Gonzalez clears bases with double as Marlins win 5th straight, 7-3 over Nationals
By JOSEPH WHITE | Associated Press | May 9, 08 10:00 PM CDT in
Sports
Ricky Nolasco joined the first-place Florida Marlins' win parade with six strong innings, and Luis Gonzalez passed the 1,400 career RBIs mark with a bases-loaded double Friday night in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Nolasco (2-3) broke a personal three-game losing streak, getting his first win in nearly a month, as the Marlins ran their winning streak to a season-high five games. Florida (21-14) is seven games over .500 for the first time since September 2005.
The Marlins blew the game open with a four-run sixth, taking advantage of a sudden spate of wildness from Nationals starter Tim Redding (4-3). Redding walked three of the last six batters he faced, including Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla to load the bases.
Nationals manager Manny Acta then called on reliever Jesus Colome, who had allowed four of seven inherited runners to score this season. Make it seven out of 10: Gonzalez pulled his 574th career double _ tying Charlie Gehringer for 18th on the career list _ into the right-field corner to pick up his 1,399th, 1,400th and 1,401st career RBIs.
Nolasco had only two wins in his last 15 starts and began the season in the bullpen, but his 94 mph fastball kept the Nationals off balance most of the night. His only trouble came with two outs in the fourth, when Nick Johnson and Lastings Milledge singled and Austin Kearns walked. Nolasco then walked Wily Mo Pena with the bases loaded but got out of the inning when Wil Nieves grounded into a fielder's choice.
That was the only run allowed by Nolasco, who gave up four hits and walked two. He also struck out a season-high six.
Redding has been the Nationals' most consistent pitcher this season, but he walked a season-high four over 5 1-3 innings. He gave up only four hits and struck out three but was charged with six earned runs.
Cody Ross singled to open the game, stole second and advanced to third when catcher Nieves' throw ended up in center field. He scored on Ramirez's sacrifice fly to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Florida went ahead 3-0 in the fourth on Jorge Cantu's two-run single to the opposite field, scoring Jeremy Hermida and Ramirez.
Down 7-1, the Nationals picked up two runs in the seventh on RBI hits by Cristian Guzman and Johnson off Doug Waechter, but Justin Miller entered and got Kearns to fly to shallow center with the bases loaded and two out.
Notes:@ Nationals LHP Matt Chico made his first relief appearance in the major leagues, pitching two scoreless innings. He made 31 starts last year and struggled through seven starts this season before being sent to the bullpen. ... Marlins 1B Mike Jacobs missed his second straight game with a strained left quad muscle. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Jacobs could have been used as a pinch hitter if needed. ... Washington's Elijah Dukes, returning from the disabled list after injuring his hamstring on opening day, entered the game in the seventh inning and struck out in both of his plate appearances. ... Opponents have succeeded in 33 of 41 steal attempts against the Nationals.
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