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Stephen Strasburg Struggles In Return, Marlins Roll Over Nationals
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Dan Uggla homered and drove in four runs, and the Florida Marlins pounded Stephen Strasburg in the rookie's return to the rotation, part of an 8-2 win over the Nationals.
Hanley Ramirez doubled three times and scored a trio of runs for the Marlins, who have won two in a row following a five-game skid.
Anibal Sanchez (9-7) remained perfect in his career against Washington, as he allowed five hits and two unearned runs over 6 2/3 frames. The right-hander, who had seven strikeouts, is 4-0 lifetime against the Nationals.
Strasburg (5-3), who had been on the disabled list since July 29, retroactive to July 22, with inflammation in his right shoulder, yielded six hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Ivan Rodriguez had two of Washington's five hits and scored twice, but the Nationals fell in the opener of the three-game series and lost for the third straight time.
Logan Morrison walked with one out in the first inning, and with two down Uggla smacked a 1-2 pitch into the flower bed just beyond the wall in left field for his 26th homer of the season.
Uggla added a two-run double in the third before the Nationals finally scored on an error in the bottom half when Ian Desmond's grounder went under the glove of third baseman Wes Helms. Ryan Zimmerman flied out to leave runners at the corners.
The Marlins padded their lead to 7-1 in the fifth. Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez each doubled to chase Strasburg from the game. Helms doubled with the bases full later in the inning off Miguel Batista.
Morrison singled in a run in the sixth for an 8-1 margin before Rodriguez scored on Desmond's force out grounder in the seventh. The Nationals loaded the bases again with two outs in the inning when Jose Veras walked Zimmerman, but Will Ohman came in and got Adam Dunn to fly out to left.
Before the game, the Nationals honored Hall of Famers with ties to Washington’s baseball heritage by installing a Hall of Fame Ring of Honor at Nationals Park directly behind home plate. Among the players honored were Walter Johnson, Bucky Harris, Frank Thomas, along with former Expos Gary Carter and Andre Dawson...Washington had homered in nine straight games.
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