THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
MIAMI - Ricky Nolasco retired the final 13 batters he faced, Emilio Bonifacio drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Florida Marlins stayed perfect against the Washington Nationals with a 4-2 victory last night.
Hanley Ramirez had three hits and an RBI for Florida, which snapped a three-game slide and is 7-0 against Washington this season.
The Marlins also took over second place in the East, passing the slumping New York Mets.
Nolasco (5-6) won his third straight start, going eight innings and yielding two runs and four hits, with eight strikeouts.
Josh Willingham had two hits and Ryan Zimmerman hit his 13th homer for Washington, which wasted a stellar effort from lefthander Scott Olsen in his return from the disabled list.
With the score 2-2, pinch-hitter Wes Helms hit a leadoff double just inside the first-base bag off Ron Villone (3-5) in the eighth. After a sacrifice by Chris Coghlan, Bonifacio's fly to center scored pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza without a throw.
The Marlins scored an insurance run later in the eighth when Cody Ross drew a bases-loaded walk from Julian Tavarez.
Leo Nunez got the final out for his third save in six chances, coming in after Dan Meyer gave up two singles. With runners on first and third, Nunez got Willingham to fly to center, ending the game.
Making his first start since May 16 because of tendinitis in his left shoulder, Olsen allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out seven and throwing 66 of his 94 pitches for strikes.
Washington 020 000 000 – 2 6 0
Florida 002 000 02x – 4 8 0
Washington AB R H BI Avg. Florida AB R H BI Avg.
W.Harris cf 4 0 0 0 .241 Coghlan lf 3 0 1 1 .261
C.Guzman ss 4 0 0 0 .325 Meyer p 0 0 0 0 .000
N.Johnson 1b 4 0 1 0 .299 Nunez p 0 0 0 0 ---
Zimmerman 3b 4 1 1 1 .298 Bonifacio 3b 3 1 1 1 .250
Dunn lf 4 0 1 0 .257 Ha.Ramirez ss 4 1 3 1 .339
2-Alb.Gonzlz pr 0 0 0 0 .326 Cantu 1b 3 0 0 0 .280
Willingham rf 4 1 2 0 .284 Uggla 2b 3 0 0 0 .223
