Danny Espinosa put the Washington Nationals up 3-2 with his 22nd home run of the season in the fifth, after Miami Marlins’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton (with HR No. 26) and Christian Yelich (with an RBI double) put the Fish up 2-0 early in the series opener, but it was a savvy bunt after all that big swinging that set the Marlins up for what ended up being the winning runs.
Stanton walked to start the sixth, and Justin Bour bunted toward third for a hit against the dramatic shift, putting two runners on in front of pinch hitter Derek Dietrich, who hit an RBI double off Blake Treinen to tie it up at 3-3 before Bour scored from third — ahead of a wide throw home — on a grounder to second by Ichiro Suzuki, 4-3.
That’s how it ended, as the Marlins tied things up in the season series, 7-7, with the NL East leaders after fourteen games between the divisional rivals.
Here’s how it happened:
A.J. Cole thought he had strike three and the second out of the bottom of the second with a 2-2 fastball inside to Giancarlo Stanton, but home plate ump Dan Bellino called it a ball, and the 3-2 slider Cole threw to the Marlins’ slugger ended up flying 448 feet to left field for a solo blast that cleared the Clevelander and the Budweiser Bar sign in deep, deep left, making it 1-0 Miami early. Stanton’s 26th.
A two-out triple and walk in the Marlins’ third put runners in the corners in front of Christian Yelich, who took a 1-0 fastball the other way for an opposite field, ground-rule double that drove Marcell Ozuna in from third for a 2-0 lead. Double No. 37 for Yelich.
Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Heisey hit back-to-back one-out singles in fifth, after Wei-Yin Chen handled the Nationals through four. Danny Espinosa got hold of a 3-2 fastball in the next at bat and hit a three-run home run to left to put the Nationals on top and end Chen’s night. Espinosa’s 22nd* of 2016. [ed. note - “ * = new career high.”]
Espi's 22nd HR of the season gives him a new career-high, and it's got us up 3-2 after 5 full in Miami. #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/It196ua1Va
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 20, 2016
A.J. Cole’s Line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 1 HR, 79P, 52 S, 4/3 GO/FO.
It was still 3-2 Nationals in the sixth when Mat Latos issued a leadoff walk to Giancarlo Stanton, who was lifted for a pinch runner, Yefri Perez.
With the Nationals in a dramatic shift, Justin Bour bunted toward third for a single, so Dusty Baker went to the bullpen again for Blake Treinen, who gave up an RBI double by Derek Dietrich, who lined a 2-0 sinker to center to tie it up, 3-3.
Bour took third on the double, and was running on contact when Ichiro Suzuki sent a ground ball to second in the next at bat. Wilmer Difo threw home, but it was wide of the plate. 4-3 Fish.
Zimmerman and Heisey hit back-to-back singles off Fernando Rodney to start the top of the seventh and a sac bunt by Danny Espinosa moved them into scoring position, but pinch hitters Stephen Drew and Clint Robinson went down swinging to strand both runners. Still 4-3 Marlins.
Kyle Barraclough tossed a quick, scoreless eighth.
A.J. Ramos came on looking for the save opportunity in the ninth and gave up a leadoff double to center by Wilson Ramos.
Michael A. Taylor came on to run for Ramos, but got cut down at third on a broken-bat grounder up the middle of Ryan Zimmerman’s bat. Bryce Harper sent a fly to shallow left field for out No.2. Daniel Murphy? Fly to deep right. 4-3 Fish final.
Nationals now 88-62
NATS NOTES:
- In today’s Nationals-themed “Fun with Arbitrary End Points” segment: Washington trails Miami in the all-time series between the two teams, 113-100, but the Nationals have a 44-26 record vs the Marlins... since 2013.
- Since the Florida Marlins became the Miami Marlins, the Nationals have a 53-35 record vs their NL East rivals.
- Washington’s 88-61 record is the second-best in the majors, behind only the Chicago Cubs (94-55).
- In a bonus Nationals-themed “Fun with Arbitrary End Points” segment: Trea Turner leads the NL in total bases (147), hits (tied 1st 88), and triples (tied, 7)... since the All-Star break.
- Anthony Rendon starts the series in Miami leading all NL third baseman in doubles (37) and ranks third in runs scored (84), fourth in walks (62), and fifth in RBIs (78) and OBP (.355).
- Washington starts the three-game set in Miami with a 48-22 record against their NL East opponents this season.
- Wei-Yin Chen was reinstated from the DL to make tonight’s start after suffering a left elbow sprain in mid-July.
- The Marlins’ pitchers, as a group, have allowed just 138 home runs this season, the second-lowest total in the majors, tied with the New York Mets. Nationals’ pitchers have allowed the third-lowest total (139).
Nationals now 88-62