The Marlins beat the Mets 7-5 to take the rubber game of the series.  They knocked the Mets out of first place, handed Mike Plefrey his first loss since the end of May, and are now just a game and a half out of first.  

Starter Josh Johnson, making just his fourth start since coming back from Tommy John surgery finally got his first win of the season.  The Marlins are now 4-0 when Johnson has started for them.  In 6.2 innings pitched, Johnson allowed four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out two.  Not only did he pitch well but Johnson hit a RBI double in the fourth inning.  

The Marlins offense really broke out in the fourth inning.  With the Mets leading 1-0, Jeremy Hermida tripled to lead off the inning.  Jorge Cantu singled to center allowing Hermida to score and tie the game.  Mike Pelfrey then retired to get Dan Uggla and Mike Jacobs.  It was with two outs that the Marlins did the real damage.  Cody Ross trippled to right, scoring Cantu from first.  John Baker doubled to center field, scoring Ross from third.  Baker would score on Josh Johnson’s double to center.  Hanley Ramirez grounded out to second to end the inning, but the Marlins would lead the game 5-1.  The Mets looked like they would make a run at tying up the game when Damion Easley hit a three run homer in the top of the seventh, however Dan Uggla added two insurance runs with he hit a two run homer off Joe Smith in the bottom of the eighth.  Uggla now holds the record for most homeruns by a second baseman in his first three years as a starter.  The Mets would add one more in the top of the ninth, but the Marlins hold on to win 7-5. 

The Colorado Rockies come to town for a four game set.  Anibal Sanchez will make his first start of the season.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

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The Marlins lost to the Mets 4-1 on Tuesday night.  The Marlins, who are very much in the thick of the NL East race, now fall two games behind the first place Mets. 

Starter Scott Olsen gave up three straight doubles to the first three Mets hitters in the first inning, but only one run would score, Jose Reyes was thrown at at third trying to stretch his double into a triple, Nick Evans hit a double and scored on David Wright‘s double.  But, Olsen would settle in and retire Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran only allowing one run.   In 5 2/3 innings of work, Olsen allowed just two runs on five hits, walked two, and struck out five.  He left the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, turing the ball over to Matt Lindstrom.  Lindstrom got Damion Easley to pop up to end the Mets threat.  However, Renyel Pinto entered the game in the top of the eighth, he walked the lead off man and then gave up a two run homer to Carlos Delgado. 

The Marlins had a total of six hits they were only able to score one run.  As a team, they left nine guys on base.  The Marlins scored their lone run in the bottom of the first.  With two out, Jorge Cantu doubled to left and he would score on a double by Josh Willingham.  The Marlins had a chances to score but couldn’t get the big hit.  In the fifth inning with one out Scott Olsen singled to center field, Olsen would move to second on a single by Hanley Ramirez but, Jeremey Hermida hit into a double play to end the inning; that is just one example of what happend; in the sixth and seventh the Marlins also left runners in scoring position. 

Starters for Wednesday Josh Johnson with a 3.71 era and Mike Pelfrey 9-6 with a 3.67 era.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

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The Marlins took the first of three against the New York Mets 7-3 on Monday night.  The Marlins are in the thick of it for the seat atop of the NL East and just pulled to one game out of first with the win.

Ricky Nolasco started the game for the Marlins.  He pitched six innings giving up two runs on seven hits, he did not walk anyone and struck out eight.  The winning pitcher was Doug Waechter who worked just one inning of relief.  He did give up an earned run, but was the pitcher of record when the Marlins took the lead. 

The Marlins played sloppy in the field and it cost them a couple of runs early in the game, Dan Uggla was charged with only one error, but it was much worse than just that one play.  Cody Ross misjudged a ball that went over his head, and Uggla made an errant throw on the back end of what should have been a double play, however, because you can’t assume the double play, he was not charged with an error.  

The Marlins’ offense took advantage of the Mets’ terrible pitching to walk away with a victory.  John Baker homered in the fifth inning to make the score 2-1, and the Marlins tied the score at two in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Cody Ross.  The Marlins were down by a run in the bottom of the eighth, when Josh Willingham doubled to left to lead off the inning and scored on a single to center by Dan Uggla, Uggla  advanced to third on a single by Wes Helms.  John Baker got credit for a bunt single that scored Uggla, and loaded the bases.  Mets reliever Scott Schoeneweis then retired both Alfredo Amezega and Hanley Ramirez before facing pinch hitter Robert Andino, Schoeneweis threw a wild pitch that scored Helms and moved the other two runners into scoring postion.  Andino then hit a two run double to center, and would advance to third on Schoeneweis’ second wild pitch of the inning but was stranded there when Jorge Cantu grounded out to end the inning.   

The Marlins will have on the mound Scott Olsen (6-5 4.07 era).  The Mets will counter with Oliver Perez (6-6 4.15 era).  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

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The Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs kicked off a four game series on Thursday night and the Marlins were doubled up on the scoreboard.  The Cubs defeated the fish by the score of 6-3.  The Marlins sure had their chances in the 8th and 9th innings but were only able to push across one run.

Scott Olsen took the loss for the Marlins and is now 6-5 on the year.  Olsen gave up six runs on seven hits in the game.  Olsen ran into trouble in the 5th inning when the Cubs scored four runs while loading the bases.  Olsen gave up solo home runs to Ronny Cedeno and Henry Blanco in the game as well.

Matt Lindstrom and Joe Nelson held the Cubs down in the 7th and 8th innings as they pitched good out of the bullpen.

Hanley Ramirez got the Marlins on the scoreboard in the 3rd inning when he took Carlos Zambrano deep for a two run home run.  At that point in the game the Marlins were ahead 2-0 however they wouldn’t score again until the 8th inning when Luis Gonzalez had a rbi sac fly to right field and Alfredo Amezaga scored.  The Marlins had the bases loaded late in the game but they were unable to score any runs.  The offense just coudln’t come up with the big hit when they needed it.

Now they will turn right back around and face the Cubs again on Friday afternoon.  Josh Johnson wil face off against Ryan Dempster.  This could be a tough game for the fish as Dempster throws the ball pretty good at Wrigley Field.  Marlins Baseball Blog

The Florida Marlins got their butts handed to them on Wednesday night as they were blown out by the Atlanta Braves 8-3.  The Marlins did not score until the 9th inning when Luis Gonzalez hit a three run home run to get the Marlins on the scoreboard.

Ricky Nolasco had a night that he does not want to remember.  He allowed eight hits and five runs while only pitching five innings. Nolasco took the loss for the fish and is now 10-6 on the season.  Ryan Tucket came into the game after Nolasco left and he gave up four more runs in only 2 1/3 innings.

The Marlins will now travel to Chicago to take on the Cubs for the next four days.  The Cubs are struggling but I can see the Marlins having a lot of troubles in Chicago.  What do the Marlins fans think?

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The Florida Marlins shutout the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night by the score of 4-0.  Four Marlins pitchers combined to throw a one hitter against the potent Braves offense.  You are probably thinking to yourself why did the Marlins use four pitchers when they limited the Braves to only one hit?  Well I’m not quite sure as I wasn’t able to watch the game but I don’t see anything about an injury.

Starting pitcher Rick VandenHurk tossed the first five innings of the game and did not allow a hit or run but walked five batters while striking out seven others.  Joe Nelson allowed one hit while pitching one inning of relief before Renyel Pinto threw two scoreless innings of relief.  Matt Lindstrom threw the final inning of the game and did a great job.

Mike Jacobs got the Marlins scoring started with a three run home run in the 4th inning off of Charlie Morton.  The Marlins then tacked on another run in the 6th inning when John Baker walked and Josh Willingham scored.

It was a good win for the Marlins who lost on Monday night.  The series is now tied up at one game each and they two teams will play the rubber game on Wednesday.  Marlins Blog

The Florida Marlins bats were silent on Monday night as they were only cable to come up with two hits and lost to the Atlanta Braves by the score of 4-0.  It clearly wasn’t the Marlins night at the plate as the looked confused up there the whole game.

Chris Volstad took the loss for the Marlins as he tossed six inning and gave up six hits and three runs.  Mark Hendrickson allowed one run in the ninth inning on a rbi double that extended the Braves lead to 4-0.  The run that Hendrickson gave up was a huge run as it meant the Marlins would have to score four runs just to tie the game in the 9th inning.

All the Marlins fans out there better hope that the bats come around and knock in some runs on Tuesday night or else they will be down 0-2 in the series.

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The Florida Marlins had another game winning home run as Hanley Ramirez went deep in the 11th inning and the Marlins defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Thursday night.  That is an exciting way to begin a four game series against the Dodgers!

Ramirez took Marlins reliever Brian Falkenborg deep for the game winner.  John Baker also had a solo home run in the second inning.  Jorge Cantu, Josh Willingham, and Josh Johnson had the other three rbi for the team.

On the mound, Johnson tossed five innings while giving up six hits and three runs.  Johnson didn’t walk any batters but he did strike out six as he got the no decision.  Joe Nelson pitched two innings to get the win and Kevin Gregg notched his 18th save as he finished the Marlins off.

The Marlins will now try to go up 2-0 in the four game series as the two teams will play once again on Friday.

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Scott Olson improved to 5-4 on the season as he threw eight innings on Wednesday afternoon and the Florida Marlins defeated the San Diego Padres by the score of 5-2.  Olson was throwing the ball great as he only allowed four hits and one run in the game.  The one mistake that Olson did make was in the sixth inning when Jerry Hairston hit a solo home run.

Many Marlins fans were hoping that Olson would stay in the game for the complete game but he was taken out for a pitcher hitter in the bottom of the 8th inning when the bases were loaded.  Just like Nolasco the other night, Olson came three outs from the complete game.

Joe Nelson was called on to get the final three outs in the ninth inning but was unable to and was pulled after only recording one out and giving up one run.  Kevin Gregg came in to get the final two outs of the game and record his 17th save of the season.

Mike Jacobs had a two run home in the fourth inning to lead the Marlins with two rbi.  Hanley Ramirez added a solo home run in the game as well.  John Baker had a rbi sac fly in the 9th and then Wes Helms walked with the bases loaded to add on another insurance run in the final inning.

The Marlins will now travel up to Los Angeles to begin a four game series with the Dodgers on Thursday night.  More late night games on the West coast means all the Marlins will have to stay up late to watch the game.

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The Florida Marlins were hammered by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night by the score of 10-1.  The Padres jumped all over Marlins starting pitcher Andrew Miller who only lasted five innings after giving up six hits and four runs.  The Marlins bullpen wasn’t much better however as they allowed the Padres to tack on six more runs in the game.

Doug Waechter was charged with five runs (three were earned) while only recording one out in the sixth inning.  Waechter served up a three run home run to Scott Hairston which really blew the game wide open.  Logan Kensing then gave up one more run and by that time the game was pretty much over in my books.

Jeremy Hermida had the only rbi for the Marlins as he hit a solo home run in the first inning off of Randy Wolf.  Other than that one hit by Hermida, the Marlins only had five hits while leaving 16 runners on base and striking out eight times.

It was a terrible day for the Marlins who just need to forget about it and come out and play better Wednesday afternoon as they still have a chance to win the series against the Padres.

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