Remember that trend that the Marlins started this season? You know, the one where they won every series they played? Yeah, that’s officially over.
The Marlins and Padres faced off for the dreaded afternoon "getaway game" Wednesday at Sun Life Stadium, and by the end of the afternoon, none of the gainfully employed were complaining about missing the game.
Kevin Correia was on the hill for the Friars, and on just three days rest, Nate Robertson had the ball for Florida.
Things started out splendidly for the Marlins, who enjoyed thousands of screaming kiddos in the stands in honor of "Weather Day." The Fish jumped on Correia early with an RBI single from Wes Helms and a sac fly from Cantu that put them up 2-0 in the first. They added on in the second with an RBI groundout from Nate Robertson, and Jorge Cantu's fifth home run of the season gave the Marlins a 4-0 lead in the third.
Working on just three days rest, Nate Robertson really didn’t look effected as he cruised through four scoreless innings. In the fifth, though, it must have dawned on him that he was indeed pitching on a mere three days rest, and that the proper thing to do in light of that fact was to unravel. And unravel he did, giving up five runs to the Padres, and turning the Marlins 4-0 lead to a one-run deficit.
The Marlins bullpen was one bright spot in the game (in case you’re trying to focus on the positives right now). Clay Hensley came in for Robertson in the fifth and struck out three to end the inning, and followed that by striking out the side in the sixth.
Chris Leroux pitched two solid innings as well, aside from the home run he served up to Yorvit Torrealba in the eighth, which gave the Padres a bit of insurance.
Turns out they didn’t need insurance. The Marlins accomplished jack (no, the other kind) against the Padres bullpen, and dropped the final game of the series.
For those of you keeping score at home, that’s three straight series losses for the Fish.