NewsFlorida 'pen unable to hold down Atlanta
Relievers allow Braves to take late lead in series finale
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
08/23/09 6:07 PM ET
ATLANTA -- The Marlins slapped out 11 hits, and had the benefit of scoring two unearned runs, but they still lost ground in the standings.Behind Brian McCann's five RBIs, including a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, the Braves rallied to a 7-5 win over the Marlins on Sunday afternoon in front of 30,478 at Turner Field.
A trend that has hindered the Marlins during their road trip resurfaced. Ricky Nolasco, who started, was unable to pitch at least five innings. That meant the bullpen was heavily used again. The end result on Sunday were eight walks allowed, with four of them scoring.
The loss dropped the Marlins into third place in the National League East, one game behind the Braves and 7 1/2 in back of the Phillies with 38 games remaining.
"You eliminate those walks, and you might be walking off shaking hands [with a win]," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "That didn't happen."
Instead, McCann, who had a three-run homer in the first inning off Nolasco, matched his career high for RBIs. Matt Diaz added four hits and he was a home run shy of the cycle.
After taking the first game of the series on Friday night, the Marlins dropped the next two. They finished up a 2-4 road trip, creating some urgency to stay in the playoff picture.
Nolasco, who was coming off a complete-game, three-hit victory at Houston last Tuesday to open the road trip, worked 4 1/3 innings, and he exited with the bases loaded in the fifth. While he wasn't involved in the decision, he issued back-to-back first-inning walks, setting up McCann's homer that gave the Braves an early lead.
"I can't remember the last time I walked two guys in a row," said Nolasco, who wasn't involved in the decision. "It definitely doesn't help the situation there. One pitch really killed me. I tried to throw a curveball and it came back for McCann to hit that ball out. You can't do anything about it now but learn from it, and try not to throw balls in that area to that type of hitter."
A day after having his career-high 16-game hitting streak snapped, Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-4, raising his NL-leading batting average to .361. But Jorge Cantu had his 11-game hit streak snapped on a hard-luck afternoon.
A pivotal play came in the eighth inning. After Ramirez led off with a bunt single, Cantu ripped a hard liner right at shortstop Yunel Escobar, who doubled up Ramirez at first with the score even at 5.
Cantu, who went 0-for-4, hit two hard line drives that were caught in the outfield.
"I hit the ball hard today, individually," Cantu said. "It's part of the game. Every loss hurts now. That's how I can put it in words. It's a tight race. Everybody is hungry to get to the playoffs, but we have to keep our heads high now."
While it was a struggle for Nolasco, Atlanta's Derek Lowe also faltered, giving up five runs, with three earned, in five innings.
Taking advantage of Kelly Johnson's error, the Marlins claimed a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning on Ronny Paulino's three-run double. Uggla and Cody Ross each singled with one out. Jeremy Hermida chopped a slow grounder to Escobar. Escobar flipped to Johnson, attempting to get the force at second, but the ball was dropped, loading the bases for Paulino.
But that capped Florida's scoring.
In the two games the Marlins won on the road trip, the starter completed five innings. On Friday, Anibal Sanchez lasted six-plus innings.
In the other four games, Florida's starters were unable to pitch at least five full innings. Those games all ended in losses.
"Every time, I want to go at least six," Nolasco said. "The only thing I can do is every time I'm out there is leave everything I have that day on the field.
"I did that today. It wasn't pretty. The one goal I always tell myself every time I take the mound is not to have any regrets, and that I gave everything that I have. It wasn't a good day."
The Braves snapped the tie in the eighth. Kiko Calero, who gave up a run in the seventh, walked Omar Infante to begin the inning. Renyel Pinto replaced Calero and walked Johnson. Chipper Jones' grounder advanced both runners into scoring position. With the infield in, McCann smacked a two-run single to right.
With second and third, the Marlins chose to pitch to McCann with first base open and Adam LaRoche on deck. Before his single, McCann was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts against Pinto.
"I don't see [Pinto] good at all," McCann said. "So I would have done the same thing if I was managing. He has owned me in the past."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
