Hanley Goes Down Looking in the Bottom of the Ninth, Gets Traded to L.A.
Mark Buehrle had a rare weak outing last night, giving up three walks in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Atlanta Braves. Lasting only five innings, Buehrle struggled to get ahead in the count. His frustration peaked in the third inning after issuing a walk to Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded.
In what would later prove to be a pivotal decision, Justin Ruggiano was called out at the plate on a Hanley Ramirez single. After the fact, the telecast replay showed Ruggiano safe.
While the Marlins were able to score three runs in the first two innings, the Braves’ Tim Hudson only improved across his seven-inning appearance, and the Marlins were unable to post anything more than one base hit for the rest of the game. As an ironic footnote to his career as a Marlin, Hanley Ramirez struck out looking on a full count to log the last out of the game. Shortly after the conclusion of the game, the Marlins announced his (and Randy Choate’s) trade to the Dodgers.
This game is indicative of the fragility of the Marlins this season. Offensive production is so poor that the team simply folds when any other component slips. Buehrle has been having an excellent year, so a slip like this every once in a while is no reason to condemn the rotation.
A propos of nothing at all, long reliever Wade LeBlanc lost a pitch that wound up bouncing off of Dan Uggla’s ear flap and into the stands. Uggla wasn’t injured, so I guess it’s OK to let a giggle or two slip out.
Prediction: I still think that tonight’s game will go to the Marlins. Ricky Nolasco continues to pitch well, and I think that Tommy Hanson’s struggle with fastball command shows no signs of abating.