Washington @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2011 ) Washington 3, LA Angels 4

THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels are finding ways to win games. They have won six of eight, overcoming two blow saves from closer Jordan Walden during the stretch. The Angels will send Joel Pineiro to the mound to try and build on that against Jason Marquis and the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. A victory would push the Angels over .500 for the first time since June 3. Washington nearly pulled off a victory after Danny Espinosa’s two-out, tying home run in the top of the ninth in manager Davey Johnson’s debut Monday, but lost for just the third time in the last 16 games. The Nationals are now 2-2 on their six-game road trip.

TV: 10:05 p.m. EST, FS-West, MASN2.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.09) vs. Nationals RH Jason Marquis (7-2, 3.53).

Pineiro followed up his 100th career victory two starts ago by giving up four runs in six innings against Florida and did not get a decision, June 22. He is 41-23 lifetime against the National League, including his time with St. Louis. Pineiro is 1-3 against Washington with a 2.70 ERA over 33 1/3 innings in his career. Jerry Hairston Jr. is 8-for-16 with three RBIs vs. Pineiro.

Marquis pitched eight innings of three-hit ball in his last start and has allowed just five runs in his last four starts over 24 2/3 innings. He has faced the Angels once in his career, giving up eight runs in 3 1/3 innings in 2009 while with Colorado. Current Angels’ hitters are batting .208 against Marquis.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (40-40): The Angels hope Alberto Callaspo is breaking out of his slump. Callaspo was just 2-for-33 before producing three hits in the victory Monday. Second baseman Maicer Izturis made two errors, but came back to deliver the winning hit in the 10th inning. Izturis is 13-for-36 in his last nine games. Vernon Wells may be heating as well, with two homers and four RBIs in his last three games. Torii Hunter could be back in the starting lineup. He had not played since June 22 due to bruised ribs, but pinch hit and played right field Monday.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (40-39): You wonder where the Nationals would be without Michael Morse. He has already matched his home run total of last season (15) with eight in June to go along with 22 RBIs. Morse is also batting a team-leading .303. Ryan Zimmerman has struggled since returning from the disabled list, but did homer in the first game of the series. Washington will need Zimmerman and Jayson Werth to produce more if it is to remain in the race for the playoffs. Werth is 4-for-34 with no homers and no RBIs his last nine games and is batting .224 overall.

FINAL PITCH: The victory Monday began a 13-game home stand for the Angels. The Nationals, after the final two games of this series, will go home to play 11 straight before the All-Star break.