Florida pitcher Ricky Nolasco singled with two outs to score Brett Hayes and give the Marlins a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, Guthrie got into trouble after retiring the first two batters, including a strikeout of Gaby Sanchez. Hayes doubled off the left field fence and Nolasco bounced a single into left field. Luke Scott made a strong throw to the plate, but Hayes avoided catcher Matt Wieters' sweeping tag. Guthrie threw 18 pitches, 12 for strikes. That's 41 pitches, two runs, three hits, one walk and two strikeouts in two innings.
Hanley Ramirez singled with one out in the third and Jorge Cantu was hit by a pitch, but Jeremy Guthrie turned in his first scoreless inning today. Dan Uggla popped up and pinch-hitter Mike Stanton lined to left. Guthrie threw 12 pitches, eight for strikes, by my unofficial count. Nolan Reimold singled in the top of the third inning. He's heating up. Brian Matusz starts against the Cardinals tomorrow. He'll be opposed by former Oriole Rich Hill. And speaking of former Orioles...I'm told Scott Erickson contacted a front office executive yesterday and expressed interest in making a comeback. It wasn't the Orioles. And it wasn't the Long Island Ducks. Update: Guthrie allowed two more batters to reach in the fourth on a two-out walk to Ricky Nolasco - maybe he should start pitching around this guy - and a single by Chris Coghlan. Cameron Maybin flied to deep center to end the inning. Guthrie has thrown around 73 pitches. I'll get the official total later.
