"We probably don't want to make them that exciting, but we'll take it." -- Mike MacDougal, on another "exciting" win, Sept. 11, 2009.
BOX SCORE AND RECAP
THE RESULT: Adam Dunn homered, Mike Morse had another clutch hit, and J.D. Martin kept the Marlins at bey, as the Washington Nationals defeated teh Florida Marlins 5-3, before an announced crowd of 15,247 at Miami's Landshark Stadium.
I really wanted to type "Landshark Stadium".
Martin (W, 4-4, 4.29) matched Cy Young candidate Josh Johnson pitch-for-pitch. Martin gave up two earned runs on just two hits and four walks, striking out four.
Dunn hit a two-run shot, his 37th of the season, in the top of the first. Willie Harris walked and after Cristian Guzman and Ryan Zimmerman struck out swinging, Dunn took an outside fastball over the short wall down the left field line.
He's had dozens of balls that flew farther, but this one was hit in just the right place.
Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. With one oout in the bottom of the inning, Nick Johnson walked, and Hanley Ramirez delivered his 23rd of the season, a no-doubt shot over the big scorebaord in left center.
Neither pitcher would give up another run.
Morse's big hit came in the sixth, a double to center that scored both Josh Willingham and Wil Nieves.
The next inning Zimmerman went deep, his 29th of the year.
Tyler Clippard and Jason Bergmann pitched unscathed, and Mike MacDougal, despite giving up a run, recorded his 15th save.
THE TAKEAWAY: Morse is playing well in what limited at bats interim manager Jim Riggleman is giving him. I guess we should take it...he left Ian Desmond out of the lineup Friday night to watch Guzman go hitless in five trips with two strikeouts.
Seriouslty though, this team wins when the middle of the order hits. They hit tonight.
THE GOOD: Dunn. He is just three home runs from 40. If he reaches the number, he will match Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa for six conseutive seasons with 40, trailing only Babe Ruth, who hit 40 homers in seven consecutive.
THE BAD: Pete Orr. 0-for-4. He's coming back to earth.
THE UGLY: Cristian Guzman. 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
NEXT GAME: Marco Estrada makes his 2009 debut against Anibal Sanchez (2-6, 4.47) at 6:10 pm.
THE BAD: Pete Orr. 0-for-4. He's coming back to earth.
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THE REAL BAD which was good was watching the self-destructing Bonifacio in a pinch-hit role. 1st pitch that Boni saw was thrown at his ankles and should have been on a golf tee and he gave up a strike on a ball that only could have been reached with a pitching wedge. The next pitch he whiffed at the bunt again and then eventually struck out. THANK YOU BONI !!!!!
Have you noticed the team batting average is suffering big time the last 2 weeks. Zim and Guzy in the .290's now and Pete Orr isn't hitting in the .400's or even the .300's any more.
Only Mike More and Ian Desmond are above the .300 level (for now).
Maybe Mike Morse and Ian Desmond can get a start over the weekend.