Back at .500 following Monday's victory, the Florida Marlins have been anything but average against the Washington Nationals lately.

 

The Marlins look for their ninth consecutive victory over the Nationals and 10th straight home series win against them on Tuesday night when they continue a three-game set at Land Shark Stadium.

 

Florida (39-39) defeated Washington 4-2 on Monday, snapping a three-game slide behind a solid outing from Ricky Nolasco. The right-hander gave up two runs and four hits over eight innings, winning his third consecutive start.

 

"It just feels good to have that feeling," Nolasco said after setting down the final 13 Nationals he faced. "I'm just trying to be consistent. That's the main goal."

 

Since Sept. 11, 2007, Florida is 23-3 versus Washington. The Marlins have not lost a series to the Nationals at home since dropping two of three from April 14-16, 2006.

 

Hanley Ramirez needs to drive in a run Tuesday to set a franchise record with an RBI in nine consecutive contests. The Marlins shortstop -- a lifetime .362 hitter at home versus the Nationals -- is batting .424 (14 for 33) with four homers and 18 RBIs during this stretch.

 

Marlins rookie Sean West (3-2, 3.38 ERA) looks for his fourth win in five starts as he faces the Nationals for the first time. With Florida scoring five runs in the first three innings, the 23-year-old left-hander had more than enough cushion in Thursday's 11-3 win over Baltimore. West scattered four hits and three walks in six scoreless innings.

 

"It's very easy to pitch with a lead like that," he said. "The run support was great. Pitching and defense are key to a win and when you have all three going, it's unbeatable."

 

West has allowed two or fewer runs in three of five home starts.

 

Rookie Craig Stammen (1-3, 5.49) takes the mound as Washington (22-52) goes for its first win over Florida since a 9-4 victory last Sept. 23. After winning his first major league game June 18 at Yankee Stadium, the 25-year-old right hander surrendered six runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to Boston.

 

Stammen's no-hit bid ended when Dustin Pedroia doubled to lead off the fourth before Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz slugged a three-run homer later in the inning.

 

"That was a pretty big mental mistake," Stammen said of his 3-2 changeup. "I have to be able to shake that pitch off and throw what I wanted to throw."

 

This is Stammen's first appearance against Florida.

 

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's homer in the second inning was his first in 14 games. He is batting only .167 (3 for 18) in four games in Miami this season.

 

Washington, which has a major league-worst 9-27 road record, has dropped 16 of 20 away from Nationals Ballpark.

 

The Nationals have not won in Miami since a 9-6 victory last July 1.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=290630128

Hey Benched, what's the Marlins' record when you start the game thread? I've noticed we've won a lot.

Hey Benched, what's the Marlins' record when you start the game thread? I've noticed we've won a lot.

 

6-1.

Damn, dude. Nice job, keep it up.

Coghlan

Boni

Hanley

Cantu

Hermida

Uggla

Ross

Baker

West

and for the Nats:

 

SS Cristian Guzman

1B Nick Johnson

3B Ryan Zimmerman

LF Adam Dunn

RF Josh Willingham

CF Elijah Dukes

2B Alberto Gonzalez

C Wil Nieves

RHP Craig Stammen

This is a big game for us really, to get over the .500 mark and maybe move 1 game out.

 

Hows the weather down there tonight?

Doppler is showing rain in the Miami area currently. And here's what I got from the future forecast if you read into that at all: looks like a little rain for a while (similar to last night) and then eventually the rain breaks up and is in smaller scattered systems, some with the potential for thunderstorms. Again, I'm not a meteorologist. Just a college student.

This is a big game for us really, to get over the .500 mark and maybe move 1 game out.

 

Hows the weather down there tonight?

 

Still raining a bit by my house.

Hello MB.com

 

This is my 1st post on this site. I live in Copenhagen, Denmark and I more or less think I am the only Marlins supporter here

 

I finally decided to sign up here so i can discuss and follow my big passion Florida Marlins.

 

GO MARLINS!!!!!!

Hello MB.com

 

This is my 1st post on this site. I live in Copenhagen, Denmark and I more or less think I am the only Marlins supporter here

 

I finally decided to sign up here so i can discuss and follow my big passion Florida Marlins.

 

GO MARLINS!!!!!!

 

 

Welcome to the site. Will you be in the game threads tonight?

Welcome!

Ill probably miss like 1 hour of the game because i havent worked out for the last 2 days.

anywho,

keep the streak going benched!

Did Fredi just call boner a winner? I think we are going to have to deal with him in the lineup for atleast another month. I really hope he gets hot.

Ill probably miss like 1 hour of the game because i havent worked out for the last 2 days.

anywho,

keep the streak going benched!

 

 

I work out bewteen innings,

 

yeah, lets keep it going

Tx.....yeah i will be in the game tread tonight. The sad thing though is that a 07.00 PM game start equals to 01.00 in the night here. So i cannot follow every game live!

 

1 question: Do the posts in the game threads not count?

Tx.....yeah i will be in the game tread tonight. The sad thing though is that a 07.00 PM game start equals to 01.00 in the night here. So i cannot follow every game live!

 

1 question: Do the posts in the game threads not count?

 

 

I watch the Marlins every night here in the UK, it starts at 12 am to about 3 am, Im just addicted to Baseball, I need help!

Tx.....yeah i will be in the game tread tonight. The sad thing though is that a 07.00 PM game start equals to 01.00 in the night here. So i cannot follow every game live!

 

1 question: Do the posts in the game threads not count?

 

 

I watch the Marlins every night here in the UK, it starts at 12 am to about 3 am, Im just addicted to Baseball, I need help!

 

 

Haha sicko

 

I watch all the games I can. Gotta fit with work!

 

 

GO WEST!

Argh, 1-0 Nats.

DAMMIT

Bah, just like last night.

Bah, just like last night.

get it started cc

get it started cc

bonifacio!!!