Jeffrey Loria Fan Club Top 5:
5. Quick Recap: Anthony Rendon singled and Jayson Werth walked at the end of a 10-pitch at bat in the top of the first tonight in the series opener in day-glo Marlins Park. Miami Marlins' starter Nathan Eovaldi threw a wild pitch to Adam LaRoche that moved both runners up, and a sac fly to center by LaRoche brought Rendon in from third for a 1-0 lead early in the first game of three in sunny Florida.
WATCH: The #Nats got on the board first vs. the #Marlins on this @e3laroche sac fly: http://t.co/c33dxu0hpr
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 28, 2014
Nationals' starter Jordan Zimmermann made the 1-0 lead hold up through five and the Nats added five runs in the sixth with Jayson Werth driving in a run with a single, a run scoring on a bases-loaded error on a Bryce Harper grounder to short, Wilson Ramos taking a bases-loaded walk to force in another and two more scoring on a Danny Espinosa line drive single to center. 6-0 Nationals.
WATCH: While Zimmermann dominates, the #Nats continued to pad his lead as they went up 6-0 on this Espinosa single: http://t.co/hszchGL9BA
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
The Marlins finally got on the board in the seventh. Zimmermann issued a one-out walk to Giancarlo Stanton and one out later Garrett Jones triple by Nate McLouth in right on an ill-advised diving attempt by the Nationals' outfielder. 6-1. Jones scored on an infield single by Marcell Ozuna in the next at bat, but that was all Miami would get there. 6-2 after seven.
Ross Detwiler gave up back-to-back singles by Adeiny Hechavarria and Reed Johnson in the bottom of the eighth and one out later, Hechavarria scored on a groundout to short off Jeff Baker's bat. 6-3.
Rafael Soriano gave up a leadoff walk, a double to right and an RBI single to the first three batters he faced with Marcell Ozuna driving in a run with the second hit to make it 6-4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in a run with a sac fly to right that made it 6-5. Adeiny Hechavarria battled for 11 pitches and tripled to right-center to drive in the tying run and make it 6-6 with the walk-off run on third with one down. Donovan Solano was hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners. The Nationals went to the pen for Jerry Blevins, who struck Christian Yelich out for the second out of the inning, but Jeff Baker lined to left on a first-pitch change for the walk-off winner...
7-6 final.
#Nats @ #Marlins: Span CF, Rendon3B, Werth RF, LaRoche1B, Desmond SS, Harper LF, Ramos C, Espinosa 2B, Zimmermann RHP pic.twitter.com/RuI68JDdNP
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 28, 2014
4. Ice Fishing: More important than the results of his last outing on the mound in Coors Field in Colorado, was the fact that 28-year-old right-hander Jordan Zimmermann came through the start against the Rockies without any issues after he left his final pre-All Star Break outing against Philadelphia after just 3+ innings on the mound with what was later diagnosed as a right bicep strain.
Zimmermann gave up eight hits and four runs in the Nationals' 7-4 win over the Rockies, allowing four runs for the second straight start, but reported no flare-up of the bicep issue.
"The bicep felt great," Zimmermann told reporters after the game. "I had eight days off and four of them I didn't throw. So, I was a little rusty, but I made it through just fine and hopefully I'll be a lot better next time.
"I just didn't have a very good fastball."
"He couldn't find his fastball," Nats' skipper Matt Williams said. "He came to the dugout saying, 'I don't know where my fastball is going.' So he threw a lot of sliders to get into counts and get outs, but his fastball command wasn't quite there today. But he felt great, so that's encouraging."
Zimmermann received no decision in that outing on the road in Denver, so he entered tonight's series opener in Miami (6-5) with a 3.20 ERA, 2.90 FIP, 20 walks (1.53 BB/9) and 107 Ks (8.16 K/9) in 20 starts and 118 IP this season.
On the road, the Nationals' '07 2nd Round pick was (3-3) in nine starts before tonight with a 3.51 ERA (vs a 2.92 ERA at home), a 3.08 FIP (vs a 2.73 FIP in D.C.) and a .249/.278/.429 line against in 56 ⅓ IP, which was actually better than his .287/.329/.369 line in 61 ⅔ at home this season.
Zimmermann faced the Marlins three times in 2014 before tonight's outing, going (1-0) with a 6.59 ERA in 13 ⅔ IP over which he walked four (2.63 BB/9), struck out 11 (7.24 K/9) and had Miami's hitters put up a .368/.403/.561 line against him.
Those three starts left the right-hander (5-3) against the Marlins in his career with a 3.94 ERA, 16 walks (1.75 BB/9) and 67 Ks (7.32 K/9) in 82 ⅓ IP in which Fish hitters put up a combined .261/.303/.410 line against him.
In Marlins Park, Zimmermann was (3-1) in four outings before tonight's with a 2.89 ERA, three walks (0.96 BB/9) and 23 Ks (7.39 K/9) in 28 IP in which Marlins' hitters put up a .231/.257/.365 line.
1st: Christian Yelich grounded back to Zimmermann on the mound to start the bottom of the first. Jordany Valdespin sent a fly ball out to Denard Span in center for out no.2. Giancarlo Stanton stepped in with no one on and went down swinging at a 3-2 slider outside. 17-pitch frame.
2nd: Casey McGehee sent a soft line drive to center for a leadoff single in the Marlins' second. Garrett Jones chased a 1-2 fastball up high for out no.1 and K no.2. Marcell Ozuna lined out to second and McGehee just made it back to first base in time to avoid a double play. Jarrod Saltalamacchia stepped in with two out and sent a fly ball to deep right where Jayson Werth tracked it down. 17-pitch frame, 34 total after two.
Welcome to Miami! #WerthGoesGnome needed a little rest & relaxation in the Florida sun before #Nats - #Marlins at 7! pic.twitter.com/W7jUBADQFW
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 28, 2014
3rd: Adeiny Hechavarria grounded back to the mound on the first pitch from Zimmermann in the bottom of the third. Nathan Eovaldi K'd swinging at an 87 mph 0-2 slider. Christian Yelich's groundout to second ended a six-pitch inning after which Zimmermann was up to 40 pitches overall.
So, this guy is having a decent night, huh? (Photo via Denis Bancroft) pic.twitter.com/uT2PymhOTo
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
4th: Jordany Valdespin lined out to short to start the Marlins' fourth. Giancarlo Stanton stepped in with the bases empty again and grounded out to third. Casey McGehee took a 94 mph 1-2 fastball outside for a called strike three, out no. 3 and K no.4 of Jordan Zimmermann's outing. 10-pitch frame, 50 pitches total.
5th: Garrett Jones K'd looking at a 95 mph 2-2 fastball. Marcell Ozuna grounded out to second. Marlins' catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to left with two outs, but tried to take second anticipating that Harper would throw behind him and got caught by a strong throw on a 7-3-5 putout. 13-pitch frame, 63 total after five.
6th: Adeiny Hechavarria lined out to second to start the Marlins' sixth. A 1-2 slider got Jake Marisnick swinging for out no.2 and K no. 6. Christian Yelich's grounder back to the mound ended up in Zimmermann's glove. 11-pitch frame, 74 total after six.
WATCH: Comebacker right back at you? Ain't no thing. Right, Jordan Zimmermann? http://t.co/TH8zZtyzzp
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
7th: Jordany Valdespin lined out to center. Giancarlo Stanton walked on five pitches, taking the first free pass of the night form Jordan Zimmermann. Casey McGehee sent a fly ball to center for out no.2, but Garrett Jones lined to right in the next at bat and Nate McLouth came up empty on an all-or-nothing dive. Stanton scored to get the Marlins on the board. 6-1 Nationals. A sharp grounder to third off Marcell Ozuna's bat got by a diving Anthony Rendon and bounced off Ian Desmond's backhand to drive in run no.2. 6-2. Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded into the shift for out no.3 of a 17-pitch frame that left Zimmermann at 91 pitches.
• Jordan Zimmermann's Line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 Ks, 91 P, 61 S, 6/1 GO/FO.
3. Eovaldi vs the Nationals: In a May 26th start in Nationals Park, 24-year-old Miami Marlins' right-hander Nathan Eovaldi went 6 ⅓ innings against the Nationals in what ended up a 3-2 victory in which he earned his fourth win of the season after giving up three hits, a walk and two earned runs.
Since that start, the former LA Dodgers' '08 11th Round pick, was just (1-4) with the Marlins 1-9 in his 10 turns in the rotation, over which he put up a 5.09 ERA with 12 walks (1.69 BB/9) and 33 Ks (4.66 K/9) in 63 ⅔ IP over which opposing teams put up a .277/.314/.422 line against him.
At home in Miami this season, Eovaldi was (3-3) before tonight's start with a 4.85 ERA, a 3.51 FIP, 11 walks (1.44 BB/9) and 52 Ks (6.82 K/9) in 68 ⅔ IP in which opposing hitters put up a combined .285/.319/.445 line against him.
He took the mound against the Nationals tonight for the fifth time, after going (2-2) with a 5.06 ERA, six walks (2.53 BB/9) and 18 Ks (7.59 K/9) in 21 ⅓ IP against the Marlins' NL East rivals before tonight in which Nats' hitters posted a .271/.333/.424 line against him.
Nationals' third baseman Anthony Rendon singled and Jayson Werth walked with one down in the top of the first and a wild pitch to Adam LaRoche moved both runners up, so LaRoche's sac fly to center allowed the first run to score and make it 1-0 early in the series opener in Miami. 31-pitch first for Eovaldi.
Jose Fernandez in the ballpark! RETWEET to show your support for Jose. #Whiff pic.twitter.com/LYqJsgj3q3
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 28, 2014
After a long first, Eovaldi threw a quick, eight-pitch, 1-2-3 second. Three ground ball outs got the Marlins' starter through another quick, 1-2-3 frame in the third. The 12-pitch inning left him at 51 pitches total after three.
Adam LaRoche lined a single to right with one down in the Nationals' fourth, breaking a streak of six straight batters retired by Eovaldi, but the Nats' first baseman was doubled up on an inning-ending grounder to third by Ian Desmond. 10-pitch frame, 61 total after four.
This 5-4-3 Double Play ended the top of the 4th: pic.twitter.com/c3EG42d51s
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 29, 2014
Bryce Harper singled to center to start the fifth, but three outs later he was stranded at first at the end of a 14-pitch fifth inning by Eovaldi, who was up to 75 pitches.
Denard Span bunted his way no in the first at bat of the Nats' sixth, moved up to second on a single to left by Anthony Rendon and scored on an RBI single to center by Jayson Werth. A fly to right by Adam LaRoche allowed Rendon to take third with one down. Ian Desmond walked to load the bases up for Bryce Harper, and that was it for Eovaldi...
The line on Jordan Zimmermann tonight: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K pic.twitter.com/CLcrNVy4pM
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2014
• Nathan Eovaldi's Line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 96 P, 60 S, 5/1 GO/FO.
2. Turning Point(s): Jayson Werth battled for 10 pitches with Nathan Eovaldi with one on and one out in the top of the first inning and drew a walk from the Marlins' right-hander, moving Anthony Rendon into scoring position after the Nats' third baseman singled his way on with one down. A wild pitch in the next at bat moved both runners into scoring position in front of Adam LaRoche, whose sac fly to center gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead at the end of a 31-pitch first by Eovaldi.
Werth drove in a run in the sixth as well, taking a 94 mph 3-2 fastball from Eovaldi to center for an RBI single that made it a 2-0 game.
It was a tough play by Adeiny Hechavarria at short that really broke this one open, however. Bryce Harper hit a first-pitch slider from Marlins' reliever Dan Jennings out to short with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth, and a high last hop caused the Marlins' shortstop to misplay a potential DP grounder.
A run scored on Harper's grounder to make it 3-0 Nationals on what was initially ruled an E:6, a walk by Wilson Ramos forced in no.4 and two more came in on a two-run single to center by Danny Espinosa. 6-0 Nationals.
1. The Wrap-Up: Dan Jennings took over on the mound with one down in the Nationals' sixth with the bases loaded and Bryce Harper up, and the Nats' hard-hitting infielder took the first pitch he saw to short where Adeiny Hechavarria misplayed a high hop into a run. 3-0 Nationals. Wilson Ramos walked to force in a run, 4-0, and Danny Espinosa drove in two more with a bases-loaded line drive to center that made it a 6-0 game.
Sam Dyson gave up a single by Jayson Werth in his first inning of work, but Werth was thrown out at second by Giancarlo Stanton and appeared injure his ankle/knee on an awkward attempt to avoid a tag. Dyson threw a scoreless seventh inning and came back out for the eighth.
Monster home run power and a cannon for an arm? That's not fair, @Giancarlo818: http://t.co/m0ocZPjqfJ
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 29, 2014
Bryce Harper doubled to left-center to start the frame, but was stranded at third three outs later.
Ross Detwiler took over on the mound for the Nationals in the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to left by Adeiny Hechavarria. Pinch hitter Reed Johnson singled to center to put two runners on with no one out. Christian Yelich grounded into an out at first, but Johnson stopped dead in front of Danny Espinosa to avoid the DP.
Pinch hitter Jeff Baker stepped in with two runners in scoring position and hit a high chopper to short that brought in the Marlins' 3rd run. 6-3. Drew Storen came on to face Giancarlo Stanton and struck him out with a filthy 1-2 slider outside.
Mike Dunn completed a scoreless ninth to keep it close at 6-3... you know what that means...
Pitch it, Soriano! Pitch it, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano! Rafael Soriano came on looking for save no.26 of 2014. Casey McGehee walked to start the inning. Garrett Jones lined a double to right that bounced off the lime green wall on a hop. Marcell Ozuna singled to center to drive McGehee in and make it 6-4.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in a run with a sac fly to right, 6-5. A wild pitch to Adeiny Hechavarria moved Ozuna into scoring position at second and an RBI triple to center drove in the tying run... 6-6.
Donovan Solano stepped in with the winning run at third and took a HBP. First and third.
Nats' skipper Matt WIlliams went to the bullpen for Jerry Blevins. Blevins vs Yelich... Swinging K. Jeff Baker stepped in with two down and hit a walk-off single to left to win it. Walk-off caps comeback.
Nationals now 57-46