Washington Nationals (1-4, 5th NLE) v. Florida Marlins (3-2, 3rd NLE)
7:10 pm, Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL
John Lannan (1-0, 1.80) v.Josh Johnson (1-0, 2.70)
Weather: Partly sunny, breezy. 84 degrees.
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The Nationals face Josh Johnson, who led the N.L. with a 2.30 ERA in 2010, looking to salvage the final game of the three-game set.  Johnson has never lost the Nats in his career, going 7-0 in 13 starts with a 3.27 ERA and 1.156 WHIP.  Granted, these Nats are different than years past, but it shows the quality of pitcher they face trying to end a four-game skid.  And with the Nats second to last in runs per game so far in 2011, they have their work cut out for them tonight against a quality pitcher.
 
Taking the hill for the Nats is their only starter to record a victory this season, lefty John Lannan.  The five-year pro looks to build off his first start, holding the Atlanta Braves to one run on five hits in five innings.  Lannan has never started a Major League season 2-0.
 
Manager Jim Riggleman is playing around with his lineup card again today, sitting Michael Morse (2-for-17 with one walk and no extra base hits) in favor of Layce Nix, who will bat eighth.  Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos (5-for-10) is in the lineup as expected, as he is alternating days with Ivan Rodriguez for the first dozen or so games, but he's been pushed up into the No. 5 hole, occupied by Morse the first five games of the season.
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STARTING LINEUPS
 
NATIONALS:  Desmond-6, Werth-9, Zimmerman-5, LaRoche-3, Ramos-2, Ankiel-8, Espinosa-4, Nix-7, Lannan-1.
MARLINS:  Coghlan-8, Infante-4, Ramirez-6, G.Sanchez-3, Morrison-7, Buck-2, Helms-5, Bonifacio-9, J.Johnson-1

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