(SportsNetwork.com) - Washington manager Matt Williams said he's never seen Stephen Strasburg look any better than he did his last time out. The hard- throwing righty tries to string back-to-back wins together on Friday when the Nationals continue a three-game set with the Miami Marlins.
Strasburg picked up his first win of the season in Philadelphia on Sunday, as he held the Phillies to a run and five hits over 7 1/3 innings. He also struck out seven and walked a batter to even his record at 1-1, while lowering his ERA to 4.50.
"That may be as good as I've seen him," Williams said. "He pitched at 92, 93 (miles per hour) and was able to reach back when he needed it for 95-plus. For me, that makes his changeup even more effective. Today, he threw for strikes when he wanted to, went out of the zone when he needed to. I don't know if I've seen him better than that."
Miami will counter with righty Tom Koehler, who has lost two of his three starts and is pitching to a 6.75 ERA. Koehler was roughed up by the New York Mets on Sunday, as he surrendered seven runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Miami won Friday's opener, as Martin Prado's go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Marlins to a 3-2 victory.
Adeiny Hechavarria smacked a leadoff double in the eighth before Donovan Solano popped out on a bunt attempt. Dee Gordon beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners, however, and Prado followed by lining a base hit to right off Tanner Roark (0-2) and plating Hechavarria.
Steve Cishek blanked Washington in the ninth to notch his first save of the season.
"Guys are competing," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "We battled and gave ourselves a chance to win."
Hechavarria had two hits and two runs scored and Gordon racked up three hits to go with an RBI for Miami, which has won three in a row on the heels of a five-game losing streak.
Bryan Morris (2-0) tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.
Bryce Harper was 2-for-2 and drove in a pair of runs for the Nationals, who have dropped three consecutive contests.
"You want to win...when you're in dogfights like that," a disappointed Harper said.
Washington was 13-6 versus the Marlins last season.
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