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Hermida helps power Marlins past Nationals

Apr 10, 2008 - 4:18 AM By Todd Jacobson PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- After his own personal opening day was postponed for more than a week because of a left hamstring strain, Florida Marlins right fielder Jeremy Hermida certainly didn't get off to the start he would have liked in Florida's 10-4 win over the Washington Nationals Wednesday.

But after dropping a very catchable line drive in his first opportunity in the field, Hermida doubled and drove in two runs during a key seven-run fifth inning, more than making up for his gaffe in helping the Marlins to their second straight win over the Nationals and their fourth win in five games.

Hermida, who had been on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain to start the season, finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs in his first game of the season, but he had plenty of help for National League East-leading Florida.

"The double definitely helps," Hermida said. "My error was one of those things I didn't want to happen on my first play out there, but we were able to come back, put up some runs and (Scott) Olsen did a good job of picking me up."

Left-hander Scott Olsen (1-0) allowed just four hits and three earned runs in 7 2/3 innings, and first baseman Mike Jacobs hit two home runs for the second time in his career, sending Washington to its sixth straight loss.

The Nationals (3-6) christened their new ballpark with a win 10 days ago and opened the season 3-0, but haven't won since.

Washington took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, thanks largely to Hermida's error, before the Marlins finally got to Nationals righthander Jason Bergmann in the fifth inning.

Third baseman Jorge Cantu lined Bergmann's first offering into the left field stands, before Dan Uggla and Hermida broke the game open with back-to-back, two-run doubles to make it 5-1. After Jacobs capped the frame with a two-run homer, the Marlins had batted around, scoring seven runs on six hits.

"We know we can swing the bat. We've got the lineup to do it," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We've got guys that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. But I'm glad to see we got a big two-run double by Danny, a base hit by Hanley (Ramirez) to score the run, instead of waiting for the three-run homer or the two-run homer. We were able to manufacture scores."

The Marlins have also been able to manufacture a surprising start to the season and improbably sit atop the National League East.

"I think it's big," Jacobs said. "When everybody writes you off from day one - 'these guys can't play' and 'they're young' and this and that and whatever - that's why we play this game. That's why we go out there every night and play because anything can happen. If anything, it's a confidence booster."

Jacobs' second two-run shot in the seventh put Florida up, 10-2, and gave him four homers this season. Jacobs hit two homers in a game only once before, against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 24, 2005.

He has four homers in his last five games and has enjoyed particular success against Bergmann during his career. Jacobs entered the game with three homers in seven at-bats against the righthander and is now 5-for-10 with four homers and five RBIs.

"I know I've hit him pretty well in the past," Jacobs said. "I know I've had some home runs against him. I don't know what it is.

"Sometimes you just see guys good and sometimes fate just kind of plays out that way. It's not something I picked up off of him or anything like that. For whatever reason, I put some good swings on some balls that he throws. It was just a good night."

Olsen, meantime, quietly kept the Nationals in check to earn his first win since September 27. The lefthander entered the game 2-8 in his last 13 starts, but settled down after Washington's unearned run in the second inning and allowed just four hits in 7 2/3 innings.

His only real mistakes were a solo home run by the Nationals' Cristian Guzman in the fifth inning and a pair of baserunners in the eighth - both of whom scored when Paul Lo Duca hit a two-run double off reliever Lee Gardner.

"I was trying to go deep into the game any way I can," Olsen said. "I was trying to go out there and just get ahead in the count, make them put the ball in play. They've got thick grass here in the infield, so the more ground balls they can beat into the ground, the better for us."

Bergmann's problems began just where they started in his first outing of the season: in the fifth inning. He gave up five runs in the fifth inning of an April 3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, and after two starts and 10 1/3 innings, he's allowed 12 runs - all in the fifth.

Bergmann said his problems started when he began rushing his delivery and not following through on his pitches.

"I'm better than that," Bergmann said. "This team didn't need that. I failed these guys tonight."