The Washington Nationals visited Miami in the hunt for the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.
The Miami Marlins who is hosting the Nationals for three games announced they are renewing their manager’s contract moreover were sitting on loss number 99.
Two baseball teams moving in opposite directions.
Trea Turner hit two solo homers, and the Nationals beat the Marlins 6-4 on Friday night. Washington stayed one game ahead of Milwaukee for the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.
Marlins lose their 100th game.
The Marlins announced manager Don Mattingly had agreed to a two-year extension. Mattingly was in the final season of a four-year contract.
The Marlins became the third team to lose 100 games this season, joining the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. Miami also had 100-loss seasons in 1998 and 2013.
“We are going to be playing some good teams and teams that are in the playoffs (hunt) and that is good for us from the standpoint (of) motivation for us,” Mattingly said.
Marlins remain with the worse record in the National League.
The Nationals grabbed the lead for good on Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run homer off Marlins pitcher Robert Dugger (0-3) in the fourth inning.
Dugger was faced four runs and three hits in five innings in his sixth major league start.
Starlin Castro homered for Miami and finished with three hits. Isan Diaz and Jon Berti each had two hits and drove in a run.
Anibal Sanchez (10-8) of the Nationals pitched five-plus innings to reach double-figure victories for the fifth time in his career. Sanchez allowed four runs and six hits.
There is more to life than baseball.
Nationals welcomed back manager Dave Martinez who rejoined the Nationals following a heart procedure that caused him to miss a three-game series at St. Louis. The 54-year-old was back in the dugout four days after cardiac catheterization.
Mattingly has a positive outlook on the future of the team; he will continue to manage for seasons to come. There will be a moment of urgency next season.
Half of the losses for the fish at this point have been at home. The future is now.
Marlins honored their minor league players of the year from each level before the first pitch Friday. The players of the year for each team: middle infielder Isan Diaz for Triple-A New Orleans, starting pitcher Sixto Sanchez for Double-A Jacksonville, starting pitcher Braxton Garrett for Class A Advanced Jupiter, outfielder Peyton Burdick for Class A Clinton, third baseman Nic Ready for Class A Short Season Batavia, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for the Rookie Gulf Coast League Marlins and outfielder Jandel Paulino for the Dominican Summer League Marlins.
The beat goes on.
The Nationals will send RHP Stephen Strasburg (17-6, 3.49 ERA) to the mound for game two. He has a 21-7 career record against Miami, including 3-0 this season.
Marlins send RHP Jordan Yamamoto (4-5, 4.87 ERA) who will make his first start since being activated from the injured list. Yamamoto was sidelined because of a right forearm strain.
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