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Ramirez, Cabrera power Marlins past Nationals

Apr 3, 2007 - 4:21 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera put a pounding on John Patterson.

Ramirez and Cabrera combined for seven hits, five runs and five RBI as the Florida Marlins roughed up Patterson in a 9-2 Opening Day victory over the Washington Nationals.

Dontrelle Willis was sharp over six innings for the Marlins, who scored in five of the first seven frames and gave Fredi Gonzalez a win in his managerial debut.

"We swung the bats, and (Patterson) got himself in a little trouble, and we took advantage of it," Gonzalez said.

Batting leadoff, Ramirez had four hits, four runs and an RBI. He doubled and scored in the first, singled and scored in the second, singled home a run and scored in the fourth and doubled and scored in the sixth.

"I felt comfortable at home plate and just tried to get on base and steal some bases and start my team going," Ramirez said. "I was getting a good jump. My body feels great right now."

"I think we're gonna go how he goes, but he is some kind of a leadoff hitter and some kind of a baseball player," Gonzalez said.

Batting third, Cabrera had three hits, four RBI and scored a run. He doubled home two runs in the second, belted a two-run homer in the fourth and singled in a three-run seventh.

"It's not like we can go undefeated, but they know what kind of team we have," Cabrera said. "I hope we can do that every day, but I know there's going to be tough days where we have to play all nine innings."

The attack at the top of the lineup was too much for Patterson, who was making his first career Opening Day start and did not get out of the fourth inning, giving up six runs, seven hits and three walks. He allowed the leadoff hitter to reach in three frames.

"I didn't have any life on my fastball," Patterson said. "It was just dead. I fought it. I kept trying to get the ball to jump, get a little life on it, and it just wasn't there."

Last year, Patterson made just six starts before undergoing season-ending arm surgery in July. He is at the front of a very young rotation that is expected to take some lumps this season.

"I was nervous before the game, but once I got on the field, I was fine," Patterson said. "Not much went right today."

Willis also fronts a young rotation but has a better resume, reaching double digits in each of his four seasons. The lefthander was in total command Monday, allowing two runs - one earned - and seven hits, walking one and striking out three.

"When you're thrust into a leadership role, you go out there and you take pride in working hard and proving all you guys wrong - that you can play every day and be competitive every day. That's all you can do is be competitive."

"Dontrelle just pitched great," Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla said. "It's going to be exciting when we're playing like this."

Cabrera walked before Mike Jacobs singled home Ramirez in the first. Florida made it 3-0 in the second on Cabrera's double.

Patterson had a 1-2-3 third but ran into trouble in the fourth. He had a walk and wild pitch before Ramirez singled home a run. One out later, Cabrera belted a long homer to left field to make it 6-0.

That was more than enough for Willis, who allowed single runs in the fourth and sixth before giving way to the bullpen. Three relievers each pitched a hitless frame.

"I felt good," Willis said. "I'm not afraid of contact. I know I'm going to give up some hits but I'm looking for that ground ball to get me out of some jams and I was able to do that today.

Uggla homered in the seventh and rookie Alex de Aza had two hits and scored twice for the Marlins, who banged out 13 hits, six for extra bases.

Pinch hitter Aaron Boone picked up his 500th career RBI with a sacrifice fly that gave Florida an 8-2 lead in the seventh.

"A lot of nice firsts," Rodriguez said. "De Aza getting his first base hit and had a nice game. Booney got his 500th career RBI. A lot of nice stuff happened out there today.

"For me, it was very nice. Something I've always wanted, an opportunity to do it. I got a chance, we did it, and now we go on."

Dmitri Young had two hits and drove in a run for the Nationals, who dealt new manager Manny Acta a loss in his debut.

Washington had as many injuries as runs. Outfielder Nook Logan hyperextended his left foot in the fourth inning and shortstop Cristian Guzman suffered a left ankle injury in the fifth.

"It's not frustrating, it's just weird that we went the whole spring training and were pretty much healthy coming out of Florida, and then the two guys go down," Acta said.