Florida Marlins Baseball

Nationals 6 Marlins 4

One word can describe this frustrating four game losing streak: Homeruns. In the past four days the Fish have given up 12 homeruns.

The Marlins gave some much needed run support a day after a crushing 9-1 loss to the Nationals. The holiday affair in our nation's capital provided solo fireworks from Nats Marlon Byrd along with Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez. Both fireworks got upstaged by a three run walk-off homer run by rookie Ryan Zimmerman who was down to his last strike with two outs.
Dan Uggla's double in the top of the fourth tied the game up at one and All-Star teammate Miguel Cabrera singled him in. Starter Scott Olsen gave the Fish six innings but left without the lead after giving up a two run double to Royce Clayton.
Ramirez's homer in the top of the seventh tied the game up and let Olsen off the hook. The game would be won or loss by the bullpens. It seemed like the odds were in Washington’s favor; the Nats bullpen has been 10-14 while the Marlins bullpen has been 6-15 in deciding the game.
The Marlins caught a break in the eighth by Jose Vidro's throwing error that flew Nick Johnson off the bag and allowed Cabrera to score. Drama brewed in the bottom of the eighth when Randy Messenger gave up a ground rule double to Johnson. Suddenly, with two runners in scoring position and only one out, pitching coach Rick Kranitz discussed with Messenger on the mound to try and get Jose Guillen to chase some crummy pitches. Guillen failed to do so and was intentionally walked. Girardi then called upon closer Joe Borowski to get a 1.2 inning save. Borowski pitched 1.1.

With runners on first and second, Borowski got the count to Zimmerman to 2-2 and appeared to be headed to his 16th save. However, Zimmerman got a hold of one and sent the ball to the leftfield seats. The last time DC was victorious at home on our nation's birthday: 1968.

So the Marlins will continue to die by the long ball and hope youngster Yusmeiro Petit can quiet the opposition’s bats. Peitit was called up just before his scheduled start Monday.

Petit was 9-3 with a 2.91 ERA last season for Binghamton last season, the AA affiliate for the Mets. The 21 year old Venezuelan was acquired along with Mike Jacobs for Carlos Delgado.

Anibal Sanchez will pitch the last contest of this four game series against the Nats leaving Dontrelle Willis to pitch in the Big Apple against the division leading Mets. Also on Girardi's mind is the double header scheduled for Saturday.

Taylor Tankersley continued to specialize on getting lefties out. He forced Brian Schneider to fly out and Daryle Ward to strikeout.

Wacky stat on the night:
Jeremy Hermida was forced out at second in the eighth which scored Cabrera. Hermida, for whatever reason, was not aware he was out. He broke to third and was in a rundown for a good bit before being told he was out.

Posted by Brian Saal on Tuesday, July 04, 2006 at 12:49 PM | Permalink