Marlins 0 - 2 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Four Nats pitchers blank Marlins

Apr 21, 2012 - 5:42 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard and Henry Rodriguez combined to pitch a shutout, as the Washington Nationals took down the Miami Marlins, 2-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Detwiler (2-0) gave up just three hits through six innings for the Nationals, who improved to 11-4 on the young season. He struck out seven and walked one.

"[Detwiler] was superb," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "He had another inning in him, but...I didn't want to press my luck."

Stammen, Clippard and Rodriguez combined to allow only one hit and three walks. Rick Ankiel went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs scored.

Carlos Zambrano (0-1) gave up one run on two hits over seven innings to take the hard-luck loss for the Marlins, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Zambrano fanned six batters.

Miami wasted a golden opportunity to score in the second inning. Giancarlo Stanton singled and Austin Kearns doubled to put men on second and third with one out. Detwiler, though, settled down and retired the next two batters to keep it a scoreless contest.

Ankiel led off the third with a homer to center, giving Washington the only run they would need.

"I wasn't as aggressive," Zambrano said of his approach to the Ankiel at-bat.

The Marlins had a chance to get on the board in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan started the frame with a deep drive to left-center field, but Ankiel made a nice grab while running into the wall. Pinch-hitter Logan Morrison singled and Emilio Bonifacio walked to put men on first and second with two outs, but Hanley Ramirez struck out swinging to end the threat.

Washington then tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning. Steve Cishek gave up a one-out double to Ankiel, who moved to third on Jesus Flores' groundout. Pinch-hitter Chad Tracy intentionally walked to put men on the corners for Ian Desmond, who knocked in Ankiel with an infield single.

Rodriguez put men on first and second with two outs in the ninth. Coghlan stepped to the plate and grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game. Rodriguez picked up his fourth save of the year.

Game Notes

The Marlins took 11 of 18 from the Nats last season, taking seven of nine in Washington...The 30-year-old Zambrano fell to 8-4 in 16 career games versus the Nationals franchise, including 13 starts...Miami second baseman Omar Infante missed his third straight game due to a strained left groin...Each team had four hits.






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