Nats get crushed by Marlins 9-4; Redding suffers the loss
Tim Redding tried for the fourth time to match his career-high in wins with 11, but just like the previous three starts, he was beat up and didn't come close. Now he'll have to wait until next season to see if he can get that elusive 11th victory.
Redding lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and two walks to fall below .500 for the first time this season and finish at 10-11.
The Marlins jumped on Redding right from the outset. Hanley Ramirez hit the first pitch of the game into the seats in left, giving Florida the 1-0 lead. Cameron Maybin followed with a double and Jorge Cantu was hit by a pitch. After a double play, which moved Maybin to third, Redding uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Maybin to make it 2-0.
Redding had a relatively easy second inning, but the third proved to a thorn in his side, as Florida sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs on five hits and two walks.
With one-out, Ramirez doubled and scored on Cantu's double. Redding walked the next two batters, to load the bases, and Jeremy Hermida singled home two runs to make it 6-0. Gaby Sanchez knocked Redding out with a double, his first Major League hit.
Marco Estrada replaced Redding and gave up an RBI single to Matt Treanor and the Marlins lead 7-0.
Washington's offense finally got going in the bottom of the third. Estrada drew a walk and scored on Emilio Bonifacio's triple. Alberto Gonzalez grounded out to second, scoring Bonifacio to make it 7-2.
The play of the game came from Roger Bernadina in the top of the fourth with a runner on second. Cantu hit a deep fly to left-center. Bernadina took off and made a diving, back-handed catch on the warning track to prevent a run from scoring.
Florida extended their lead to 9-2 in the eighth on a solo homer form Josh Willingham and an RBI single from Treanor. Both runs came against Levale Speigner, who has had a rough two outings. Speigner has allowed seven runs in his last 2 2/3 innings.
The Nationals got both runs back in the home half of the inning when Pete Orr single home Elijah Dukes, who walked with one-out. Wil Nieves followed with an RBI single of his own, chasing home Kory Casto, who singled.
Postgame Notes
The 2 2/3 innings was the shortest outing for Tim Redding since he only lasted 2 1/3 against the Marlins on September 5th of last year at RFK Stadium. Redding left due to right elbow contusion.
Emilio Bonifacio had two hits and scored a run.
Josh Johnson gave up two runs on six hits in six innings to pick up his third straight win and seventh of the season.
Final Linescore
Marlins 9-18-0
Nationals 4-9-0
WP-Johnson (7-1)
LP-Redding (10-11)
HR-Ramirez (33), Willingham (14)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Nationals scoring, 8th inning
Washington mounted a mini-comeback in the eight to bring them within 9-4. Pete Orr and Wil Nieves each drove in a run with an RBI single.
With one-out, Elijah Dukes walked and Kory Casto singled off reliever Ryan Tucker. Orr followed with a single up the middle to make it 9-3. Nieves followed with a single to left to make it a five run game.
Marlins scoring, 8th inning
Since the third inning, the Nationals bullpen had kept the Marlins off the scoreboard. Three pitchers allowed six hits and three walks, but didn't allow a run to cross the plate. That all changed in the eighth when Levale Speigner entered the game.
Josh Willingham hit a one-out homer, his 14th of the season, making it an 8-2 game. One out and three batters later, Matt Treanor singled home Jeremy Hermida to put the Marlins up 9-2.
Nationals scoring, 3rd inning
One thing we know about Manny Acta's Nationals; they refuse to quit, even we they are down by seven runs.
Marco Estrada, who replaced an ineffective Tim Redding, drew a one-out walk and scored on Emilio Bonifacio's triple to make it 7-1. Bonifacio scored on Alberto Gonzalez's ground out to bring the Nationals within five, 7-2.
Marlins scoring, 3rd inning
Tim Redding has fallen behind the Marlins 6-0 in the third after Jorge Cantu doubled home Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida plated two with a bases loaded single.
Ramirez hit a one-out double, moved to third on Cameron Maybin's sac bunt and scored on Cantu's 40th two-bagger of the season. Redding walked the next two batters to load the bags before Hermida singled off the glove of Emilio Bonifacio. Gaby Sanchez followed with his first Major League hit, a double, that scored Dan Uggla and ended Redding's night.
Redding's brutal night
Tim didn't make it out of the third and he won't get that elusive 11th win of the season. He's allowed seven hits, five of them for extra bases, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch, leading to a run and walked two. His needed 64 pitches to get eight outs. It was his shortest outing of the season and the seven runs matches season-high
2 2/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR, HB, WP. 64 pitches, 40 strikes.
Marlins scoring, 1st inning
Hanley Ramirez crushed the first pitch of the game into the seats in left-center field for the 1-0 lead. It was Ramirez's ninth lead-off homer of the season and 24th of his career.
Cameron Maybin followed with a double to right and Tim Redding hit Jorge Cantu to put runners on first and second. After Josh Willingham grounded into a double play, Redding uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Maybin and the Marlins have a 2-0 lead.
Starting Line-Ups
Marlins
SS Hanley Ramirez
CF Cameron Maybin
3B Jorge Cantu
LF Josh Willingham
2B Dan Uggla
RF Jeremy Hermida
1B Gaby Sanchez
C Matt Treanor
P Josh Johnson
Nationals
2B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Alberto Gonzalez
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Elijah Dukes
1B Kory Casto
3B Pete Orr
C Wil Nieves
LF Roger Bernadina
P Tim Redding
Game Preview
Florida (81-76) at Nationals (59-98)
Last night, Shairon Martis picked up his first Major League victory in the Nationals' 9-4 win over the Marlins. The win snapped Washington's five-game losing streak and four-game skid to Florida.
Lastings Milledge had three hits and three RBI and Alberto Gonzalez collected a career-high four hits, raising his average to .410 in 13 games with the Nationals.
The Marlins' loss, coupled with the Mets' win last night, officially eliminated Florida from playoff contention.
Tonight, Tim Redding, making his final start of the year, aims for his 11th win. Josh Johnson is going for his seventh victory for the Marlins.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Tim Redding (10-10, 4.67) is making his sixth start against the Marlins this season and he's looking for better success than in his previous five outings.
Florida has pretty much dominated the veteran right-hander this season, beating him three times, twice at Nationals Park. Overall, Redding is 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA this year and 4-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 career starts against the Fish.
On September 13th, Redding allowed two, two-run homers in the first two innings and took the loss in the Marlins 4-2 win at Dolphin Stadium. Jorge Cantu and Hanley Ramirez hit the bombs to put Florida up 4-0.
Redding, trying for the fourth time to win his career-high 11th game, is making his final start of the season. This is his 18th start at Nationals Park and he's looking to go above the .500 mark. Redding is 6-6 with a 6.15 ERA at home this season.
RHP Josh Johnson (6-1, 3.65), riding a two-game winning streak, is making his 14th start of the season and second against the Nationals. He beat Washington 4-2 on September 13th, out-pitching Tim Redding. Johnson allowed two runs on six hits in six solid innings. He struck out a career-high nine and walked one.
In his career vs. the Nationals, three starts and four appearances, Johnson is undefeated at 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA. The Marlins are 10-3 when Johnson toes the rubber in 2008.
In his last start, last Friday, Johnson gave up a season-high six runs on seven hits in five innings. He also tied a season high, surrendering two home runs in the Marlins 14-8 win over the Phillies.
On the road this season, Johnson has been outstanding. He's 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA in seven starts.
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