O'Connor pounded, Miller goes 7 strong, Marlins win 11-0
Saturday night's game is one the Nationals have to forget about. I know it's easier said than done when you lose 11-0, but it doesn't matter if it's by 11 or 1. They Nationals must look forward to the series finale on Sunday and try to salvage a win.
Mike O'Connor, making his first start since 2006, was ineffective in his 3 1/3 innings. He gave up 9 runs on 6 hits and 6 walks. He threw 78 pitches and 40 were balls, not a good ball to strike ratio.
The Marlins hit 3 home runs including a Grand Slam by Dan Uggla, who drove in 5 and extended their winning streak to a season-high 6 games.
Post Game
Andrew Miller came into tonight's game with a 7.96 ERA, but you wouldn't know it by the way he dominated the Nationals. He only gave up 2 singles and struckout 7 in 7 innings. Miller retired 19 of 20 and at one point 14 straight.
The Marlins offense was backed by 3 home runs. Solo shots by Cody Ross, on the first pitch of the game, and Wes Helms, to lead-off the 4th and a Grand Slam by Dan Uggla.
Line Score
Marlins 11-10-1
Nationals 0-3-0
WP-Miller (3-2)
LP-O'Connor (1-1)
HR-Ross (2), Helms (2), Uggla (9)
0-No
The Nationals were shutout for the 5th time this season and have now lost 4 of 5. This was the 3rd straight loss to the Marlins and 5th in a row at Nationals Park this season.
11's are not wild
The 11 runs given up to the are the most by Nationals pitchers this season and the 11-run defeat is the largest losing margin in '08.
In Game Update's
Gone Fishing
Felipe Lopez, who was hitting .320 (8-25) against the Marlins this season coming into tonight, has 2 of the Nationals 3 hits. This was the 11th multi-hit game of the season. 0ne was off Marlin starter Andrew Miller. Lopez is now .500 (4-8) in his career vs. Miller. In his last 20 games, all starts, Lopez is batting .305 (25-82)
Give him a Han-rahan
Joel Hanrahan came into tonight's game and tried to keep the game somewhat respectable. He pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up 1-hit and struckout 3. Unfortunately that hit was a Grand Slam by Dan Uggla. Hanrahan was only charged with one of the 4 runs on the slam because Mike O'Connor put the runners on base. In his last 3 outings, Hanrahan has pitched 6 innings, given up 2 hits, walked 5 and struckout 6. All 5 walks came in one game. When his command is on, he's pretty solid.
It's Miller Time
Andrew Miller is pitching the way Manny Acta hoped Mike O'Connor would. He's got command of his pitches and he's mainly using the fastball to get the Nationals out. Miller has allowed 1-hit and 1 walk, both in the 1st inning. Since that 28 pitch inning, Miller has retired 13 in a row. Here is his line through 5 innings.
5 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K. He's thrown 76 pitches, 43 for strikes.
Marlins 4th inning
The Marlins sent 10 men to the plate in the 4th inning and scored 7 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. Wes Helms started things off with a solo home run. Matt Treanor doubled and was sacrificed to third. Cody Ross walked, for the second time, and Jeremy Hermida hit an RBI single. 5-0 Fish. A walk to Hanley Ramirez loaded the bases. Mike O'Connor threw a wild pitch and Ross scored, 6-0 Florida. With Jorge Cantu batting, O'Connor fell behind him 2-0 and Manny Acta had seen enough. Joel Hanrahan inhereted the count and walked Cantu to load the bases again. The walk was charged to O'Connor. Dan Uggla then hit his first career Grand Slam and the Marlins lead is now 10-0.
Grading on a Curve
Mike O'Connor has been in trouble most of the night, if I can say that, because his night is over and he didn't make it out of the 4th. He gave up 9 runs on 6 hits and 6 walks in 3 1/3 innings. He never had control of his breaking pitch, yet continued to throw it. The Marlins showed great patience laying off the curveball. Here is O'Connor's line.
3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 9 ER, 6 BB, K, WP, 2 HR. 78 pitches, only 38 strikes.
Marlins Scoring
Mike O'Connor can't seem to get settled in and the Marlins are taking advantage of the young lefty.
After a 9-pitch second inning, O'Connor walked Cody Ross to lead-off the third. 1-out later, Hanley Ramirez singled and Jorge Cantu walked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Ross and allowed the runners to advance a base. Dan Uggla hit a deep fly to score Ramirez and the Marlins lead 3-0. O'Connor threw 28 pitches in the inning.
Andrew Miller has settled in and retired 7 straight Nationals.
Starting Pitcher's
Both Mike O'Connor and Andrew Miller struggled in the first with their pitch count, but not much damage done to either.
O'Connonr gave up a HR to Cody Ross to lead-off the game and allowed two other base runners, but got out of the inning without giving up another run. He threw 19 pitchers.
Miller gave up a 1-out single to Cristian Guzman, who then stole second. 1-out later, Nick Johnson walked. With a full count on Lastings Milledge and the runners moving, Hanley Ramirez snared a lined shot in the hole to prevent a run for the Nationals. Miller needed 28 pitches to get out of the first, but more importantly, he didn't give up a run.
Marlins Scoring
Cody Ross didn't waste any time welcoming Mike O'Connor back into the starting rotation. Ross, facing O'Connor for the first time in his career, hit the first pitch of the game deep into the seats in left for the 1-0 lead.
O'Connor struggled in the 1st, allowing 2 hits and a walk, but only gave up the one run. He needed 19 pitches to get out of the inning.
Game Preview:
Marlins (21-14) vs. Nationals (15-21)
The Nationals turn to Mike O'Connor to snap their 3-game losing streak to the Marlins. O'Connor, who had been in the bullpen, hasn't started a game since 2006 with the Nats.
They also need to get timely hits if they want to beat the NL East leaders. In their last 4 games, in which they are 1-3, the Nationals have left 23 men on base.
Last night, the Nationals had the bases loaded twice and only scored one run.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Mike O'Connor (1-0, 6.35) starts in place of Matt Chico, who was moved to the bullpen because of a lack of success. O'Connor started 20 games for the Nationals in 2006 and went 3-8, 4.80. He spent the entire 2007 season with Double-A Harrisburg, compiling a 3-7 record with a 7.07 ERA in 15 starts.
Since being called up from Triple-A Columbus on April 24, O'Connor appeared in 4 games. He is 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA, giving up 4 earned runs and 5 walks in 5 2/3 innings. Manny Acta said this is not a tryout for O'Connor, rather a chance for the coaching staff to see what he has.
In 2 career starts vs. Florida, both in '06, O'Connor is 0-1, 14.21 ERA.
LHP Andrew Miller (2-2, 7.96 ERA) is making his third start against the Nationals this season. In his two previous outings, he didn't get a decision and gave up a combined 9 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. The teams split the two games.
In his last game vs. Washington, April 18, Miller gave up 3 earned on 6 hits in 5 innings in the Nationals 6-4 win.
Miller faced the Padres Greg Maddux in his last start and beat him. He pitched a season high 6 innings and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in the Marlins 10-3 win.
Starting Line-Up's
Marlins:
CF Cody Ross
RF Jeremy Hermida
SS Hanley Ramirez
3B Jorge Cantu
2B Dan Uggla
LF Luis Gonzalez
1B Wes Helms
C Matt Treanor
P Andrew Miller
Nationals:
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Nick Johnson
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Austin Kearns
LF Elijah Dukes
C Jesus Flores
P Mike O'Connor
Start me up
Elijah Dukes and Jesus Flores are in the starting line-up tonight for Manny Acta. This is the first start for Dukes since opening day. He went 0-2 in that game before injuring his right hamstring and going on the DL. In 13 rehab games with Triple-A Columbus and Single-A Potomac, Dukes hit .211 (8-38), 2 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 2 SB.
Flores began the season with the Nationals before being optioned to Triple-A Columbus on April 13. In 4-games, he hit .364 (4-11), 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI. Last season the Nationals were 42-42 when he started behind the plate and the pitchers ERA was 4.01
Show me the money!!!
According to multiple sources, the Marlins and shortstop Hanley Ramirez have agreed to a contract extension for 6 years and $70 million. The contract will be finalized after Ramirez passes the customary physical and an official announcement is expected to come as early as next week. Ramirez, the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, is batting .336 with 8 home runs and 21 RBI in 35 games this season, is making $439,000 this year.
Leave a comment