Washington @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2010 ) Washington 8, Cincinnati 5

With their losing streak behind them, the Washington Nationals now are hoping to put together consecutive victories for just the second time this month.

The Nationals look to earn a split against the Cincinnati Reds when the teams meet Thursday at Great American Ball Park in the finale of their four-game series.

Washington halted a four-game slide Wednesday with an 8-5 triumph. Rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg notched his third straight victory, allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out seven and walking just one in 5 2/3 innings one day after his 22nd birthday.

Cristian Guzman hit a two-run homer and Willie Harris belted a solo shot for the Nationals, who improved to 2-4 on their 10-game road trip and won for just the seventh time in their last 33 games away from home.

Miguel Cairo went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a pair of walks for Cincinnati, which has lost six of its last 10 contests.

Washington will now attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since July 6-7, when it posted consecutive one-run triumphs over San Diego.

Seeking his first win since June 21, Livan Hernandez gets the call for the Nationals. Hernandez is 0-2 in his last five starts and has lost three of his last four decisions.

On Saturday, the 35-year old was the hard-luck loser in a 2-0 setback at Florida, yielding just two runs – one earned – and four hits in six innings.

Hernandez has had plenty of trouble against Cincinnati over his career, going 2-7 with a 5.46 ERA in 14 outings. He received a no-decision against the Reds on June 4, when he surrendered two runs and eight hits in six innings of the Nationals' 4-2 win.

The right-hander is 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA in eight road starts this season. Hernandez hasn't recorded a win away from home since beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 27.

Hernandez will be opposed by Edinson Volquez, who will be making just his second appearance of 2010.

Volquez made his season debut on Saturday, limiting Colorado to one run and three hits while striking out nine over six innings in an 8-1 victory.

It was the 27-year old's first start since June 1, 2009, when he left a game against St. Louis after just one inning due to numbness in two fingers on his right hand. Two months later, Volquez underwent surgeries to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament and torn flexor mass in his elbow.

Volquez, who also was suspended for the first 50 games of the year after testing positive for a banned substance, will be making his second career appearance against Washington. The right-hander allowed three runs and five hits in six innings of a 6-5 win over the Nationals on July 6, 2008.

The Reds are expected to activate catcher Ramon Hernandez from the disabled list and start him at first base, giving All-Star Joey Votto a rest.