Washington @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2010 ) Washington 0, Florida 2
The Washington Nationals have grown used to playing close games. Therefore, they are accustomed to rebounding from tough losses.
The Nationals look to bounce back from another nail-bitter on Sunday when they wrap up a three-game series with the Florida Marlins.
Washington has played in 32 one-run games this season - only the Chicago Cubs (33) and Cincinnati (33) have played in more. Since May 5, more than half of the Nationals’ games (40 of 65) have been decided by two runs or less.
Saturday must have felt like deja vu for Washington, as it went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in a 2-0 loss. Adam Dunn was one of the main culprits. The slugger struck out three times and stranded five runners.
Still, Dunn and the Nationals could be excused from the poor outing since it came against Marlins ace Josh Johnson, who leads the majors with a 1.62 ERA.
Washington may be able to generate some offense today against rookie Alex Sanabia (0-1, 3.09), who began the season in the bullpen.
The 21-year-old began will make his second career start in place of the demoted Chris Volstad. Sanabia allowed five hits in 3 1/3 innings against Arizona last Sunday.
He may not get much help from the Marlins offense, which has scored more than four runs just once in its last 10 games and managed just four hits in Saturday's victory.
The right-hander will be opposed by Craig Stammen (2-3, 5.79 ERA), who has been more productive at the plate than on the mound this season.
Stammen is hitting .259 with six RBIs this season. The right-hander hasn't matched that production on the mound, winning just once in his last 12 starts.
Stammen allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-5 loss to San Francisco on July 11. He is 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in four starts against Florida. The 26-year-old allowed three earned runs and seven hits in four innings of a 7-1 loss to the Marlins on May 1.
Florida, which has won 27 of the last 36 meetings between the teams in Miami, hope Hanley Ramirez can lead them to another home win against the Nationals. Ramirez is 6-for-10 with a home run against Stammen.
Ramirez and the Marlins have split the season series with Washington at four games apiece.