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Nationals aim for third straight win

Apr 2, 2008 - 1:06 PM Washington (2-0) at Philadelphia (0-1) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Seemingly energized by a new ballpark, the Washington Nationals are off to a nice start.

The Nationals will seek their third consecutive victory Wednesday when they face the Philadelphia Phillies.

The team's first game at the new Nationals Park on Sunday ended with a thrilling extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves.

On Monday, Nick Johnson provided the go-ahead hit and Washington spoiled Philadelphia's home opener by scoring five runs in the ninth frame en route to an 11-6 victory.

Lastings Milledge blasted a two-run homer in the sixth and scored on Johnson's go-ahead double off Tom Gordon as the Nationals won their second straight to start the season.

The 22-year-old Milledge, acquired from the New York Mets this offseason, is one of the new additions brought in to improve an offense that scored just 673 runs in 2007.

"On paper, everybody is putting us as the worst offense so it is good to score a lot of runs in one inning to show people that we can hit," Milledge said. "We have a bunch of guys who can hit the ball, first through eight, anybody can take the game over at anytime."

Cory Redding will get the start for Washington and will be opposed by Phillies ace Cole Hamels. The 24-year-old Hamels was 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA and 177 strikeouts last season.