Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Double Plays Doom Nats Offense In Loss To Marlins
By Ricky Keeler
Jul 28, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) is tagged out at second base by Washington Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon (6) during the first inning at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Marlins Top Of The Order Does The Damage
For the first time this season, the Nationals faced a Marlins squad that was without their best player, right fielder Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton has been out since June 26 due to a broken hamate bone in his left wrist. Even with the slugger out, Miami got another key player back in the lineup last night as second baseman Dee Gordon was back after being out since July 11 with a hand injury.
Even though Miami is tied for tenth in the National League in runs (77), their top of the order got the job done last night. The combination of Gordon, third baseman Martin Prado, and center fielder Christian Yelich went 7-for-12 with a triple, two RBI’s and two runs scored.
There has been one common theme in the eight games that the Nationals have played against the Marlins. That one theme has been that the team hasn’t been able to figure out how to keep Gordon off the bases. Counting last night’s game, the 27-year-old is 15-for-30 (.500) with a RBI, has two stolen bases in five chances, and has a .531 on-base percentage.
In the bottom of the first inning, Gordon left too early trying to steal second, leaving Zimmermann with an easy pickoff play. However, Gordon would make up for that mistake in the bottom of the sixth when he took a first pitch breaking ball and hit it to center field, resulting in a leadoff triple. Prado would drive him in with a base hit to left to give Miami the lead.
While the Marlins lineup could look different if Prado is traded within the next couple of days, Gordon is going to be a problem that the Nats are going to have to figure out if they want to leave Florida with a series win.