The Miami Marlins took an early lead against the Washington Nationals during game one of a split day-night doubleheader in DC on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, it was a lead the Nats couldn’t overcome. Washington fell 4-2 against Miami after a weak performance from right-handed starter Dan Haren in his last home start this season.
Haren threw 99 pitches and 64 strikes in six innings of work and gave up eight hits and three runs (two homeruns) while walking a batter and striking out five. Haren was charged with the loss and is now 9-14 for 2013.
Miami’s two-run first inning against Haren is the reason Washington fell behind early. Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run homerun to right-center on a 2-2 pitch off Haren plus outfielder Christian Yelich’s solo shot to right-center on a 3-1 pitch essentially sealed the Nats fate for the afternoon.
Washington attempted to make a comeback in the sixth inning when third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run bomb to the Red Porch seats in left-center on a 2-1 pitch off Marlins right-handed starter Tom Koehler but those are the only two runs the Nationals would get.
The Marlins tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning when pinch hitter Juan Pierre led off with a single to left field against right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus. Pierre would go on to steal second, advance to third on a wild pitch, and score on a sacrifice fly hit by second baseman Donovan Solano.
By the end of the afternoon, the Nats tallied four hits off Miami while the Marlins managed to get twelve hits against the Washington pitching staff.
Rachel moved to DC in the fall of 2005 to study Journalism and Music at American University. When she’s not keeping up with the latest Major League Baseball news, she works on making music as an accomplished singer-songwriter and was even a featured performer/speaker at TEDxDupont Circle in 2012. Rachel has also contributed to The Washington Examiner and MASN Sports’ Nationals Buzz as a guest blogger. See why she loves DC. E-Mail: rachel@welovedc.com.
