With Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez facing off, it's no surprise that hits were hard to come by on Easter Sunday at Sun Life Stadium. As it turns out, the Marlins only needed two to take their series finale against the Rockies.
Under the watchful eye of Charlie Sheen, Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jimenez traded zeros for four innings. Neither starter allowed a hit until the bottom of the fifth, when Jimenez suddenly couldn't find the plate. He walked John Buck, Emilio Bonifacio and Donnie Murphy to load up the bases. After Josh Johnson struck out swinging and Chris Coghlan flied out to left (not deep enough to score a run, however), it looked like the Marlins may squander their opportunity against the pitcher. But Omar Infante--who had two of the Marlins' three hits in the game--cleared the bases with a clutch triple. It was the Marlins' only hit off of Jimenez, and it put the Fish on top 3-0.
JJ kept his no-hitter intact until two outs into the sixth inning, when for the second time this series, Dexter Fowler broke up the no-hit bid. Fowler doubled, and Jonathan Herrera followed with a RBI double to put Colorado on the board and end the shutout.
Josh went seven innings, allowing just three hits to the Rockies, striking out six, and left the game with a two-run lead, in line for his fourth win of the season. Unfortunately for JJ, the bullpen chose Sunday afternoon to remind us all that it is not invincible.
Clay Hensley took over for JJ in the eighth and gave up back to back singles. A passed ball by John Buck put runners at second and third with no outs, a sac fly scored one run, and Troy Tulowitzki hit a game-tying double. Mike Dunn replaced Hensley to get the final out of the inning, but by then the score was tied up at 3 runs apiece.
The Marlins didn't waste any time untying it. In the bottom of the inning, Matt Belisle gave up a single to Omar Infante and walked Gaby Sanchez to put two on for Mike Stanton. Giancarlo hit a three-run shot to left field to give the Marlins a 6-3 lead.
Leo Nunez saved the game with a tidy 1-2-3 inning, and the Marlins took the series on Easter Sunday.