Rasner gets call to start

Carson City's Darrell Rasner will take the mound for his Major League debut today against the Florida Marlins when the Washington Nationals attempt to gain ground in the wild card race at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Scheduled starter Tony Armas Jr. is still experiencing shoulder problems, so the Nationals called up Rasner, a 24-year-old right-hander, to make the start in a game that is important to both teams. The Nationals, who have won three games in a row, are only a half-game behind the Marlins in the National League East and wild card standings.

Rasner was playing for Double-A Harrisburg, going 6-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 150.1 innings of work. He was honored as the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for the first week of May.

Rasner was with the Nationals during Spring Training and gave up one run in four innings before going to Minor League camp.

Rasner is a 1999 Carson High graduate who played three seasons at the University of Nevada before he signed with the Montreal Expos as a second-round draft pick in 2002. In Washington, he is now be reunited with former Wolf Pack teammate Ryan Church.

This has already been a big year for Rasner and his wife, Jennifer, who celebrated the arrival of their son, Evan, on Feb. 23.

n Bill Ladson of MLB.com contributed to the story.