A sluggish Marlins offense couldn't get anything going on Friday night in a 6-0 loss. Florida looks for its bats to wake up in the second game of the series on Saturday at RFK Stadium.

 

The Nationals ended their eight-game losing streak on Friday. The Marlins, meanwhile, opened their 10-game, three-city road swing on a losing note.

 

The Marlins are now 4-3 on the season against the Nationals.

 

Ricky Nolasco makes his third start and fourth appearance of the season on Saturday.

 

At 1-0 with a 7.30 ERA, Nolasco continues to build back into a comfortable groove after spending time on the disabled list with a sore elbow. The right-hander has logged 12 1/3 innings thus far, and he's surrendered 19 hits. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is good, 10-to-3, but opponents are batting .373 against him.

 

As a rookie last year, Nolasco was 3-1 with a 4.82 ERA while facing Washington.

 

The Nationals are starting rookie Matt Chico, who makes his third start of the season against Florida. The left-hander is 0-1 with an 11.42 ERA in those meetings with the Marlins.

 

In two May starts, Chico is 0-2 with 6.75 ERA, giving up eight runs in 10 2/3 innings.

 

Pitching matchup

FLA: RHP Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 7.30 ERA)

Even though he gave up six runs on 10 hits his last time out -- against the Dodgers on Sunday -- Nolasco was able to log six innings and toss 100 pitches. The right-hander continues to build back his arm strength after a DL stint with a sore elbow. The 24-year-old was 3-1 with a 4.82 ERA against the Nationals last year.

 

WAS: LHP Matt Chico (2-4, 6.03 ERA)

Chico has given up 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings against the Marlins this season. Chico already knows what he has to do to get better -- throw his breaking pitches for strikes. In fact, Chico learned through pitching coach Randy St. Claire that only 40 percent of the curveballs and sliders that he throws are for strikes. The curveball, especially, is a pitch that has given Chico problems since Spring Training.

 

Player to watch

Washington catcher Brian Schneider had three hits, including an RBI double, on Friday night.

 

 

 

Since I seem to be the damn good luck charm for the Washington Nationals, I'm sitting this one out.

 

 

Go Marlins!

I hope Nolasco gets a good outing tonight. Unfortunately I will probably not get to see much of the game tonight unless that bar I will be at has DirecTV or Dish since it appears tonights game is not on Comcast Jacksonville.

:marlins

:lol @ Craig... "These no hitters are getting ridiculous"

lets go fish!

Hanley with a leadoff double

 

bye bye no no

Let's go Cabs

Hanley is a jackass

Argh... Atleast we got a hit.

Stupid double post

I don't think it was a bad idea to try to take 3rd there. They only got him with a perfect throw, and I'm not sure they got him anyway.

lead off double and we cant score! Uggla strikes out agin. Hermida better be in 2nd spot when he gets back

olivo has beat up LHP in limited AB this year...let's get something going

 

yahtzee

 

take us back to Cincy 06 KoolAid

 

good contact...we'll get him next time through

well Reggie hit it on the button, but right to 2b

umm isnt anyone noticing how mediocre ricky's fastball has become....if i recall it was mid 90's last year

jeezus, umps... I remember Sheffield got called into a DP in 97 series for sliding like that

Nice work Nolasco

no one noticing??

:plaindance ... This is Chico not Peavy.

Nice f***in throw.

ricky is definitely hurt...his fastball is no where close to where it should be

Where is everyone?

Let's get that run back

Where is everyone?

 

I think they died of boredom from last night's game.

 

Please drive hammer home now. :pray

Yeahhhhhhh

 

Now score this g*dd*mn motherf*cking run!!!!!