Recap: Washington vs. Florida
Sports Network | September 23, 2008
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ryan Zimmerman belted a two-run homer to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-4 win over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series at Nationals Park.
The Florida loss combined with a victory by the New York Mets earlier Tuesday officially eliminated the Marlins from playoff contention.
Alberto Gonzalez registered four hits, three runs scored and two RBI for the Nationals, who halted a five-game skid. Lastings Milledge drove in three runs while Anderson Hernandez added a pair of RBI in the victory.
Shairon Martis (1-3) earned his first career victory with 5 1/3 innings of five-hit, three-run ball with five strikeouts.
Josh Willingham hit a solo home run for Florida, which has now dropped four straight after a season-high nine-game win streak. Mike Jacobs notched two hits and an RBI in the loss.
Scott Olsen (8-11) suffered the loss after he allowed four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over five innings.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single by Jacobs, but the hosts scored twice in the bottom of the frame for a one-run edge. Hernandez led off with a base hit and came around to score on Zimmerman's home run that cleared the wall in left field.
Willingham's 13th homer of the season began the second inning for a 2-2 tie.
Milledge drove in a run in both the third and fifth innings -- the former on a sacrifice fly and the latter on a base hit -- and the Nats led 4-2 after five frames.
The visitors climbed within one in the top of the sixth via Dan Uggla's RBI single. Jorge Cantu and Jacobs drew consecutive one-out walks before Uggla greeted new pitcher Steven Shell with a single to center field that scored Cantu. However, the Marlins failed to score more because Willingham grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
The bottom portion of the sixth saw Washington regain its two-run lead when Gonzalez singled home Willie Harris with two outs.
Mike Hinckley tossed shutout ball in both the top of the seventh and top of the eighth innings before the Nats added four insurance runs in the home half of the eighth. In that frame, a two-run single by Hernandez, an RBI double by Gonzalez and a run-scoring base hit by Milledge combined to produce the runs.
A Cody Ross solo homer in the top of the ninth capped the scoring.
Olsen is now 6-4 in 13 career starts against Florida...Despite the loss, Florida has still captured 13 of 16 meetings with Washington this season... The Nats outhit the Marlins, 13-9...It was the 14th home run of the season for Zimmerman...Milledge stole his 24th base but was also caught stealing...Attendance was 20,657.
