Read: Today in the NL East
Jorge Cantu homered for the 7th time in April and drove in 4 runs to lead the Florida Marlins over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, 8-2, in 10 innings.
Trailing 2-0, the Marlins plated one run in the 7th on Cantu’s home run and tied the game in the 8th when Ross Gload scored on an error by pitcher Carlos Marmol.
Our old friend Aaron Heilman entered the game in the 10th inning and promptly allowed 3 hits and 2 walks. Emilio Bonifacio reached base on Ryan Theriot‘s second error, and before all was said and done, the Marlins had stunned the Cubs by scoring 6 runs.
Florida starter Chris Volstad allowed just 2 runs on 3 hits over 7 strong innings.
In Washington, Daniel Cabrera was wild most of the evening, but he kept the Nationals in the game long enough for his club to grab a 4-3 lead heading into the 7th inning. Unfortunately, the bullpen didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
Mike Hinkley gave up the tying run in the 7th, and Julian Tavarez imploded in the 9th inning, allowing 5 more Cardinals to cross the plate to give St. Louis a 9-4 win over the Nationals.
This weekend, Washington continues its series against St. Louis, the Marlins are in Chicago, and the Braves host the Astros.
In player news…Washington’s Joe Beimel is set to begin a rehab assignment on Friday and resume pitching with the Nationals on Wednesday…as their closer.
…And not a moment too soon I might add!
Florida’s Hanley Ramirez was out of the lineup again on Thursday due to soreness in his right hand after being hit by a pitch by John Maine on Monday.
Ramirez missed his third consecutive game and his status for Friday is unknown.
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