Florida Marlins vs Washington Nationals major league live streaming baseball online audio radio feed espn 360 gamecast May 14, 2011.
Anibal Sanchez delivered a masterful performance last weekend against the Washington Nationals to help the Florida Marlins snap a season-high three-game losing streak.
He'll try for another one Saturday when the Marlins go for their eighth straight victory in the nation's capital.
After Florida (22-15) dropped two straight to the visiting Nationals (18-20), Sanchez threw seven innings of two-hit ball in Sunday's 8-0 victory. He did not allow a hit until Laynce Nix's leadoff single in the seventh.
"He's a good pitcher," said Nationals infielder Jerry Hairston. "There's a reason why he has thrown a no-hitter before (in 2006). When you're getting every pitch over for strikes and hitting your spots, it's tough to hit."
"I'm not a strikeout pitcher, but they took a lot of swings at the ball in the dirt," he said.
That's been a common occurrence for the Nationals, who have struck out 104 times in the last nine games after fanning 11 times in Friday's 6-5, 11-inning defeat in the series opener.
Washington's 313 strikeouts are one behind Pittsburgh's MLB-high total.
Jayson Werth, batting .221, has struck out eight times in the last three contests, and he could see that number increase against Sanchez, who has fanned the Nationals right fielder more times (15) than any other pitcher. Werth has two hits in 22 at-bats in that matchup.
After Washington's bullpen logged 14 1/3 innings over the last three games -- all extra-inning contests, the first time the franchise has played that many in a row since Montreal did it July 25-27, 1990 -- the club could use a lengthy outing from former Marlin Livan Hernandez (3-4, 4.29) on Saturday.
Hernandez, though, has not been at his best while going 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in his last two starts. Pitching opposite Sanchez on Sunday, the veteran right-hander was charged with six runs and eight hits in five innings of work.
"I felt good, but the sinker was not working too good," Hernandez told the Nationals' official website. "That was the only problem, because my other pitches were working good."
Florida is hitting .359 against him in two matchups this season.
Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez, 5 for 9 with two doubles and a homer off Hernandez, could be one of the toughest outs. Sanchez is batting .429 (21 for 49) with four homers and 15 RBIs in 12 games this month after hitting a two-run shot Friday -- one of the Marlins' four home runs.
One of those long balls came off Mike Stanton's bat. The second-year right fielder has more homers off Nationals pitching (six) than any other opponent, including one off Hernandez.
Hanley Ramirez, who went 2 for 5 on Friday -- his third multihit game in four contests -- is 11 for 31 with three homers against Hernandez.
Nix is just 1 for 6 against Anibal Sanchez, but the Washington outfielder is 8 for 18 with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in his last four games.
Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison will try to extend his hitting streak to 12 games after connecting for a solo homer Friday in his return following a 21-game absence with a strained arch in his left foot.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is expected to get Saturday off with a sore left quadriceps.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (2-1, 3.46 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Livan Hernandez (3-4, 4.29 ERA). Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh and had a career-high 11 strikeouts to beat the Nationals on Sunday in Florida for his first win since April 22. The win improved Sanchez to 6-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 15 starts against Washington. Hernandez has been knocked around while losing his last two starts, allowing 10 runs on 18 hits over 11 1/3 innings. That includes the loss to Sanchez and the Marlins on Sunday, when he gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings. Once a World Series hero for the Marlins, Hernandez is 13-11 with a 3.73 ERA in 33 starts against his former team, but he hasn't beaten them since 2009.1:05 PM ET, May 14, 2011
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (22-15): Florida's hitters certainly seem to like Nationals Park. They blasted four home runs Friday, with Gaby Sanchez, John Buck, Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison getting in on the action. Morrison was playing his first game since suffering a sprained left foot April 19. And the Marlins' bullpen, which had some problems against the Phillies earlier in the week, got back on track with five innings of one-run relief. The Marlins have fared well recently against Hernandez, in large part because two of their stars have hit him well. Hanley Ramirez is 11-for-31 with three home runs against Hernandez, and Gaby Sanchez is 5-for-9 with a homer against him.
LineupsABOUT THE NATIONALS (18-20): The long ball hurt Washington for the second night in a row - Martin Prado hit a tying grand slam off Sean Burnett, which led to Atlanta's 6-5 win in 10 innings Thursday - and the Nationals' bullpen is feeling the effects of having played extra innings in three consecutive games. The Marlins got to the back end of the bullpen Friday, scoring the winning run against rookie righthander Brian Broderick. The Nationals are finding some consistency at the top of the lineup with Roger Bernadina, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs Friday, but he is 1-for-16 with six strikeouts against Sanchez. That's a common theme for Washington, though. No Nationals player with more than six at-bats against Sanchez is hitting better than .267 against him.
NO. Florida Washington
1. C. Coghlan, CF R. Bernadina, CF
2. O. Infante, 2B D. Espinosa, 2B
3. H. Ramirez, SS J. Werth, RF
4. G. Sanchez, 1B L. Nix, LF
5. L. Morrison, LF A. LaRoche, 1B
6. M. Stanton, RF W. Ramos, C
7. G. Dobbs, 3B J. Hairston Jr., 3B
8. J. Buck, C A. Cora, SS
9. A. Sanchez, P L. Hernandez, P
Anibal Sanchez delivered a masterful performance last weekend against the Washington Nationals to help the Florida Marlins snap a season-high three-game losing streak.
He'll try for another one Saturday when the Marlins go for their eighth straight victory in the nation's capital.
After Florida (22-15) dropped two straight to the visiting Nationals (18-20), Sanchez threw seven innings of two-hit ball in Sunday's 8-0 victory. He did not allow a hit until Laynce Nix's leadoff single in the seventh.
"He's a good pitcher," said Nationals infielder Jerry Hairston. "There's a reason why he has thrown a no-hitter before (in 2006). When you're getting every pitch over for strikes and hitting your spots, it's tough to hit."
W/L TrendsSanchez (2-1, 3.46 ERA) did not walk a batter and struck out a career-best 11 during his 117-pitch outing, improving to 6-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 15 career starts in this NL East matchup.
Florida
* Marlins are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Marlins are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Marlins are 16-6 in their last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
* Marlins are 9-4 in their last 13 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Marlins are 9-4 in their last 13 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Marlins are 1-4 in their last 5 Saturday games.
* Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
* Marlins are 4-11 in Sanchezs last 15 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
* Marlins are 1-4 in Sanchezs last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Marlins are 1-6 in Sanchezs last 7 starts on grass.
* Marlins are 0-5 in Sanchezs last 5 road starts.
* Marlins are 0-4 in Sanchezs last 4 starts during game 2 of a series.
Washington
* Nationals are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Nationals are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Nationals are 27-58 in their last 85 Saturday games.
* Nationals are 48-110 in their last 158 during game 2 of a series.
* Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Nationals are 2-5 in their last 7 games on grass.
* Nationals are 5-13 in their last 18 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Nationals are 4-1 in Hernandezs last 5 home starts.
* Nationals are 6-2 in Hernandezs last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Nationals are 4-9 in Hernandezs last 13 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
* Nationals are 8-20 in Hernandezs last 28 starts during game 2 of a series.
* Nationals are 2-5 in Hernandezs last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Nationals are 3-8 in Hernandezs last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
* Nationals are 2-7 in Hernandezs last 9 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Nationals are 1-5 in Hernandezs last 6 Saturday starts.
* Nationals are 1-6 in Hernandezs last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
"I'm not a strikeout pitcher, but they took a lot of swings at the ball in the dirt," he said.
That's been a common occurrence for the Nationals, who have struck out 104 times in the last nine games after fanning 11 times in Friday's 6-5, 11-inning defeat in the series opener.
Washington's 313 strikeouts are one behind Pittsburgh's MLB-high total.
Jayson Werth, batting .221, has struck out eight times in the last three contests, and he could see that number increase against Sanchez, who has fanned the Nationals right fielder more times (15) than any other pitcher. Werth has two hits in 22 at-bats in that matchup.
After Washington's bullpen logged 14 1/3 innings over the last three games -- all extra-inning contests, the first time the franchise has played that many in a row since Montreal did it July 25-27, 1990 -- the club could use a lengthy outing from former Marlin Livan Hernandez (3-4, 4.29) on Saturday.
Hernandez, though, has not been at his best while going 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in his last two starts. Pitching opposite Sanchez on Sunday, the veteran right-hander was charged with six runs and eight hits in five innings of work.
"I felt good, but the sinker was not working too good," Hernandez told the Nationals' official website. "That was the only problem, because my other pitches were working good."
Florida is hitting .359 against him in two matchups this season.
Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez, 5 for 9 with two doubles and a homer off Hernandez, could be one of the toughest outs. Sanchez is batting .429 (21 for 49) with four homers and 15 RBIs in 12 games this month after hitting a two-run shot Friday -- one of the Marlins' four home runs.
One of those long balls came off Mike Stanton's bat. The second-year right fielder has more homers off Nationals pitching (six) than any other opponent, including one off Hernandez.
Hanley Ramirez, who went 2 for 5 on Friday -- his third multihit game in four contests -- is 11 for 31 with three homers against Hernandez.
Nix is just 1 for 6 against Anibal Sanchez, but the Washington outfielder is 8 for 18 with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in his last four games.
Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison will try to extend his hitting streak to 12 games after connecting for a solo homer Friday in his return following a 21-game absence with a strained arch in his left foot.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is expected to get Saturday off with a sore left quadriceps.