Pedro Astacio hasn't pitched for the Colorado Rockies since 2001, but the veteran right-hander's name still can be found all over the club's all-time pitching leaders.
Astacio, who will start Sunday's series finale against his former team, still holds Rockies records for strikeouts (749) and complete games (14) from his five-season stint in Colorado. And it took until this season for Astacio to be bumped from the top spot by Jason Jennings in starts, wins and innings pitched.
Astacio's victory total in a Nationals' uniform is only three in the 13 starts he has made since missing the first three months of the season due to a right forearm strain. He and his teammates really can use a victory on Sunday, as they have been beaten by the Rockies in all seven previous meetings this season.
Astacio pitched well in his last start, allowing only two runs in 6 1/3 innings against St. Louis, but the Nationals were shut out by the Cardinals, leaving Astacio with five losses this season.
Pitching matchup
WASH: RHP Pedro Astacio (3-5, 5.83)
Maybe a return trip to Coors Field will help Astacio improve upon his season, as he is second all-time in wins in the Rockies' home park with 24. In two starts against Colorado, he is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, the last coming in 2005 with San Diego.
ARIZ: LHP Jeff Francis (11-11, 3.79)
Only five left-handed starters in the Major Leagues have a lower ERA this season than Francis. But his has been on the rise lately, as he has posted a 6.65 ERA in his last four starts. The Rockies have won nine of Francis' last 13 outings. He beat the Nationals on June 12 at RFK Stadium.
Player to watch
Nick Johnson is a .405 (17-for-42) career hitter against the Rockies, and Coors Field is one of his favorite parks. Johnson reached the 20-homer mark for the first time in his career on Thursday, then hit another in almost the same spot on Friday. He followed that with two doubles and two RBIs on Saturday, and is hitting .359 (23 for 64) in his last 19 games, reaching base safely in 18 of them.
Line ups:
Washington
LF Soriano
SS Lopez
3B Zimmerman
1B Johnson
RF Kearns
C Harper
2B Castro
CF Logan
P Astacio
Colorado
2B Matsui
1B Helton
3B Atkins
LF Holliday
RF Baker
CF Salazar
SS Barmes
C Iannetta
P Francis
Thanks 2K6nats
