Final game at Nationals Park cancelled due to rain
Tonight's season and series finale between Washington and Florida at Nationals Park has been cancelled due to rain. The game will not be rescheduled.
Both Washington and Florida have to travel tonight, to Philadelphia and New York respectively.
The Nationals have a meaningful weekend series against the Phillies, who lead the NL East by 1 ½ games entering tonight's game. Philadelphia, who is idle, will remain in first regardless of what the Mets do against the Cubs this evening.
The Marlins head to Shea Stadium to face the reeling Mets in a weekend series. New York, who trails the Phillies in the East, is tied with the Brewers for the top spot in the Wild Card race.
Starting Line-Ups
Marlins
2B Alfredo Amezaga
RF Jeremy Hermida
LF Josh Willingham
1B Mike Jacobs
CF Cody Ross
3B Dallas McPherson
SS Robert Andino
C Matt Treanor
P Anibal Sanchez
Nationals
2B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Cristian Guzman
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Elijah Dukes
LF Willie Harris
1B Kory Casto
C Luke Montz
3B Pete Orr
P Collin Balester
Game Preview
Florida (82-76) at Nationals (59-99)
Last night, Tim Redding dug the Nationals a hole they couldn't get out of and the Marlins crushed Washington 9-4, handing them their 99th loss of the season.
Redding gave up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season and fell one game below .500 on the year at 10-11. Florida starter Josh Johnson went six innings and gave up two runs to win his third straight game and seventh of the season.
Coming into tonight's game, the Nationals are 34-46 in their new ballpark and 3-6 on the current 10-game homestand. They look to end on a positive note.
Weather permitting, Collin Balester faces Anibal Sanchez in tonight's series finale.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Collin Balester (3-6, 4.83) is looking for his first win since August 26th when he beat the Dodgers 2-1. Balester has four no-decisions in his last four outings.
This is the third start against the Marlins for Balester this season, but first at Nationals Park. He's 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA. Balester has allowed only two runs, one in each game, in 11 2/3 innings against the Fish.
In his most recent start, he left with a 6-1 lead only to see the bullpen give up seven runs in the eighth and lose 8-7. Balester gave up one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.
At Nationals Park this season, Balester is 2-3 with a 5.08 ERA in seven games. Since the All-Star break, 11 starts, he is 2-4 with a 4.57 ERA.
RHP Anibal Sanchez (2-5, 5.57) is winless in his last six starts and has only one win in his last nine.
Sanchez faced the Nationals on September 14th at Dolphin Stadium and allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits over a season-high seven innings. He walked three and struck out seven but received a no-decision in the Marlins' 8-7 win.
In his career vs. Washington, seven starts, Sanchez is undefeated at 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA and he's 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts in DC. The last time he pitched in the District, April 4, 2007, Sanchez allowed four runs on a career-high 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Florida lost 7-6 at RFK Stadium.
Sanchez has been brutal on the road this season, going 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA in four starts, and opponents are hitting .311 off him.
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