Haren hoping to turn things around against the Cards

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

April 22, 2013, 11:35am

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The Cardinals return to D.C. today for the first time since rudely knocking the Nationals out of the 2012 playoffs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. I'm guessing Pete Kozma won't be getting too many free beers in the district over the next three days. The Cards, like the Nats, have a 10-8 record on the season. They've won six of their last 10. Shelby Miller, St. Louis' young stud, will take the mound tonight. He's gotten off to a really nice start to the season, going 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three starts. In his first three starts as a National, Dan Haren has allowed 12 earned runs and 26 hits over 13 1/3 innings. Three outings, three times exiting the game before seeing the sixth inning. Is April 22 too early for a starter to need a quality performance? Maybe not. Tonight, Haren gets the Cardinals, a team that has put up 93 runs on the season, fifth-best in the majors. For the Nats: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 3B Anthony Rendon 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki RHP Dan Haren