Even though there was much support from starter Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins bullpen quickly gave up a run in the 10th inning to Adam LaRoche, who managed to get a sacrifice fly with one out and men on second and third. That would be the only Nats’ run in the 10th, but it was enough to claim the victory on Friday’s game at Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida.
The game itself was a close one, with a solid start from Ricky Nolasco, who managed to strike out 11 batters in 7.0 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits. With two outs in the 7th, Gaby Sanchez made a diving stop to save the Marlins from giving up a run; runners for the Nats were at the corners.
Clay Hensley, Randy Choate, and Ryan Webb came into the 8th, all managing to strike out the side together, excluding a Hensley walk. It was definitely an interesting decision by Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez, as he seems confident with the southpaws facing lefty batters; but he still managed to waste those three pitchers, since Nunez came into the 9th to relief.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the 9th, Mike Stanton crushed a ball one step in front of the center field 404 ft mark, a homer at other parks without a doubt. Jerry Hairston was there to catch, what would have been, the walk-off homer for the Fish.
Mike Dunn came in to relief for Nunez in the top of the 10th, striking out the first batter. He walked the next batter, and then gave up a double to Laynce Nix, advancing the walked batter to third. After a visit to the mound, a sacrifice fly from Adam LaRoche lifted the Nats up a run. Ivan Rodriguez came up to bat after, and he struck out looking on outside pitch, a call that he was clearly unhappy with. Still, this would be the second extra-innings game that Dunn has blown for the Fish, regardless of a great start from his teammate. Last game he blew was Josh Johnson’s, last Friday against the Reds.
Dunn is 2-2 with a 1.35 ERA, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits this season. He’s also walked 9 and has 16 K’s.
With the Nats up a run, the Marlins quickly got third and first filled up with no outs. The Marlins failed to even get a sac fly to at least tie the game up, with Omar Infante grounding out to the pitcher, Wes Helms being called out on an arguable call (which was in the zone on the FSFlorida FOX Trax, but was in the high outside corner that umpires usually don’t call), and a Chris Coghlan soft lineout to center field.
The Marlins are looking to take revenge tonight against the Nationals at 7:10PM ET. The Fish have yet to lose three in a row, and hopefully tonight won’t be the night we see this statistic. Follow @TheFightinFish for live-updates on the game.
-Derek