« Home | Marlins 4 Nationals 2Revenge could not be sweeter ... » | <!--[if gte vml 1]> ... » | "Momentum is only as good as tomorrow's starting p... » | On the eve of the Midsummer Classic at PNC Park, F... » | <!--[if gte vml 1]> ... » | 2006 Florida Marlins vs. 2006 "Florida Marlins"An ... » | 2006 Florida Marlins vs. 2006 "Florida Marlins" ... » | Washington Nationals 8 Florida Marlins 7 The fi... » | Marlins 18 Nationals 9 Timely Hitting Those ... » | Nationals 6 Marlins 4 One word can describe this... »

Marlins 1 Nationals 0

The Marlins were finally on the winning end of a 1-0 pitchers duel. Through 93 games, the last time the Marlins played in a one run contest: their season opening 1-0 loss to Houston. The last shutout for the Marlins came during Anibal Sanchez's first career start, a 5-0 victory in the second game of a June 25 double header against the Yankees.

Campers witnessed the same rookie starter, Sanchez, one hit the Washington Nationals through seven innings Wednesday afternoon at Dolphins Stadium. After giving up a Austin Kearns single to start the third, the "Tommy John" survivor scattered four walks while holding his last 18 batters hitless. Sanchez did not get much run support from a Marlin team that entered the game 9-19 in one run games.

Nationals’ starter Ramon Ortiz also pitched seven innings, but Cody Ross' homer in the bottom of the second proved to be the difference in this divisional rivalry. Ross, the lone New Mexican in the league, has five career home runs, none bigger than Wednesday's shot.

The Marlins have been no stranger to hitting the long ball. They have hit 32 homers in the past 30 days, good for fourth best in the National League.

The solo jack proved all the Marlins pitching staff would need for support. After Sanchez walked Kearns to start the eighth, manager Joe Girardi learned from Tuesday's mistake and pulled his starter before he ran out of gas. Tuesday night Dontrelle Willis was one strike away from ending the seventh with a two run Marlin lead. Instead, an Alex Escobar two RBI single tied the game. Girardi went with Taylor Tankersley who recorded two outs before intentionally walking Alfonso Soriano to strike Felipe Lopez out.

Closer Joe Borowski earned his 19th save of the season and has allowed just one earned run in his past five games. Borowski got a huge strikeout in Marlon Anderson with runners on the corners and only one out. The 35 year old Rutgers grad got Kearns to fly out to end the game.

Wacky Stat of the Day:
Cody Ross hit 101 minor league homers during seven seasons. He has only six career major league homers in 145 major league at-bats. None bigger than Wednesday's 1-0 victory.

Posted by Brian Saal on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 12:38 PM |

Post a Comment