Marquis had without a doubt his best game as a National on Saturday night as he shut down the San Francisco Giants in what was his 4th complete game shutout of his career.
The right hander allowed just 5 hits while walking 0 and striking out 7 batters over 9 innings. For Marquis it was just one of those nights where everything seemed to be working for him. He was able to keep the ball low, had good movement on his pitches and kept the Giants hitters from finding any type of rhythm at the plate.
“I was keeping them off-balance, pushing and pulling the string with my fastball and off-speed stuff,” Marquis said.
As to whether or not he gave any thought to who the Giants were sending to the mound he said “It doesn’t matter if it’s Cy Young or the fifth starter on any team; you still have to make pitches to keep your team in the game. I have to be on top of my game and not worry about what anybody else is doing.”
And keep his team in the game he definitely did giving up just one extra base hit, a double from Freddy Sanchez in the 6th inning. For most of the game the Giants could barely get the ball to leave the infield having grounded out a total of 12 times vs Marquis.
With the win Marquis improves to 3 and 0 on the season in 5 starts with an era of 2.62
For the Nationals at the plate the key moment of the game came in the 2nd inning when Laynce Nix hit a 2 run shot over the center field wall. Prior to the Laynce Nix home run the Giants gave up what was ruled a double (despite a defensive miscue that led to a dropped catch) to Wilson Ramos who was then driven in on the Nix home run.
Pitcher Jason Marquis helped his chances of winning in the 5th on an rbi single that drove home Ian Desmond from second base.
Nats stars of the game-
Jason Marquis- turned in a complete game shut out
Laynce Nix- went 2 for 3 with a run, 2 rbi’s and a home run
Ian Desmond-went 3 for a 3 with a steal and a run
up next- Giants today at 4:05 with Lannan on the mound for the Nats