The finale of this four game series against the Washington Nationals was just as unusual as the first three.
It was a tale of two games as both teams exploded to a 7-5 score entering the bottom of the second. Both teams closed the game going 10-80 at the plate. After scoring 12 runs and nine hits in the game's first nine outs, it looked like the game was going to be a high scoring affair.
The Nationals got to rookie Anibal Sanchez early; grabbing five runs off of just three hits before getting their first three outs. The Marlins answered back quickly with a seven run top of the second off six timely hits. Miguel Cabrera led the inning off with a walk and scored off a Josh Willingham triple, the same triple he needed in last nights three hit performance for the cycle. The Marlins crawled their way back thanks to an RBI ground rule double by hot swinging Miguel Olivo and RBI singles by Reggie Abercrombie and pitcher Anibal Sanchez. In the past two games, both Marlin starting pitchers earned their first RBI off their first single of their careers. Mike Jacobs broke the 5-5 tie with his two run cannon shot into the upper deck in right field.
That's all the offense the Marlins would have on the day.
With a two run lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning, all the Marlins had to do was prevent mental errors. But when Willingham dropped a can of corn pop out by Brian Schneider to try and get a tagging Alex Escobar out at the plate, it opened up the can of worms. Then with two outs and a runner on second and first base open, Taylor Tankersley gave a free pass to Alfonso Soriano.
That decision would be costly. Olivo had trouble picking up the lefties slider and a passed ball put both runners in scoring position. Tankersley lost command of the strike zone and walked Jose Vidro to load the bases and Ryan Zimmerman to score Schneider. Had Willingham took his time and caught the pop fly, the inning would end with a one run Marlin lead. In a perfect world.
The Fish's best chance to break the tie came in the top of the ninth with no outs when reliever Bill Bray hurried his throw to try and get speedy Reggie Abercrombie out at first. His throw ended up in the hands of right fielder Jose Guillen while Abercrombie stretched it out to third. With a runner on third and no outs, Abercrombie was stranded thanks to a strikeout, groundout, and pop out.
In a offensive stalemate, it's only fitting that the game would be decided on a defensive mistake. A throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Nats a runner at first with no outs. The runner: Schneider. A sac bunt, intentional walk, and fielder's choice later set the scene for rookie star of the series Ryan Zimmerman. The
Letting a rookie beat you once: understandable
Letting the same rookie beat you again with an open base two days later: embarrassing
Stat of the Night:
1.) Brian Schneider scored the tying and game winning run despite going 0-3 at the plate. He got on base in the seventh when Willingham dropped his sac fly and again in the 11th when Ramirez committed a throwing error.
2.) National batters drew 12 walks
