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Nats go for sixth straight win and sweep of Reds

Apr 15, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty Ross Detwiler aims for his first win against Cincinnati today as his streaking Washington Nationals go for a four-game sweep of the Reds in the finale of a weekend series at Nationals Park.

Washington relied on sold pitching to win its fifth straight game on Saturday, as Edwin Jackson tossed a complete game, two-hitter in a 4-1 win.

Jackson (1-0) gave up just one run and one walk while striking out nine for Washington, which hasn't pulled off a four-game sweep of the Reds since July 20-23, 1989.

Homer Bailey (0-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings for the Reds, who have dropped three straight.

Drew Stubbs knocked in the only run for Cincinnati in defeat.

Detwiler, who turned 26 last month, has dropped decisions in all three of his starts against the Reds while combining to allow seven earned runs on 20 hits in 18 innings.

He's walked six batters and struck out 17 as Cincinnati hitters have combined for a .294 average.

The St. Louis native had better luck in his lone start thus far in 2012, when he twirled five innings of scoreless, two-hit ball with six strikeouts in a 6-2 defeat of the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 10.

The Reds will counter with third-year righty Mike Leake, who makes his second attempt at a first win of the season while facing the Nationals for the fifth time.

The 24-year-old San Diego native dropped a 3-1 decision to St. Louis on April 10 after allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in six innings.

He's 3-1 in four starts against Washington with a 3.00 earned run average across 24 innings.

Leake debuted straight out of college in 2010 and won eight of 12 decisions, then broke into double digits with 12 wins in 29 appearances last season.

The Reds won four of six versus the Nationals a season ago, but both losses came in Washington.

On this the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier Major League Baseball is commemorating this special occasion by having all players and on-field personnel once again wear the Hall of Famer's No. 42 in addition to other pregame festivities.