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Nats continue set in Milwaukee

Jul 27, 2012 - 3:40 PM (Sports Network) - Lefty Ross Detwiler can stay unbeaten since mid-May tonight when the first-place Washington Nationals visit the Milwaukee Brewers for the second of four games at Miller Park.

The sixth overall pick by the Nationals in the 2007 draft, Detwiler has split time between starting and relieving in 2012 after winning four times in nine decisions across 15 appearances - 10 starts - last season.

He was 3-3 after a May 19 interleague loss to Baltimore, but is 2-0 with a hold in 12 appearances since - in which the Nationals have gone 8-4.

Detwiler has allowed one earned run or less nine times since the loss to the Orioles and was a 9-2 winner over Atlanta in a July 22 start after giving up one earned run on seven hits in seven innings.

He lost his lone career start against Milwaukee on July 25, 2010, but allowed only three hits and struck out four while surrendering five unearned runs.

In Thursday's opener, Adam LaRoche homered for the third straight game and knocked in two runs, and the Nationals roughed up Yovani Gallardo and the struggling Brewers, 8-2.

Steve Lombardozzi added a three-run triple and Michael Morse went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the sixth straight victory for the Nationals, who lead the National League's East Division by five games over second-place Atlanta.

Edwin Jackson's (6-6) seven scoreless innings on the hill were overshadowed by the offensive outburst. The right-hander scattered eight hits and one walk while also scoring twice in the rout.

"Jackson was just spectacular," National manager Davey Johnson said.

Gallardo (8-8) only lasted five innings after getting touched for seven runs on seven hits and a pair of walks.

"He was not consistent with his command," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

The rough outing came the same day reports surfaced the Brewers, who have dropped a season-high seven straight to fall 10 games under .500, were looking to move ace Zack Greinke before next week's trade deadline.

Milwaukee starts 27-year-old righty Michael Fiers, who's split four decisions in his last seven appearances while only allowing five runs.

He took a tough-luck 2-1 loss at Cincinnati in his most recent start on July 22 after giving up just one earned run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

He tossed seven scoreless innings while getting a no-decision six days earlier at St. Louis, and was beaten, 4-0, by Miami on July 5 while giving up two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

His last win came June in Arizona, where he struck out a career-high 10 and allowed two hits in six scoreless innings of a 10-2 triumph.

Milwaukee is 4-6 in games he's pitched and has been outscored, 9-3, in his three July appearances.

Fiers has never faced the Nationals.

It was a matter of home field for the Brewers and Nationals in their first two series in 2012, with each team sweeping a three-game set at home.

Washington won three straight in April and Milwaukee took three straight in May. The Brewers have won the season series each year since 2006.