Florida @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2011 ) Florida 4, Washington 1
THE STORY: When the Florida Marlins move into a new stadium next season, they can only hope to enjoy it as much as they like the Washington Nationals' new digs. The Marlins will try to improve to 8-1 this season at Nationals Park when they attempt to finish off a three-game sweep of the Nationals on Sunday afternoon. The Marlins are 28-6 all-time at Nationals Park after winning the first two games of the series.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida, MASN2
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Brad Hand (1-7, 4.02 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Chien-Ming Wang (2-3, 4.35 ERA)
Hand's tough-luck season continued Tuesday at Atlanta, where the Marlins scored only one run in support of him and he suffered his fourth consecutive loss. Hand doesn't have a major league win since July 7 against Houston. He made one start against Washington but didn't get a decision, allowing one run over 3 2/3 innings in a 5-2 win July 28.
Wang's comeback has met mixed results. He has been effective at times, but he hasn't won since Aug. 16 against Cincinnati, a span of five starts. Wang allowed two runs over five innings in his last encounter, settling for a no-decision in a 3-2 win Tuesday at the Mets. He has faced the Marlins only once in his career, earning the win after allowing four runs over seven innings in a 2006 start.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (69-83): Florida remains in last place in the National League East, three games behind the Nationals and New York Mets. The Marlins can still avoid their first last-place finish since 2007, and a win Sunday would help that cause. Donnie Murphy's two-run homer in the 13th inning helped lift the Marlins to their second straight win to start the series, as the bullpen worked six hitless innings in relief of Chris Volstad.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (71-79): After having a five-game losing streak snapped with a 3-0 loss in Friday's series opener, Washington's offense wasn't much better Saturday. The Nationals managed only six hits with their only run coming on Wilson Ramos' 13th home run. The Nationals are tied with the Mets for third place in the NL East. They have not finished higher than fourth in the division since 2002, when the franchise was located in Montreal.
FINAL PITCH: The three runs Nationals reliever Colin Balester allowed in the 13th inning Saturday snapped a streak of 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings by Washington's bullpen.