Game two of four in RFK Stadium, Washington, DC features:
Adam Eaton (9-9, 6.36) vs Shawn Hill (4-4, 3.01)
Washington is now 3-4 with three games left in the ten game homestand that closes out the team's relationship with RFK Stadium. After blowing a big lead and losing the game late last night to Philadelphia, the Nationals look to rebound, while the Phillies look to pull even closer to the NL East lead, as they find themselves only 1.5 games behind the Division leading Mets, who dropped another devastating loss to the Marlins last evening.
It's a good thing Philadelphia piles up runs, because after Kyle Lohse's poor start last night, the Phillies throw Adam Eaton tonight who hasn't won a start since July 20th, and who has given up 182 hits in 154.1 innings pitched, walked 64 while striking out 95, and allowed 30 HR's and 109 ER, for a 6.36 ERA on the season.
Eaton has no decisions in five starts in his career against the Nationals franchise. In his last start against DC on the 26th of July in Philadelphia, the twenty-nine year old right-hander lasted 6.1 innings, and surrendered 8 hits, and 4 runs in a game Washington eventually won 7-6.
Shawn Hill, Washington's starter tonight, went 6.0 innings in his last start against Philadelphia, over which he allowed only 1 hit, while walking 1 and striking out 7 in a 3-2 DC loss to the Phillies on August 14th at home in RFK.
Hill, who will undergo shoulder surgery on his left (non-throwing shoulder) after his last two starts of the season, according to Bill Ladson at washington.nationals.mlb.com(linked below), is (2-1) in 4 career starts against Philadelphia, throwing 23.2 innings, and allowing 14 hits, 10 runs, and 2 home runs with 10 walked and 18 K'd.
Hill's last home appearance of the season starts the Nationals last weekend in RFK Stadium before heading to New York and Philadelphia to end the season next weekend. The Nationals will not play beyond that this year. The Philadelphia Phillies might. If the Nationals let them...
Shawn Hill news in Bill Ladson's "Nats Notes":