Arizona @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2010 ) Arizona 2, Washington 4
Just when they seemed to be headed for a season-high six-game losing skid, the Washington Nationals continued a streak against NL West cellar-dwelling Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Nationals defeated the Diamondbacks for the fourth straight time in Washington on Friday, as John Lannan threw four-hit ball over seven innings and Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run single.
Washington will attempt to win the series Saturday night behind the very shaky right arm of Jason Marquis.
Marquis (0-4, 15.32 ERA) has yet to win in just four starts this season. The hurler has spent almost four months on the disabled list after having bone chips removed from his right elbow in May.
Marquis, who turns 32 next week, was 0-3 with a 20.52 ERA before surgery on May 14.
He returned to the starting rotation on Sunday, but was again hit hard in an 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He allowed five runs, five hits, a hit batter and two walks in four-plus innings.
Marquis was an All-Star for the Colorado Rockies in 2009 and signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Nationals as a free agent on Dec. 22. He has double-digits wins in his last six seasons, but 2010 has been miserable for the New York native.
The low point of Marquis’ season came on April 18 when he allowed seven runs and four hits and hit two batters without retiring a batter against the Milwaukee Brewers. He became the fifth pitcher since 1969 to give up that many runs without getting an out.
The right-hander has not won since Sept. 8 and is 0-3 in his last four starts against Arizona with a 7.25 ERA. Overall, he is 2-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 11 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona center fielder Chris Young has three homers against Marquis in 16 career at-bats.
Right-hander Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.47 ERA) will try to snap the Diamondbacks’ modest two-game slide.
Kennedy is just 3-6 with a 6.35 ERA in his last 10 starts and was roughed up by the Nationals on Aug. 4. He allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings, including two home runs by Adam Dunn.
In his last start Monday against Milwaukee, Kennedy he hit three batters, walked three and had two wild pitches that led to runs. He went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits in the no-decision.
Arizona right-hander Juan Gutierrez, who is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, will throw batting practice on Saturday. Gutierrez is 0-6 with a 6.69 ERA, but could be back on the active roster by Wednesday.