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Nationals hope to end struggles vs. Phillies, long losing streak

Aug 21, 2008 - 10:20 AM Washington (44-83) at Philadelphia (68-58) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals have a pressing concern: getting a win of any kind.

The Nationals will be looking to end multiple losing streaks on Thursday when the face the Philadelphia Phillies. They want to snap an overall 12-game skid, and in doing so avoid their worst losing streak in nearly 40 years. Accomplishing that would also end a seven-game losing streak against the Phillies.

Washington has lost a dozen straight for the first time since August 13-27, 1976. The Nationals have been outscored, 81-26, during this tailspin.

Another setback would mark the first time the Nationals have lost 13 consecutive games since dropping a team-record 20 straight during their expansion season as the Montreal Expos in 1969.

A win doesn't figure to come easy as Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.64 ERA) is in the midst of a stellar stretch. The lefthander has permitted three runs or less in each of his last 13 starts, becoming the first Phillie since Chris Short in 1967 to accomplish that feat.

Moyer was at it again on Friday, outpitching Greg Maddux in a 1-0 triumph, yielding three hits and two walks over seven frames to the San Diego Padres.

He'll be opposed by Tim Redding (8-8, 4.66), who has struggled of late, dropping five of six outings. In Friday's 4-3 setback to Colorado, the righthander surrendered four runs and seven hits over six innings, extending a stretch in which he has gone 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA.