Final
Nationals-Marlins Preview
Jul 1, 2009 - 5:19 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterWashington (22-52) at Florida (39-39), 12:10 p.m. EDT
Facing the Washington Nationals has already helped the Florida Marlins bounce back from a rough weekend.
Behind ace Josh Johnson, the Marlins look for a 10th straight victory over the visiting Nationals on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series.
Hanley Ramirez homered and drove in four runs as Florida (40-39) erased a four-run deficit to win 7-5 on Tuesday in a game called in the seventh inning because of rain.
The Marlins, who were swept in a three-game set at Tampa Bay over the weekend, are 8-0 versus the Nationals (22-53) this year and 22-3 against them since the start of last season.
"We have played them better than what the record indicates," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "But over the last two years they have flat out beat us."
Trailing 5-1 after five, Florida scored six times over the next two innings before rain halted play for good.
Ramirez, second in NL behind New York's David Wright (.345) with a .341 batting average, set a franchise record by driving in at least one run for the ninth consecutive game. He has 22 RBIs during the stretch.
"I think I've been more patient and hitting the ball all over the place," said Ramirez, who's hitting .340 with 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 60 games versus Washington.
Johnson (7-1, 2.76 ERA) has also enjoyed success versus the Nationals, going 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA in six starts. The right-hander, though, allowed a season-high six runs in six innings of a 9-6, 13-inning win over Washington on April 18.
In his most recent start, Johnson gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings, but didn't factor in a 7-3 loss at Tampa Bay on Friday.
Though Johnson felt he labored through that appearance, he's 4-0 with a 3.02 ERA in seven starts after losing to Arizona on May 19. Since returning last July from elbow surgery, Johnson is 14-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 30 starts.
The Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann (3-3, 4.65) will look to build off his best outing of his brief career while making his first start against Florida.
The 23-year-old rookie right-hander allowed one run and five hits while striking out six in seven innings of a 9-3 win over Boston on Thursday.
"Jordan was tremendous. He was outstanding," Acta told the Nationals' official Web site of Zimmermann, who's given up five runs in 23 2-3 innings over his last four starts.
Washington's Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer Tuesday, giving him 20 this season and 298 for his career. He has two home runs and eight RBIs against the Marlins in 2009.
The Nationals could have a pair of new faces available after acquiring outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett from Pittsburgh on Tuesday for oft-injured outfielder Lastings Milledge and former closer Joel Hanrahan.
Morgan, who's hitting .277 with two homers, 27 RBIs and 18 steals, could give the Nationals a true leadoff man.
"We see him as a speed-type of player that can play above-average defense for us in center field, give us a top-of-the-lineup bat that can create a little havoc on the basepaths," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 8 1
FLORIDA 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 x 5 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: WAS - JORDAN ZIMMERMANN, SEAN BURNETT (7TH), JULIAN TAVAREZ (8TH),
MIKE MACDOUGAL (8TH) AND WIL NIEVES
FLA - JOSH JOHNSON, BURKE BADENHOP (4TH), RENYEL PINTO
(7TH)
Jul 1 3:48 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CODY ROSS SCORED ROSS GLOAD.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
FLORIDA 5 END BOTTOM, 8TH
Nationals 3, Marlins 5 Bot 8, 0 OutsJul 1 3:40 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY WES HELMS SCORED HANLEY RAMIREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
FLORIDA 4 END BOTTOM, 8TH
Nationals 3, Marlins 4 Bot 8, 0 OutsJul 1 3:39 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CODY ROSS (14) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 7TH OFF SEAN BURNETT.
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3, FLORIDA 3
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: J BAKER (.243, 1-FOR-2)
Nationals 3, Marlins 3 Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 1 2:56 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH WILLINGHAM SCORED CRISTIAN GUZMAN AND NICK
JOHNSON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J WILLINGHAM ON FIRST, A DUNN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
FLORIDA 2 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A HERNANDEZ (.258, 0-FOR-3)
Nationals 3, Marlins 2 Top 7, 0 OutsJul 1 2:43 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HANLEY RAMIREZ SCORED CHRIS COGHLAN AND EMILIO
BONIFACIO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, H RAMIREZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
FLORIDA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR FLORIDA: R GLOAD (.283, 0-FOR-1)
Nationals 1, Marlins 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 1 1:16 PM - NL
AT FLORIDA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JORDAN ZIMMERMANN SCORED JOSH WILLINGHAM.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J ZIMMERMANN ON FIRST, W NIEVES ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
FLORIDA 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: W HARRIS (.247, 1-FOR-1)
Nationals 1, Marlins 0 Top 2, 0 OutsJul 1 12:37 PM
Related News
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Getting more pitching in 2024 + more... Dec 26
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Keibert Ruiz, CS% and more… Dec 22
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Stephen Strasburg retirement?; 40-man spot + more... Dec 21
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Joey Meneses & DH duties vs playing the field… Dec 19
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Dylan Floro looks to bounce back after down ‘23 campaign... Dec 18
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nick Senzel talks joining Nats, playing third every day + more... Dec 15
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nationals’ rotation plans; 6-man rotation talk + more… Dec 14
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats announce signings - Dylan Floro and Nick Senzel Dec 13
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Davey Martinez on shaking up his coaching staff... Dec 12
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Nats look to future; talk prospects... Dec 11
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Rule 5 pick Nasim Nuñez; a defense-first bench option for 2024 Nats... Dec 8
- Washington Nationals news & notes: GM Mike Rizzo & Davey Martinez on HR power, third & first base... Dec 7