Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Try To Avoid Getting Swept By Miami Marlins In Chien-Ming Wang's First 2012 Start.

The Washington Nationals once again failed to beat Miami Marlins' right-hander Anibal Sanchez last night. The 28-year-old starter improved to (9-0) in 19 career starts against the Marlins' NL East rivals. The Nationals wlll look to avoid getting swept in the three-game series in Marlins Park tonight, but they'll have to win game three against another pitcher they have never beaten (or get to the Marlins' bullpen). In 15 games, 14 starts, 28-year-old '02 4th Round pick Josh Johnson is (7-0) against the Nationals with a 3.14 ERA, 27 walks (2.93 BB/9) and 82 K's (8.89 K/9) in 83.0 innings. Johnson's (2-3) in 10 starts this season, with a 4.87 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 18 walks (2.83 BB/9) and 45 K's (7.06 K/9) in 57.1 IP. The Marlins' starter has won two of his last three starts, and the Marlins have won all five of the right-hander's outings in May. Chien-Ming Wang, making his first start of the year, is undefeated in his own career against the Fish at (2-0) in two starts. Can he help the Nats beat the Marlins and avoid the sweep? Find out at 7:10 pm EDT. Til then, it's links and lots of them... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "Given an opportunity to hit with the bases loaded and one out during what was at that point a one-run game, [Bryce] Harper struck out on three pitches..." - "Failures of execution doom Nats" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• NATS BEAT:

• "[Michael] Morse said he expects to play in both of Wednesday’s games. Rupp said the slugger will likely again see time at designated hitter." - "Michael Morse suprises himself, ‘felt almost normal’ swinging bat in rehab start" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The Marlins are 20-8 since May 1, best in the majors, and they're six games above .500 for the first time since last June 4." - "Sanchez pitches Marlins past Nationals 3-1" - Steven Wine, AP/WTOP.com

• "The latest the NL East featured all of its teams above .500 was the second to last day of the '05 season." - "All teams in American League East, National League East above .500" - Jon Star, nationals.com: News

• "[Michael] Morse walked and struck out, finishing 0-for-1 in a pair of opportunities, before the rain arrived and suspended the game in the top of the fifth with two outs." - "Despite rain-shortened rehab game, Morse 'felt great'" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "In his first major league at-bat, with his brother in the other dugout and his parents, straight from Colombia, sitting in the stands, [Jhonatan] Solano got it done." - "Jhonatan Solano ends his first day in the majors with his first hit" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'I've got the word out right now that if he's throwing OK, run him out there,' Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters before the Nats played in Miami." - Davey on Michael Morse - "Michael Morse inches closer to return with strikeout, walk in first minor league rehab game" - Kelly Parsons, Washington Times

• "After he took five rounds of swings, Morse reported that he was feeling fine, pain-free from a strained lat muscle." - "Michael Morse: ‘I feel good’" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The Nationals are getting back outfielder Erik Komatsu, the 2011 Rule 5 pick who had stints with the Cardinals and Twins this season." - "Nationals Pastime: Komatsu returns, Tracy won't for a while" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The only other run he allowed was in the sixth. [Edwin] Jackson gave up a one-out double to Omar Infante, who then advanced to third on a throwing error by Rick Ankiel in center field." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - May 29, 2012" - Tom Green, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "In their attempt to deal Anibal Sanchez a loss for the first time in 19 career starts against them, the Nationals came up short once again." - "Instant analysis: Marlins 3, Nats 1" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "[Ryan] Zimmerman's bat has slowly started to come around over the last week and a half, as he's put up a hit in eight on his last 10 games, with seven RBIs." - "Nationals Pastime: Looking back at last night" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "It started with that journey. 'Eleven players without a visa trying to pass to Venezuela for a tryout,' [Jhonatan] Solano said." - "Solano brothers watch from opposite dugouts in Miami" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Today, at 26 years old, [Jhonatan] Solano is major league, the 13th from Colombia." - "Jhonatan Solano greets his brother Donovan Solano in the majors with their parents watching" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Batting practice at Marlins Park turned into a family reunion Tuesday." - "Solano brothers enjoy reunion in Majors" - Tom Green, nationals.com: News

• "[Michael] Morse said during batting practice he believes he will play here again tomorrow night and then does not know where he will go next." - "In-game update for Michael Morse at Potomac with walk and strikeout" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "[Michael] Morse has been scheduled to return to Washington, likely as a designated hitter, for the team’s June 8 game against Boston." - "Michael Morse Ks, walks in 1st rehab game; return to Nats' lineup is near" - Kelly Parsons, Washington Times

• "[Bryce] Harper chased a fastball at his eyes from side-winding right-hander Steve Cishek to suck the air out of the rally." - "Nationals vs. Marlins: Bryce Harper, Washington let opportunities slip in 3-1 loss" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• "The circumstances around Wednesday's series finale only reinforces the role Chien Ming-Wang could play as the newest member of the Nationals' rotation..." - "Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins - May 30, 2012" - Jon Star, MLB.com Preview

• "[Jhonatan] Solano also knew the situation in the game and said he prayed as he stepped to the plate that his major league debut would also not be the third out of a loss for his team." - "On Jhonatan Solano's first hit and the first squeeze bunt Corey Brown has ever been asked to execute" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "For now, [Davey] Johnson plans to use the likes of Corey Brown and Roger Bernadina in Tracy's role..." - "Tracy needs surgery for groin tear" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "The Nats hadn't recorded a hit off [Anibal] Sanchez until [Ian] Desmond's single leading off the fifth, but they did a nice job getting aggressive and pushing the issue in that frame to get the run across." - "Nationals Pastime: Quite a way to notch a first major league RBI (another miss in Miami)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "'I went up there to hack,' [Bryce] Harper said, having tripled earlier in the game on a ball deep to right center that could have been an inside-the-park home run..." - "Harper, Zimmerman come up empty with bases loaded in Nats' loss" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "[Michael] Morse served as the designated hitter in the game, batting third in the lineup for Potomac. He got some cheers when he came out onto the field about 15 minutes prior to game time." - "Nationals slugger Michael Morse feels good after playing at Class A" - Jeff Seidel, nationals.com: News

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "While revenge weakens society, forgiveness gives it strength."

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Hagerstown: Grasshoppers 4, Suns 2 - Matthew Skole 1 for 3, 1 BB, 2 K's; Taylor Hill - 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K's, 1 HR - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• "Nationals pitching prospect Matt Purke will make his professional debut Wednesday for Hagerstown, according to a club source." - "Purke to make pro debut Wednesday morning in Greensboro" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Class-A Potomac: "Tonight's game marked 1B/OF Michael Morse's first rehab appearance with the P-Nats." - "Rain Postpones Morse's Debut with P-Nats" - Potomac Nationals News\

• "Last Night In Woodbridge" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, returned to the win column on Tuesday afternoon with a 6-2 victory over the Louisville Bats." - "Chiefs club 11 hits in 6-2 win" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "Corey Brown Named International League Player of the Week" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• NATSTOWN:

• "The loss drops the Nats to 29-20 as the Marlins inch to within a game and a half of the first place Nats, tied with the New York Mets for second in the division." - "Washington Nationals Game 49 Review: One mistake makes the difference in 3-1 loss to Marlins" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page

• "Years from now, the kids sitting in prime seats watching a championship Nats team on the field are going to want that Ryan Zimmerman player tee from 2005." - "The shirts on fans' backs tell a story" - Nationals Buzz: Rachel Levitin, MASNSports.com

• "You know, I’ve often wondered whether Jayson Werth is the only Nats player to think about the Teddy Always Loses problem...." - "Ian Desmond thinks Teddy should win" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post

• "So, Ft. Lauderdale native Mike Morse is a Miami Heat fan, eh?" - "Video: Michael Morse talks after his rehab start" - NatsEnquirer

• "May 30, 1927: Walter "The Big Train" Johnson gave up only three hits as he led the Washington Senators (18-18) to a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox (10-26)." - "This Day in D.C. Baseball History – Big Train’s Last Shutout" - Mark Hornbaker, D.C. Baseball History

• "When you think of the Nats starting pitching you do tend to forget Edwin Jackson." - "The Underappreciated Edwin Jackson and Boras' potentially wrong move" - Harper, Nationals Baseball

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Marlins: "They’re not the first brothers from Colombia to reach the majors. But the Solanos — Donovan of the Marlins and Jhonatan of the Nationals — aren’t about to quibble." - "Colombian dream is family affair for Marlins’ Donovan Solano and Nationals’ Jhonatan Solano - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com

• Braves: "After the manager had reminded the Braves that they were pretty good, the Braves reinforced that point for themselves with a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals." - "Braves heed manager Fredi Gonzalez's words, end eight-game skid" - Mike Bauman, braves.com: News

• Mets: "[Sandy] Alderson made it clear that the Mets do plan to engage in talks with [David] Wright’s agent, Keith Miller — but an offer has not yet been formulated or extended." - "Mets GM Sandy Alderson clarifies his words on David Wright's extension" - Brendan Prunty, NJ.com

• Phillies: "It's hard to figure how a team without Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay and Vance Worley is going to stay close in the standings and eventually make one of those great closing runs." - "Phillies Are In Trouble ... But How Much, Really?" - Rob Neyer, Baseball Nation