For the first time in seven years, Adam Dunn has helped put the Washington Nationals in position to sweep San Diego. In Washington’s 7-6 win over San Diego Wednesday, Dunn hit a career-high three home runs. With each of their last four victories decided by one run, the Nationals (38-47) have won five of eight.

The Nationals look to sweep San Diego for the first time since May 6-8, 2003, when the franchise was in Montreal, after securing their second winning series in 12 tries against the Padres (49-35) since moving to Washington in 2005. In the three-year history of Nationals Park, Dunn made that possible after driving in five runs and recording the first three-homer game.

In 10 straight seasons, the veteran slugger, who continues to be the subject of trade rumors, has hit at least 20 home runs. Against San Diego pitchers, Dunn is 8 for 19 this season. While the Padres won three in a row against Houston, the San Diego pitchers have allowed 13 runs in the first two games of the set after yielding two total making for a very interesting baseball bet.

With San Diego’s Mat Latos (9-4, 2.62 ERA) trying for a fifth consecutive victory Thursday, Dunn and the Nationals could be in for a challenge. With a 1.35 ERA in his last five starts after giving up four hits in eight innings of a 3-0 win over Houston on Friday, the second-year right-hander improved to 4-0. With a 1.62 ERA, Latos is 8-1, in his last 11 starts.

Latos allowed two runs and struck out eight in six innings of a 4-2 home win over Washington on May 29 and he is 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA against the Nationals. For the Padres, Adrian Gonzalez had four hits with two RBIs and Matt Stairs tied a major league record with his 20th career pinch-hit homer Wednesday. In this series, Gonzalez is 6 for 9 with a homer and three RBIs.

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While trying to help the Tigers to a sixth consecutive interleague victory and fifth straight win overall, Justin Verlander looks to continue his success against NL opponents on Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals. In seven innings of a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh, on Friday, he gave up two runs and was not bothered by four walks. Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer and Magglio Ordonez had four hits while starting in place of injured rookie outfielder Austin Jackson because of back spasms. If Jackson is unable to return Wednesday, Raburn could be back in the lineup. He is batting .180 and drove in four runs.

This season, Detroit is 5-2 in interleague play and is four time winners over Washington (31-34). The Tigers have scored 27 runs and hit .306 during their five-game interleague winning streak. Without Ordonez, they were able to do most of it. With a strain in his side, he missed six games but he returned on Tuesday. This season, Ordonez in four interleague games, is 7 for 14 with five RBIs. Against Washington probable starter Livan Hernandez (5-3, 2.28), Ordonez is 2 for 2 with a home run.

In 46 interleague starts, Hernandez is 19-17 with a 4.73 ERA. He has faced the Tigers just once and in seven innings, allowed a run. For the Nationals, on Tuesday, Ryan Zimmerman went 0 for 3. Against AL opponents this season, Zimmerman is 5 for 26.

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In the midst of their worst offensive slump of the season are the San Francisco Giants and would love to get rid of their longest losing streak. When the Giants open a three-game series the Washington Nationals they will definitely give the game their best shot, to end their sixth loss in a row. the Giants’, scuffling offense has been the biggest reason for their consistent failures. Against the Nationals, Manager Bruce Bochy has moved Aaron Rowand to the sixth hole and Andres Torres to the leadoff spot.

“It’s really, really tough. It’s frustrating, It’s very sad. Every day we go out there and don’t score” said catcher Bengie Molina, who snapped an 0-for-17 funk Sunday.

Hernandez has the third-best ERA in the majors and nearly three runs fewer than his career average. Torres will be pitted against Hernandez (4-2, 1.62 ERA). Against San Francisco from 1999-2002, he in his last three starts has posted an 8.31 ERA. in San Francisco, Washington hasn’t had much success, losing five of six over the past two seasons. In Ryan Zimmerman’s last five games at AT&T Park, he has two homers and four RBIs with batting .440.

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The Washington Nationals have started a success story and are definitely looking to continue their early success against the Rockies. The Nationals, in 2010 are 8-7 on the road although at Coors field they have a record of 3-11.

“I think the greatest thing about this team is we don’t get too high or too low, that’s a great attitude for us to have. We have been playing well.” third baseman Ryan Zimmerman told the Nationals’ official website “. Outfielder Roger Bernadina’s first two major league homers have put Nationals on a high including the win over the Mets. Adam Dunn in his last twenty games is batting .311 with 15 RBIs. Washington will get its first look at Chacin (2-0, 0.00); the 22-year-old right-hander who gave up six hits and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings of an 8-0 win at Los Angeles on Saturday.

In the Rockies’ 10-ininng victory over Philadelphia, Miguel Olivo went five for five. After missing the previous two games, Carlos Gonzalez had three hits. Gonzalez has .353 with two homers, five RBIs in nine games and .330 this season. Because of elbow discomfort and after missing the last start, John Lannan (1-2, 6.34) returned to the team.

“We want him to pitch pain free, throw his pitches and keep the ball down, that first performance will be more how he feels and how he recovers from that more so than just the results of the game.” said National’s manager Jim Riggleman.

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