weeks ago. Most recently Nolasco took the hill against San Diego last week and was bombed for a staggering nine earned runs on nine hits, walking two and fanning three over the course of just 1 1/3 innings of play. Needless to say, it was by far the shortest outing of the season for Nolasco as his team eventually bowed in a 14-3 final.

As for the Nationals, they have Jordan Zimmermann slated as their starter for tonight's festivities. A product of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the right-hander was also hit around a bit in his most recent outing as he permitted six runs on seven hits in a 7-6 loss to the Astros a week ago. Zimmermann, touched for his first home run in five games, struck out five as he made it through five inning and saw a personal two-game win streak come to an end.

Zimmermann clashed with the Marlins during the first week of May when he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out six in as many innings of a win, but he failed to factor into the decision which is why his career mark against the squad remains at 0-1.

These two teams last met in the middle of May when the Marlins took two of three contests in the nation's capital, although Washington closed the series with an 8-4 win to close the gap in the season series to 5-4 in favor of the Fish.