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Belliard's grand slam lifts Nationals past Marlins

Jul 2, 2008 - 3:25 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Ronnie Belliard hit a grand slam and Collin Balester won his major-league debut as the Washington Nationals posted a 9-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday.

Elijah Dukes had three hits including a solo homer and Felipe Lopez also had three hits for Washington, which defeated Florida for the second time in 11 games this season.

"We are playing well," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "I like the way we are playing the last five or six days. It's just tough against these guys."

The Nationals were able to hold off the Marlins, despite a career day by star Hanley Ramirez, who hit a three-run homer and recorded a career-high with five RBI.

"It doesn't matter, we lost the game," Ramirez said. "It happens, we are not going to win all the games. We have to forget about it and come back the next game."

Cristian Guzman, Dukes and Dmitri Young all singled off of Mark Hendrickson (7-7) to lead off the sixth inning before Belliard offered the crushing blow to deep left field. It was the second career grand slam for Belliard and his seventh homer of the season.

"A changeup came back a little bit over the middle of the plate," Hendrickson said. "It was frustrating."

Balester (1-0) gave up one hit and one run in five innings. He struck out three and walked three while throwing 54 of his 95 pitches for strikes.

"He was very impressive," Acta said. "We haven't seen an arm like this come to our system since Javier Vazquez. It's exciting. The kid threw the ball very well and pounded the strike zone until the last inning."

The 22-year-old righthander did not allow a hit until the fifth inning when Cody Ross singled to left. Robert Andino grounded into a fielder's choice before Matt Treanor and Hendrickson each walked. Ramirez came up with the bases loaded and one out, but hit a weak pop-up to short right field. Andino alertly came home on the sacrifice fly to pull within 2-1. Balester got out of the jam when Jorge Cantu popped up with the bases loaded.

"When I first went out there to warm up, I was a little nervous," Balester said. "I was looking at everything and it was amazing to make to to the big leagues. As the innings went on, I just got better. I ran into a little trouble in the fifth, but for the most part I couldn't have scripted it any better."

Ramirez pulled the Marlins within two at 6-4 with a three-run homer off of Steven Shell in the seventh inning. It was the third straight game Ramirez has hit a home run and now has 20 on the season.

The Nationals scored three runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by RBI singles by Felipe Lopez and Willie Harris.

Alfredo Amezaga and Ramirez drove in runs with RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth as the Marlins pulled within 9-6. Jon Rauch came to close the door as he pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 17th save.

Hendrickson pitched six innings giving up six runs and 10 hits. He is 0-5 with a 9.79 ERA in his last seven starts.

"It's been a tough month," Hendrickson said. "The good news is we are still in the pennant race - and I haven't pitched like I did the first couple of months, so I am encouraged by that."