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Phillies-Nationals Preview

May 14, 2009 - 11:06 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Philadelphia (16-15) at Washington (11-21), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Washington Nationals left-hander John Lannan pitched out of a couple jams in his last start.

He hasn't been as fortunate in his career against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Lannan looks to win his first game versus Philadelphia as Washington opens a four-game set against the slumping Phillies on Friday night at Nationals Park.

Washington (11-21) has lost three of five to Philadelphia (16-16) this season, including 7-1 on April 28. In that game, Lannan (2-3, 3.89 ERA) yielded six runs in five innings to fall to 0-4 with a 6.23 ERA in five career starts against Philadelphia.

"The Phillies have a tough lineup," he told his team's official Web site. "I've faced them a bunch of times now. I know their lineup. They have some great hitters. It's a challenge, and I'm looking forward to it."

In his last start, Lannan walked a career-high six but went six scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Arizona. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the third and sixth, but Lannan forced inning-ending groundouts to end both threats.

"What was impressive about this kid was he was able to throw his breaking balls for strikes more often than not," Washington manager Manny Acta said.

Washington is beginning an 11-game homestand after snapping a three-game slide Wednesday, defeating San Francisco 6-3. Ryan Zimmerman's 30-game hitting streak ended as he went 0 for 3 with two walks.

"I'm not relieved it's over, because I would have liked to keep it going for as long as I can," he said.

Zimmerman is batting .333 (7 for 21) with three home runs and seven RBIs against Philadelphia this season. He looks to start a new streak against Friday's scheduled starter, Joe Blanton (1-3, 6.82). Zimmerman is 5 for 11 with two homers lifetime versus the right-hander.

Philadelphia, which has dropped six of eight, is opening a 10-game trip.

"We're not playing good," manager Charlie Manuel said after Thursday's 5-3 loss in 10 innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We don't look good."

Blanton didn't either in his last start, a 6-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday in which he gave up six runs and eight hits - two homers.

"Sometimes you can throw a terrible pitch right down the middle and a guy will hit a weak ground ball," Blanton told Philadelphia's official Web site. "The next pitch you can throw it exactly where you want, and the guy is going to hit a home run."

Blanton is 0-1 with a 7.84 ERA in two starts against the Nationals this season. He surrendered six runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 13-11 win April 27.

Blanton will face a Nationals team batting .322 and averaging 6.6 runs in its last seven games. At the top of the lineup, Cristian Guzman has been a major catalyst for this scoring surge. He improved his batting average to .390 with Wednesday's 3-for-5 effort, and is 3 for 9 lifetime against Blanton.

Nick Johnson is batting .238 against Philadelphia this season, but the Washington first baseman is hitting .380 in 13 home games.

After batting in the fifth spot in two straight games, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins went 1 for 5 in the leadoff position Thursday. He is 5 for 14 with a home run lifetime against Lannan.

Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley went 0 for 3 Thursday and is hitless in his last 15 at-bats. He is 8 for 14 with two home runs in his career against Lannan.

The defending World Series champion Phillies are scheduled to meet President Barack Obama before Friday's game.