The game started well enough for The Fish with Jeremy Hermida hitting his eighth HR in the first inning, but it was all down hill from there. The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the first helped by a Wes Helms boot of a DP grounder. Then in the bottom of the third, all the wheels came off for Miller & the Marlins. The A’s scored four times without any real good hits, taking advantage of a passed ball by Rabelo, and then a brain lock by the Marlins catcher on a first to home double play ball. Marlins first baseman Jorge Cantu fielded a grounder, stepped on first and threw home to Rabelo who had plenty of time to tag the runner coming in from third. But he thought the force play was in effect, so he merely stepped on the plate and did not tag the runner. The run scored, and the following A’s batter blooped a lazy pop up behind 1st base that scored two more runs, and you could have shut your TV off right there. I wish I had done so; that way I would have missed another ineffective relief performance by Matt Lindstrom and Logan Kensing later in the game.

At any rate, the Fish end the road trip with a 4-5 record and actually picked up ground on the Phillies, who lost again, their fifth straight defeat. The Marlins are just one game out of first place as they head home to start a three game series Tuesday with Tampa Bay.

This team will live and die by Hanley Ramirez.  When he is cold, the fish are cold, like sushi.  When El Nino (the second) is hot, the fish are hot, like fish ‘n chips.

Who are the chips?  How about Mike Rabelo, who’s 2-run homer in the top of the 9th might have single-handedly turned this season around.  If the fish quickly get out of this free fall they will prove to themselves of their resilience, the most important quality in this marathon that is the 162 games baseball schedule.  Rabelo’s homer might have jolted some life back into this sushi plate.

Take Kevin Gregg as an example, notching save number 11.  Yes, the same Kevin Gregg who seem to be a Philadelphia Phillies double agent.  Below the belt?  Maybe, but he’s struggling, with that pitching motion of his, it’s hard not to think he’s literally throwing batting practice.

So, let’s hope this 6-4 win over the Braves is truly the comeback.  Let’s hope Hanley, our #2, is alive and has gotten over the fact that he could buy a new golden toilet seat each time he goes number 2.

And, once more, it’s worth noting that Jacques Jones went 0-for-1 today in this pinch hit performance.   (He struck out for Mark Hendrickson, who’s batting average is nearly double that of Jones).

Hanley Ramirez, Jeremy Hermida, and Dan Uggla all hit home runs in the game.  All three of the home runs were solo shots however.  Besides those three rbi’s for the Marlins, Luis Gonzalez and Mike Rabelo also had one rbi each in the game.

Taylor Tankersley took the loss which dropped his record to 0-1 on the season.  Tankersley was pitching in relief of starting pitcher Burke Badenhop who threw six innings.  Badenhop left the game after giving up six hits and four runs.  Three of the four runs were earned.

With the loss, the Marlins dropped to to 23-15 on the season.  Marlins Blog

Starting pitcher Andrew Miller got roughed up in only three innings of action.  Nine hits and six runs later Miller was out of the game as it made it a long night for the Marlins bullpen.  Doug Waechter and Renyel Pinto both pitched two scoreless innings before Kevin Gregg gave up the game winning hit to Kent.  Gregg picked up the loss and is now 3-1 on the season.

Jeremy Hermida had two RBI for the Marlins in the game.  Dan Uggla provided a solo home run to finish with one RBI.  Jorge Cantu, Luis Gonzalez, and Mike Rabelo all had one RBI as well.

Marlins Blog

It was a very big hitting night for the Marlins. Hanley Ramirez hit a two run home run in the second inning.  It was Ramirez’s sixth home run of the season.  Josh Willingham also hit a two run home run in the game.  Dan Uggla hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.  Mike Rabelo picked up a pair of RBIs with Alfredo Amezaga, Jeremy Hermida, and Mark Hendrickson each getting an RBI as well.

Mark Hendrickson started the game for the Marlins and threw for eigth innings allowing eight hits and four runs with five strikeouts for the game.  Hendrickson picked up the win putting him at 4-1 for the year.  Matt Lindstrom was brought in to pitch for the last inning.

Tonight the Marlins will take on the Pirates again in Pittsburgh for the second game of the series.

Marlins Blog