MIAMI -- The seventh inning of a one-run game isn't a typical spot for a pitcher to make his third Major League appearance, but Jonathan Albaladejo didn't seem to mind the baptism by fire.

The rookie right-hander, called up from Triple-A Columbus a week ago, entered Monday's game just after Mike Jacobs' two-run homer had pulled the Marlins within one. But Albaladejo quickly got the final two outs of the seventh to douse the flames of the Florida rally, and Washington would hang on for a 5-4 victory.

That was par for the course for Albaladejo, who has yet to allow a baserunner in 3 1/3 big-league innings. It's an extremely small sample size, but it's been enough for Washington manager Manny Acta to predict that the 24-year-old has a future in the Majors.

"He's done a great job for us," Acta said. "He has come in situations where the game is there on the line, and he has been able to throw strikes, especially breaking balls, over the plate. I'm very satisfied with what I've seen."

Albaladejo, a native of Puerto Rico, who played one season at nearby Miami-Dade Community College, was drafted in the 19th round by Pittsburgh in 2001. He bounced around the Pirates' farm system as a starter for a few seasons before getting moved to the bullpen in 2005 and was released after last season.

He signed on with the Nationals and spent the first half of this season with Double-A Harrisburg, where he went 4-3 with a 4.17 ERA in 21 relief appearances. But a promotion to Triple-A Columbus in the last week of July sent him on a torrid hot streak, as he posted a 1.13 ERA (three earned run in 24 innings) in 15 appearances with the Clippers. Albaladejo fanned 8.3 batters per nine innings pitched and allowed a .195 batting average between Harrisburg and Columbus.

He convinced enough people along the way to earn a month in the Majors. General manager Jim Bowden said at the time of Albaladejo's call-up that farm director Bobby Williams, Columbus manager John Stearns and Minor League coordinator Tim Foli had lobbied hard for the 6-foot-5 right-hander to be given a chance.

"They were very adamant that he deserved that opportunity," Bowden said.

It didn't take long for Albaladejo to get a chance to speak for himself. The day after his callup, Washington starter Tim Redding suffered a shoulder injury while fielding and had to leave the game with one out in the third. Acta called on Albaladejo, who fought off butterflies to retire all five batters he faced, three of them by strikeout.

"I was kind of nervous at the beginning," Albaladejo said, "but after I threw my first pitch, everything was fine. I started taking it as another game. It was awesome. Great feeling."

Albaladejo hasn't had many of those late in the past few seasons. He's repeatedly dealt with fatigue and arm injuries down the stretch, a problem that more intense offseason conditioning appears to have corrected this season.

"My arm's feeling great," he said.

Now, he's hoping to establish himself as a part of the Nationals' future, and he has at least one believer in his corner.

"I think he might have found his niche now," Acta said. "With his stuff and what he's shown, I don't see why he can't be an adequate or a very good middle guy up here."

Under the knife: John Patterson will undergo surgery on Thursday to decompress the radial nerve in his right elbow. The procedure will be performed at Duke Medical Center by Dr. David Ruch.

Patterson has been limited to 15 starts over the last two seasons because of injury.

Growing up: Wily Mo Pena's two home runs Monday grabbed all the headlines. But it was his single to the opposite field in his first at-bat that showed Acta the maturation the right-hander has undergone as a hitter.

"When guys know that you're not afraid to go the other way, then eventually, they're going to try to have a pitching plan where they might come in here or there," Acta said. "And then if [Pena] is ready for it, he's going to hit the ball out, because that's how strong he is. The fact is, when you're a power hitter like he is, you should be able to hit the ball where it's pitched. To me, legit power hitters are not guys who hit 20, 25 home runs right down the left-field line."

Acta said he's also been impressed by the way Pena has handled himself in left field, having not committed an error since joining the Nationals.

"A lot has been made of his defense," Acta said, "but I can live with a guy like him on that field, the way he has played so far."

Right direction: Monday's win improved Washington's record against the Marlins to 10-6, clinching the season series for the Nationals for the first time since 1998.

"Baby steps," Acta said. "For years, we have been coming down and having a tough time beating these guys. It is an accomplishment for those guys out there in the locker room."

Remembering the past: The Nationals announced Tuesday that the press box in Nationals Park will be named the Shirley Povich Media Center, in honor of the late Hall of Fame Baseball writer for The Washington Post. A ceremony celebrating the dedication will be held soon after Nationals Park opens in 2008.

On deck: The Nats and Marlins will play the finale of their three-game set at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday. Right-hander Joel Hanrahan (4-3, 5.63 ERA) will take on Byung-Hyun Kim (9-6, 4.60).