July 29, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins center fielder
Baseball was more pleasant in Miami by the conclusion of the weekend. After dropping the series opener during a brutal 5-run sixth inning by the Padres, it looked like more of the same. However, an outstanding debut by new Marlin Nathan Eovaldi brought a welcome victory to Marlins Park on Saturday. Pitching 5 1/3 innings, he struck out five and gave up only one earned run. Home runs by Jose Reyes and Justin Ruggiano helped the Marlins break through the three-run barrier that had been in place for the last nine games.
Yesterday’s game was also a win, cementing the series with a 10-inning nail biter. Josh Johnson had an uncharacteristic six-walk outing, and Jose Reyes extended his hitting streak to sixteen games. Two base hits each from Reyes, Ruggiano, and Emilio Bonifacio, combined with a clutch two-run triple from recent callback Donnie Murphy showed fans a good glimpse of what the Marlins’ offense is capable of.
After last night’s game, the Marlins hopped a short flight to Atlanta for a four-game series against the 57-44 Braves. After this weekend, the marlins moved to 14 game out of first place and 2 ½ games ahead of the cellar-dwelling Phillies.
The Atlanta series starts a tough three-series road trip that includes stops in Washington, DC and Flushing, NY. They return home August 10th to face the Dodgers and Phillies.
Topics: Donnie Murphy, Emilio Bonifacio, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Justin Ruggiano, Miami Marlins, Nathan Eovaldi, San Diego Padres
Geoff grew up in Simi Valley, California and Vienna, Virginia. As a child, he listened to Vin Scully calling Dodger games on an AM radio, and learned to love the O's, even through the bad years. After a thirty-year hiatus from baseball, his son's enthusiasm for the game has brought him back to the world of men playing a boy's game. Geoff plays in the local men's league, despite knees that sound like popcorn popping. By day, he is the Government contracts manager for a South Florida marine electrical firm, writing technical proposals and managing projects. Despite the Dodger Blue in his veins and a fondness for number 8, he is a dedicated Marlins fan, through good years and bad. He counts himself lucky that he didn't relocate to a city that recognizes the Designated Hitter.
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