Washington Nationals pitcher Jason Marquis has so far had a shaky game to start off Game 1 of a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Nationals righty has given up eight hits and two runs in four innings of work. In the fourth inning, he loaded the bases with one out, but was able to limit the damage to one run which puts the game in the Brewers favor, 2-1. Milwaukee also scored in the first-inning off a Casey McGehee RBI.
Marquis has four strikeouts, which now makes him the current Nationals strikeout leader in 2011 with 15.
Pitcher Yovani Gallarado has dominated the Nationals offense and has not run into any trouble, as the Nats have only recorded three hits against him so far. Rick Ankiel singled in the first and Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche singled in the fifth. Michael Morse was able to get Werth in for the Nats only run in the fifth off a sacrifice fly.
Noticeably absent from the Milwaukee line-up is centerfielder is Nyjer Morgan who is returning to D.C. for the first time since being traded to Milwaukee late in Spring Training. Morgan is currently suffering from a deep thigh bruise that will most likely keep him out of the starting lineup, but he might make an appearance as a pinch hitter if the right situation arises.
It is 2-1 Brewers heading into the fifth.