(Sports Network) - John Lannan will try to record his first win in over a month today, as the Washington Nationals conclude a three-game interleague series with the Texas Rangers at Nationals Park.
Lannan has been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals this season, although his record would not indicate that. The left-hander has allowed just two earned runs in each of his past four starts, but has nothing to show for it. He has dropped three straight starts and four decisions overall, receiving no more than two runs of support in any of his last six appearances.
The 23-year-old, whose last win came on May 18th against the Baltimore Orioles, has received an average of just 2.3 runs per game over his 14 starts. No other pitcher in the league has garnered less run support.
Lannan, who has never faced the Rangers, yielded two earned runs and five hits in seven strong innings of a tough 2-1 setback to the Minnesota Twins in his last outing on Tuesday.
Vicente Padilla will oppose Lannan and he is in search of his third straight victory. The veteran right-hander was last in action on Tuesday, when he limited the Atlanta Braves to two runs -- one earned -- and two hits in six innings of a 7-5 triumph. He is now 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA over his last 10 starts.
In 14 career appearances, 10 starts, against the Washington franchise, Padilla is 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA. He is also 9-7 with a 5.08 ERA in 18 starts and nine relief appearances in interleague play.
Padilla will surely hope for the same run support teammate Kason Gabbard received on Saturday, when the Rangers pounded the Nationals' pitching in a 13-3 romp.
David Murphy and Ramon Vazquez drove in three runs each for Texas, which has won four of its last six games. Michael Young had three hits and two RBI, while Josh Hamilton added two hits and two RBI with a run scored. Ian Kinsler added a home run and three walks while scoring two runs for the Rangers.
Gabbard (2-3) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks while retiring five on strikes for the win. Luis Mendoza picked up his first career save with three innings of scoreless relief.
Washington's Garrett Mock (0-2) pitched well in only his second major league start, surrendering four runs on eight hits and a walk through six innings. The right-hander fanned eight in taking the loss for Washington, its fourth in the last five games.
Dmitri Young was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Lastings Milledge homered for the Nationals, who left eight men on base.
Texas took two of three from the Nats the last time these teams faced off back in Arlington in 2005.
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Gregg Zaun's grand slam in the bottom of the 13th inning capped Toronto's 7-4 gut-wrenching victory over Tampa ... Full Story...
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