Ricky Nolasco was on the mound and the Padres really wished he had gone sightseeing instead. The Marlins offense continued to wonder why everyone says it is really hard to hit a ball out of Petco. And the Padres faithful kept saying to themselves: Look, Marlins, it was really great what you did in San Francisco and all but you are not suppose to do that here. Someone forgot to give the Marlins that memo.
Let's see how we got there.
In the second Dan Uggla walked on five pitches to start the inning. Danny tried that stealing second base thing again and this time it worked. With one out, Mike Stanton hit the second pitch of his at bat 430 ft. into the second deck to start the scoring for the game. Ricky Nolasco continued to no-hit the Padres. 2-0 Marlins.
We jump ahead to the sixth. With one out, Danny hit his 144th career home run into the second deck to become the Marlins all-time home run leader. With two outs in the inning, Padres starter, Kevin Correia, intentionally walked Wes Helms to pitch to Brad Davis. Davis grounded out to Miguel Tejada to end the Marlins half of the inning. Ricky took a no-hitter into the Friar's half of the inning. But sadly, that is where it would end. To lead off the bottom of the sixth, Scott Hairston hit a line drive home run into the first row of the left field stands. After 6, 3-1 Marlins.
In the seventh the Marlins would answer back when Scott Hairston, who was obviously feeling bad about breaking up the no-no, did his best Bad News Bears imitation. With one out Hanley Ramirez reached on a slowly hit ball to Tejada for an infield single. Cue Hairston. Logan Morrison hit a fly ball to left which Hairston misplayed and dropped. And just to make sure a run scored tossed it back to wall trying to exchange it from his glove to his throwing hand. Hanley circled the bases to score. Ricky retired the Padres in order. 4-1 Marlins.
Nothing of consequence happened in the eighth. The ninth would prove to be different. With Tim Stauffer on the mound, Davis walked to led off the inning. Ricky then sacrificed him to second. Hanley was intentionally walked. This would end Stauffer's night. Joe Thatcher came on to pitch. Logan Morrison ground out to first but advance the runners. Once again it was Maroone time and Ryan Webb took his turn on the hill. On a 2-2 count, Gaby Sanchez singled to left to plate both Davis and Hanley. So to the bottom of the ninth we go with the score 6-1 Marlins.
Ricky was sent out to try for a complete game. It didn't work out. Ricky got Matt Stairs to fly out to open the bottom half of the frame. Jerry Hairston followed with a single which prompted a visit from Edwin. Ricky was somehow able to plead his case and stayed in the game. Next batter, Chase Headley, hit a ground rule double to left which moved Hairston to third. Adrian Gonzalez followed with a single to right to drive in Hairston and Headley. That would end Ricky's night. Being a save situation, Leo Nunez came on to close it out. Leo unc orked a wild pitch to send Gonzalez to second. On the very next pitch Tejada singled to center to send Gonzalez to third. Nick Hundley hit a grounder to third but the Marlins were unable to complete a double play. With runners at the corners and two outs, Will Venable represented the trying run. Venable hit a harmless ground ball to Danny and the ball game was over. 6-3 Marlins.
Once again Ricky pitched a gem and the Marlins broke out the whopping sticks to win the series. The Fish will go for the sweep on Sunday.