Marlins Win Fourth Straight
Keeping alive in the playoff hunt
Sunday, Sep 6, 2009 | Updated 9:45 AM EST
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Hanley Ramirez homered against the Washington Nationals as the Marlins won their fourth straight game
The Florida Marlins keep putting pressure on the teams ahead of them in the NL wild-card race.
Hanley Ramirez homered, Josh Johnson earned his 14th victory and the Marlins beat Washington 9-5 on Saturday night, handing the woeful Nationals their season-high eighth consecutive loss.
"Yeah, that's what you've got to do. You've got to keep trying to win ballgames. I'm glad we've got four in a row and hopefully (we) keep going," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Pinch-hitter Brett Hayes also homered for the Marlins and Johnson (14-4) allowed two hits over five innings. The right-hander walked three, struck out one and retired his final 11 batters in Florida's fourth straight victory. He is 7-2 in his last 10 starts, and 5-0 in his career against the Nationals.
"I finally found a groove and was throwing my slider for strikes. It was a good slider," Johnson said. "Some little things mechanically were a little bit off in the first two innings, but after that it was good."
Copyright Associated Press
Posted Sunday, Sep 6, 2009 - 9:37 AM EST
