(My Sportsbook) - It is going to be pretty tough for the Washington Nationals to earn their first win of the season if the Philadelphia Phillies keep finding the long ball in this series. Washington, which is off to an 0-7 start, hosts Philadelphia tonight in the second test of a three-game set at Nationals Park.

The lone winless team in the majors, Washington has lost seven straight to begin a season for the first time since doing so as the Montreal Expos in 1998.

The Phillies and Nationals were locked at 4-4 in Monday's series opener, which was also serving was Washington's home opener, before Philly's Ryan Howard connected on a three-run homer, his first of the year after leading the majors with 48 a season ago.

Raul Ibanez also homered in the inning and Shane Victorino earlier connected on a long ball for the Phillies, who won on the same day that their legendary announcer Harry Kalas passed away at the age of 73.

Kalas was found unconscious in the Nationals Park press box prior to the game and was taken to George Washington University hospital, where the Hall of Fame announcer was pronounced dead at approximately 1:20 p.m. (et).

The loss of Kalas caused the Phils to cancel a trip to the White House on Tuesday as reigning World Series champions.

Brad Lidge allowed a two-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth, but settled down to post his third save of the season and give Philadelphia its third straight win and fourth in five games after dropping two straight to start the season.

Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes each had two hits and a homer for the Nats, who will have a different look in the lineup tonight. Cristian Guzman went 5-for-5 on Monday, giving him a hit in all seven games this year. That includes six multi-hit games to boost his average to .515, but he left the series opener in the ninth inning due to a strained left hamstring and is doubtful for tonight.

Also, center fielder Lastings Milledge was optioned to the minors on Tuesday after getting off to a slow start. Dukes is expected to take over center full- time in Milledge's absence.

A pair of right-handers square off on the mound this evening, as Shairon Martis goes for the Nats opposite the Phillies' Joe Blanton.

Martis, 22, made his first start of 2009 Friday versus Atlanta and was touched for three runs and five hits over three innings. His start ended early due to a rain delay and he did not get a decision in his team's loss.

The right-hander has never started versus the Phils, but did face them once in relief, allowing a run and two hits over 2 1/3 frames.

The 28-year-old Blanton will try to recover from his poor season debut last Wednesday versus Atlanta. He allowed seven runs on nine hits with six strikeouts over just four innings, helping put his team in an early 10-3 hole, but was taken off the hook when the Phils rallied for a 12-11 win.

Blanton, a right-hander, went 4-0 with a 4.20 earned run average in 13 starts with the Phils after being acquired from Oakland last July, and is 1-1 with a 5.57 ERA in four career starts versus Washington.

Philadelphia has won 25 of the last 37 meetings in the series, including a 13-6 mark as the visitor in that span.