Marlins at Nationals
The Nationals continue to shock the National League, picking up their 12th win of the season despite blowing a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning against the Marlins on Saturday. Washington is off to the franchise’s best start since the 1981 Montreal Expos began 12-3. Miami is only 2-6 on the road after losing the first two games of this series. The Marlins have managed only two runs against the Nationals and wasted two solid outings from their starters.
Hanley Ramirez was the hot bat heading into the series but is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts in the past two games. Washington’s offense hasn’t been lighting up the scoreboard either. The Nationals have been dependent on the long ball, scoring three of their five runs on solo homers.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Josh Johnson (0-2, 5.94 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (1-0, 2.04 ERA)
Johnson has been dominant versus Washington in his career, posting a 7-0 record and 3.14 ERA in 83 innings against the Nationals. The right-hander is mired in an eight-game winless skid going back to last season after collecting a no-decision in his most recent outing, a seven-inning effort against the Cubs in which he allowed two runs on seven hits.
Gonzalez is just another cog in Washington’s dominant starting staff. The southpaw has kept a clean sheet through his last two starts, most recently shutting out the Astros and allowing only two hits while striking out eight. He threw a gem in his only career start against the Marlins, giving up one hit while fanning nine in eight innings while with Oakland last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington starters have pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings.
2. The Marlins travel to New York to face the Mets for three games starting Tuesday. The Nationals kick off a six-game West Coast road trip in San Diego on Tuesday.
3. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman sat out Saturday because of inflammation in his shoulder.