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Dodgers staff keeping Nationals lowly offense in check

Jul 26, 2008 - 11:19 AM Washington (38-65) at Los Angeles (50-52) 10:10 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers rotation has had no trouble against one of the worst offenses in the majors.

The Dodgers look to continue that trend on Saturday when they resume their home series against the Washington Nationals.

Chad Billingsley allowed just two runs in 7 2/3 innings on Friday, helping the Dodgers claim a 3-2 victory over the Nationals and lower the team's National League-leading ERA to 3.79 this season.

Billingsley had no problem shutting down the Nationals lowly offense, which ranks last in the majors this campaign with 388 runs and a dismal .243 batting average.

Derek Lowe (7-8, 3.97 ERA) tries to keep Washington in check and help Los Angeles claim its eighth straight home victory against the Nationals when he takes the mound on Saturday.

Lowe, who has won all four career starts against Washington, has won each of his last two decisions but allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday. The veteran righthander walked three and struck out six, but did not factor in the decision during a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Odalis Perez (3-7, 3.99) faces his former team when he counters for the Nationals.

Perez, who was a member of the Dodgers for parts of five seasons beginning in 2002, snapped a personal three-game losing streak despite surrendering five runs and nine hits in five innings during Washington's 15-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.