(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies' typical slow start began a day early this season. After dropping its season opener for a third straight year, the club will try to rebound tonight in the middle portion of its three-game series against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies haven't posted a winning record in April since 2003, and began last season by losing six of their first seven games en route to an 11-14 start. However, the club rebounded on the way to winning its first National League East title since 1993.

Philadelphia, though, played its home opener on Monday -- the final day of March -- and lost to Washington, 11-6. Chase Utley had two hits, one a solo homer, two runs batted in and two runs scored in the loss.

Making his eighth straight Opening Day start at short, Jimmy Rollins, last year's NL MVP, scored twice and tied the game at six with a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Tom Gordon (0-1), though, allowed five runs on four hits while just recording one out in the ninth to take the loss. He is serving as Philadelphia's closer with Brad Lidge (right knee) on the disabled list. Starter Brett Myers, back in the rotation after spending the majority of last season in the bullpen, was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on five hits in five innings of work.

Philadelphia has already added to its bullpen, signing 39-year-old right- hander Rudy Seanez on Tuesday. Seanez went 6-3 with a 3.79 earned run average in a career-high 73 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007, but was cut by the Dodgers late in Spring Training.

Young left-hander Cole Hamels will try to reverse the Phillies' fortunes tonight. Hamels, 24, went 15-5 last year with a 3.39 ERA and a pair of complete games in 28 starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in nine career starts versus Washington with 60 strikeouts in 57 innings.

Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and three runs scored for Washington on Monday. Austin Kearns finished with a pair of hits, two RBI and a run scored while Cristian Guzman added two hits and two runs scored for the Nationals, who opened their season and their new stadium with a ninth-inning win over Atlanta on Sunday.

Nick Johnson, Paul Lo Duca, Ronnie Belliard and Dmitri Young all plated runs in the five-run ninth inning.

Matt Chico got the start and gave up three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. Saul Rivera (1-0) got the win for pitching a perfect eighth inning.

Tim Redding will try to build off a decent 2007 season tonight. After spending all of 2006 in the minors, Redding went 3-6 with a 3.64 ERA in 15 starts last year. He is 2-2 in six lifetime starts versus the Phillies with a 3.19 ERA, losing his lone start in Philadelphia last year.

The Phillies won their season series with the Nats last year with a 12-6 mark, including a 6-3 record as the host.