Lannan focused on not changing plan versus Giants

Nationals starting left-hander John Lannan takes on the Giants' southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (2-1, 3.21 ERA) in Game 2 today at Nationals Park. The Nationals are seeking their third win in a row. The Giants have been shutout in two of their last three games. Lannan will look to keep the pitching momentum going for the Nats following Jason Marquis' amazing complete game five-hit shutout Friday night, 3-0. Lannan (2-2, 4.05) is coming off a tough loss in a rain-delayed game at Pittsburgh Monday, 4-2. Lannan led 2-0 before Pittsburgh scored four runs in the fourth inning. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two walks and striking out three in his 100th career start. It was Lannan's second loss in his last three outings. Lannan has faced the Giants once in his career. In 2007, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Lannan made his third career start. Saturday is start No. 101. "John doesn't really have to change his game for anybody," Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said. "He is basically going to sink the ball, use his changeup, and use his breaking ball and throw it for strikes. Or he will get them to expand the zone. He can spot the ball on both sides of the plate. It is not so much him trying to adjust to them, it is him just making his pitches. If he can get ground balls in those situations he can get double plays." Sanchez is making his sixth start of the season today and fourth career start against the Nationals. It is his seventh appearance versus Washington, but only his second start against the Nats since 2008. He tossed five innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits versus Atlanta Sunday, despite fighting through flu-like symptoms. He is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA in 19.2 innings in six lifetime outings against the Nationals.