Gaby Sanchez hits walk-off double to lead Miami Marlins to first home win, 5-4

The Miami Marlins returned back to Marlins Park for the first time in over a week to take on the Houston Astros. It was just the teams second home game of the season. The team was still without manager Ozzie Guillen, who is serving the third game of his five game suspension for his Fidel Castro comments. The Marlins sent out Ricky Nolasco for the Marlins, while the Astros countered with Lucas Harrell. The game was a very entertaining one. The Marlins were able to jump out early, but coughed up the lead in the eight, only to win the game in the eleventh in walk-off fashion!

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The Astros were able to jump on the Marlins in the first on Jed Lowrie‘s RBI single. That lead was short lived. The Marlins were able to tie up the game, and take the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Jose Reyes led of the bottom of the first inning for the Marlins with a single. He then immediately stole second base. After an Emilio Bonifacio strikeout and Hanley Ramirez ground out, Giancarlo Stanton roped a run scoring double to even the game at 1. Omar Infante, batting sixth in this game, came up next and drove in Stanton with a double of his own. The Marlins had a 2-1 lead after 1.

The Marlins added on runs in both the second and third innings to give themselves a 4-2 lead. The Marlins had a few more opportunities in each of those innings, but were unable to capitalize.

The Astros scored another run in the fourth inning when Jason Castro singled to bring home J.D. Martinez. The Marlins lead was cut down to 4-2. No more runs would be scored for either squad until the eight inning.

Even though he only allowed two runs, Ricky Nolasco did not look his best. Due to a high pitch count, Nolasco was only able to go 5 innings for the Marlins. The Marlins will need a better start from him going forward. He did a nice job controlling the damage, though.

The eight inning was an inning to forget for the Marlins. After Mike Dunn and Steve Cishek each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Marlins, Edward Mujica entered the game once again as the Marlins set-up man in the eight. Mujuca would promptly allow a single to Jed Lowrie and then J.D. Martinez, a Miami native, was the first player in Marlins Park history to go deep. Will be a good trivia question in a few years.

Mujica’s rough start to 2012 continues. Heath Bell has not been as effective as he has in the past either. This could be a major issue going forward if neither of these two improve for the Marlins.

Speaking of Bell, he came into pitch the ninth inning. After retiring the first two hitters, Bell ran into some trouble. Or should I say walked? Bell threw 13 consecutive balls to lead the bases. He luckily induced a ground ball to end the inning. Bell walked three in the inning and threw 24 pitches.

The tenth inning featured an Omar Infante fly ball to the warning track that would have been a walk-off homer in most other ball parks, but in Marlins Park it is not, so it was on to the eleventh inning.

Brandon Lyon came into pitch for the Astros in the bottom of the inning. Chris Coghlan greeted him with a hot shot up the middle, off of Lyon’s knee. Coghlan was able to hustle down the line to beat out the throw. Next up for the Marlins, Gaby Sanchez.

Unfortunately, my television decided to stop working at this point. I had to reboot it. Luckily for me, the very next pitch I saw was of Gaby Sanchez lining a pitch to the left field wall and Chris Coghlan sliding in at home plate. Ball game. The Marlins finally win a game at home!

The Marlins are now 3-5, and unfortunately, in the basement of the NL East. The Marlins will have a chance to make a move up the standings again tonight. The Marlins will send out Carlos Zambrano against the Astros Bud Norris.

If you are going to the game tonight, be sure to go and meet Michael Jong of Fishstripes, who will be live at the game. Just let him now how much better Marlin Maniac is better then Fishstripes ;).

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