Nationals-Cardinals Preview By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Joe Ross insists he's moved past the only thing that has slowed him down this season. Now he'll try to lead the Washington Nationals to a rare series win at Busch Stadium. The right-hander hopes to pick up where he left off as he returns to the rotation Saturday when the Nationals seek their first back-to-back road wins against the St. Louis Cardinals in the same season since the franchise moved to Washington. Ross (2-0, 0.54 ERA) was nearly unhittable while winning his first two starts but was forced to leave his outing April 20 after two innings because of a blister on his middle finger. The second-year pro was then scratched from his Tuesday start when the injury was slow to heal. He appears ready to return after telling reporters earlier this week that he was feeling good following a bullpen session. Not only has Ross allowed one run over 16 2/3 innings, but he's also 3 for 7 with a double and two walks at the plate. He'll try to help Washington pick up its fourth victory in five road games as well as its first series win in St. Louis since May 2007. After getting blanked in consecutive home losses to Philadelphia, the Nationals broke through with a four-run fourth inning en route to Friday's 5-4 victory. Michael Taylor and Danny Espinosa delivered home runs in the opener of this three-game set. ''We didn't want to stay on a slide like that,'' Espinosa said. ''To get this win and get back on a positive note, I think it was real important.'' Washington (15-7) hopes to build on that effort against Jaime Garcia (1-1, 3.24) as it tries to win three in a row at Busch for the first time since a three-game run bridging the 2001-02 seasons while the franchise was located in Montreal. Garcia has pitched well in two home starts, allowing two runs and five hits with 20 strikeouts over 14 innings. The left-hander settled for a no-decision Monday when he surrendered three earned runs over five innings in a 12-7 loss at Arizona. Garcia, who has not allowed a home run and ranks among the NL leaders with a .198 opponents batting average, is 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in six starts against Washington. Espinosa is 6 for 13 in the matchup, but Jayson Werth has gone 4 for 17 and Ryan Zimmerman is 2 for 12. Bryce Harper's only hit in six at-bats was a homer. Ross, on the other hand, would rather forget his only start at Busch in September. He surrendered three runs and walked six in 2 2/3 innings. The Cardinals (12-11) have batted .200 with 21 strikeouts in two straight losses after totaling 45 runs and 66 hits while winning four of their previous five games. Matt Holliday, who went 3 for 4 with a double Friday, is batting .333 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in 67 games against the Washington franchise. Matt Adams is hitting .383 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 13 meetings after going 2 for 4 with a homer. "I feel very comfortable in the box right now," Adams said. Yadier Molina has a 10-game hitting streak and has reached base in 17 consecutive contests. The last St. Louis catcher to reach in 18 straight was Tom Pagnozzi in 1996. |