Recap: Washington vs. Florida
Sports Network | September 24, 2008
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham each homered, as the Florida Marlins defeated Washington, 9-4, in the middle test of a three-game series at Nationals Park.
Jeremy Hermida collected three hits and knocked in two runs for Florida, which slammed the brakes on a four-game losing streak. Cameron Maybin went 3- for-3 and scored a run. Josh Johnson (7-1) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings to get the win.
Pete Orr was 2-for-4 and drove in a run for the Nationals, who have dropped six of their last seven contests. Emilio Bonifacio added an RBI triple. Tim Redding (10-11) was rocked for seven runs on seven hits in a season-low 2 2/3 innings.
The Marlins effectively wrapped up the game when they erupted for five runs in the third.
Cantu's two-out double plated Ramirez, who reached on a two-bagger. Redding then issued consecutive walks to Willingham and Dan Uggla to load the bases for Hermida, who ripped a two-run single to right. Gaby Sanchez followed with an RBI double off the left-field wall to chase Redding. Marco Estrada came on from the Washington bullpen and Matt Treanor drove in the Marlins' seventh run of the contest when beat out a slow roller down the third base line.
Washington picked up two runs in the bottom half. Estrada drew a one-out walk and scored on Bonifacio's triple. An Alberto Gonzalez groundout cut the deficit to 7-2.
Willingham's solo blast and Treanor's RBI single made it a 9-2 game in the eighth. Orr and Wil Nieves each delivered RBI singles in the home half to cap the scoring.
Florida scored a pair of runs in the opening frame. Ramirez hammered Redding's first pitch of the game over the wall in left for his 24th career leadoff home run. Maybin then lined a double to right, advanced to third when Willingham grounded into a double play and scored on a wild pitch.
The Marlins are 11-3 in games Johnson starts this year...Florida has won 14 of its 17 meetings with the Nationals this season...The Marlins left 14 men on base, while Washington stranded eight...Florida pounded out 18 hits.
