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 He's 33, playing for his sixth major league team, and he has been
a backup pretty much everywhere he's been.
But on Monday night, Baker had the game-winning single as the Miami
Marlins scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, beating the
first-place Washington Nationals 7-6 at Marlins Park.
Baker's two-out drive off lefty reliever Jerry Blevins nearly got
out of the park. But it hit the base of the wall in left, scoring
shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from third.
"I've got no pop," Baker said, showing his self-deprecating sense of
humor. "I knew I hit it well. But I've hit in tough luck this year.
If (Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper) caught it, I wouldn't have
been surprised."
Baker's luck is starting to turn. He has a career-best 11-game
hitting streak and is batting .250. His walk-off hit was just the
third of his 677-game major-league career -- but it was his second
of the season.
The Marlins (52-53) recorded their eighth win in nine games. They
have also won five games in a row, tying their season high.
 Washington (57-46) led 6-0 with two outs in the seventh inning and
let it get away. As a result, the Nationals' lead over the Atlanta
Braves in the National League East is down to a half-game.
Nationals closer Rafael Soriano, who entered with a 6-3 lead to
start the ninth, could not hold the Marlins back. It was the fourth
blown save of the season for Soriano (2-1).
"No excuses," Soriano said. "Every pitch I threw, I didn't throw it
like I was supposed to do it. It was a bad day for me."
Hechavarria, who battled through an 11-pitch at-bat against Soriano,
hit an RBI triple to tie the score with one out.
Miami's Mike Dunn (8-5) threw a scoreless top of the ninth and wound
up the winning pitcher.
"If we continue to play like this," Marlins center fielder Marcell
Ozuna said, "we have a chance to make the playoffs."
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann got a no-decision despite
pitching well. He allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings.
Miami starter Nate Eovaldi also got a no-decision. He gave up three
consecutive singles to start the sixth, including an RBI hit by
right fielder Jayson Werth.
After getting an out, Eovaldi walked shortstop Ian Desmond on a 3-2
pitch to load the bases. Marlins manager Mike Redmond then removed
Eovaldi for lefty reliever Dan Jennings.
Lefty-hitting Harper foiled the strategy, hitting a hard ground ball
that took a bad bounce. Hechavarria somehow grabbed the high chop
but was charged with a dubious error when he fumbled the flip to
second.
Had it not been for the bad hop, Harper's grounder might have been
an inning-ending double play.
Instead, it gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead. Catcher Wilson Ramos
added to the margin with an RBI walk, and second baseman Danny
Espinosa hit a two-run single to cap the inning.
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The Marlins struck for two runs in the seventh when right fielder
Giancarlo Stanton walked, first baseman Garrett Jones hit an RBI triple
to right, and Ozuna produced a run-scoring single.
On Jones' triple, Nationals reserve right fielder Nate McLouth, who was in
because Werth twisted his ankle, made an ill-advised decision to dive
for the ball.
But Nationals Manager Matt Williams refused to blame McLouth.
"It turns out to be a big play because that was their first run -- but
it was really not," Williams said. "The game was set up for us with a
three-run lead in the ninth. It didn't happen."
Baker hit a run-scoring groundout in the eighth, but Stanton struck out
with a runner on third to end the inning.
Washington opened the scoring with a first-inning run. Third baseman
Anthony Rendon hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a walk by
Werth and took third on a wild pitch. Rendon scored on first baseman
Adam LaRoche's sacrifice fly to center.
Stanton, who began the day leading the National League with 69 RBIs, hit
a rather routine groundout to third in the fourth inning -- but it was
actually significant. Before that play, Stanton struck out in seven
straight at-bats.
The teams will play the middle game of the three-game series on Tuesday,
with Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg facing Miami right-hander
Henderson Alvarez.
NOTES: Miami sent C J.T. Realmuto to Triple-A New Orleans and brought up
OF Jake Marisnick from the same club. ... RHP Steve Cishek was named the
NL's Co-Player of the Week after he became the first pitcher in Marlins
history to earn six saves in an eight-game span. ... The Marlins are
coming off the best seven-game road trip in club history, as they posted
a 6-1 mark. ... Even though 3B Ryan Zimmerman is likely out for an
extended time due to a hamstring injury, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said no
trades are on the horizon between now and Thursday's non-waiver
deadline. ... Marlins president Mike Hill said he is looking to add a
starting pitcher before the deadline. ... Nationals pinch hitters are
batting .155 this season. The only pinch hitter Washington employed
Monday, Zach Walters, drew an eighth-inning walk.
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