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Orioles-Nationals Preview

May 23, 2009 - 4:06 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (16-25) at Washington (12-28), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Adam Jones is having a breakout season for the Baltimore Orioles. There were glimmers of his potential last season, particularly when he faced the Washington Nationals

Jones, coming off yet another big game for the Orioles, looks to continue his success against the Nationals in the middle game of an interleague series Saturday night.

In February 2008, Baltimore (17-25) acquired Jones as part of a six-player trade with Seattle. Jones got to play extensively for the first time that year with the Orioles, hitting .270 with nine homers and 57 RBIs in 132 games.

This season, the 23-year-old center fielder has already matched his '08 home run total, batting .372 with 13 doubles and 30 RBIs. He has at least two hits in six of his last eight games, including three in a 4-2 win in 12 innings against Washington (12-29) on Friday night.

Jones' last hit was his biggest, lining a two-run double into the left field corner in the 12th. He hadn't faced the Nationals before last year, when he hit .522 (12 for 23) in six games against them.

Jones' latest performance versus Washington helped the Orioles snap a four-game losing streak, while sending the Nationals to their 11th loss in 13 contests.

He sat out the last time Koji Uehara (2-3, 4.34 ERA) took the mound, but went 8 for 17 (.470) in the previous four games the right-hander started.

Uehara will start Saturday after struggling in his last outing, giving up four runs and six hits in five innings as Baltimore lost 7-4 to Kansas City on Sunday.

Baltimore has lost Uehara's last six starts. This will be the 34-year-old rookie's first appearance against Washington.

The Orioles showed they have no patience for struggling starters, releasing Adam Eaton on Friday after he went 2-5 with an 8.56 ERA in eight starts. Uehara has been the most steady member of a Baltimore rotation that has a 5.88 ERA.

He'll be facing a Nationals lineup that has been held below five runs in only two of its last 13 games. Washington had just four hits Friday, falling to 0-6 in extra innings.

The Nationals have been outscored 14-0 after the ninth.

"Most of it comes from the struggles we had in the back end of our bullpen. That's why if the game goes to extra innings, we struggle there," Washington manager Manny Acta said.

The Nationals got both of their runs Friday on a fourth-inning homer by Ryan Zimmerman. The third baseman, batting .348, has reached base safely in 40 straight games, six short of the franchise record held by Rusty Staub.

Zimmerman and Washington's lineup will try to give Ross Detwiler some run support with the left-hander seeking his first major league win. Detwiler made his first career start Monday night, allowing three runs - two earned - and four hits while striking out six in five innings during Washington's 12-7 loss to Pittsburgh.

The left-hander was promoted after Scott Olsen was placed on the disabled list Monday with an ailing shoulder. Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo said Detwiler will stay in the rotation on a start-by-start basis.