Photo by Katie Moran for TalkNats
Tonight, it was mostly about Erick Fedde who dominated with one earnie and a career high 10 K’s on his way to a win. He is a career 3-0 against the Marlins with a 0.98 ERA. He has only given up 3 earned runs in 27 2/3 innings against Miami in his career. In this game, he delivered the win, and the only run that scored is when one of his inherited runners touched the plate after he departed the game at a pitch count of 103.
The Nats crushed ex-Nats farmhand Jesús Luzardo and sent him to an early shower. The Marlins bullpen did a good job on the Nats, to keep rhe game close. At one point, the Nats had runners on third and first with one out, Marlins’ manager Don Mattingly decided to load the bases by issuing an intentional walk to Juan Soto in order to try to get a doubleplay. It worked for the Marlins, and it was that kind of night for the Nats who easily could have won by a landslide.
For Ryan Zimmerman, he has been around long enough to have home runs against the Florida Marlins, and tonight he hit his 40th home run against the Marlins in his career which is just one home run short of the most by any player. Ryan Howard holds the current record at 41 dingers against the Marlins. Zim’s first home run against the Marlins was way back on July 4, 2006 when he hit his second career walk-off, and it came against Joe Borowski of the Florida Marlins. Zim’s final home run off of the Florida Marlins was against Anibal Sanchez in 2011. Zim also torched ex-teammates Jacob Turner and Dan Haren when they were Marlins. One of his most memorable home runs was an Inside-the-park Home Run against Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins. It was the only inside-the-parker of Zim’s career.
It was also a big night for Tres Barrera who was the offensive star in the game with a home run as part of his three hits on the night. He did it on his wife’s birthday.
Tres Barrera on his wife’s birthday delivers a 2-run tater! #Nats
— Talk Nats ⚾ (@TalkNats) August 25, 2021
The Nats had chances to blowout this game, but they hit into some bad luck over and over in this game, and the Marlins certainly made some highlight reel defensive plays. The final score was 5-1 in favor of the Nats, but players like Carter Kieboom went hitless in an 0-4 night and he hit three line drives that all found defenders. Baseball can be a cruel game. Fortunately, some of his teammates found holes, and even got some points over the fences for a couple of home runs. It was enough on this night.
If you picked the number one star tonight, it would definitely go to Fedde who dominated tonight.
“He’s been pitching a lot better. Today, the breaking ball was a lot sharper then it ever has been. It was shorter with late break,” manager Davey Martinez said. “Tough to recognize. If he can do that consistently, and keep it that, he’s gonna be good.”
The Nats have now beaten the Marlins in eight of eleven games this season, and the Nats have driven the Marlins deeper into the NL East cellar.
