Stammen looks to end winless skid vs. Fla.
Last night, the Nationals dropped their seventh straight game to the Marlins when reliever Ron Villone gave up a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth of a 2-2 game. Florida would ad an insurance run to take the series opener 4-2.
Lefty Scott Olsen, fresh off the disable list, gave up two runs in seven strong innings against his former teammates, but settled for a no-decision.
Tonight, rookie right-hander Craig Stammen (1-3, 5.49), who was sent to the bullpen, only to be put back in the rotation when the Nationals demoted Shairon Martis, is making his eighth start, fourth on the road.
Stammen has been solid outside of DC this season, going 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA compared to 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA at Nationals Park.
After 6 1/3 shutout innings at Yankee Stadium on June 18, Stammen allowed six runs in 5 1/3 to the Red Sox last Wednesday, dropping his third game of the season.
The Marlins send rookie left-hander Sean West (3-2, 3.38) to the bump, which is coming six scoreless innings against the Orioles.
West, 6'8'' 240, has won three of his last four starts, but he got hit around pretty good in two of those outings.
In two of the starts, West gave up nine runs on 14 hits and six walks in 9 2/3 and still managed to go 1-1.
In the other two games, he was lights out, tossing 14 scoreless innings, while only giving up six hits.
The Marlins will look to continue their dominance over the Nationals at Land Shark, formerly Dolphin Stadium.
Florida has won eight straight in the Sunshine State and 21 of the last 24 overall against Washington.
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