Fish Wrap - Marlins 5, Giants 0

The Marlins won the final game of the series for the split with the Giants.  This was achieved mainly by riding on the right arm of Anibal Sanchez.  Anibal was dealing from the beginning and he never stopped.  Sure, he got some help from his friends behind him, but it was mainly all Anibal.

The Marlins started the scoring in the second inning when Madison Bumgarner walked Dan Uggla on five pitches.  With two outs, Mike Stanton doubled to deep center to score Danny on a tumbling kind of slide.  Whatever it was, it worked.  And that would prove to be all the Marlins would need to secure the victory.  1-0 Marlins after two.

In the fourth the Marlins got on the board again when with one out, Jorge Cantu singled to left.  Cody Ross followed with his own single to left to move Cantu to second.  With runners at first and second Stanton hit his second double of the game to score Cantu and move Cody to third.  Ronny Paulino followed with a sacrifice fly to right to plate Cody standing up, since the throw to the plate was up the line.  Anibal kept dealing.  3-0 Marlins after four.

The Marlins did nothing in the top half of the fifth.  Going into the bottom half, Anibal was pitching a perfect game.  That would soon change.  With one out in the inning Juan Uribe hit a ground ball to third and Cantu made a very nifty stop but unfortunately the throw short hopped Gaby Sanchez.  It was probably one that Gaby should have picked, however, that didn't happen and Cantu was charged with a throwing error which ended the perfect game.  Pablo Sandoval was next up and on a 0-1 count he hit a very soft bloop single that landed between Hanley Ramirez and Cody.  That ended the no-hit bid.  Anibal retired the next two hitters to preserve the shutout.  Still 3-0 Marlins.

Nothing much happened in the sixth and seventh innings.  But in the eighth, the Marlins would get on the board once again.  With one out, Danny walked on five pitches.  Cantu followed with an infield single to move Danny to second.  Cody, on the second pitch from Joe Martinez, hit a line drive double against the right field fence to score Danny and move Cantu to third.  Stanton was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.  The plan didn't work.  Paulino hit a sac fly to center to drive in Cantu.  In the bottom of the eighth Anibal kept dealing.  5-0 Marlins.

In the ninth Anibal retired the Giants in order to get the win.  When the totals were added up, the Marlins won 5-0 with Anibal pitching a complete game, one-hit shutout.  It was quite a sight to behold. After the final out, Anibal reacted like it was just another day at the office.  His teammates however thought differently.  

I have to agree with his teammates. It was an outstanding performance on the mound by Mr. Sanchez.

It was a good way to end the day.  Wasn't in the clubhouse after the game, but I'm sure it was filled with mixed emotions .  Everyone happy about the win and for Anibal, but also sad that a friend, Jorge Cantu, had played his last game of the season for the Marlins.  But time marches on, so it is off to San Diego.