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Amezaga's homer powers Marlins past Nationals

Jul 2, 2008 - 9:33 PM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Alfredo Amezaga hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday, powering the Florida Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

The switch-hitting Amezaga was the first batter after rain delayed play for 95 minutes. It was just his second career homer as a righthanded batter.

"When I hit a home run, I don't even know how to act because I am not used to hitting home runs," Amezaga said. "I feel pretty good and happy we won the game."

Due to the delay, National starter Odalis Perez did not come back to finish the seventh and was relieved by Charlie Manning (0-2), who immediately surrendered Amezaga's second homer of the season.

"Before I batted, I went to the cage with Jim Presley, our hitting coach, and we were talking about (Manning) and he has a good cutter," Amezaga said. "I think he did a good job keeping the ball away, but I just put a good swing on him and I got lucky."

Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (9-4) pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs and three hits. The righthander struck out eight without a walk.

"For me, that's the number one," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He fell behind 2-0 in the second inning and battled to retire 12 in a row.

Nolasco has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last four starts, working to a 2.05 ERA during that span.

"When things are rolling, it's a good feeling, but you just have to stay focused or else it will come back and bite you real quick," Nolasco said.

Renyel Pinto worked a scoreless eighth and Kevin Gregg pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save.

"The bullpen did a nice job," Gonzalez said. "It was nice to win back-to-back series here at home."

Perez pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and five hits. The lefthander struck out three and threw 53 of 77 pitches for strikes.

"Sometimes you cannot control things," Perez said. "I was pitching well, then the rain came down and then I had to be pulled out.

Wes Helms provided an insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Marlins, who beat the Nationals for the 10th time in 12 meetings this season.

Paul Lo Duca stroked a two-run single in the second for Washington.

"It seems like the breaks haven't been going our way," Lo Duca said. "It's not going to be easy until we get out of this. It seems like we've had a lot of wins that we've given away. It's just tough."

In the sixth, the Marlins got back a run on Robert Andino's RBI single that scored Hanley Ramirez, who had doubled.