Wednesday began as a rough day for the Marlins, with manager Fredi Gonzalez being canned without warning. But the show must go on, and it did just that, as the Fish delivered the very first Big League win to their interim--and first Puerto Rican born--manager Edwin Rodriguez.
In game two of their series with the Orioles, Ricky Nolasco bounced back from his previous horrifying start, going seven innings and allowing just four runs on eight hits, and striking out eight.
Baltimore scored all four of their runs against Ricky in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back one-out home runs to Luke Scott and Adam Jones put the O's up 2-0, and then Ricky gave up a single to Matt Wieters, a double to Cesar Izturis, and a 2-run single to Corey Patterson that made it 4-0.
The Marlins would get back all four runs in the top of the third against Brian Matusz, with a pair of home runs. Gaby Sanchez and Jorge Cantu both hit two-run shots to tie up the game at four apiece.
In the top of the seventh, the Fish would put up two more runs and end Matusz's night on the mound at 6.1 innings. Ronny Paulino doubled to score Mike Stanton, who had walked, and Chris Coghlan doubled Paulino home.
The Orioles got a run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within a run of the Fish. A walk from Taylor Tankersley and another walk and a single from Brian Sanches loaded the bases, and once again Corey Patterson did the damage when he singled in a run.
Turns out our relievers are performing about the same for Edwin as they did for Fredi. Who knew.
In the ninth, the Marlins got their run back once again on back-to-back doubles by Paulino and Cogz to make it 7-5, and then Leo Nunez was called on to record the save. Leo did it with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, and the Marlins took game two, and the series, from the Orioles.