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Willis will see if second half starts better against Nationals

Jul 13, 2007 - 1:51 PM Washington (36-52) at Florida (42-47) 7:05 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Dontrelle Willis will try to turn around a subpar season when he gets the first start for the Florida Marlins coming out of the All-Star break.

Willis aims to record his first win in seven starts when Florida hosts the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

A two-time All-Star who did not participate in the Midseason Classic this year, Willis (7-7, 4.72 ERA) has not won since May 29, going an 0-4 record with a 4.50 ERA over his last seven outings.

The 25-year-old lefthander did not receive a decision in the Marlins' 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday after yielding five runs - four earned - and seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings.

Florida had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Washington will counter with Jason Bergmann (1-5, 3.47), who did not figure in the decision in his last outing after allowing two runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 5.

The Nationals are hoping to pick up their third straight victory behind its lone All-Star representative Dmitri Young.

Young, who is in his first season with Washington, has posted a .339 batting average with eight home runs and 43 RBI in 81 games this season.