Trade Giancarlo Stanton Top 5:
5. Quick Recap: Washington Nationals' leadoff man Denard Span was picked off first base after walking on four pitches in the first at bat of the series finale with the Miami Marlins, but the Nats' speedy outfielder beat the throw to second and scored when Anthony Rendon doubled by third for a 1-0 lead over the Miami Marlins and their 24-year-old lefty Brad Hand.
WATCH: @thisisdspan & Anthony Rendon got the #Nats on the board as Span scored on Rendon's 27th 2B of the season: http://t.co/EBsOIzcFxx
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 30, 2014
Nationals' starter Tanner Roark threw three scoreless innings to start the third game of three in Marlins Park, but Fish second baseman Jordany Valdespin crushed a full-count fastball in the first at bat of the fourth, sending a solo blast into the second deck in right to tie things up at 1-1 after four.
A no doubter off the bat of @jordany023! Watch: http://t.co/OHIgcSZG0Q #MarlinsRewind
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 30, 2014
Tanner Roark was done after seven innings of work, and his pinch hitter, Scott Hairston, doubled to left to start the top of the eighth inning. Denard Span tried to bunt the runner over, but ended up singling. With runners on first and third, Anthony Rendon popped out to short center, but in the next at bat, Jayson Werth managed to fly deep enough to left to bring pinch runner Nate McLouth in from third after he took over on the basepaths for Hairston. 2-1 Nationals. Ian Desmond singled with two down to drive in two more and the Nats took a 4-1 lead.
WATCH: The #Nats needed insurance & @IanDesmond20 was there with this two-out 2B to left field for a 4-1 lead! http://t.co/U8pLPle9Np
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 30, 2014
Drew Storen came out looking for his first save of the season in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a solo home run on an 0-1 slider outside to Giancarlo Stanton. 4-2. Adeiny Hechavarria hit a two-out double to right to bring Marcell Ozuna in from second after a single and wild pitch put him in scoring position. 4-3.
4. The Myth of Row-ark: Wilmington, Illinois-born right-hander Tanner Roark entered today's series finale with the Marlins in Miami with a streak of four-straight seven-inning outings going. In the last three of those four, following a loss to the Chicago Cubs back on the 4th of July, the 27-year-old right-hander has been dominant, going (3-0) and posting a 1.29 ERA with two walks (0.86 BB/9) and 17 Ks (7.29 K/9) in 21 IP over which he's held Phillies, Brewers and Reds' hitters to a combined .176/.218/.216 line.
Last time out in Cincinnati, Roark allowed just three hits, one walk and one earned run in a 4-1 win in which he averaged just over 13 pitches (13.4) per inning, finishing seven strong on just 94 pitches overall.
"Really efficient," Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters. "Really efficient with his pitch count."
"From the first batter he was throwing it where he wanted to," Williams continued.
As he has since taking over on the bench, the Nationals' first-year manager praised Roark's ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes.
"I just think he has the ability to throw any pitch in any count for a strike," Williams said. "So if he doesn't have one that particular day he can go to others. And that's the art of pitching, so he's just continued to pound the strike zone and give us a chance every time he goes out."
With the win on the road in Cincinnati, Roark improved to (10-6) on the season, with a 2.82 ERA, a 3.23 FIP, 27 walks (1.90 BB/9) and 96 Ks (6.77 K/9) in 20 starts and 127 ⅔ IP.
#Nats @ #Marlins: Span CF, Rendon 3B, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Desmond SS, Harper LF, Ramos C, Espinosa 2B, Roark P pic.twitter.com/EurMJ3tv8y
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 30, 2014
This afternoon in Miami, he was facing a Marlins team he'd already seen twice this season, giving up three runs each time to leave him (1-1) with a 2.42 ERA, five walks (2.01 BB/9) and 15 Ks (6.04 K/9) in five games, three of them starts and 22 ⅓ IP, over which he's held Fish hitters to a combined .213/.267/.325 line.
Two of those outings, both starts, took place in Marlins Park, where Roark entered today's game (1-0) with a 2.19 ERA and a .239/.271/.326 line against.
1st: Christian Yelich worked the count full and walked to start the Marlins' half of the first inning. Jordany Valdespin popped up to right for the first out of the frame. Giancarlo Stanton started up 3-0, but popped up to second on a 3-1 fastball inside. Casey McGehee's pop to first ended a scoreless 17-pitch first for Roark.
2nd: Garrett Jones popped up to Anthony Rendon at second in the shift. Marcell Ozuna hooked a full-count fastball to Bryce Harper in left for out no.2 after battling for nine pitches. Adeiny Hechavarria's groundout to short ended a quick, 13-pitch, 1-2-3 second. 30 pitches overall.
3rd: Jeff Mathis K'd looking at an 0-2 fastball for the first out of the Marlins' third. Brad Hand grounded out to second after battling and fouling off five 0-2 pitches. Christian Yelich fell behind 0-2 quickly and K'd swinging at a 1-2 change to end a 15-pitch third. Nine straight batters retired. 45 pitches total after three.
4th: Jordany Valdespin took a full-count fastball to right int he first at bat of the Marlins' fourth, and it reached the second deck for a solo blast that tied things up at 1-1. No.2 of 2014 for MIami's second baseman. Giancarlo Stanton lined to third for out no.1. Casey McGehee K'd swinging through a 2-2 slider for out no.2, but Garrett Jones reached on a grounder that Ian Desmond fielded deep in the hole at short and bounced over to first where Adam LaRoche missed a scoop. The ball rolled into the first base dugout, so McGehee took second, but Marcell Ozuna K'd swinging to end a 28-pitch fourth. 73 pitches overall.
5th: Adeiny Hechavarria grounded out to second. Marlins' catcher Jeff Mathis K'd swinging at a 92 mph 2-2 fastball for out no.2. Brad Hand popped to left to end a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3 fifth. 84 pitches total after five.
6th: Christian Yelich sent a chopper over the mound, off Roark's glove to Danny Espinosa at second for out no.1 of the sixth. Jordany Valdespin grounded weakly to first for out no.2. Giancarlo Stanton walked with two down, stole second and took third on a throwing error by Wilson Ramos with Casey McGehee up. McGehee popped out to foul territory off first for the final out of a 16-pitch frame that left Roark at 100 pitches total.
7th: Garrett Jones popped out to Ian Desmond for the first out of the Marlins' seventh. Marcell Ozuna K'd swinging for out no.2. Adeiny Hechavarria went the other way with a 90 mph 1-1 fastball for a two-out single. Jeff Mathis K'd swinging at a high 1-2 heater to end a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 seventh at 112 pitches overall.
• Tanner Roark's Line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks, 1 HR, 112 P, 75 S, 5/2 GO/FO.
3. Hand: Upon his return from a rehab assignment on July 3rd, 24-year-old Marlins' left-hander Brad Hand was given a shot at returning to the rotation after making the majority of his appearances out of the bullpen this season.
Miami's manager Mike Redmond told theMiami Herald's Manny Navarro that it was up to Hand to determine how long he remained a starter.
"'We’ve tried some different guys,'" Redmond said. "'It’s an opportunity for somebody to run with it. I would love for Brad Hand to step in there and pitch great and be the guy for the rest of the season.'"
In five starts since then for the Marlins, the '08 2nd Round pick out of Chaska High School in Chaska, Minnesota is (2-1) with a 2.43 ERA, a 2.86 FIP, eight walks (2.43 BB/9) and 16 Ks (4.85 K/9) in 29 ⅔ IP over which he's held opposing hitters to a combined .259/.311/.319 line.
#Marlins go for their 7th straight win and a series sweep, today at 12:40 PM: pic.twitter.com/fcJwv4ixpH
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 30, 2014
This afternoon, the southpaw was facing the Nationals for the eighth time, making his sixth start against the Marlins' NL East rivals and looking for his first win against the Nats after having gone (0-3) with an 8.71 ERA, 17 walks (7.43 BB/9) and 20 Ks (8.71 K/9) in 20 ⅔ IP against Washington before today in which the Nationals' hitters put up a combined .318/.427/.600 line against him.
The Nationals entered the series finale in Miami with a .278/.338/.406 line vs LHPs this season, good for 1st/1st/4th amongst National League teams.
Hand walked Nats' leadoff man Denard Span on four pitches in the first at bat of today's game, but had him picked off when Span left early. Span beat the throw to second, however, and scored when Anthony Rendon doubled by third in the next at bat, 1-0 Nationals early. Rendon was stranded at third at the end of a 20-pitch frame by Hand though, 1-0 Nats.
The Marlins' starter needed nine pitches to retire the side in order in the second. 29 total after two. A quick, nine-pitch, 1-2-3 third left him at 38 pitches.
Jayson Werth singled to center to start the top of the fourth inning. One out later, Ian Desmond walked to put two on in front of Bryce Harper. Harper sent a fly ball to center for out no.2, moving Werth up, but Wilson Ramos grounded into a force at second to end a 17-pitch frame that left Hand at 55 total after four.
This kid's afternoon has been made. http://t.co/KCjDkNV074
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 30, 2014
Danny Espinosa reached on an infield single in the first at bat of the fifth, but was forced out at second on a bunt back to the mound by Tanner Roark. Denard Span K'd looking for out no.2 and Anthony Rendon K'd swinging to end a 15-pitch inning by Hand, who was up to 70 total after five.
Three quick ground ball outs got Hand through a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth after which he was up to 80 pitches overall.
Bryce Harper lined out. Wilson Ramos grounded out. Danny Espinosa? Grounder to short. Nine straight outs for Brad Hand. 11-pitch inning, 91 pitches total after seven innings.
Scott Hairston took a 2-1 change to left for a leadoff double in the top of the eighth inning and took third on a bunt single by Denard Span. Marlins' skipper Mike Redmond challenged the play, but it stood. That was it for Hand...
[ed. note - Skip to no.1 on the Top 5 for the exciting conclusion...]
• Brad Hand's Line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks, 97 P, 58 S, 12/4 GO/FO.
2. Rolling Fish: Their wins in the first two games of the three game set with the Nationals gave the Marlins six straight wins overall. Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters after last night's game that he was impressed with the recent success Miami has had, which has pulled them to within 5.0 games of first in the NL East.
"They've got the ability to roll off like they're rolling right now," Williams said.
"It starts with their pitching. They've got good pitching. They get their guys hot, they can play the game really well.
"We've got to take care of ourselves and win our games regardless of who we're playing and so do they. So it's up to us to win that one tomorrow."
The Nationals have had strong outings from their starters as well.
It's good," Williams said of the Nats' pitching. "It's good that our pitchers are going out there, our starters, and giving us a chance every night to win. Run support has been there, I think. Last night [in the first game of three] we scored six, so it's not a question of that, it's a question of things not going the right way right now. We can change that tomorrow though, and come ready to play."
With the Marlins' wins in the first two games, they improved to 5-5 on the year against the Nationals after dropping the first four games of the season to their divisional rivals.
The Nationals win in the series finale avoided the sweep and gave them a 6-5 lead in the season series with the NL East rivals from Miami.
Yep, #Nats' 3B Anthony Rendon is still a little tired and yawning... https://t.co/Zwwx3qHWby
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) July 30, 2014
1. The Wrap-Up: Marlins' right-hander A.J. Ramos took over on the mound with runners on the corners and no outs vs Anthony Rendon. Pinch runner Nate McLouth took over for Scott Hairston at third. Denard Span stole second as Rendon took strike two on a 1-1 pitch inside. Rendon popped to short center for out no.1, but not deep enough to score McLouth from third. Jayson Werth flew out to deep left, deep enough. McLouth tagged and scored. 2-1 Nationals. Adam LaRoche walked and stole second with Ian Desmond up and Desmond hit a two-run single to left to make it a 4-1 game.
Tyler Clippard threw a 14-pitch, 1-2-3 eighth. Marlins' lefty Dan Jennings gave up a one-out single to left by Danny Espinosa and a two-out walk to Denard Span, but completed a scoreless frame.
Pitch it, Soriano! Pitch it, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano!!
Rafael Soriano came out looking for save no.26 of 2014.
STOREN WARNING!!!!: Drew Storen came on in the ninth looking for save no.1 of 2014. Giancarlo Stanton homered to right on the second pitch from Storen. 4-2 game. Casey McGehee sent a fly to Jayson Werth in right. ONE! Garrett Jones grounded into the shift for out no.2. Marcell Ozuna hit a broken-bat single to short that Ian Desmond pocketed. A wild pitch with Adeiny Hechavarria up moved Ozuna to second, and a double down the first base line made it a 4-3 game. Jarrod Saltalamacchia? Full count. Ball four. Reed Johnson stepped in with two on and two out and grounded into a force at second. Ballgame.
[ed. note - "Phew."]
Nationals now 58-47