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Young Marlins numb Nationals

Sep 25, 2008 - 4:29 AM By Daimon Eklund PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- One day after the being officially eliminated from the playoffs, the Florida Marlins took a look at their future Wednesday and had to be impressed with their 9-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Rookie Gaby Sanchez made his first major league start and made the most of it, picking up his first career hit with a double off the left-field wall in the third inning. He followed it with another double in the fifth and a single in the seventh, finishing the game 3-for-5.

"After that, all the nerves just kind of go away," the first baseman said of his first hit. "And now it's just play the game you know how to play."

Center fielder Cameron Maybin, who was Sanchez's teammate most of the season with the Class AA Carolina Mudcats, also had a big day. Maybin was 3-for-3 before leaving the game with a sore hip in the sixth inning.

"It was awesome," said Maybin, who is hitting .500 (14-for-28) in seven games. "I had a chance to play with (Sanchez) all year, and I know what he can do. I thought there might be a chance he'd get to play, and I said, 'If he gets four at-bats, he's going to do well.' That was definitely fun to watch, and I was so happy for him, because he deserves it."

Maybin left after an awkward slide on a stolen base, but said it felt fine after the game.

"I was surprised I even came out," he said. "But you know, it gets to this point in the season, you want to be more safe than sorry, but it feels fine."

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez set the tone for the Marlins' evening with a home run to left-center field on the game's first pitch. It was his ninth leadoff homer and 33rd overall this season. A double by Ramirez also started a five-run third inning for the Marlins that essentially sealed the victory.

The third-inning outburst started with Ramirez's double, and he was sent home on another double by Jorge Cantu. After two walks by Redding, Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run single. Sanchez then came to the plate.

Sanchez had already had one at-bat, striking out in the second. This time, he told himself to relax. It worked - he stroked a double off the wall in front of the Marlins' bullpen, a ball that was a few feet away from being his first home run, as well.

"I didn't even see where it hit," Sanchez said. "It was when I got into the dugout was when they told me it was pretty close to being out. To me, it didn't really matter. I was just glad to get that first hit."

The Marlins' outburst chased Washington starter Tim Redding after 2 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Redding (10-11) gave up seven runs on seven hits, walked two, struck out four and hit a batter as the Nationals lost their 99th game of the season.

"He couldn't make good pitches," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He gave us a good effort the whole season. He won double digits on a club that had a tough season."

Florida starter Josh Johnson (7-1) fared much better, lasting six innings and allowing two runs and six hits. Johnson also walked three and had one strikeout.

"J.J. pitched not the best we've seen him pitch, but he got through it and our bats woke up," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Josh Willingham also had a home run in the eighth, his 13th of the season, but the big story was Sanchez.

"Everybody was excited for him," Maybin said. "I think you'll see, the more at-bats he gets at this level, he's going to be really good. He's a fun hitter to watch."