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Chico, Nationals look to take series vs. Orioles

Jun 13, 2007 - 1:25 PM Washington (27-37) at Baltimore (29-35) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- With a chance to win their fourth consecutive road series, the Washington Nationals turn to rookie Matt Chico.

Chico and the Nationals look for their fourth win in five games when they face the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Washington defeated Baltimore, 7-4, on Tuesday to take the first game of a three-game interleague series. Ryan Church, Ryan Zimmerman and Brian Schneider each homered for the Nationals, who still are last in the major leagues with 40 home runs.

Washington, which has won consecutive series away from home against Cincinnati, St. Louis and Minnesota, needs a victory in one of the next two vs. Washington to match its longest road-series winning streak since August 14-September 2, 2001.

After watching Micah Bowie win his third straight start, Washington sends Chico (3-4, 4.86 ERA) to the mound looking for his first road win of the season. The lefthander, who has not recorded a decision in his last four outings, is 0-4 with a 5.46 ERA in six starts away from home.

In his last start, the 23-year-old Chico allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings of a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Even though the Orioles have fallen into last place in the American League East, they have to be upbeat with the prospects of Steve Trachsel pitching on Wednesday.

Trachsel (5-4, 3.82), who is 3-0 in five starts at Camden Yards, has won four of his last five decisions. The 36-year-old has won his last five interleague games and has been very effective against the Nationals. The righthander is 11-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 28 career starts vs. the Washington franchise, tied for his most wins against any opponent.