Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez seems to dislocate his shoulder while swinging through a fastball from Washington starter Jason Bergmann, but like Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon" Ramirez pops it back in and then lines the next pitch for a double over Nook Logan's head in center to start the holiday matinee in RFK Stadium, Washington, DC. A groundout from Dan Uggla moves Ramirez to third. Jeremy Hermida lines a sac fly try to right, but Hanley Ramirez must have heard about Austin Kearns' arm because Ramirez stays at third as Kearns catches it coming in and fires home. Bergmann walks Miguel Cabrera and then gets Josh Willingham swinging to end a long top of the first.
Florida Marlins rookie Rick VandenHurk drops his "Holland Hammer" curve on Nook Logan to get a ground out for the first out of the Nationals first. Felipe Lopez walks, but gets caught stealing on a pitch out, and then VandenHurk drops another "Hammer" on the outside corner to get Ryan Zimmerman staring at strike three.
Mike Jacobs hammers Jason Bergmann's second pitch in the second for a line drive home run to right and a 1-0 Marlins lead. Bergmann gets the next three Nationals in order to end the frame. Jeremy Hermida robs Dmitri Young of a home run to left, but the ball catapults out of his glove as he reaches over the fence and DY settles for a double. Austin Kearns drops a single in front of a sliding Hermida in left center moving DY to third, and Kearns takes second on a lazy throw in. Wily Mo Pena hits a sharp grounder to third, and Miguel Cabrera throws home to nail DY at the plate. VandenHurk strikes out Ronnie Belliard. Brian Schneider hits a two-out-0-2 double to drive in two for a 2-1 Nationals lead after two innings.
Three up three down for the Marlins as Bergmann holds the lead through the top of the third. VandenHurk retires the top of the Nationals order for a scoreless third. Still 2-1 Washington. Bergmann gets Mike Jacobs swinging at a high fastball for the final out of the fourth. Austin Kearns beats out an infield single with one out in the Nationals fourth. VandenHurk gets Pena and Belliard to strand Kearns at second. 2-1 Nationals after four.
Cody Ross takes second base when his ground ball trickles into the outfield to start the top of the fifth. Miguel Olivo flies out and VandenHurk grounds out to bring up Hanley Ramirez with Ross at third. Jason Bergmann gets a weak grounder from Ramirez that Brian Schneider fields and throws to end the Marlins fifth.
VandenHurk gets Schneider, Bergmann and Logan in order in the fifth. Bergmann sets down Uggla, Hermida and Cabrera to hold the Nationals lead through the top of the sixth. Felipe Lopez lifts a fly ball to center and over the outstretched glove of center fielder Cody Ross to start the bottom of the frame. Lopez takes third as the ball bounces to the wall. THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! RBI double to center for Zimmerman scores Lopez and gives the Nationals a 3-1 lead. Austin Kearns drops a single in short center, Zimmerman's runs when he knows it's falling, and the Nationals take a 4-1 lead. Wily MO MO MO MO MO!!! Wily Mo Pena blows it open with a heat-seeking liner to left and a 6-1 Nationals lead. Goede Nacht, VandeHurk!!!
Bergmann strikes out Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo to end the seventh. Bergmann leaves the game after 7.0 IP, 4 hits allowed, 1 run against, 1 walk, 9 K's and a 4.30 ERA to end the day in line for a win. 6-1 after the top of the seventh. Stand up and stretch...
Harvey Garcia, who replaced VandenHurk, is back out for the seventh. After a leadoff single for Felipe Lopez, Garcia strikes out Zimmerman and gets a DP from DY to end the seventh.
Jesus "Everyday" Colome gives up a single and a walk with one out in the the top of the eigth. Jeremy Hermida singles to load the bases. Colome faces Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera grounds to Belliard, who fires the throw to second over the bag and into left field. Two runs score. 6-3 Nationals. Colome out...
...The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History comes on to clean up the mess. Jon Rauch walks Josh Willingham to reload the bases for Mike Jacobs. Rauch gets Jacobs staring at strike three on the outside corner. Rauch blows away Cody Ross with two fastballs, after being getting down 3-1 in the count, for the final out of the top of the eigth. 6-3 Nationals. Wait for it...
Chad Cordero enters the game in the top of the ninth with a three-run lead. Cordero wears the day game reds with the matching red cap, interlocking DC logo on the jersey and stitched on the cap above a brim as flat as the line of late-afternoon shadows working it's way across the field of play. Miguel Olivo flies out to right. Alfredo "the Amazing" Amezaga swings through strike three. Hanley Ramirez doubles over Logan's head in center. Dan Uggla pops out to right. 1,2,3 the Nationals win. 6-3 final. The Nationals are now in sole-possession of fourth place.
Nationals now 61-77.