"Our bullpen gets in and they just beat up on them." --Manny Acta, July 1, 2009.
THE RESULT: The worst bullpen in the league did what they do best (worst?) yesterday, coughing up another late inning lead, as the Florida Marlins extended their record over the Washington Nationals to 9-0 this season with a 5-3 win before 27,032 at Land Shark Stadium.
Washington is now 22-54-1 for the season.
The Nats actually took the lead in the seventh inning with a two-spot, courtesy of Josh Willingham's bases-loaded single that drove in Cristian Guzman and Nick Johnson. With runners at first and third and just one out, Marlins manager called for former Nat Brian Sanches, who struck out Anderson Hernandez and coaxed a long fly ball from Wil Nieves to end the rally.
Manager Manny Acta then summoned Sean Burnett, acquired Tuesday with outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who had flown in from Pittsburgh just that morning. The first batter Burnett faced as a Nats was center fielder Cody Ross, who popped a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left center field to tie the game.
Julien Tavarez (L. 3-6, 4.31) took over in the eighth, and allowed two of the three batters he faced to reach. Mike MacDougal came in and walked his first batter to load the bases. The next batter, Wes Helms, hit what should have been a double-play ball, but instead the ball hit the mound and it went for a fielder's choice, with a run scoring and all hands safe.
Ross then stepped up and singled, giving Florida an insurance run, and the Nats went down in order in the ninth.
Nats starter Jordan Zimmerman had another good start spoiled. He went six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk, striking out six.
THE TAKEAWAY: I've have run out of ways to say it. Tavarez, Beimel, Villone, MacDougal. There's a reason why none of these guys had jobs coming into spring training.
THE GOOD: Jordan Zimmermann. Just keep concentrating on each quality start. It's the only way to keep from going crazy as the bullpen implodes each day. He also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
THE BAD: Ryan Zimmerman. 0-for-5 hitting cleanup. Yuck.
THE UGLY: Ronnie Belliard. Weak ground ball in his pinch-hitting opportunity. Now hitting .159.
NEXT GAME: Off today. The holiday weekend starts Friday with a series against the Atlanta Braves. Ross Detwiler (0-4, 5.24) hosts Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.25) at 6:35 p.m.
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