(Best E Casino) - Canadian import Shawn Hill makes his ninth start of the season seeking his initial victory when the
Washington Nationals host the visiting
San Francisco Giants in game two of a four-game series at Nationals Park.
Hill, a 2000 draft choice of the Montreal Expos who was born in Mississauga, Ontario, picked up no-decisions in his first five outings of the season through early May, but has since lost two of three starts.
The Nationals are 2-6 in games in which he's pitched.
The 27-year-old allowed seven hits and five runs over just four innings his last time out, as Washington dropped a 5-0 verdict to Arizona on June 1.
For San Francisco, lefty Jonathan Sanchez goes for a third consecutive victory.
The 25-year-old was 2-3 with five no-decisions in 10 starts through May 21, but has since won a pair while allowing 12 hits and four runs in 13 innings.
He picked up his fourth win of the season on June 2 against the New York Mets, scattering six hits and allowing two runs in seven innings of a 10-2 victory.
Sanchez is 0-1 with a 6.23 earned run average in four lifetime matchups with the Nationals, including one start.
On Friday, Jose Castillo's three-run home run was the big blow in a seven-run third inning, as San Francisco ripped Washington, 10-1.
Fred Lewis knocked in two runs and scored twice for the Giants, who won for the third time in the last five outings. Ray Durham added three hits, an RBI and a run scored, while John Bowker and Bengie Molina each collected two hits and a run knocked in.
Tim Lincecum (8-1) allowed five hits and one run over seven innings, striking out five without a walk to record his fourth consecutive victory. Lincecum has not lost in his last seven starts, since an April 29 setback against Colorado.
Elijah Dukes knocked in the lone run for the Nationals, losers in five of their last six. Washington starter Jason Bergmann (1-3) was rocked in defeat, giving up 10 hits and eight runs -- five earned -- in just three innings.
Washington is 9-5 versus San Francisco since the start of the 2006 season, winning five of seven at home in that span.
