The finale of the Washington Nationals' three game series with Seattle takes place today at 4:10 pm EST, in the Mariners' home, Safeco Field. Tim Redding and Jarrod Washburn do battle on the mound, as the Nationals' attempt to complete a reality-distorting three-game road sweep...
On The Hill...
Tim Redding's undefeated at (3-0) with a 3.56 ERA in 5 starts away from DC this season, and overall the 30-year old right-hander out of Rochester, NY, is (6-3) with a 4.29 ERA in 14 starts and 79.2 innings pitched. Redding's only faced Seattle once in his career, pitching 3.1 innings in relief and allowing 6 hits and 6 runs in a losing effort for Redding's one-time employer, the San Diego Padres back on June 24, 2005. Redding hasn't won a start himself since May 25th at home against Milwaukee, or received a decision over the intervening starts leading up this afternoon's, but Washington's won the last six games that Tim Redding's started.
The other Washington-based team, Seattle's Mariners, throw another lefty at DC in the form of former Los Angeles Angel Jarrod Washburn, (2-7, 6.09 ERA) who has faced the Nationals once before, when they were still Les Expos, on June 4, 2003, in an 11-2 Angels win over Montreal, which saw Washburn give up just 5 hits and 1 ER to outduel Expos' starter Sun-Woo "Sunny" Kim.
Nationals' #'s Against Jarrod Washburn...
Ronnie Belliard - 7 for 20, .350 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.
Cristian Guzman - 5 for 17, .294 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI's.
Elijah Dukes - 2 for 3, .667 AVG, 1 3B.
The "If They Were Playing" List...
Paul Lo Duca - 4 for 16, .250 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI's.
Tim Redding Should Look Out For...
Richie Sexson - 7 for 18, .389 AVG, 4 HR's, 8 RBI's.
Sunday Morning News...(to be updated until 4:10 pm EST)