Colorado @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2011 ) Colorado 3, Washington 2
THE STORY: The Washington Nationals will try to guarantee at least a .500 record at the All-Star break when they host the Colorado Rockies on Saturday in the second of their three-game series. Washington fell to 5-7 under manager Davey Johnson and 45-45 overall with a loss in Friday's opener. Colorado snapped a five-game losing streak.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Colorado), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Ubaldo Jimenez (3-8, 4.39 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jason Marquis (7-3, 4.11).
Jimenez had his personal two-game winning streak snapped Monday as he allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Atlanta. It marked the seventh consecutive outing in which the 27-year old yielded fewer than four earned runs, but he is only 3-3 during that span. Jimenez, who is 4-1 lifetime against Washington, has gone 2-3 in seven road starts this season despite posting a 2.47 ERA. Marquis was pounded in his last outing, surrendering seven runs while recording only four outs against Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 32-year-old veteran has won only one of his last six starts but has two no-decisions during that span in which he did not allow a run. Marquis is 4-1 at home this year.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (45-45): Lefthander John Lannan retired the first 10 batters he faced Friday before allowing three straight singles and exiting the game. Lannan departed with a nasal contusion as Ty Wigginton's line-drive single struck him in the face. Washington placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the disabled list Friday with a strained right oblique and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Triple A Syracuse. Righthander Chien-Ming Wang, who has yet to pitch for the Nationals after signing with them prior to the 2010 season, tossed five scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start for Double A Harrisburg.
ABOUT THE ROCKIES (42-47): Friday's triumph ended Colorado's seven-game road losing streak. Center fielder Carlos Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing four games with a bruised right wrist and went 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki sat out his fourth straight contest with a quadriceps injury. Rookie Cole Garner was recalled from Triple A Colorado Springs prior to the game and drove in the winning run with his first career hit. Garner was brought up to replace Charlie Blackmon, who was placed on the disabled list with a broken left foot.
FINAL PITCH: Jimenez is tied for fourth with Pedro Astacio on the Rockies' all-time wins list with 53 and needs two more victories to pull even with Jeff Francis for third. He also needs eight strikeouts to surpass Astacio (749) for the franchise lead.