FanNation

by Illya Harrell

Marlins Come From Behind to Sweep Nats

WASHINGTON – For the second time this season, the first place Florida Marlins (23-14) swept a three-game series versus last place Washington (15-23) in Nationals Stadium.

Southpaw Scott Olsen (4-1) took the rubber for the Marlins against sinker baller Shawn Hill (0-0) on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Olsen came into the game with the fourth best ERA in the NL at 2.22, while holding the opponents batting average to .186 – good for second best behind Ryan Dempster. He didn’t have his best stuff on Mother’s Day.

After an easy 1-2-3 inning in the first, Olsen surrendered a leadoff homer to straight away center off the bat of clean-up hitter Aaron Boone.

Hill also had a three-up, three-down first but gave up a run in the second after hitting Dan Uggla in the hip. Luis Gonzalez followed with a single to center. Uggla showed some good base running by seeing that Nats’ centerfielder, Lastings Milledge, didn’t have the angle, scooting to third when most runners would have held tight. Wes Helms’ sac fly drove him home to tie the game at one.

In the bottom of the third, Nationals catcher Jesus Flores hit an easy grounder to Uggla, who gloved it perfectly but came up with a handful of air in his throw. Hill bunted him to second, and after a line drive by Felipe Lopez, Ronnie Belliard jacked one into the left field stands to put the Nats up 3-1.

Olsen’s bad luck would continue as Ryan Zimmerman hit what should have been an easy ground out to Hanley Ramirez. He couldn’t get it out of his glove either. Boone followed with another smash to center, over the head of Alfredo Amezaga, for a triple to drive in Zimmerman. The Nats led 4-1.

After his shaky second, Hill got it together. In his seven innings of work he would allow only two more fly ball outs, striking out three, and retiring 14 of 20 on ground balls. He did allow a sixth inning home run to Uggla. Other than that, Hill was in total command.

After six Olsen was done, leaving the game down three. Uggla’s dinger in the bottom of the frame cut it to two. Even though he gave up four runs, there were some positive notes to his performance. He walked a season low two batters. And, Olsen pitched like he was double parked, leaving the game having thrown only 59 pitches.

We had a recent article on Dugout Central that complained of the coddling of pitchers. If the author, Tony Moschetti, saw this game, he would have gone nuts. After throwing just 96 pitches through seven solid innings, and leading 4-2, Hill was lifted by Nats’ manager, Manny Acta, for a pinch hitter.

To hold the lead, Acta, brought in Luis Ayala, owner of a 4.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

Why in the world do you take out a guy who is pitching a pretty darn good game and replace him with somebody like Ayala? If Acta was so set on taking Hill out, why not at least bring in your closer, Jon Rauch, for a two inning save?

Plus, the Nats’ have had problems with Ayala shaking off too many signs and not using his fastball enough, so, again, why bring him in a game you’re winning by just two runs?

Amezaga singled on a second pitch change. Then Ayala followed instructions and threw a fastball to the next batter, Jeremy Hermida. Unfortunately, he put it over the heart of the plate and, after just three Ayala pitches, the lead was gone. Hill, after a B+ outing, was no longer in contention for his first win of the year. Ayala did get the next two Florida batters out, but then Washington killer Uggla hit his second home run of the game, putting the Fish up 5-4.

With an ERA in the 2.9’s, Florida has one of the better pens in the league. Logan Kinsing, Renyel Pinto and Kevin Gregg combined for three innings of one hit, no run baseball.

The 5-4 win was a present from Manny Acta to all of the Marlin mothers.

Notes:

• Dan Uggla had seven RBIs in the series, and has 22 in 21 games against the Nationals.
• So far this season, Florida is 8-1 against Washington. In Nationals Stadium they are 6-0.
• With Paul Lo Duca and Johnny Estrada on the DL, Nationals 23-year-old prospect, Jesus Flores, will get a shot to prove himself behind the dish.