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Myers eyes first win since May vs. slumping Nationals

Jul 29, 2008 - 1:42 PM Philadelphia (56-49) at Washington (38-67) 7:10 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Brett Myers eyes his first win since late May when the Philadelphia Phillies begin a three-game road series with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

The righthander (3-9, 5.82 ERA) is winless in his last six turns and is making his second start since working on his control issues during a minor league assignment. He did not receive a decision in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Mets after allowing three runs and three hits with five walks over five frames.

Philadelphia turned to its potent offense against Atlanta over the weekend, taking two of three from its division rival to leave it a half-game behind the New York Mets (57-49).

After dropping Friday's series opener to the Braves, the Phillies collected two straight comeback victories over Atlanta last weekend to remain in second in the division, right behind first-place New York. They rallied from an early 9-3 deficit deficit on Saturday in a 10-9 win, only to repeat the feat on Sunday, coming back from 5-0 in the fourth to post a 12-10 victory.

Meanwhile, Washington - owners of the worst record and offense in baseball - closed out a 2-7 trip by getting swept in the last two series, including three games against the Dodgers over the weekend where it scored a meager two total runs.

Since the Nationals blasted the Braves for 15 runs on July 20, they have scored 10 runs combined over the next six contests and have been shut out three times.

Myers will be opposed by 22-year-old rookie Collin Balester (1-2, 5.75), who will be trying to avoid a third consecutive loss. The righthander did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-4 loss against the Giants, permitting three runs and six hits over five innings.