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Washington's bullpen could use a break after a couple of long days.
Ramon Ortiz
looks to give the Nationals a quality and lengthy start Friday when they open a three-game series with the
San Diego Padres
at RFK Stadium.
Livan Hernandez
lasted just 1 2-3 innings in the Nationals' 11-inning, 8-7 win over the
Florida Marlins
on Thursday. One night earlier, Mike O'Connor was removed before recording an out in the second inning of an 18-9 loss to
Florida.
Nationals starters had not failed to last two innings in back-to-back games since Aug. 1997, when the team was located in
Montreal. Washington's bullpen gave up 13 runs on Wednesday, but allowed just three hits in 9 1-3 scoreless innings in the
series finale.
''You had to like the bullpen. They did an exceptional job today,'' Nationals manager
Frank Robinson
said. ''They won the ballgame for us, really.''
Still, Robinson had a simple message for Friday's starter.
''
Ramon Ortiz
: Good luck,'' he said.
Ortiz (6-6, 4.90 ERA) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings of Sunday's 6-2 win over the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. He had given up 14 runs in 17 2-3 innings in his previous three starts, going 0-2 over that span, after a five-start winning
streak.
''I think that was overall the smoothest outing - number of pitches thrown, number of innings pitched,'' Robinson said Sunday.
''Today it was smooth sailing out there. He was in complete control.''
Ortiz made his only career start against San Diego on July 15, 2001, when he allowed five runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-1 loss
while still with the Anaheim Angels.
Rookie
Ryan Zimmerman
singled in the winning run Thursday for the Nationals (38-49), who have won five of six. Zimmerman - who leads the National
League with 35 hits with runners in scoring position - also had game-ending homers on Father's Day and Independence Day, and
leads all rookies with 58 RBIs.
''He's not a rookie anymore, with what he's doing right now,'' said closer
Chad Cordero
, who pitched two innings for the victory. ''Rookies sometimes crack up under that type of pressure, but he just seems to
feed off of it.''
The Padres (45-40) have won four of seven, including Thursday's 5-3 victory over the
Philadelphia Phillies
. Rookie
Josh Barfield
had a career-high four hits for San Diego, which pounded out a total of 12.
Catcher
Mike Piazza
left the game in the fifth after tweaking his right knee.
''We'll re-evaluate his situation (Friday),'' manager
Bruce Bochy
said. ''He doesn't think it's anything serious and he'll be ready to play over the weekend.''
Woody Williams
(3-1, 3.04) will start the opener for San Diego, trying to build off an impressive return to the rotation after missing more
than two months with a muscle tear in his left calf. He limited the
San Francisco Giants
to one run - on a solo homer - in six innings, but did not have a decision in San Diego's 4-1, 10-inning loss.
''I felt good,'' said Williams, who had been sidelined since May 12. ''The longer I went, the better I got, at least more
sharp. Some pitches I didn't quite locate the way that I wanted to. But for the most part, I'm pretty much pleased.''
Williams is 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals franchise.
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