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Post Game

A is for Aaron
Aaron Boone went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, including a triple and a home run...the triple was his first since hitting a 3-bagger as an Indian on June 1, 2006 vs. Chicago (AL)...he is batting .393 (11-for-28) with 2 home runs and 4 RBI in 7 starts.

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Line Score
Marlins 5-8-0
Nationals 4-7-0
WP-Kensing (2-0)
LP-Ayala (1-3)
Sv-Gregg (7)

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In Game Update's

Oh no he didn't
Luis Ayala was supposed to come in the game in the 8th and keep the Nationals lead in tact. He was supposed to shut the door for Shawn Hill and help him earn his first win of the season. Ayala didn't do either. He gave up a lead-off single to Alfredo Amezaga and Jeremy Hermida followed with a 2-run home run to tie the game. After 2-outs, Dan Uggla hit his second homer of the game and the Marlins lead is now 5-4. Just like that, the win for Hill was gone and so was the win for the Nationals. In his last 5 innings, Ayala has given up 9 earned runs and his record falls to 1-3. Not very good for a set-up guy whose supposed to keep your starter in line for a win.

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King of the Hill
Shawn Hill did exactly what Manny Acta and the bullpen needed. A solid outing and go deep into the game. Hill accomplished both. Other than the 2nd inning, he was never in any real danger. Hill gave up a run on a sac lfy and another on Dan Uggla's solo HR. Here are his final stats.
7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HB, HR. 96 pitches, 58 strikes.

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You ain't so bad
Scott Olsen came into today's game with a 4-1 record and 2.22 ERA. In day games his ERA was a paper thin 1.39 and 1.80 on the road. That didn't seem to bother the Nationals, more specifically Aaron Boone and Ronnie Belliard. The two combined to go 4-6, 2 HR, 4 RBI. Olsen can't win the gave, but can get the loss. Here is his final line;
6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, K, 2 HR. 59 pitches, 36 for strikes.

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Pitcher's through 6
Shawn Hill has given up 2-runs on 5 hits through 6 innings. He hasn't walked a batter and struckout 2. Only 2 balls have been hit hard, a sharp single Mike Rabelo in the 5th and a solo home run by Dan Uggla in the 6th. Hill has looked good and is challenging hitters. He's thrown 83 pitches through 6.

Scott Olsen has matched his season high of runs given up with 4. Coming into today, Olsen had only given up 4 HR in 7 starts and today's he's surrendered 2. Olsen, in the 1st and 6th, needed just 6 pitches to get out of the inning. He has only thrown 59 pitches to this point.

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Da do Ron Ron Ron
Ronnie Belliard's 2-Run HR off Scott Olsen in the 3rd, was the second of his career off the Marlins pitcher. Belliard is now batting .381 (8-21), 2 HR, 5 RBI lifetime against Olsen.

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Pitcher's through 3
Shawn Hill has given up 3 hits and hit a batter in the first 3, but has only surrendered 1 run. He retired the side in order in the 1st. In the second, he hit Dan Uggla with 1-out and Luis Gonzalez followed with a single to center. Uggla, with good base running, made his way to third. Wes Helms hit a sac fly to center to score Uggla for the 1-0 lead. Hill gave up back-to-back singles in the third, but Jorge Cantu grounded out. Hill has thrown 48 pitches.

Olsen, who has been nearly unhittable this season, gave up a solo shot to Aaron Boon in the second, a 2-run blast to Ronnie Belliard in the third and a run scoring double to Boone later in the inning. Olsen has thrown 32 pitches to this point.

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Boone Blast
In the 2nd, Aaron Boone hit an 0-2 pitch into the seats in center field to tie the game at 1-1. Boone, playing in place of Nick Johnson, belted his 3rd home run of the year. As a starter, 7 games, Boone is now batting .360 (9-25), 2 HR, 4 RBI.

Shawn Hill gave up a run in the top of the inning after he hit a batter, gave up a single and Wes Helms hit a sac fly.

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LoDuca's Memories
Paul LoDuca lost his mother to ovarian cancer over a decade ago, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten what she meant to him and his brothers I spoke to Paul prior to today's game and he shared his thoughts with me.

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Starting Line-Up's

Marlins
CF Alfredo Amezaga
RF Jeremy Hermida
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B Jorge Cantu
2B Dan Uggla
LF Luis Gonzalez
1B Wes Helms
C Mike Rabelo
P Scott Olsen

Nationals
SS Felipe Lopez
2B Ronnie Belliard
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Brett Boone
CF Lastings Milledge
LF Wily Mo Pena
RF Elijah Dukes
C Jesus Flores
P Shawn Hill

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Game Preview
Marlins (22-14) vs. Nationals (15-22)
The Nationals are trying to end two different streaks on Sunday. First, they look to snap their 2-game losing streak and secondly, end a 5-game skid at Nationals Park vs. Florida.

Washington has been outscored 18-3 in the first two games of this series and desperately need a win before starting a 7-games in 7-days road trip. The Nationals are 5-12 outside of DC.

Shawn Hill hopes to end his personal 4-game winless streak. He'll be opposed by Scott Olsen.

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RHP Shawn Hill (0-0, 3.86) is making his 5th start of the season and still in search of his first victory. In each of his previous four outings, Hill has pitched at least 5 innings and Manny Acta could use at least 6 or 7 out of Hill to take some pressue of his bullpen.

In his last start, May 6, Hill gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and 4 walks in 5 innings against Houston, but threw 107 pitches. His best game was on April 30 vs. Atlanta. Hill gave up one run on 4 hits in 8 innings and threw an efficient 97 pitches.

This is his second start against the Marlins this year. In the previous game, his season debut on April 19, Hill gave up 8 hits and 4 earned runs in 5 innings, but struckout 6 and didn't walk a batter in the Marlins 6-5 win.

If we can rely on statistics, Hill has everything going for him. He's pitching at home and during the day. What does that mean? His ERA at home is 2.08 and even better when the sun is up; 1.13. Let's see if they hold true to form.

LHP Scott Olsen (4-1, 2.22) is coming off his third start of the season where he didn't give up an run. In that game, May 6 vs. Milwaukee, he pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball.

This is his 8th start of the year and third against the Nationals. In his two previous outings vs. Washington, both wins, Olsen has given up just 4 earned runs on 7 hits in 14 2/3 innings. The last time he faced the Nationals, April 20, he gave up 3 hits and one run in 7 innings.

The Nationals will have their hands full with the lefty. His numbers are better than Hill's in the previously stated stats. Olsen's ERA on the road is 1.80 and just 1.29 during the day.

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