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(Sports Network) - Despite back-to-back solid outings, Washington starter Odalis Perez will try again today for his first win of 2008, as the Nationals play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.
The left-handed Perez is 0-3 with a 4.35 earned run average on the season, but has given up only two runs in each of his last two outings against Florida and the New York Mets, respectively.
Against the Marlins on April 10, Perez struck out six while giving up six hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-3 setback. Both of his two runs were given up in the sixth inning and the 30-year-old fell to 2-2 in 10 games (7 starts) lifetime versus the Marlins with a 3.18 ERA.
He followed that start up with a six-inning effort versus the Mets on Tuesday, yielding the two runs on six hits, though he also walked four.
The Nationals seemed in position on Saturday to maybe post their first winning streak since opening the season with three straight wins after an error by Florida's Hanley Ramirez in the ninth helped Christian Guzman reach base. Nick Johnson followed with a walk and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Austin Kearns the came through with a two-run single to right to even the game at 5-5, but Washington could get no more. Unfortunately for the Nats, Saul Rivera (1-1) walked Dan Uggla to lead off the bottom of the ninth, and Uggla later scored on Wes Helms' liner up the middle to give the Marlins the walk- off win.
Shawn Hill, making his season debut after being activated off the 15-day disabled list, lasted five innings and was credited for four runs on eight hits and no walks for Washington, which has lost 13 of its last 15 games. Felipe Lopez had two hits in the loss, as the Nationals fell to 1-4 on their three-city, seven-game road trip that ends with two tests in Atlanta.
Marlins starter Burke Badenhop pitched only three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. Renyel Pinto pitched three scoreless innings in relief, and Mike Jacobs and Jorge Cantu each tallied three hits to snap Florida's two-game slide. Kevin Gregg (2-0) got the win despite allowing two unearned runs in the top of the ninth.
Ramirez went 1-for-5 at the plate and has now reached base safely in a franchise-record 42 straight games at home.
The victory was the sixth over the Nationals for the Marlins in the last seven meetings. Florida swept a three-game set in Washington from April 7-10.
Scott Olsen has won consecutive starts after getting a no decision in his season debut, including a win over the Nationals on April 9. Olsen gave up four runs (3 earned) on four hits and four walks in 7 2/3 innings of work in that one.
He was much sharper on Tuesday versus Atlanta, hurling seven shutout innings that saw him scatter five hits without a walk and lower his ERA to 3.05.
The 24-year-old left-hander is 4-3 with a 4.24 ERA in nine career starts against Washington. He did give up two hits and a homer to Guzman on April 9, as Guzman is hitting .571 (4-for-7) against him.
However, Johnson doesn't have a hit in seven career at-bats against Olsen, while Kearns (.176) and Zimmerman (.150) have just three hits off him.
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