(Sports Network) - There's a reason why the LA Angels of Anaheim own baseball's best road record this season. Tonight, they will try to continue that trend in the second test of a three-game interleague series against Washington at Nationals Park.

The American League West-leading Angels are 25-12 as the visitor this season and have won nine of their last 10 road games. They opened a nine-game road trip with a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, then handed the Nationals a 3-2 setback in the opener of this series on Monday. Starter John Lackey pitched eight strong innings to record his fourth consecutive victory and push Anaheim's lead in the division to five games over Oakland.

Lackey gave up two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while striking out six batters and walking two. Francisco Rodriguez worked a scoreless ninth to register his major league-leading 31st save of the season. Garrett Anderson put the Angels on top with an RBI single during a two-run eighth inning, and both Erick Aybar and Casey Kotchman finished with two hits and a run scored.

Anaheim, which will also visit the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine for three games on the current swing, will hand pitching duties over to Jon Garland this evening. Garland is winless in his previous two starts (0-1), having posted a no-decision against the New York Mets on June 18 at home.

Garland allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits through six innings of a 5-4 loss. He is now 6-4 with a 4.06 earned run average in 15 starts this season. Garland, though, is an impressive 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in six road starts this season.

The righty sports an 0-1 record with a 3.00 earned run average in two career starts against the Nationals.

Washington will continue a nine-game homestand on Tuesday, and is only 1-3 so far on the residency. The Nats fell to 15-24 in the nation's capital following Monday's one-run defeat, as Willie Harris homered, tripled and scored twice in Washington third straight loss. Washington has dropped six of seven games.

Nationals starter Jason Bergmann didn't factor into the outcome and extended his winless streak to seven straight starts. The righty allowed just one run on six hits with six strikeouts over seven innings, but reliever Saul Rivera yielded two runs -- one earned -- in his inning of relief to take the loss.

Shawn Hill will lead the Nats on the mound tonight. Hill has lost three of his last four starts and is 1-4 with a 5.22 earned run average over 11 trips to the hill this season.

Hill last pitched on June 19 at Minnesota, surrendering seven runs -- six earned -- and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander has given up at least two runs in each start since hurling eight frames of one-run ball on April 30 versus Atlanta.

The right-hander has never faced the Angels in his career.

Washington won two of three games at Anaheim the last time these two ballclubs met from June 13-15 of the 2005 season. The Angels are 8-5 against the National League this season, while the Nats are 5-8 in interleague action.