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Sabathia attempts to remain undefeated with Brewers

Aug 8, 2008 - 10:04 AM Washington (44-71) at Milwaukee (64-51) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- After struggling to score for most of the season, the Washington Nationals have opened the offensive floodgates. That resurgence figures to get tested when they face CC Sabathia.

The big lefty attempts to remain unbeaten since his trade to the Milwaukee Brewers when he faces the Nationals on Friday.

Washington, winners of six of seven, has scored 42 runs following a nine-game slide - in which it scored a total of 19 runs - that ended last Friday.

Even with the recent plethora of runs, the team has scored 440 runs for the season, the third-lowest mark in the majors.

As good as the Nationals have played lately, they haven't quite matched Sabathia (5-0, 1.88 ERA) since he joined the Brewers in a trade with the Cleveland Indians on July 7, posting three complete games in six starts.

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, who is riding a personal eight-game winning streak, came two outs short of another complete game in his last outing, allowing two runs and six hits with nine strikeouts in Saturday's 4-2 win over Atlanta.

The lefthander will be opposed by rookie Collin Balester (2-3, 4.55 ERA), who will be eyeing a second straight win after a personal three-game losing streak. The righthander allowed a run and six hits over 5 1/3 frames in Sunday's 4-2 triumph of Cincinnati.