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Nationals look to take rubber match against Braves

Jul 20, 2008 - 2:56 PM Washington (37-61) at Atlanta (46-51) 1:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals look to continue their rare offensive success against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game series at Turner Field.

The Nationals, who are last in the National League in runs scored, tagged Jair Jurrjens and the Braves for eight runs during Saturday's victory. That came a day after Washington posted six runs in Friday's losing effort.

It marks the first time this season the Nationals scored six or more runs in consecutive games this season.

They may be in line to extend that streak, as Atlanta starter Jo-Jo Reyes (3-8, 4.40 ERA) has lost his last four starts and has not reached the sixth inning in three of those, posting a 5.60 ERA. The lefthander lasted four innings in his final outing before the All-Star break on July 11, when he gave up two runs in a 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Reyes, who is 2-4 with a 6.16 ERA in eight starts at home this season, has never faced the Nationals.

Washington will counter with Odalis Perez (2-7, 3.71), who hasn't won since May 28 or reached the seventh inning in 11 starts.

For the Nationals, Willie Harris, a part-time starter for Atlanta last season, had three hits, two RBI, a stolen base and scored three runs on Saturday. He has five hits in the first two games of the series.