Marlins cruise to easy rout of Nationals
The Florida Marlins came out ready to play despite not having much time to prepare for the Washington Nationals.
It didn't take the Marlins long to warm up, taking a three-run lead after two innings and cruising to an 18-9 victory Wednesday night.
With thunderstorms pelting the area and causing an 18-minute rain delay to start the game, the decision to play caught Florida manager Joe Girardi off guard.
"I was a little surprised by the suddenness of it," Girardi said. "We didn't hear anything for a while, then they said, `We're going.' That's the hardest thing because you want a heads-up for your players.
"We needed a win," Girardi said. "We'd lost a couple of tough games in the last three. I thought it was important that we got a win. People always say, `How are you guys going to come out?' Well, I think we came out ready."
The Marlins put the game away with an eight-run fifth inning that tied a franchise record. They also set season highs in runs (18) and hits (19).
Dan Uggla went 4-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI, and every starter scored at least once as Florida snapped a four-game losing skid and ended Washington's four-game winning streak.
Yusmeiro Petit (1-1) got the win in his first major league start even though he allowed four runs in the first inning. Petit gave up hits to the first five batters he faced, then settled down to last six innings with only one more run. He got his first career hit and RBI in the fifth.
The few fans who stuck around witnessed a bit of history. The most runs previously scored at RFK was 22, although baseball's long absence from Washington means the stadium has hosted baseball for only 12 seasons since it opened in 1961.
At Philadelphia, Khalil Greene's three-run homer off All-Star closer Tom Gordon in the ninth lifted San Diego.Jake Peavy pitched seven strong innings and hit his first career homer for the Padres, who snapped an 11-game losing streak to Philadelphia that dated to the 2004 season.
At Houston, Sean Marshall allowed six hits and struck out two in seven strong innings to help Chicago beat the Astros.Todd Walker had an RBI double in the fifth, the only run off Roy Oswalt (6-5), who lost his second straight complete game.Marshall (5-7) snapped a two-game losing streak with his second sharp effort in Houston this season. Ryan Dempster pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 13th save.
The Braves won consecutive series for the first time since May and extended St. Louis' road woes.Atlanta scored 10 runs off Jeff Suppan (6-5), knocking him out in the fourth inning to win for the second time in the three-game series.Rockies 5, Giants 3At Denver, Josh Fogg (7-5) pitched seven strong innings and helped his own cause with his first hit and RBI of the season.Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth for his 16th save, and Todd Helton matched a team record by getting a hit or walk in his 35th straight game.Jamey Wright (5-8) hasn't won since May 22 against St. Louis.
At Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks singled with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, giving the Brewers the victory.Weeks' single made up for a gaffe in the field in the top half of the inning, when Juan Castro took an extra base on a routine sacrifice bunt to give the Reds a 5-4 lead.
At Los Angeles, Brad Penny pitched seven strong innings and the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep.The Diamondbacks have been swept in a series of three or more games six times since June 4, including a four-game set against the New York Mets, and have lost 23 of their last 29 contests.
