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Duke looks to rebound as Pirates face Nationals

Jun 6, 2007 - 3:20 PM Pittsburgh (25-33) at Washington (23-35) 7:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- To get just their third win in the last eight games, thePittsburgh Pirates need Zach Duke to turn his dismal season around.

Duke and the Pirates aim to win the second of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Duke (2-6, 5.73 ERA) toes the rubber after losing four of his last five decisions and the team has dropped five of his last six starts. The lefthander gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday.

Opposing batters are hitting .349 against Duke, the highest batting average against a starter in the majors. The 24-year old is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in two career starts versus the Nationals.

Washington, which has lost three straight, is just 2-5 on its current nine-game homestand. The Nationals send Micah Bowie (2-2, 4.11) to the mound, seeking his third straight victory.

The lefthander allowed three runs and three hits in a season-high 5 1/3 innings in an 11-4 vs. the Dodgers last Thursday. Bowie is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in two career games versus the Pirates, but hasn't made a start vs. Pittsburgh since 1999 when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs.

The Pirates defeated the Nationals, 7-6, on Tuesday.