Miami Marlins Morning Catch: Fish drop heartbreaker to Nationals

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The Marlins entered play on Monday night winning nine out of their last 11 games but dropping Sunday’s series finale to the Phillies. Miami gave David Phelps the nod to start. Phelps has been filling in Henderson Alvarez‘s rotation spot while he is on the disabled list with from a shoulder injury.

The last time the Marlins and the Nats faced off the Marlins swept the Nationals in Miami. That series started the hot streak of the Marlins who then eventually went on to win their next two series vs. the Mets and Phillies.

Jordan Zimmermann took the mound for the Nationals for his second start against the Marlins this year. He faced the Marlins last week and gave up only two runs in a no-decision. The Nats’ bullpen ended up blowing the game, giving up a walk-off double to Marcell Ozuna.

The Marlins won the next two games with comfortable leads.

In last night’s series opener, the Marlins got off to a quick start, getting an RBI single from Ozuna in the first, scoring Martin Prado, who reached on a single. Stanton was left on third after reaching base via error.

It didn’t take long for the Nats to tie the game on a Ryan Zimmerman sacrifice fly.

The Marlins got the lead back when Justin Bour hit a solo shot, his first of the season. Bour hit the home run in front of his family, as he is from Virginia, which is only 15 minutes from D.C.

In the top of the eighth, the Marlins got two more runs.

Bryan Morris came in to pitch in the eighth inning and quickly gave up a two run home run to Ian Desmond, which tied the game. The Nats got two more runs on an RBI single from Yunel Escobar, who was a perfect 5-for-5 on the night.

After winning nine of ten, the Marlins now have dropped two straight games.

But it’s just the start of this 10-game road trip. Two more vs the Nats and seven more between the Dodgers and Giants on the team’s first West Coast swing of the season. The Marlins expect to get star left fielder Christian Yelich back from the disabled in the Giants series, so that will certainly help.

Yelich played in a rehab game today with the Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads. He went 1-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base.

Ichiro Suzuki has been filling in for Christian Yelich, and the 41-year-old future hall of famer has produced nicely, batting .282 with a home run.

Tonight the Marlins will look to even the series with Mat Latos taking on Stephen Strasburg in game two.

Marlins News from Around the Web:

Ichiro Suzuki signing paying off early for Miami Marlins

Scott Gelman, Fish Stripes

Miami signed Ichiro Suzuki to serve as a backup outfielder but the Marlins have used in him in a variety of roles since. With Christian Yelich on the disabled list and the Marlins lacking immediate outfield depth, Suzuki has been slotted into the starting lineup, and the signing may already be paying off.

After extending Giancarlo Stanton in November, the Marlins opted to add the 41-year old veteran to their outfield mix. Acknowledging he did not have a notable amount of National League playing experience, the club planned to use him as a left-handed pinch hitter. But with Yelich suffering from back pain just a few weeks into the season, Suzuki has responded to an increased amount of playing time.

Suzuki posted a .284/.324/.340 batting line to complement 22 RBIs in 143 games with the Yankees last season. The Marlins also felt he would be a quality addition to their clubhouse, and in 24 games to this point in 2015, Suzuki has posted a .266/.314/.344 line. His only home run of the season came against the Mets on the last home stand and gave the Marlins late insurance. Click here for full article.

‘Baseball in the District’ – Marlins’ voice Glenn Geffner

Chase Hughes, Comcast SportsNet Washington

This week we recorded our ‘Baseball in the District’ episode a little earlier than usual, so we decided to recap the Nats’ big series in New York over the weekend and look ahead to this week which features two division opponents coming to town.

The Nationals begin with the Miami Marlins, who have won nine of their last 11 after beginning the season at 3-11. Marlins radio voice Glenn Geffner joined the show to give us an update on the Nats’ division foes and give his thoughts on exactly what clicked for Miami around two weeks ago.

Before welcoming in Glenn, Tim Murray of ESPN 980 and I talked about the Mets series, the rotation’s recent improvement and the increasingly worrisome situation involving Anthony Rendon. Click here for full article.

Miami Marlins alumnus Craig Counsell named Milwaukee Brewers manager

Travis Honeycutt, Marlin Maniac

Former Florida Marlins utilityman and winning run of the 1997 World Series Craig Counsell has been named new manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, according to CBS Sports and several sources.

Counsell, 44, replaces Ron Roenicke, who led the Brewers to a dismal 7-18 start to the season after four mildly successful years as Milwaukee’s skipper.

The Brewers currently own the worst record in baseball. Click here for full article.

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