Marlins top BoSox in rain-shortened game
June 19, 2009
BOSTON (AP)—Ricky Nolasco(notes) held the Red Sox to one hit in the first fiveinnings Thursday night, and the Boston weather took care of the rest.
Dan Uggla(notes) and Ronny Paulino(notes) homered for Florida, and Nolasco gave up KevinYoukilis’(notes) shot before the Marlins earned a 2-1 victory over Boston when the gamewas called early in the sixth because of rain.
“He would have had a chance to go real deep in the ballgame, the way he waspitching,” Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I would rather he keep going.I thought he had some pretty good stuff.”
The only other Red Sox batter to reach base was David Ortiz(notes), who hit a highpopup in the fifth that third baseman Emilio Bonifacio(notes) dropped for an error whenhe collided with Uggla behind second base. But Nolasco (3-6) got Mike Lowell(notes) ona line drive to left and Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) on a fielder’s choice before JasonVaritek(notes) struck out to end the inning.
Jon Lester(notes) (5-6) gave up Jorge Cantu’s(notes) single to lead off the sixth and hada 2-2 count on Uggla when the umpires signaled for the tarp at 8:59 p.m. Thegame was officially called after a delay of 2 hours, 26 minutes.
“You pretty much know the rain’s coming and you try to keep your team inthe game as long as you can,” said Nolasco, who struck out five for his firstvictory in five starts since May 8. “You never want to give up runs, no matterwhat the rain is and what the score is. But I definitely didn’t want to give upthe tying run, knowing the rain was coming.”
Series at a Glance Florida 2 Boston 8 Tue, Jun 16 – Final Florida 1 Boston 6 Wed, Jun 17 – Final Florida 2 Boston 1 Thu, Jun 18 – Final
The Marlins avoided a sweep in the interleague series after being outscored14-3 in the first two games, and they returned to Miami to face the New YorkYankees after going 4-2 on a road trip to Toronto and Boston.
“When you first look at the schedule and you’re looking at the AmericanLeague East, to go 4-2 is pretty good,” Gonzalez said. “I would have taken 3-3in December when I saw the schedule.”
One night after the Red Sox celebrated their record 500th consecutivesellout at Fenway Park, rain kept thousands of ticketholders away—though itwas still a sellout—and sent many more scurrying for cover when a steadydrizzle turned into a downpour.
For those who stuck around, the scoreboard showed the New York Yankees’ lossto the Washington Nationals. Then it showed the Baltimore Orioles beating theNew York Mets and the Detroit Tigers beating the St. Louis Cardinals beforeflipping on the West Coast game between the Oakland Athletics and the LosAngeles Dodgers in the fourth inning.
“From where we’re sitting, we want to stay and play until whenever,” RedSox manager Terry Francona said. “We’re the home team; we’re not traveling.There are a lot of reasons we wanted to play. … We got the call; I don’t knowif at that point you beg, it doesn’t help.”
An unidentified member of the … AP – Jun 18, 9:25 pm EDT
Lowell said the weather forecast made it clear they were never going to beable to play a full game.
“I think a lot of guys are (upset) right now. Absolutely. Without adoubt,” Lowell said. “I don’t know if the gate’s worth it. I don’t know.There’s a lot of guys, I’m one of them.”
Lester gave up two runs and eight hits, striking out four. In his previousthree starts, Lester (5-6) had struck out 34 while allowing seven hits and threeearned runs and limiting opposing batters to an .099 average.
Nolasco has put together three solid starts after opening the season with a2-6 record and 9.07 ERA in his first nine starts.
NOTES: Youkilis had just two hits and 11 strikeouts in the previous fivegames. … A scoring change made by the commissioner’s office took a June 10double away from Dustin Pedroia(notes) and instead gave an error to New York Yankeesright fielder Nick Swisher(notes). Chien-Ming Wang(notes) was charged with one fewer earnedrun from the 6-5 Boston victory. … Red Sox RHP John Smoltz(notes) threw two simulatedinnings in the bullpen as he tries to get ready for next Thursday’s startagainst Washington—his first since April 27, 2008. … Boston SS Jed Lowrie(notes)had four at-bats in an extended spring training game as he tries to come backfrom wrist surgery.
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