The Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals will have a quick turnaround for the middle game of their series on Saturday.
A 2-hour, 14-minute rain delay coupled with loads of offense pushed the completion of the Friday game past midnight. Miami built a six-run lead and held on for an 11-9 win.
The teams combined for 33 hits on Friday, and the Marlins will now try for their first back-to-back wins since May 24-25.
Miami left-hander Cade Gibson (1-3, 0.93 ERA) will oppose Washington right-hander Trevor Williams (3-7, 5.91) on Saturday afternoon.
Gibson, a rookie reliever, will serve as an opener and make his first career start. He has yet to oppose the Nationals.
Williams, after tossing six shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners on May 28, has struggled in his past two starts, giving up eight runs (seven earned) over 8 2/3 innings. Last time out, he allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings during a loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
“He’s in the rotation. He gave up two runs. … His pitch count just gets up there,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “You’ve got to remember, too, last year he missed three months (because of a right flexor muscle strain), so that’s part of it. I want him to last the season for us. Right now, (he’s) starting. And he’s going to continue to start.”
Williams, who has failed to complete five innings in four of his past five outings, is 1-5 with a 5.46 ERA in 15 career games (10 starts) against the Marlins.
In the Friday night endurance contest, Miami’s Agustin Ramirez had three hits, including two solo home runs. Dane Myers and Xavier Edwards also had three hits, and Eric Wagaman finished with two hits and three RBIs.
It was the second multi-homer game for Ramirez, in his 43rd career game. He had gone 0-for-18 in the previous four contests. Ramirez, who was called up in late April, is tied for the team lead in homers (10) with Kyle Stowers.
“It was good for Agustin,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “I think he’s had a terrific year (for) a rookie, how well he’s performed. And certainly (it was impressive) for him to take a low fastball in that first at-bat and put a great swing on it. And I think the other one was a secondary pitch, maybe changeup or split, but he got (it() elevated and hit a home run.”
Myers is batting .360 (9-for-25) with three doubles, a stolen base, three RBIs and two runs over his past seven games.
James Wood had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs for Washington, which has lost six straight. The long ball was the first for Wood since May 30, and he finished a triple shy of the cycle.
Abrams and Keibert Ruiz also collected three hits for the Nationals. Over his past four games, Abrams is batting .389 (7-for-18) with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and six runs.
Washington had scored four runs or fewer in 10 straight games before the Friday breakout. The nine runs was more than the seven they totaled in a three-game sweep by the New York Mets this week.
“We’re a good team. I think there’s just a lot of ups and downs in baseball,” Wood said. “We know we’re a good team. We know we’re capable of being an elite offense. When stretches like that happen, you can’t really panic over them.”
–Field Level Media
