Marlins capitalize on sloppy rundown play
Miami’s Hechavarria follows with three-run triple to punish Nats
MIAMI — A botched rundown play by Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos made all the difference between winning and losing on Sunday at Marlins Park.
Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria capitalized on the mistake, drilling a three-run triple, and the Miami Marlins won their fifth straight game, defeating the Nationals 6-2.
Hechavarria extended his hitting streak to nine games and had his second consecutive three-RBI game as Miami (8-11) sent Washington (7-12) to its fifth straight loss.
It was the Marlins’ first sweep over Washington since May 2012.
“I never once panicked or wavered from our lineup or our guys,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said of his team’s recent play after a poor 3-11 start. “I believe in them, and they believe in themselves.
“We caught a break on the rundown. And you could just sense that was going to be a big play. You get those breaks when you play with confidence.”
Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton also had a big game with two hits, including a 415-foot run-scoring triple. Catcher J.T. Realmuto hit the third Marlins three-bagger of the day, marking the fifth three-triple day in franchise history.
The win went to right-hander Dan Haren (2-1), who started and allowed three hits, three walks and two runs in five innings.
Gio Gonzalez (1-2), a former 20-game winner and a native of Miami Dade County, took the loss. He struck out eight but allowed 10 hits and six runs in just five innings. The loss snapped Gonzalez’s five-game win streak against his hometown team.
Gonzalez was asked if he was “affected” by Ramos’ mental mistake of not throwing to third baseman Yunel Escobar on the failed rundown.
“What affected me was falling behind the hitters, up in the plate, wasn’t attacking the strike zone as much,” Gonzalez said.
Washington opened the scoring in the second on right fielder Bryce Harper’s leadoff homer, the Las Vegas native’s fifth of the season.
Then came Miami’s big rally in the fourth. Stanton singled, center fielder Marcell Ozuna walked, and left fielder Ichiro Suzuki hit an infield single to load the bases with two outs.
Washington should have gotten out of the inning right there, because Stanton rounded third base too far and got caught in the aforementioned rundown.
But Ramos failed to throw to Escobar, allowing Stanton to get back to third safely. The next batter was Hechavarria, who cleared the bases with his triple to right-center.