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To say that fans shouldn’t have expected much from Vance Worley’s start tonight would have been reasonable. Worley entered the game with an 0-2 record with an ERA of 6.42 and a WHIP of 1.63 since being called up from New Orleans. He had previously been waived the very team he faced tonight, the Washington Nationals.
But then came Wednesday night. Worley showed his best trait, a low-90s fastball with that cuts and an effective two-seam fast ball mixed in with a good breaking ball. Nothing flashy, but it can be effective.
In seven innings, Worley gave up two hits while walking none and striking out three. The two hits that he allowed were both nullified by two double plays ground balls from Bryce Harper, allowing Worley to face only 21 batters over seven frames. Worley only two fly balls all night as well.
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The Marlins offense was almost as effective. Dee Gordon went three for four to raise his average to a cool .300. He also scored 3 runs. The first of these runs came in the first inning after a double from Giancarlo Stanton.
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Other highlights from the Marlins bats came in the form of two two-run homers from Christian Yelich (13) and Derek Dietrich (6) both in the fifth inning. These would send Nationals starter A.J. Cole to the showers after five, having given up give runs on six Miami hits.
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The Marlins would put the game away in the sixth inning after an RBI single from Dee Gordon, and an RBI double from Christian Yelich off of Nationals reliever Enny Romero.
Odrisamer Despaigne came into the game two throw two scoreless innings of mop-up duty. To preserve the shutout, the last out was punctuated by a home run and shutout saving catch over the right field wall by Giancarlo Stanton to great fanfare.
The Fish climb to 51-55 for the season good for second place in the NL East, 12 games out of first and 9.5 out of a wild card spot. Still, taking two of three in a series against the Nationals in front of the home crowd has to give Miami a reason to smile. The Fish have a day off tomorrow and start a three game set in Atlanta on Friday.
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King Fish: Van the Man with seven shutout innings against the top offense in the NL
Flounder: No one on the Marlins. Terrific all-around effort!
Turning Point: The Yelich two-run shot in the fifth