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Tepesch tries to extend win streak as Rangers tangle with Nats

May 31, 2014 - 11:45 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Tepesch tries for his career-high third straight victory when he leads the Texas Rangers against the Washington Nationals Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game series.

Tepesch already has won consecutive decisions for the first time in his career following Monday's victory at Minnesota as he yielded seven hits and a pair of runs over 6 2/3 innings. His last loss came June 12, 2013 against Cleveland. He's gone 10 appearances since that defeat.

This will be his first appearance against the Nationals.

Doug Fister also is riding a two-start winning streak. That includes a triumph Sunday at Pittsburgh when the 30-year-old right-hander gave up six hits and a run over 5 1/3 innings. His lone loss came May 9 at Oakland, his first outing of the season.

Fister is 3-4 with a 5.67 ERA in nine career regular season games against Texas. He also beat the Rangers once in the playoffs. All four of the victories against Texas have occurred when pitching at home, including three times at Detroit's Comerica Park and once at Seattle's Safeco Field.

Last night, Ian Desmond hit a three-run homer, Stephen Strasburg tossed six solid innings and the Nationals posted a 9-2 win.

Strasburg (4-4) gave up two unearned runs on six hits while striking out nine for the Nationals, who snapped a two-game skid.

"We had some more opportunities against him and we just couldn't get a base hit," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Strasburg.

Tyler Moore knocked in two runs for Washington, which had 15 hits. Jayson Werth went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

"I think it was just a party," Desmond said of the 15-hit barrage.

Texas starter Colby Lewis (4-4) allowed six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Lewis also drove in a run.

Washington is 6-4 all-time against Texas.